Alliance Jiu Jitsu: Locations and Pedigree
Founded 1993 by Romero 'Jacaré' Cavalcanti, Fabio Gurgel, Alexandre Paiva
About Alliance Jiu Jitsu
Alliance was founded in 1993 by Romero Cavalcanti — a black belt under Rolls Gracie — along with Fabio Gurgel and Alexandre Paiva. The team grew out of the now-defunct Master Team and quickly established itself as a powerhouse in IBJJF competition.
Alliance has won the IBJJF World Team Championship more times than any other team. The academy's competitive culture is famously intense — multiple world champions cross-train at Alliance HQ in Brazil, and many top US-based competitors trace their lineage back to one of the founders.
Today Alliance has academies in Brazil, the US, Europe, and Asia. The New York City Alliance under Marcelo Garcia (now MGiNYC), the Atlanta academy under Jacare himself, and the Sao Paulo headquarters are among the most well-known locations.
Style & Philosophy
Heavily competition-focused with a strong emphasis on positional control and high-percentage submission chains. Famous for spider guard, lapel guard, and pressure passing systems.
Notable Practitioners
- →Marcelo Garcia
- →Rubens 'Cobrinha' Charles
- →Bernardo Faria
- →Lucas Lepri
- →Michael Langhi
- →Tarsis Humphreys
- →Fabio Gurgel
Find a Alliance Jiu Jitsu Academy (19)
São Paulo
- Alliance Interlagos
- Alliance Jiu Jitsu Tatuapé
- Alliance Jiu Jitsu HQ (Fabio Gurgel)
- Dream Art Project
San Diego
- Alliance Jiu Jitsu San Diego8990 Miramar Rd Ste 225, San Diego, CA 92126, USA
- Alliance Jiu Jitsu Chula Vista1680 Broadway k, Chula Vista, CA 91911, USA
Atlanta
- Alliance Jiu Jitsu Atlanta5290 Roswell Rd STE A170, Sandy Springs, GA 30342, USA
- Alliance Jiu Jitsu US HQ (Jacare Cavalcanti)
Miami
- Alliance Miami - Key Biscayne | Jiu-Jitsu for Children, Teenagers and Adults927 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149, USA
Seattle
Ontario
- Alliance Jiu Jitsu Ontario
Rocklin
- Infinite Jiu Jitsu
Sunderland
- Roker Rough House
Shuwaikh
- Alliance Jiu Jitsu
Dallas
- Alliance Jiu Jitsu Dallas (Marcelo Garcia Dallas)
Los Angeles
- Cobrinha BJJ & Fitness (Alliance LA)
Frankfurt
- Alliance Frankfurt am Main
Buenos Aires
- Alliance Jiu Jitsu Buenos Aires
Rome
- Alliance Jiu Jitsu Rome
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alliance the best BJJ team? +
By competition results, Alliance has the most IBJJF World Team Championships of any team. 'Best' depends on what you value — Alliance's competitive pedigree is unmatched, but other teams (Atos, Checkmat, Gracie Barra) all have strong claims in specific eras.
Who founded Alliance Jiu Jitsu? +
Alliance was founded in 1993 by Romero 'Jacaré' Cavalcanti along with Fabio Gurgel and Alexandre Paiva. Jacaré is the current head of the team and runs the Alliance Atlanta academy.
Is Marcelo Garcia part of Alliance? +
Marcelo Garcia was the head instructor of Alliance NYC for over a decade and remains affiliated with the broader Alliance team. His own NYC academy now operates under the 'Marcelo Garcia Jiu-Jitsu' brand but stays within the Alliance lineage.
Where is Alliance headquartered? +
Alliance HQ is in São Paulo, Brazil, under Fabio Gurgel. The Atlanta academy under Jacaré Cavalcanti is the largest US-based hub. There are over 100 Alliance affiliates worldwide.
What's the difference between Alliance and Gracie Barra? +
Both are top-tier competitive teams. Gracie Barra has more affiliates worldwide and a more standardized curriculum focused on belt progression for general practitioners. Alliance has fewer but more competition-elite academies and a culture more explicitly oriented toward producing IBJJF champions.
Related Lineages
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