Paulo Ledesma, the champion behind 100+ black belts

In 2007, Paulo Ledesma flew to the United States for the Pans and shared his hotel room with two young brothers from Rio Claro who needed to save money: Guilherme and Rafael Mendes. In an interview with VF Comunica, the leader of Atos Bauru explained how that trip helped change the course of his career.

“I met the Mendes brothers during the 2007 Pans. They were on the same flight as me and asked to stay in my hotel room. Since I was traveling with the federation, I ended up hosting both of them for free!” he recalled.

“Back then, we had to find all kinds of ways to save money on lodging,” he added.

The three trained together at a gym in Long Beach, California, and the brothers left a strong impression. “I think they were still purple or brown belts at the time, I don’t remember exactly, but they were already extremely tough at Jiu-Jitsu.”

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From a small house to a world title

By the time he met the brothers, Ledesma already had a story of his own. He took his first steps with Vanderci Garcia, in a small house near his home. Later, Júnior Carvalho steered him toward competition.

In 2004, he became an IBJJF world champion at blue belt. That same year, he started teaching in Piratininga, in the state of São Paulo, by then a purple belt.

“That was the start of my journey as a professor. Early on, I understood that Jiu-Jitsu goes far beyond competition. It is a tool for building character and discipline, and for changing lives,” he said.

Meeting Ramon Lemos

Ledesma received his black belt in 2007 from Libéri, of Gracie Barra. Soon after, with no place to train, he went to see the Mendes brothers’ academy in Rio Claro. That is where he met Atos co-founder Ramon Lemos.

“Ramon was a beast at Jiu-Jitsu! He had impressive technical knowledge and an extraordinary ability to teach,” he said.

In 2008, Ramon signed his black belt, and Ledesma joined the team. “Seeing his work up close made it very clear to me how important his influence was in developing the Mendes brothers and in the level of excellence they reached in the sport,” he said.

From 50 to 315 students in Bauru

Ledesma opened his own academy between 2007 and 2008 with about 50 students. Today he has 315, split across beginner, women’s, competition and kids classes, which start at age 2.

As the academy grew, he kept competing. At black belt, he won the São Paulo State Championship absolute in 2013, the International Masters in 2018, the South American No-Gi in 2019 and the South American in 2021. In 2024, he took the Brazilian No-Gi absolute and the Pan No-Gi.

“Competition taught me to handle pressure, face hardship and stay focused through challenges. That’s what I try to pass on to my students: life is also a competition, and we won’t always win,” he said.

More than 100 black belts

According to Ledesma, he has promoted more than 100 black belts. One of them is Wilker Welington Pereira, who started as a child, became a São Paulo state champion and now teaches in the city. Several former students have also opened their own schools in Bauru and nearby towns.

Recent results for the team include his son, Davi Ledesma, a Pan, Brazilian and South American champion in 2026 at juvenile level. Isadora Muniz was a South American champion the same year, and Fabiely Ortega won the Brazilian No-Gi at brown belt. Ivanor Carminatti won the South American in 2024, 2025 and 2026, twice at blue belt and once at purple.

Ten years of work with Kaynan Duarte

The biggest name in this story is Kaynan Duarte, an IBJJF and ADCC world champion. Born in Pederneiras, near Bauru, Duarte started with Zé Cavalo and sought out Ledesma while looking for tougher training.

Ledesma says Duarte has trained with him since purple belt and that they have worked together from 2016 to today. Duarte’s black belt came from André Galvão, as Ledesma makes a point of noting. He also coached the athlete at BJJ Stars and BJJ Bet.

The lesson he passes on

After more than two decades as a professor, including seminars around his region and a stint in Porto, Portugal, in 2018, Ledesma says he has his own method. With children, the focus is on technical basics, discipline and respect. With competitors, the work is based on repetition and specific training.

“I believe discipline and respect start with the professor’s example. Inside the academy, we are a mirror for our students. Our posture, our attitude and the way we treat people teach much more than our words alone,” he said.

That is the approach he now plans to take to the United States. “My way of teaching is by example. I want to develop not only good athletes, but disciplined, respectful people who are ready for life’s challenges.”

Did you know this story about Paulo Ledesma and the Mendes brothers?

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