Tony Passos

Antonio "Tony" Passos was born on February 14, 1980, in Recife, Brazil. Like most Brazilian children, he grew up playing football (soccer), a sport woven deeply into the country's cultural fabric. It was not until Passos entered college at 18 that his relationship with physical activity began to shift. The sedentary habits of student life brought noticeable weight gain, and he recognized the need for a more engaging outlet than conventional gym training. Treadmills and weight machines held little appeal, and he was honest enough with himself to know he would not stick with them.

A friend's recommendation pointed him toward Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and what he discovered on the mats exceeded anything he had anticipated. Two qualities captured his imagination and kept him invested in growth: creativity and the scientific logic of body mechanics and leverage. The creative dimension of jiu-jitsu spoke to an artistic side of his personality — a discipline in constant evolution where individual expression could flourish. The precise mechanical principles governing each position and submission, meanwhile, appealed to an analytical mind hungry for depth. On December 28, 1998, Tony Passos stepped onto the mat for the first time under the instruction of the well-respected Moacir "Boca" Omena, beginning a journey that would define the arc of his life.

From his first class in December 1998, Passos trained under Moacir "Boca" Omena and remained loyal to his coach throughout his development in the lower belts. Under Boca's guidance, he progressed through blue, purple, and brown belt, building a technical foundation rooted in the De La Riva style of jiu-jitsu — an approach that would shape his game for years to come.

In 2004, Passos relocated to the United States with the goal of strengthening his English-speaking skills, but his commitment to jiu-jitsu never wavered. He settled in Northern Virginia and continued training, making periodic return trips to Brazil to sharpen his game and maintain his connection to the broader De La Riva community. Those visits proved instrumental in ensuring his technical development did not stagnate despite the geographic distance from Brazil's dense training ecosystem.

In May 2007, Passos received his black belt from Master Ricardo De La Riva at his newly opened academy in Sterling, Virginia. The promotion marked a milestone achieved after roughly three years of building his teaching and training career on American soil — a testament to the sustained effort he had invested both in his own growth and in the development of jiu-jitsu within his adopted community.

Passos' transition from student to instructor represented a natural extension of his passion for the art. After arriving in Northern Virginia, he began training at a local gym and gradually established himself as a teaching presence in the regional BJJ community. He went on to open his own academy in Sterling, Virginia, which became a hub for local practitioners and, notably, the site of his black belt promotion in May 2007.

Operating an academy largely outside Brazil's dense training networks brought genuine challenges. Without ready access to the high-level partners that Brazil's established academies could provide, Passos found it difficult to keep pace with the ever-evolving standards of elite jiu-jitsu. The De La Riva team's base remained predominantly in Brazil, requiring him to be resourceful in seeking quality instruction and training partners. That challenge would ultimately become a catalyst for one of the most consequential decisions of his career.

In November 2010, a phone call from a friend presented Passos with an opportunity that would reshape the trajectory of his career. The proposal was straightforward: host an André Galvão seminar at his Virginia academy. Passos accepted, and the event proved to be a resounding success — not only as an instructional workshop but as the beginning of a meaningful personal connection between the two men.

Passos and Galvão discovered a shared foundation in moral and spiritual values, and the rapport forged during the seminar extended well beyond a single event. Over the following year, the two maintained regular contact and engaged in ongoing conversations about their respective visions for jiu-jitsu. Galvão, headquartered in San Diego with Atos Jiu-Jitsu, offered Passos something he had been lacking: genuine support, a world-class training network, and a strong organizational presence in the United States.

The alignment was undeniable. By the end of 2011, Tony Passos officially joined the Atos Jiu-Jitsu family, affiliating with one of the premier grappling organizations in the world. The partnership gave his academy access to elite-level resources and raised the standard of training available to his students in Northern Virginia, while reconnecting Passos to the high-level competitive environment his own game required to keep evolving.

Throughout his competitive career, Tony Passos delivered consistent performances across both adult and master divisions in major IBJJF and international events, competing at Peso Médio (82kg/181lbs). His results reflect a practitioner who remained active and sharp well into his years as a full-time coach and academy owner.

Master Division Highlights

Passos claimed gold at the Chicago Winter International Open under the IBJJF banner in both 2012 and 2013 in the master division, establishing himself as a reliable force at regional and national open events. His performances at the Pan Championship underscored sustained excellence at one of the sport's most prestigious annual tournaments: a runner-up finish at the 2010 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship and a third-place result at the 2011 Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship, both in the master division.

Adult Division Highlights

In the adult division, Passos posted runner-up finishes at the 2010 Houston International Open Championship and the 2009 Miami International Open Championship, both under the IBJJF. He also earned a third-place result at the 2009 American National Jiu-Jitsu Championship. On the international stage, his third-place finish at the 2010 Abu Dhabi World Pro Championship under the UAEJJ banner underscored his ability to compete at the sport's highest levels against a global field.