Rafael Mendes

Rafael Mendes was born on June 20, 1989, in Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil. He first encountered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through his older cousin, Thiago Mendes, a purple belt under Leonardo Santos. Recognizing Rafael and his brother Guilherme's exceptional potential, Thiago introduced them to formal training at the academy headquarters under Santos and Ramon Lemos. At age 13, Rafael and Guilherme fully committed to BJJ, training twice daily. Following their parents' separation, their coach Ramon Lemos became a pivotal figure, filling an important mentorship role in their lives.

Rafael Mendes quickly emerged as a dominant competitor in the colored belt divisions, capturing consecutive IBJJF World Championships at blue belt in 2006, purple belt in 2007, and brown belt in 2008. At just 17 years old, despite having no prior no-gi competition experience, Rafael reached the finals of the ADCC Brazilian Trials, narrowly losing to Bruno Frazatto. Frazatto later became a close friend and teammate at Atos Jiu-Jitsu.

Awarded his black belt by Ramon Lemos in late 2008, Rafael Mendes quickly established himself as a leading force in the featherweight division. He notably popularized the 50-50 guard and the berimbolo, innovative techniques he effectively utilized to dethrone four-time world champion Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles. In 2015, Mendes broke the featherweight world title record previously held by Royler Gracie, securing his fifth IBJJF World Championship. He retired from competition in 2016 at age 27, concluding his career as a six-time IBJJF World Champion and maintaining an unbeaten streak in IBJJF competition since 2013. His last recorded loss was a closely contested decision against Cobrinha at the 2013 ADCC World Championship.

Popularization of the Berimbolo and 50-50 Guard

Rafael Mendes significantly influenced modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through his pioneering use of the berimbolo and 50-50 guard positions. His competition style emphasized precision, timing, and technical efficiency over traditional strength and conditioning methods. Mendes notably abandoned conventional strength training during his final world championship runs, instead relying exclusively on sport-specific movements and extensive mat time—a philosophy he credits for his elite-level performance.

In 2012, Rafael and his brother Guilherme Mendes founded the Art of Jiu-Jitsu Academy (AOJ) in Costa Mesa, California. Following his retirement from competition, Rafael fully dedicated himself to coaching, developing a structured, precision-driven curriculum encapsulated by the motto "every inch counts." AOJ rapidly became a global destination for elite training, earning recognition as "Gym of the Year" by JitsMagazine in 2023 after producing four black belt world champions at the 2023 IBJJF World Championship. In March 2024, the Mendes brothers expanded their academy by opening a second, larger AOJ facility to accommodate their growing student base.

In early 2020, Rafael and Guilherme amicably ended AOJ's affiliation with Atos Jiu-Jitsu, choosing to represent their own independent team identity. This cordial separation allowed the Mendes brothers to fully realize their unique vision for jiu-jitsu, nurturing homegrown talents such as Tainan Dalpra, Johnatha Alves, and Jessa Khan.

Widely recognized as one of the premier young coaches in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Rafael Mendes emphasizes systematic drilling, precise guard passing, and relentless positional control. Under his guidance, AOJ alumna Jessa Khan earned her black belt in 2020, marking a significant milestone for the academy. Additionally, Mendes coached Tainan Dalpra to consecutive middleweight world titles at the 2021 IBJJF World Championship and 2022 IBJJF World Championship, further validating his effective training methodologies.

In mid-2023, Rafael Mendes sparked excitement within the grappling community by hinting at a possible return to competition in 2024. Through social media teasers referencing training camp preparations, Mendes acknowledged the possibility of competing again, potentially in a major tournament or superfight. At age 34, Mendes remains younger than many current elite competitors, making a return both feasible and historically significant.

Rafael Mendes is widely regarded as one of the greatest featherweight competitors in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu history. His technical innovations, particularly the popularization of the berimbolo and 50-50 guard, have profoundly impacted modern guard play and competition strategies. Through the establishment and success of AOJ, Mendes has influenced training methodologies worldwide, leaving a lasting legacy as both a competitor and coach.