Background

Bachelor Degree in Physical Ed. (Gama Filho University
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1978)
6th Degree Black Belt, BJJ (1982 Gracie School)
Head Coach Alliance Team, USA/Brazil, est. 1985
Director/Instructor Alliance Martial Arts Center Atlanta,
GA Consultant/Instructor US Army Rangers Fort Bennings,
GA (hand-to-hand combat)
Founder/Referee Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
President Georgia State BJJ/Submission Wrestling Federation

Personal Competition Titles

Two Times Brazilian Champion
Many times Rio de Janeiro State Champion

Coaching

2005 NAGA GA State Champions
2005 Arnold/Gracie Championship, Columbus, OH. 1st place
2004 NAGA GA State Champions
2004 Pan American Champions, Los Angeles, CA
2004 Arnold/Gracie Championship, Columbus, OH. 2nd place
2004 Budweiser World Champions, Charlotte, NC.
2003 Pan Am master/seniors, Santa Barbara, Ca. 1st place
2003 Pan Am adult division, Santa Barbara, Ca. 2nd place
2003 Pan Am, Santa Barbara, Ca. 2nd place overall.
2003 Nashville Grappling Chapionship. 1st. place.
2003 World Chapionship. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2nd place.
2003 World Cup. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2nd place.
2002 NAGA GA State Champions.Atlanta, Ga.
Pan Am Women's 2000 Championship
Pro-AM 2000 Championships North Carolina
Two times World 1998/1999 Championship
Griffin, Calhoun, Dalton, Georgia Championships
Includes NHB and Submission with Strikes
Three Times Brazilian Championship
Many times Rio de Janeiro State Championship

"I want to make a difference and leave a legacy to this world." ~ Jacare´ Born in 1952, Jacare´ began his BJJ training at 11 years old. At the age of 16,
he joined the famous Gracie School in Copacabana where he grew up. Jacare´ and the Gracies lived in the same neighborhood, so, he got to met all of them. He was in the same BJJ class as Carlos Gracie Jr., Crolin Gracie, Fabio Santos, Mauricio Gomes, the Machados, Rickson Gracie, and many others. Read More...

As told by Jacare´ - I met Rolls in 1971 when I was training at the famous Carlson Gracie School in Copacabana, Rio, Brazil. He was a young and polite guy wearing a kimono wrapped with a Black Belt. When I asked who he was they said this guy will be champion of the family very soon.
In 1972, I went to live in New York to study languages and stayed for almost three years. One day, out of the blue, Rolls showed up at my apartment on the upper east side. His mother lived a few blocks away and he was there to visit her. We became very good friends. In 1974, I returned to Brazil and started to train with him until June, 1982 when he died in a tragic hang-gliding accident. I had just gotten my Black Belt from him four months before.

Rolls was an innovator and in his classes he taught everything like throws, takedowns, strikes, no gi, wrestling, and variations from positions that I never saw before. His classes were very fun and exciting. The incentive he gave us all to compete I still try to instill in my students today. He was by far the best fighter of his time; intense, cold, fast, technical, unbelievable, and never refused a challenge. With all of that, he was still a true gentleman who traveled the world and spoke three languages.

I owe everything to him. I was part of his first competition team with: Carlos Gracie Jr., Paulo Conde, Nissin, Mauricio Gomes, Ricardo Azoury, and a few others. He was like a father to me. Growing up in a tough neighborhood, he set a good example for me and influenced a whole generation. I think I will never meet a person like him again.

I feel very blessed to have met and learned with him and wherever he is I know in my heart that he keeps an eye on us. To finish, I just want to say thank you, thank you very much Rolls for being my instructor, mentor, and friend. From the bottom of my heart, God bless you.