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Rafael Rosendo Dos Santos

@rafarosendobjj

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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt
🥇1x Pan American No Gi Master Champion
🥈🥈2x World Master Silver Medalist
🥉🥉 2x Pan American Master Bronze Medalist

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JJ Highlight by @rafarosendobjj

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5

6 years ago

🇺🇸“Live the Life of Your Dreams: Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams according to your vision and purpose instead of the expectations and opinions of others.” -Roy T. Bennett

🇧🇷 “Viva a Vida dos Seus Sonhos: Seja corajoso o suficiente para viver a vida dos seus sonhos de acordo com sua visão e propósito, em vez das expectativas e opiniões dos outros.” -Roy T. Bennett

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#alliance #alliancejiujitsu #alliancebjj #alliancegreenville #alliancechampions #jiujitsu #bjj #jiujitsulifestyle #bjjlifestyle #grappling #jiujitsujourney #submissiongrappling #mma #judo #nogi #selfdefense #wrestling #bjjourney #mymission #believeandachieve #deubatubaparaomundo #yeahthatgreenville taken in Alliance Jiu Jitsu Greenville by @rafarosendobjj

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16

4 years ago

🇺🇸Competition for me is a way to strengthen myself as human. Anxiety in competition is a common thing for everyone, we all have fears and self doubt. What will help us to get the confidence we need to perform in a stressful situation besides grinding in preparation (diet, intense rolls, s&c, rest), is to self talk with only positive affirmations of one’s worth. Winning or losing in competition doesn’t define who you are, what you do in preparation does. What are your positive affirmations?
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🇧🇷A competição para mim é uma maneira de me fortalecer como ser humano. A ansiedade na competição é uma coisa comum para todos, todos nós temos medos e dúvidas. O que irá nos ajudar a obter a confiança de que precisamos para se ter “sucesso” em uma situação de estresse, além de se entregar na preparação (dieta, rolas intensos, s&c, descanso), é substituir qualquer pensamento negativo para os que reafirmem o seu valor e merecimento por saber que se preparou da melhor forma. Ganhar ou perder na competição não define quem você é, o que você faz na preparação, isso sim define. Quais são as suas afirmações positivas?

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#alliance #alliancejiujitsu #alliancebjj #alliancegreenville #alliancechampions #jiujitsu #bjj #jiujitsulifestyle #bjjlifestyle #grappling #grappler #submissiongrappling #mma #judo #nogi #selfdefense #wrestling #gi #nogi #bjjtips #whitebelttips #yeahthatgreenville taken in Alliance Jiu Jitsu Greenville by @rafarosendobjj

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11

4 years ago

What a weekend for Alliance Greenville at the IBJJF No-Gi Pans!

This weekend, some of our competitors made the trip to New Jersey to represent Alliance Greenville at one of the biggest No-Gi events on the IBJJF calendar. Over the first two days of competition, they stepped onto the mats against some of the best athletes from around the country, and once again showed that the work we are doing here in Greenville belongs on that stage.

We are part of the biggest Jiu-Jitsu team in the world, but our home is still Greenville, South Carolina. We come from a smaller city, but for a long time Alliance Greenville has been developing competitors capable of performing on some of the biggest stages in our sport.

So before anyone talks about putting Greenville on the Jiu-Jitsu map, remember: we’ve been here. We’ve been representing Greenville, developing athletes, building champions, and carrying the Alliance flag for years.

And we are not done. We keep working, we keep improving, and I truly believe our first adult World Champion is only a matter of time.

Very proud of all three of you. Back to work. 🦅🥋

Results:

🟫🟫🟫🟫⬛️⬛️⬛️🟫

@alex_cordovabjj 🥉

🟦🟦🟦🟦⬛️⬛️⬛️🟦

@angelinapinelli 🥈

💅 Angelina Pinelli’s tournament was about overcoming adversity. After dealing with an injury that kept her from preparing the way she wanted, she still showed up ready to compete. She won 15–0, submitted two opponents, and lost the final by only 2 points to take SILVER. She also became the first female from Alliance Greenville to ever medal at No-Gi Pans. 💪

Second Place 🥈

🌟 Alex Cordova competed in his first major tournament as a brown belt and made history for our school, becoming our first male adult brown belt to medal at No-Gi Pans. Three wins and a very close semifinal earned him BRONZE. No-Gi isn’t even his main focus, which makes this accomplishment even more special. Alex is one of the hardest-working young men in our gym, and seeing that work pay off makes me extremely proud. 🌊

Third Place 🥉

⚡️ Malloy stepped out there, fought hard, and represented us well. He came up short in his second match, but I’m proud of him for putting himself out there at this taken in IBJJF Pan Ams by @rafarosendobjj

98

8

3 days ago

My first podium at an adult major! It’s been a crawl to the top, and I’m getting closer and closer 🌊

Thank you to @rafarosendobjj, @dudeloganjiujitsu, @billyfletcher6883, and my dad, @dad_does_lasso, for coaching me on and off the mats!

Also, thank you to all my teammates who show up every day so that we can get better together. Iron sharpens iron! 🔥 by @rafarosendobjj

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20

4 days ago

Not bad for my first No-Gi tournament @ibjjf 🥈

Thank you everyone for the support to help me get here. My coaches and teammates, I love you.

And above all, thank God for the path He has paved. This run was really eye opening for me — I got injured twice this month and haven’t been training a lot but didn’t let the excuses get to me. The matches were super tough but I had an amazing time :)

@rafarosendobjj
@johnburkebjj
@dudeloganjiujitsu
@alex_cordovabjj taken in Meadowlands Exposition Center by @rafarosendobjj

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44

4 days ago

🇧🇷 Feliz aniversário de 70 anos, mãe! ❤️

Sua vida sempre foi um exemplo para mim do verdadeiro significado de amor, sacrifício e trabalho duro. Você veio de uma realidade simples, trabalhou duro a vida inteira, carregou nossa família nos momentos mais difíceis e sempre fez de tudo para que eu tivesse oportunidades que você mesma nunca teve.

Hoje, eu só quero que você saiba o quanto tudo o que você fez significa para mim. Espero que você possa sentir todo o amor que sempre deu a nós voltando para você, principalmente agora. Tenho muito orgulho de ser seu filho, sou eternamente grato por tudo que você fez por mim e te amo mais do que palavras conseguem expressar.

Feliz aniversário, mãe! ❤️

🇺🇸 Happy 70th Birthday, Mom!

Your life has always been an example to me of what love, sacrifice, and hard work really mean. You came from very little, worked hard your entire life, carried our family through some very difficult times, and made sure I had opportunities that you never had yourself.

Today, I just hope you know how much everything you have done means to me. I hope you feel all the love you have given us coming back to you, especially now. I’m very proud to be your son, grateful for everything you have done for me, and I love you more than words can say.

Happy Birthday, Mom. ❤️ taken in Ubatuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil by @rafarosendobjj

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15

16 days ago

Hey everyone 👋

Registration is OPEN 🦅 ALLIANCE CUP NORTH AMERICA 2026

Registration is officially open for the Alliance Cup North America 2026. On November 8, Charlotte, NC will welcome the Alliance family for a day built to celebrate our history and challenge our athletes on the mats.

From Kids to Masters, every division has a place at this event. Sign up, bring your academy, and be part of the next chapter of the Alliance legacy.

📍 Charlotte, North Carolina
📅 November 8, 2026
🥋 Kids • Juvenile • Adult • Masters

Represent your academy. Represent our team. Compete at the Alliance Cup.

We will be posting it on our social media today. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD! Thank you 🙇🏻‍♂️

LINK IN BIO!!!!!! by @rafarosendobjj

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13

19 days ago

BLACK BELT. 🥋🖤

It’s hard to put into words what this means.

Years of training. Hard rounds. Injuries, setbacks, time off, healing, and starting again. A whole lot of getting humbled and continuing to show up anyway.

I’m proud of this one. Really damn proud. But I didn’t get here alone.

Professor @rafarosendobjj thank you for everything you’ve invested in me. Your time, knowledge, patience, and belief in me have shaped the jiu-jitsu practitioner I’ve become. You flew across the country to be in my corner at Worlds, and having you there to tie this belt around my waist is something I’ll never forget.

@kennyfaithbjj, thank you for trusting me to teach at Alliance Easley and giving me the opportunity to pass along some of what this sport has given me.

@dudeloganjiujitsu and Billy Fletcher thank you for the rounds, the knowledge, the encouragement, the ass kickings, and everything in between. You’ve all been part of this journey.

And Michelle, my love and my best friend.

This past year has tested us in ways neither of us could have imagined. Through all of it, you’ve stood beside me. You supported the training, tournaments, injuries, long days, and everything that came with chasing this goal.

After everything this year has taken from us, having you beside me in Vegas for one of the greatest moments of my life meant more than I can explain.

Thank you for loving me, believing in me, and still finding ways to celebrate my victories while carrying so much of your own. I love you.

Every injury. Every setback. Every hard round. Every time I could have stopped but chose to come back.

I earned this.

But I damn sure didn’t earn it alone.

Black belt. And still just getting started. 🥋🖤 taken in Alliance Jiu Jitsu Greenville by @rafarosendobjj

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36

a month ago

90s ❤️

#pai #90s #ubatuba #memories #goodtimes taken in Ubatuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil by @rafarosendobjj

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1

a month ago

🥋 LUCAS LEPRI SEMINAR — GREENVILLE, SC

We are excited to welcome IBJJF Hall of Famer, 9x World Champion, and 2x ADCC Silver Medalist Lucas Lepri to Alliance Greenville on November 21st!

Lucas has some of the most precise and efficient Jiu-Jitsu in the game. His dynamic guard, pressure, passing, timing, and technical understanding have made him one of the best competitors of his generation.

This is your opportunity to spend 2 hours learning directly from one of the best to ever do it. Whether you are a competitor or simply want to improve your Jiu-Jitsu, there is a lot to learn from someone who has performed at the highest level of our sport for so many years.

📅 November 21, 2026
⏱️ 2-Hour Seminar (10am-12pm)
💰 $100 Alliance Greenville Members | $120 Non-Members
📍 Alliance Jiu Jitsu Greenville
117 Haywood Rd, Greenville, SC 29607

Open to members and non-members.

⚠️ LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE!

🔗 Ready to sign up? Use the link in our bio to reserve your spot.

Have questions or need more information? Send us a DM or reach out to Alliance Greenville directly.

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from an IBJJF Hall of Famer and one of the best to ever step on the mats! 🏆🥋

#alliance #jiujitsu #bepreciseseminar #community #yeahthatgreenville taken in Alliance Jiu Jitsu Greenville by @rafarosendobjj

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8

a month ago

🥋 IBJJF MASTER WORLDS 2026 — A SPECIAL MOMENT

Another amazing IBJJF Master Worlds is in the books!

A big salute to all the Masters competitors who, despite the responsibilities of adult life, continue to find the time to train, challenge themselves, and become better on the mats. You inspire us!

And congratulations to Alliance, once again showing the strength of our team by winning the 2026 World Master Team Titles in both the Male and Female divisions! 🏆🏆🦅

But for us at Alliance Greenville, this Master Worlds was especially memorable.

After placing 3rd in his division 🥉 and 2nd in the Open Class 🥈, we had the honor of promoting Carey to BLACK BELT at 46 years old. 🖤🥋

Carey, known to us as “Big Carey” or “Polar Bear,” is a very kind man who inspires all of us with his dedication and love for the art. He truly embraces the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle with pride and honor.

Watching him step on the podium was special, but being able to recognize all the years of work behind that moment by promoting him to Black Belt made it even more meaningful.

We couldn’t be more proud and happy to see him accomplish this milestone in his journey.

Congratulations, Carey! Well deserved, Polar Bear! 🐻‍❄️🖤🥋

#AllianceGreenville #AllianceJiuJitsu #IBJJF #MasterWorlds2026 #YeahThatGreenville taken in Alliance Jiu Jitsu Greenville by @rafarosendobjj

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19

a month ago