Caio Almeida on what he sees in a student before anyone else: “That is where a champion begins”
In an exclusive interview with VF Comunica, the leader of Almeida JJ says he looks first at the person behind the athlete and that the will to keep going matters more than talent
Caio Almeida has produced world champions from blue belt to black belt, but the first thing he looks for in a new student has nothing to do with medals. In an exclusive interview with VF Comunica, the leader of Almeida JJ said that, before thinking about titles or results, he tries to see the person behind the athlete.
“Before I see a champion, I see a student, a person with a story, a personality, dreams, struggles and a potential that many times not even they can see yet,” he said.
“I believe there is potential in everyone”
For the coach, the first step is to help the student get better at jiu-jitsu, build discipline, confidence and good habits, and find in the sport something that can change their life. Technique, physical training and nutrition come into the process over time.
That belief comes from his own story. “I believe there is potential in everyone. Maybe because I was never the most talented one in the class myself,” he said. “What I had was the will to learn, the willingness to work and the belief that I could get there. That is why I believe so much in work.”
Where a champion begins
Almeida says he often notices this early, many times before the results show up. “Sometimes, before everyone else notices that a student can be a champion, I notice that he is willing to not give up. And, for me, that is where a champion begins,” he said.
From Itaquera to producing world champions
Born in Itaquera, on the east side of São Paulo, Almeida received his black belt in December 2009 from Gabriel Vella and founded Almeida JJ with his brothers Diogo and Gustavo. The best-known name to come out of the team is Bianca Basílio, a world champion and ADCC champion.
Cleber “Clandestino” Sousa came from the academy’s social project in the neighborhood. He won the World Championship at brown belt in 2016 and now trains with Cobrinha in Los Angeles. Almeida talked about that relationship in another part of the interview. Among the younger athletes, brown belt Luan Patrick, a silver medalist at the 2026 Europeans, is on the list of ten talents who could earn more space in 2027.
In the same conversation with VF Comunica, the coach also talked about what he sees as the greatest quality of a champion.
At your academy, who went further: the most talented one or the one who did not give up? Tell us in the comments.
