Tiago Pereira

Born on September 22, 1979, and raised in Guará — a small town on the outskirts of Brasília, Brazil — Tiago Pereira Almeida's first martial arts experience came through capoeira, the distinctly Brazilian combat style defined by its fluid, rhythmic movements and emphasis on dynamic kicks. It was within that capoeira community that his path toward Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu took shape, when Alexandre Careca Costa extended an invitation to put on a gi and experience the art firsthand.

Tiago began training jiu-jitsu under Careca in 1998, embarking on what would become a lifelong commitment to the sport. The initial chapter proved brief — just six months before Alexandre Costa departed to pursue other goals — prompting Tiago to step away from the mats for a short period. That transitional pause, however, only set the stage for a far more formative chapter in his development.

Tiago's return to grappling brought him under the guidance of Admilson Brites, widely known as "Juquinha" and broadly regarded as one of BJJ's pioneering figures in Brazil's Federal District. Training under a coach of Juquinha's stature gave Tiago not only deep technical instruction but also a direct connection to the foundational development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the Brasília region — a lineage that shaped both his technique and his philosophy toward the sport.

Building the Foundation: White to Black

Under Juquinha's tutelage, Tiago earned every belt from white through black, building his game through years of deliberate, structured progression. His investment in the sport extended beyond personal development — in 2003, while holding the rank of purple belt, he launched his coaching career, demonstrating an early commitment to sharing knowledge and growing the art within his community. Teaching at such a formative stage of his own development speaks to the depth of his dedication.

Tiago received his black belt from Juquinha in 2007, completing nearly a decade of training that began with those first six months under Careca and culminated in one of the sport's most significant milestones.

Following his black belt promotion, Tiago channeled his competitive experience and coaching background into establishing an academy in Guará under the Ribeiro Jiu Jitsu banner. Planting roots in the same community that first shaped him as a martial artist reflects a deliberate commitment to developing BJJ at the local level — bringing world-class instruction to the region he calls home.

The academy operates as a family enterprise, co-owned with his brother Diego Pereira, himself an accomplished black belt. Together, the Pereira brothers have built an institution that serves both as a training ground for competitive athletes and as a hub for BJJ development throughout the Guará community. The academy stands as a direct expression of Tiago's dual identity as competitor and educator — a place where championship-level experience directly informs the next generation of practitioners.

Tiago Pereira competes in the Super Pesado division (100kg/221lbs), and his record in masters competition places him among the most accomplished competitors of his generation in that category.

International Titles and Cross-Format Excellence

His ascent to the top of masters-level BJJ gained international recognition when he claimed gold at the World Masters Championship in both 2015 and 2016 in the Master 2 division — back-to-back titles that cemented his status as an elite competitor on the sport's biggest stage. His versatility across formats came into focus in 2013, when he captured the World No-Gi Championship in the Master absolute division, proving his technical foundation translates seamlessly to the no-gi environment. That same year, he also reached the podium in the Master division at the World No-Gi Championship, underscoring the consistency that defines his competitive profile.

Earlier signs of that elite potential appeared at the colored belt level, when Tiago earned third place at the World Championship in the purple belt division in 2005 — a result that foreshadowed the sustained excellence he would display across the following two decades.

Regional and National Championship Success

At the South American Championship, Tiago secured gold in 2014 as a Master 1 competitor, then returned in 2015 to claim titles in both the weight and absolute divisions as a Master 2 — demonstrating his dominance across age categories as he has progressed through the masters divisions. In 2016, he contributed to a Brazilian National Teams Championship victory, proving his impact extends beyond individual podiums to collective achievement.

The Hallmark of Sustained Excellence

Perhaps the most telling aspect of Tiago Pereira's career is its sustained intensity well past the age of 35 — a point at which many athletes have long since stepped away from high-level competition. His continued presence at the top of the podium across World, Pan American, South American, and Brazilian National Championships, spanning multiple years and divisions, reflects an exceptional level of physical conditioning, competitive drive, and technical refinement that has only deepened with experience.