Waldomiro Perez

Waldomiro Perez Junior was born on January 20, 1965, in Brazil, and built his martial arts foundations in the state of São Paulo during a formative era for combat sports in the country. His grappling journey began with Judo under Chiaki Ishii, an Olympic bronze medalist at the 1972 Munich Olympics. The technical discipline and positional awareness Judo instilled in Perez Junior became the cornerstone of his martial arts career, establishing a well-rounded grappling base that would define his approach to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Building on that foundation, Perez Junior transitioned into BJJ under the guidance of Marcelo Behring, one of the most celebrated and technically gifted figures in the Gracie lineage. Training under Behring placed him within a prestigious line of BJJ instruction and connected him to the sport's highest levels of technical development during its most critical years of growth in Brazil.

Competitive Excellence on the Pan American Circuit

Earning his BJJ black belt under Marcelo Behring marked a defining milestone in Waldomiro Perez Junior's career, confirming his standing among the serious competitive and instructional voices within São Paulo's thriving BJJ scene. Competing at the Middleweight division (82kg / 181lbs), he demonstrated sustained excellence on the Pan American Championship circuit across nearly a decade. He claimed Pan American gold twice — in the 2001 Senior 1 division and the 2003 WO division — while adding silver medals in 1996 and at the 1999 Master level, and a bronze at the 2000 Master level. This run of results illustrates both his competitive longevity and his ability to perform at a high level across different competitive categories.

Founding Cia Paulista

Among his most enduring contributions to the sport was the founding of Cia Paulista (Companhia Paulista), which grew into one of the most prominent and historically significant BJJ academies in São Paulo. Under his leadership, Cia Paulista became a genuine force in developing competitive grappling talent in Brazil, shaping the careers of numerous fighters who went on to make their mark in both BJJ and MMA. The academy stands as a central pillar of his legacy.

During this period, the FPJJ (Federação Paulista de Jiu-Jitsu) was established in 1995 by Master Otávio de Almeida as the first São Paulo BJJ federation, providing an organizational structure for the rapidly growing sport in the region.

Waldomiro Perez Junior's reputation as a developer of talent ranks among the most significant dimensions of his contribution to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts. Notable graduates of his instruction include Roberto Godoi, Jorge Patino, and Max Trombini — each of whom carried forward the technical and competitive values instilled at Cia Paulista. Patino, in particular, emerged as one of the more prominent MMA competitors to come out of Perez Junior's program, with Waldomiro serving as a foundational coach throughout the early stages of his career.

The coaching philosophy Perez Junior built draws directly from the technical rigor absorbed from his own instructors — the positional discipline of Judo under Chiaki Ishii and the refined BJJ methodology of Marcelo Behring. That combination produced a coaching style capable of developing fighters across multiple grappling contexts, from pure BJJ competition to the demands of professional MMA. His contributions to the early development of mixed martial arts in Brazil were recognized by Tatame, the prominent Brazilian MMA and BJJ publication, which acknowledged his foundational role in the sport's growth in the country.

Waldomiro Perez Junior's grappling expertise earned him a platform that few BJJ coaches from his generation reached — a role as grappling coach on The Ultimate Fighter, the internationally broadcast MMA reality series produced by the UFC. He appeared in this capacity on two separate occasions, participating in TUF 7 and TUF 10, giving him rare and sustained visibility on one of the sport's most widely watched programs.

His presence on the show reflected the respect he had built within the broader MMA community as a technically sound and experienced grappling mind. Appearing alongside high-profile fighters and coaches on a global platform highlighted the seamless crossover between his deep BJJ roots and the practical demands of elite MMA coaching, reinforcing his standing as one of São Paulo's most significant contributions to the international grappling world.

Waldomiro Perez Junior relocated to the United States ahead of the birth of his first child, Kalani, motivated by the desire to provide a safer environment for his growing family. The move represented a significant personal and professional transition — shifting him from his role as a pioneering figure in São Paulo's BJJ community to a new chapter on American soil.

In the United States, he established his own academy, extending the Cia Paulista coaching lineage to American students and continuing the instructional work that had defined his career in Brazil. His reputation attracted high-profile MMA talent, and he worked with established figures including Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson and Tito Ortiz, both prominent names in the UFC during their respective peaks. He also continued his work with Jorge Patino as Patino's MMA career progressed. This chapter of Perez Junior's career cemented his transition from São Paulo pioneer to internationally recognized grappling coach — a trajectory that reflects both the depth of his technical foundation and the adaptability that has defined his career from its earliest days.