Alliance Jiu-Jitsu is an international Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) team and academy association founded in 1993 by Romero “Jacaré” Cavalcanti, Fabio Gurgel, and Alexandre Paiva. Originally established in Brazil, Alliance has grown into one of the largest and most successful organizations in the sport, with affiliated academies across the world and a long history of success in major international competitions.
History
Alliance was founded in 1993 when Romero “Jacaré” Cavalcanti, Fabio Gurgel, and Alexandre Paiva united their teams under a single banner. The organization was created to bring together instructors and athletes from a shared lineage while strengthening their presence in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Alliance established itself as one of the dominant teams in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The organization expanded internationally through a network of affiliated academies and developed a structured approach to instruction, athlete development, and academy management. In 2014, the Alliance Association was formally established to help standardize teaching methods and support the growing global affiliation network.
Today, Alliance operates academies and affiliate schools throughout North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
Leadership
Alliance was founded by:
- Romero “Jacaré” Cavalcanti
- Fabio Gurgel
- Alexandre Paiva
Fabio Gurgel serves as one of the organization’s principal leaders and has played a significant role in the development of the Alliance curriculum, competition program, and international expansion.
Training Philosophy
Alliance emphasizes a structured approach to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that combines technical instruction, skill progression, and competition preparation. Key principles include:
- Strong technical fundamentals.
- Consistent positional development.
- Structured belt progression.
- Competition-focused training.
- Long-term athlete development.
The organization offers instruction in both gi and no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for practitioners ranging from beginners to elite competitors.
Competition Success
Alliance athletes regularly compete in major Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu events, including:
- IBJJF World Championship
- IBJJF Pan Championship
- IBJJF European Championship
- Brazilian National Championships
- ADCC World Championship
- ADCC Trials
- Professional invitational events
The team has earned numerous world titles and team championships throughout its history and is widely recognized as one of the most successful organizations in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition.
Notable Athletes
Over the years, Alliance has been represented by many accomplished competitors, including:
- Marcelo Garcia
- Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles
- Bruno Malfacine
- Lucas Lepri
- Bernardo Faria
- Gabi Garcia
- Michael Langhi
- Fabio Gurgel
Many of these athletes achieved world championship success while representing Alliance at the highest levels of competition.