BJJ Gyms in Juiz de Fora, Brazil

Battousai Escola de Jiu-Jitsu is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy located in the Santo Antônio neighborhood in the Southeast Zone of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais. Founded in 2019 by black belt Luiz Alberto Mariano da Silva, the academy has quickly established itself as a competitive force in the region. Starting from a modest 20 square meters, the facility has expanded to 290 square meters to accommodate its growing student base. The academy offers programs for both children (ages 7-14) and adults, currently serving 55 students, all from the Juiz de Fora area. Head instructor Luiz Alberto emphasizes character development over purely athletic achievement, stating that he works "not necessarily to form an athlete, but to make my students better people." This philosophy combines technical excellence with personal growth and community values. Despite being a relatively young academy, Battousai has achieved remarkable competitive success. In December 2023, the team won the title in the team ranking of the Campeonato Mineiro de Jiu-Jitsu organized by Liga Mineira (LMJJ), with 55 athletes earning 37 medals (15 gold, 11 silver, 11 bronze) across four competition stages. Previous achievements include third place at the Open Juiz de Fora in 2022 and second place in the team ranking at the first stage of the Campeonato Mineiro. Under the leadership of Luiz Alberto Mariano, a black belt with a strong focus on fundamentals and character building, Battousai continues to expand its reach with plans for additional locations in the North Zone and beyond.