Alliance Jiu-jitsu is one of the most prominent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu associations, and the current, defending World team champions, having won the team title at the IBJJF World Championships in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. They also won the World Championships back to back in 1998 and 1999. Alliance was founded by Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti and his students Fabio Gurgel, Alexandre Paiva and Fernando Gurgel. Alliance Global headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia at the Alliance Martial Arts Academy, where "Jacare" is the head instructor. Fabio Gurgel, also called the "General" is the co-leader of Alliance and the head instructor at Alliance Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Alexandre "Gigi" Paiva heads the third main Alliance academy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

About Romero “Jacare” Calvalcanti


Born in 1952, Jacare began his BJJ training at 11 years old. At age 16, he joined the famous Gracie School in Copacabana where he grew up. Jacare’ and the Gracies lived in the same neighborhood, so he got to meet all of them. He was in the same BJJ class as Carlos Gracie Jr., Crolin Gracie, Fabio Santos, Mauricio Gomes, the Machados, Rickson Gracie, and many others.

After competing extensively from 1972 to 1985 and working as an assistant instructor at the Gracie School. Jacare opened his first school in Ipanema, Brazil. He soon became one of the most respected instructors in Brazil, going on to found and coach the famous powerhouse Alliance team. Among many important titles Alliance Team has won the World Championships on 6 separate occasions (1998/1999/2008/2009/2010/2011).

Jacare spends his time coaching and mentoring his students with his wife and daughter at the Alliance Jiu-jitsu headquarters in Atlanta, GA.