From tragedy to Triumph
In this captivating video, we take you on a journey to Morro da providência, the oldest favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where we meet Pedro, an eight-year-old prodigy who found solace in BJJ after losing his brother. Witness Pedro's inspiring transformation as he harnesses his talent and resilience through this incredible martial art. Join us as we explore the positive impact of BJJ on children's lives and learn more about our mission to provide opportunities and support for young talents like Pedro. Visit bjjkids.org today to be part of this empowering movement.
Favela stories
From favela to the world
The BJJ documentary "From the Favela to the World" features Alan do Nascimento, better known as "Finfou". Finfou grew up in the Favela of Cantagalo in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil surrounded by crime and violence which tragically took the lives of his two brothers. Fortunately, Finfou chose a different path after a random encounter with jiu-jitsu pioneer Fernando “Tereré”.
Tereré convinced Finfou to try jiu-jitsu through a social project created to help children get off the streets and thus sparked a lifelong passion for the future IBJJF World champion. Today, Alan Finfou is living and teaching in Sweden, where he has established himself as the head submission coach at Allstars Training Center, an organization famous for its world-class MMA fighters such as UFC stars Alexander "The Mauler" Gustafsson and Khamzat "Borz" Chimaev, among others. It could have been different, but thanks to Jiu-Jitsu and a BJJ social project such as the Cantagalo social BJJ project Alan managed to go from the Favela to the World. Taken from his own experience, a child kept occupied doing sports will also be kept away from the harsh reality of the Favela. Alan Finfou himself is proof that BJJ really makes a difference!
You can save a child with BJJ
In this episode, BJJ philanthropist Supermike visits Jardim Gramacho, one of Rio de Janeiro's poorest neighborhoods, on a mission to help change the trajectory of children through BJJ.
The motto is simple: "Keeping a child occupied doing sports, we believe that the child will get an opportunity to escape the reality of the favela" If you train Jiu-Jitsu, then you know how much it has improved your life. But it doesn't end there because by being a better person, you are also positively impacting the lives of others around you, your community, and the world.
BJJKids.org was created for the purpose of changing the environment for kids and adolescents in the favelas of Brazil. We cannot take all the kids and move them to the United States, Australia, or Europe, but we can bring a part of our reality into the favela by renovating and creating BJJ academies to turn them into a jaw-dropping standard.
The aim is to create an environment that (in contrast with the reality of the favela) is so attractive that the kids want to spend more time on the mats training BJJ and less time focused on things that can bring a negative impact on their development such as drugs, violence, and criminality. But the project doesn't stop there. BJJkids.org will not only invest in academies but also perpetually invest in the education of instructors to make sure they reach a high standard when it comes to the physical and cognitive development of the children they are teaching.