Thiago dos Santos

Born on July 28, 1982, Thiago Rogério dos Santos Silva cultivated a deep love for sport from an early age. His athletic development spanned multiple disciplines — Football (Soccer) and Tae Kwon Do among them — forging a well-rounded physical foundation that would serve him throughout his life. That passion extended beyond participation into vocation: dos Santos pursued a degree in Physical Education at university, formalizing his dedication to athletic development and the science of human movement.

It was his brother, known as Bocão, who first introduced Thiago to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The motivation was simple: to get into better shape. That beginning was cut short by tragedy, however, when Bocão passed away just one month after Thiago had first stepped onto the mats. Rather than walk away, dos Santos made a solemn vow — to continue training, honor his brother's memory, and one day earn the black belt. That promise became the compass for an entire career built within Brasil 021.

A Single Team, an Unbroken Path

Thiago dos Santos began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey under the Brasil 021 banner and, in a distinction that grows increasingly rare in the modern era, never trained under any other affiliation. Every belt he earned — from white to black — was awarded by master André Terencio, known within the community as "Negão." That unbroken lineage of instruction gave dos Santos a technically and philosophically cohesive foundation in the art, shaped by a single system and a single teacher.

The journey culminated in April 2010, when Terencio awarded him the black belt — the fulfillment of the promise Thiago had made to himself and to the memory of his brother Bocão nearly a decade earlier.

Competitive Record

Throughout his career, dos Santos built a meaningful competitive record in the Peso Pesado division (94kg/207lbs). He captured the Brazilian Beginners Championship in 2001 before claiming the Niterói State Championship in the open weight category in 2002 — the same year he won the Búzios Arena Cup. His competitive ambitions also carried him to international stages, where he earned a bronze medal at the New York Open in 2010.

Teaching and Legacy

Following the receipt of his black belt, dos Santos transitioned into a prominent teaching role, becoming one of the main instructors at Brasil 021. In that capacity, he passes on not only the technical knowledge accumulated under Terencio, but also the values of perseverance and loyalty that defined his own path through the art — a path traced back to a promise made in grief and fulfilled through decades of dedication.