The case involving Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach Melqui Galvão has taken a dramatic turn following the circulation of a leaked audio recording that has spread widely across the Brazilian jiu-jitsu community.

The recording, which is being widely attributed to Galvão, allegedly captures a conversation between the coach and the father of one of the alleged victims. The athlete has been identified in circulating reports as Lívia, a brown belt who trained under Galvão and who is said to have brought the case to the authorities.

At the time of writing, the authenticity of the audio has not been officially confirmed by authorities. The investigation remains ongoing, and no final conviction has been issued.

In the recording, the speaker repeatedly expresses regret, acknowledging that his behavior was wrong and stating that nothing could justify his actions. He emphasizes that, as a coach and a senior figure, he had a responsibility that he failed to uphold:

Luiz, I understand that you may not want to talk to me, and I completely understand that. I just want to make a few things clear.

First of all, I am deeply sorry. I am extremely ashamed and I couldn’t even sleep because of what I did. Nothing justifies my behavior. As a leader and as an older man, I should never have acted the way I did with your daughter.

I want to be honest with you — I never planned this. From the first day you arrived here until the last day you left, I never planned anything like this. It was never something I had in mind.

She is very young, and I know that. But the way she treated me sometimes felt different from a normal student-teacher relationship. It was not the way other students treat me. That made me believe there might have been something more than just a student-teacher dynamic.

But I want to be very clear — I am not blaming her. She has no fault in this. The fault is entirely mine. Even if there had been any kind of feeling, I had the responsibility, as a teacher and as a married man, to stop it, to correct it, and not to allow it to grow. I failed in that responsibility.

I spoke with her, I spoke with my wife, I spoke with you, and I spoke with everyone who trusts my work and depends on me. Many people depend on me today, and I am deeply ashamed.

I am willing to do whatever you want. I just want to make sure that no more people are harmed because of this.

My suggestion is that we have a conversation so I can apologize to you in person. I would also ask that Lívia be allowed to stay here at least until the World Championship, where she is supposed to receive her black belt.

I promise you that if she stays, I will keep complete distance from her. I will not touch her, I will not speak to her unless necessary, I will not travel on the same flight, and I will not stay in the same house. If needed, I will pay for you or her mother to accompany her anywhere, including all travel expenses.

I also want to offer something more. Lívia has always said she wanted to have her own academy in Orlando. I have an investor there and someone who can help with documentation. I have already spoken to this person, and she could go there as a partner. You could also be part of that. This could change your family’s life completely — living in the United States, building a future there.

At the same time, I need to tell you that if this situation becomes public, it will not only affect me. It will affect the entire structure we have built. Today, this project supports almost 100 people — coaches, staff, students, people in different cities, physiotherapy, preparation teams, housing, scholarships. If my name falls, the entire project falls, and many people will lose opportunities.

I know you are not bad people. I know you want justice, and I understand that I deserve to be punished. And I accept that the punishment is in your hands. If you want me to stop teaching, I will stop. If you want me to leave, I will leave. If you want me to disappear, I will do that. I am in your hands.

There are things I need to clarify as well. I did not put my hand under your daughter’s shirt. She was lying down, her stomach was showing, and I touched her stomach briefly, for a few seconds. I deeply regret that. I regret it completely.

I did not give her anything to make her sleep. The melatonin she took is the same one I also take. It’s something natural, just for rest.

I did not call her to my room with the intention of doing anything. The doors in the house did not even have locks. What I wanted was to talk to her away from others so no one would see us talking. I never went beyond a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I never tried to kiss her on the mouth, and I never tried to touch any intimate parts.

I know I made a mistake, and I am asking for forgiveness. I just ask you not to let everything collapse because of me, because many people depend on this and many lives are connected to this project.

If I do not keep my word, you can report me and make everything public. I accept that.

I am asking for one more chance. If she returns to train, I promise I will not disrespect her in any way. She will not lose anything.

I hope you can listen to me and that we can sit down and talk. Maybe one day we can look at each other again with respect.

I truly ask for your forgiveness. I wish I could say this to you face to face, but I understand that you may not want to see me.

Whatever you decide, I will accept.

However, beyond the expressions of regret, the most controversial aspect of the audio lies in what appears to be an attempt to resolve the situation privately with the victim’s family.

Throughout the conversation, the speaker allegedly offers to cover expenses, including travel costs for the athlete and her family. He also suggests that she remain in his academy until receiving her black belt, promising to maintain complete distance from her during that time.

In addition, the speaker references potential future opportunities, including involvement in a jiu-jitsu academy project in the United States. He presents this as something that could significantly improve the family’s future, mentioning the possibility of relocation and long-term benefits.

At several points, the speaker highlights the broader consequences of a formal complaint, stating that many people depend on his academy and that public exposure could damage not only his reputation but the entire organization connected to him. He references jobs, students, and staff that could be affected if the situation becomes public.

He repeatedly states that he is willing to accept whatever decision the family makes, saying that he is “in their hands,” while also asking for the opportunity to apologize in person and resolve the matter without further escalation.

The speaker also denies more serious allegations, claiming that any physical contact was limited and brief, and that he had no intention of escalating the situation further.

The tone and content of the audio have triggered strong reactions within the jiu-jitsu community, with many interpreting the statements as an attempt to minimize the situation and avoid formal legal consequences.

The controversy comes amid reports that a 30-day temporary arrest warrant has been issued as part of an investigation conducted by the São Paulo Court of Justice, involving alleged crimes against minors under multiple articles of the Brazilian Penal Code.

According to information currently circulating, Galvão is believed to have presented himself to authorities and may be in custody, although official confirmation remains limited.

The emergence of the alleged audio has intensified scrutiny around accountability in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a sport that has experienced rapid global growth but continues to face challenges related to conduct, power dynamics, and safeguarding within academies.

For now, the case remains under investigation, and further developments are expected as authorities continue to examine the evidence.

As with all ongoing legal matters, the principle of due process applies, and all parties are entitled to a full and fair legal proceeding.

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