How Winners Academy Develops World Champions
Winners Academy has produced world champions across age groups and belt levels since 2012. Here's how our competition program works, and what makes it different.
Competition is optional — excellence isn't
Most of our students don't compete, and that's completely fine. Our adult classes are full of members who train for fitness, self-defense, and community. But for those who choose to compete, we have a dedicated competition team structure that treats them like professional athletes.
The coach behind the program
Head coach Jonatas Gurgel is a two-time World Cup Champion, three-time Pan American Champion, four-time Brazilian National Champion, and a professional MMA fighter with a 5-0 record. He's competed at the highest level and coached dozens of athletes to podium finishes at IBJJF events.
Our competition philosophy
Three core principles drive our competition training:
- Technique over strength. Every championship run we've had was built on clean fundamentals executed under pressure — not on athletic dominance. This matters because it means every student can compete, regardless of size or age.
- Smart peaking. We train athletes on a structured cycle with specific competitions as targets. Volume, intensity, and recovery are planned — not random.
- Mental preparation is half the battle. Visualization, pre-fight routines, and mat-side coaching all matter as much as physical training. We work on all of it.
Our kids' competition program
We only put kids in competition when they're emotionally and technically ready. Winning medals as a 10-year-old isn't the point — developing the kid's relationship with challenge is. Every competitor gets one-on-one prep time with a coach before any tournament.
What if I want to compete?
Talk to your coach after class. We'll evaluate your current level, suggest a competition timeline, and invite you to our competition team training sessions. Competing is one of the fastest ways to advance your BJJ — most athletes see a year's worth of improvement in three months of hard comp prep.
What if I don't?
Also great. You'll train alongside competition athletes, learn from their intensity, and benefit from the technical environment they create — without ever stepping on a tournament mat yourself.
Interested in the competition program? Reach out and let's talk about your goals.