1×
IBJJF Pan American Champion
Gi competition
Deivid Dias — Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt
Building champions
on and off the mats
One life built through Jiu-Jitsu — from São João de Meriti, Rio de Janeiro, to Washington, D.C.
My Story
One life built through Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, coach, academy owner, entrepreneur, founder, content creator, husband, and father. I represent GFTeam, coach and compete in the Washington, D.C. area, and build brands that carry the Brazilian spirit of resilience and joy around the world.
My story starts in the Baixada Fluminense of Rio de Janeiro — a neighborhood where you learn early that talent means nothing without discipline. From the mats of Rio to two academies in Maryland, I turned that lesson into a life, a family, and a community.
Everything I build connects to one mission: Building Champions On and Off the Mats.
“Success stopped being only about medals. It became about what I could build, who I could help, and what I could leave behind.”— Deivid Dias
- Discipline
- Confidence
- Respect
- Resilience
- Leadership
- Accountability
- Community
- Hard Work
- Humility
- Perseverance
Titles
Records
Years of stepping onto the competition mats — representing GFTeam and proving the work against the best divisions in the world:
1×
IBJJF American National Champion
United States
1×
AJP Miami Grand Slam Champion
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour
1×
IBJJF Master World Championship Medalist
Master Worlds
8×
IBJJF Open Champion
Eight open titles
2×
Fight 2 Win Champion
Two F2W titles
1×
NAGA Double Gold Champion
2025
Rio de Janeiro → Washington, D.C.
Roots in Rio. Home in Maryland.
Born in Nova Iguaçu, raised in São João de Meriti. Now growing BJJ in the DMV with GFTeam DC and GFTeam Hyattsville — carrying the Brazilian spirit with me every day.
Ventures
What I build
Four ventures, one mission: spread Jiu-Jitsu far beyond the mats.
Nebula Kimonos
My BJJ apparel brand — kimonos, no-gi sets, and lifestyle pieces built for the way we actually train.
Explore Nebula
OSS Rio Tours
BJJ plus Rio culture — training, beaches, food, and sightseeing in the birthplace of Jiu-Jitsu.
Explore the tour
Chama Fights
Submission-only grappling events. One Day. One Mission. Hunt the Submission.
Explore Chama Fights
Instructor Certification
The GFTeam DC Instructor Certification Course — knowing Jiu-Jitsu and knowing how to teach it are two different skills.
Explore the courseJournal
From the journal
Live on Instagram
My daily journal is on Instagram
I post nearly every day to @deividdias_bjj (~113,000 followers): technique breakdowns, coaching notes, competition life, academy moments, motivation, travel, entrepreneurship, family life, and everything happening with Nebula, OSS Rio Tours, and Chama Fights.
Photos
The journey in frames
Contact
Start the conversation
First class, seminar booking, sponsorship conversation, or a spot on the 2027 OSS Rio Tour — reach out directly, or write to wdcbjj@gmail.com.
Story
My Story
From the Baixada Fluminense to Washington, D.C. — one life built through Jiu-Jitsu.
Roots
I was born in Nova Iguaçu and raised in São João de Meriti, in the Baixada Fluminense region of Rio de Janeiro. Growing up where I did taught me early that nothing is given — everything is earned through work, respect, and persistence.
I began Jiu-Jitsu at around 13 years old. It gave a kid from the Baixada something to build on: discipline when things got hard, confidence when doubt showed up, and mentors who showed me that strength isn't about dominating people — it's about lifting them.
The journey
From those first classes in Rio to building a life, a family, two academies, and multiple businesses in the Washington, D.C. area, Jiu-Jitsu never stopped being the engine. Every venture — the academies, Nebula Kimonos, OSS Rio Tours, Chama Fights, the instructor course — comes from the same root: the mats changed my life, and I'm spending my life paying that forward.
“Success stopped being only about medals. It became about what I could build, who I could help, and what I could leave behind.”— Deivid Dias
Family
Family first
Beyond every title and business, I'm a husband and father of two. My wife Jennifer has been my partner in everything — from the early days to every step since. My children Zoe and Alec remind me daily what the work is really for.
They are part of my story and my values: the person I try to be on the mats is the father and husband I try to be at home.
Identity
Brazil + USA, always
My identity lives in both places. Rio de Janeiro gave me my roots, my Jiu-Jitsu, and my culture. Washington, D.C. is where I've built my family, my academies, and my future. You'll see that duality everywhere I show up — it's who I am.
- Rio de Janeiro
- São João de Meriti
- Washington, D.C.
- Takoma Park
- Hyattsville
Train with the mission
One life built through Jiu-Jitsu — and room on the mats for you. First class, seminar booking, sponsorship conversation, or a spot on the 2027 tour — reach out directly to wdcbjj@gmail.com.
The Craft
Jiu-Jitsu
Fadda lineage. GFTeam black belt. A competitor's record and a coach's heart.
Lineage
The line
Every black belt carries a line. Mine comes through the Fadda line — the tradition of fighting experience, and of proving technique against anybody:
- 01 Mitsuyo Maeda Kano Jiu-Jitsu arrives in Brazil
- 02 Luiz França Student of Maeda
- 03 Oswaldo Fadda Founder of the Fadda line
- 04 Monir Salomão Master of Júlio César Pereira
- 05 Júlio César Pereira Legend, Founder of GFTeam
- 06 Ataíde Rafael My professor
- 07 Deivid Dias GFTeam black belt · GFTeam Hall of Fame
Titles
Records
Years of stepping onto the competition mats — representing GFTeam and proving the work against the best divisions in the world:
1×
IBJJF Pan American Champion
Gi competition
1×
IBJJF American National Champion
United States
1×
AJP Miami Grand Slam Champion
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour
1×
IBJJF Master World Championship Medalist
Master Worlds
8×
IBJJF Open Champion
Eight open titles
2×
Fight 2 Win Champion
Two F2W titles
1×
NAGA Double Gold Champion
2025
Competition
Built for the big stage
Every title traced back to the same habit: show up, compete, and prove the work — gi or no-gi, local or world stage.
NAGA Double Gold — 2025
Honor
GFTeam Hall of Fame
I represent GFTeam — one of the most accomplished Jiu-Jitsu teams in the world. Being a GFTeam black belt is an honor I carry into every class and every match; being recognized in the GFTeam Hall of Fame is a recognition of a lifetime spent on these mats.
Lineage, team, and community: they matter as much as any medal — because we don't build this alone.
Standards
What the team means
- One of the most respected teams in the world — championships from the IBJJF stage to the Abu Dhabi tours
- A family across continents — headquarters in Brazil, academies worldwide, and GFTeam DC in the DMV
- Standards, not shortcuts — every promotion earned through competition, teaching, and character
Coaching
Beyond technique
My coaching philosophy goes beyond technique. Jiu-Jitsu is the vehicle — the destination is the person: disciplined, confident, resilient, accountable. That's why my message is and will always be:
“Building Champions On and Off the Mats.”— Deivid Dias
The values every class is built on:
- Discipline
- Confidence
- Respect
- Resilience
- Leadership
- Accountability
- Community
- Hard Work
- Humility
- Perseverance
Competition
On the mats
Podiums, corners, and the moments between — competing and coaching at the highest level.
The Mats
Academies
Growing BJJ in the DMV — two academies, one mission.
Takoma Park, MD
GFTeam DC
Founder, Owner & Head Coach. I've been building GFTeam DC since 2015 — a Jiu-Jitsu academy in Takoma Park, Maryland, founded on discipline, community, and the Brazilian spirit.
720 Erie Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
Programs:
- Kids BJJ
- Adult BJJ
- Beginners
- Advanced
- Competition Training
- Gi
- No-Gi
- Women's Jiu-Jitsu
- Private Lessons
Hyattsville, MD
GFTeam Hyattsville
As a partner and co-owner of GFTeam Hyattsville, I carry the same mission across the DMV: grow BJJ with quality coaching, strong leadership, and a real community around it.
4616 Ingraham St, Hyattsville, MD 20781
Two locations, one team. Whether you train in Takoma Park or Hyattsville, you're building the same thing: champions on and off the mats.
Mission
The DMV mission
- Grow Jiu-Jitsu in the D.C. area — kids, adults, competitors, and beginners
- Coaching that goes beyond technique — leadership, structure, and academy culture
- One team, two mats — GFTeam DC and GFTeam Hyattsville united under one banner
Business
Ventures
Apparel, travel, events, and education — built from the mats up.
01 Nebula Kimonos
Founder · CEONebula Kimonos is my BJJ apparel brand — gear built from a black belt's perspective, worn in training rooms and on competition stages. It's about performance first: fit, durability, and design that respects the craft.
- Kimonos
- No-Gi
- Lifestyle
- Athletes
- Collaborations
- Shop
02 OSS Rio Tours
Founder · CEO“Experience Rio through the eyes of someone who grew up there.”
OSS Rio Tours is a BJJ + Rio culture experience: training, beaches, food, sightseeing, local experiences, and community. We bring students from around the world to the birthplace of Jiu-Jitsu — my hometown. The groups sell out: 15 people in 2025, 30 people in 2026.
- BJJ Training
- Rio Culture
- Beaches
- Food
- Sightseeing
- Local Experiences
- Community
03 Chama Fights
Founder“One Day. One Mission. Hunt the Submission.”
Chama Fights is a submission-only grappling event — treated with the respect the athletes deserve: super fights, walkout music, professional photography, a main and co-main event, and customized medals. First event: September 26, 2026.
- Super Fights
- Submission Only
- No Points
- Kids / Adults / Masters
- Gi / No-Gi
- Walkout Music
- Professional Photography
- Main & Co-Main Event
- Customized Medals
04 GFTeam DC Instructor Certification Course
Creator
“Knowing Jiu-Jitsu and knowing how to teach Jiu-Jitsu are two different skills.”
This is the course I wish I'd had when I started coaching. The GFTeam DC Instructor Certification Course teaches practitioners how to teach — and how to think like professionals. What we cover:
- Teaching methodology
- Class structure
- Kids & adult coaching
- Safety & emergency preparedness
- Leadership & academy culture
- Competition coaching
- Student retention
- Professional standards
Opportunities
Work With Me
Seminars, private training, instructor development, and academy consulting — from a black belt who's built it all.
Plus: my 50-page PDF manual Build on Pressure — $14.99, instant download after payment.
For academies
Seminars
I bring seminars to academies around the world — always customized to the room. Available formats:
BJJ Seminars
Open seminars in Gi or No-Gi. Structured, practical systems — not random moves — built for real progress long after the weekend ends.
Kids Seminars
Energy, games, and real technique — designed to teach our youngest grapplers discipline and confidence while having fun on the mats.
Competition Seminars
Game planning, strategy, mental preparation, and the championship mindset — for athletes chasing gold.
1-on-1
Private Training
Private lessons are the fastest path to real change in your game. I build each student a complete game and system — positions, connections, and the details that make submissions hunt you down instead of the other way around.
For competitors: the black belt details and strategy that win matches.
Special formats
Camps & Special Events
- Training camps — multi-day intensives
- Special events — belt testings, celebrations, academy milestones
- Gi & No-Gi formats — tailored to your mat
Academy owners & coaches
Instructor development & academy consulting
For coaches and academy owners: teaching methodology, instructor training, academy culture, retention systems, and professional operations. I've built and grown multiple academies since 2015 — and I'll tell you exactly what works.
Digital product · Online Academy
Build On Pressure
A 50-page manual on Jiu-Jitsu pressure points and concepts — pressure made mechanical: connection, weight, and geometry you can apply tonight.
Deivid Dias
Build
on
Pressure
Pressure points & concepts
for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
$14.99
- 50 pages
- 11 chapters
- Drill protocol
- 12-week roadmap
- Glossary
Written for grapplers from white to brown belt. Pressure beats flash — because it taxes the opponent's breathing, posture, and decisions every single second. This book teaches pressure as a complete system: connection, weight, geometry, and passing chains like the over-under, folding pass, and double-under.
Inside the manual
Why pressure wins
This isn't a highlight reel of flashy moves. It's the fundamental system I teach on the mats — concepts that make top game suffocating no matter who you roll with:
“Pressure is connection plus weight, applied through a straight line. Squeezing muscle is not pressure.”— From Chapter 1: What Pressure Really Is
11 chapters walk you from the first principle — connection before weight — through the geometry of the pin, controlling the head, spine, and hips, pressure passing, and how to survive pressure when it's coming at you. Then a weekly drill protocol and a 12-week roadmap put the whole system on a training calendar.
- Gi & no-gi
- Beginner friendly
- Concept-driven
- Drillable
- 1. What Pressure Really Is — connection plus weight through a straight line
- 2. The Connection Before the Weight — hip-to-hip connection is the first skill
- 3. The Geometry of the Pin — broken posture, wide base, alignment
- 4. Shoulder Pressure Systems — the densest pressure tool in top game
- 5. Controlling the Head and Spine — where the head goes the body follows
- 6. Controlling the Hips — pin the hips to pin the person
- 7. Inside Position and the Frame Battle — win the frame battle, the pass is a formality
- 8. Pressure Passing — over-under, folding pass, double-under
- 9. Side Control as a Pressure Machine — the shoulder of justice & far-side attacks
- 10. Mount and the Heaviest Chair — rebuild it, don't hold it
- 11. Surviving Pressure — the same concepts in reverse
- Plus: drill protocol · 12-week roadmap · glossary of pressure terms
Instant access
Get your copy
Three steps: leave your details, pay securely through Square, then confirm — your PDF unlocks immediately.
01
Your details
So I can send your receipt and future training material. No spam, ever — your info goes only to me.
02
Pay $14.99
The Square checkout opened in a new tab. Finish paying there, come back here, and press the button below — it unlocks your download and opens an email with your order details so I can send your receipt.
03
Download
Your copy is unlocked, champion. Oss — go crush.
Download the PDFDidn't see the order email? Tap to resend it
Questions about the manual?
My inbox is open — DM me on Instagram or write to wdcbjj@gmail.com.
Free audiobook · 18 chapters · 44 minutes
Listen to Build on Pressure
The complete Build on Pressure audiobook — free to listen, streamed right here. Every chapter is narrated by Professor Deivid Dias himself, in his own voice. Press play on any chapter, or start at the top and let it roll straight through.
Now playing · Free to listen
01 · Introduction
3:09 · Narrated by Professor Deivid Dias
0:000:00
Chapters
The full book, in order
18 chapters · 44 minutes total · free to listen — no sign-up, no paywall. When a chapter ends, the next one starts automatically.
- 3:08
- 3:09
- 1:55
- 1:51
- 1:54
- 1:29
- 2:36
- 2:59
- 1:41
- 2:00
- 1:48
- 2:54
- 1:55
- 0:59
- 3:13
- 7:33
- 1:19
- 1:28
Want the system in writing?
The audiobook covers every chapter of the 50-page manual — the drill protocol, the 12-week roadmap, and the glossary of pressure terms are all in the written edition.
Press
Media & Press
Featured in leading Jiu-Jitsu publications and entrepreneurship features.
GracieMag
Featured in GracieMag — the global authority on the Jiu-Jitsu world and its personalities.
VoyageBaltimore
“Inspiring Conversations with Deivid Dias” — my story, my academies, and what it took to build them.
Read the interview →Bold Journey
Featured in Bold Journey's entrepreneurship features — on building businesses out of a passion for the mats.
“I see myself not just as a coach or business owner, but as a bridge — between Brazil and the U.S., between tradition and innovation, between martial arts and modern entrepreneurship.”— Deivid Dias, VoyageBaltimore interview
Gallery
Competition & coaching
On the mats and in the corner — the work behind the medals.
Daily
Journal
Thoughts, training notes, and behind-the-scenes — published where you already are.
Live on Instagram
My daily journal is on Instagram
I post nearly every day to @deividdias_bjj (~113,000 followers): technique breakdowns, coaching notes, competition life, academy moments, motivation, South America and travel, entrepreneurship, family life, and everything happening with Nebula, OSS Rio Tours, and Chama Fights.
- Techniques
- Coaching Notes
- Competition
- Academy Life
- Motivation
- South America
- Travel
- Entrepreneurship
- Nebula Kimonos
- OSS Rio Tours
- Chama Fights
Reach out
Contact
First class, seminar booking, sponsorship conversation, or a spot on the 2027 tour — reach out directly.
Fastest way
Message me on Instagram
Seminars, private lessons, press, brand partnerships, the OSS Rio Tours, and the Instructor Certification Course — the fastest way to reach me is a direct message.
Email & phone
Get in touch
Email: wdcbjj@gmail.com
Phone: (202) 636-3453
GFTeam DC — Takoma Park:
720 Erie Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912
GFTeam Hyattsville:
4616 Ingraham St, Hyattsville, MD 20781
Rio de Janeiro → Washington, D.C.
Come experience it with me.
Train at the academy, join me in Rio, or bring me to your academy for a seminar. The mats are waiting.