Tiago Alves (Barbosa JJ)

Tiago Alves is one of the most famous BJJ practitioners from the Barbosa Jiu Jitsu Team. A black belt in both Jiu Jitsu and Kung Fu Alves excelled in the “Arte Suave” having achieved many important titles in the black belt division, such as Brazilian National Champion (with and without the Gi), Pan American Champion and even South American champion.

Tiago Alves in Detail

Full name: Tiago Gomes Dias Alves

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Marcelo Behring > Waldomiro Perez > Roberto Godoi > Marco Barbosa > Tiago Alves

Main Achievements/Record:

• Pan American Champion (2006);
• South American Champion (2008 – CBJJE);
• 2x Brazilian National Nogi Champion (2009, 2010);
• Brazilian National Champion (2010);
• International Masters & Seniors Champion (2009 – Master);
• World Nogi Silver Medallist (2010);
• 2x Brazilian National Silver Medallist (2006, 2009);
• Pan American Bronze Medallist (2007).

Weight Division: Lightweight (76kg-167lbs) and Middleweight (82kg-181lbs)

Favourite Technique/Position: Guard Passing

Team/Association: Barbosa Jiu Jitsu

Tiago Alves Biography

Tiago Alves was born on the 4th of July 1979 in São Paulo, Brazil. He started practicing martial arts from a young age, and even achieved the rank of black belt in Kung Fu. He also surfed and was a Triathlon athlete for years, though fate would have it that when he first got in contact with Jiu Jitsu Alves was not doing any sports. Tiago was 20 years old at the time and by chance he met an old friend from Kung Fu, Francisco Lenhador. Francisco invited Alves to drop by his martial arts academy whenever he wanted, to stay active (use the punching bag or do whatever he wished), Tiago agreed and before he knew it, he was rolling around with a few of the guys from the gym who also practiced some sort of ground work.

Tiago Alves did not enjoy grappling at first, and he hated the playboy stigma (pit boys in Brazil) of the Jiu Jitsu practitioner, even so, his friend Francisco Lenhador noticed almost immediately that Tiago had talent for grappling, and took him to a more professional BJJ school near by, a school led by Sensei Gomes. Tiago stayed at Gomes’s place for 4 months, but there were few students at his schedule so he decided to look for a more populated Jiu Jitsu academy, finding “Barbosa Jiu Jitsu”, a team led by Marco Barbosa.

When Tiago was a blue belt he joined the University (Unisantana) in São Paulo, taking Physical Education as a main subject. Taking on the University’s program he was able to practice BJJ with a scholarship, always under the tutelage of Marco Barbosa – also known as “Barbosinha” – for whom he competed extensively. His stellar competition record granted him a speedy route to black belt, a grade he achieved in little over 5 years (receiving the black belt on Novermber 2004).

Tiago Alves started coaching BJJ in Brazil before coming to the United States (Indianapolis) where he became a personal trainer. He also teaches Jiu Jitsu at the Garra BJJ academy and he travels to Brazil on occasion to give support to the Barbosa Jiu Jitsu team and help his master, Marco Barbosa

Tiago Alves vs Rodrigo Otavio