Atos Jiu-Jitsu in Freefall: Josh Hinger, JT Torres, and Majority of Affiliates Sever Ties After S*xual Assault Allegations

The crisis surrounding Atos Jiu-Jitsu has intensified dramatically over the past three days, with an accelerating wave of high-profile athletes, academy owners, and commercial partners publicly severing ties with the organization following recent allegations involving Andre Galvão. What began as isolated statements has now evolved into a full-scale organizational breakdown, with departures spanning every level of Atos’ global structure.The situation escalated after Alexa Herse, a former Atos athlete who trained with the organization from a young age, released a detailed public statement alleging sexual misconduct by Andre Galvão. Herse described experiences she characterized as sexual harassment and sexual assault, prompting widespread concern across the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community. Following her statement, other women also came forward publicly with allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct linked to Galvão. While no criminal verdict has been reached at the time of writing, the volume and seriousness of the allegations have led many athletes, coaches, academies, and sponsors to distance themselves from Atos entirely.

Josh Hinger Officially Cuts All Remaining Ties

Former Atos black belt Josh Hinger confirmed that he has completely severed ties with both Atos Jiu-Jitsu and Andre Galvão.

Hinger’s statement carries particular weight due to his role as Atos’ kids coach for roughly six years, during which time he mentored many of the young athletes now directly impacted by the controversy. In his post, Hinger emphasized that safeguarding children, families, and trust within the academy environment must take priority over loyalty to any organization. He also publicly voiced support for Alexa Herse, underscoring how deeply personal the situation is for him.

JT Torres and Essential Jiu-Jitsu Go Independent

Two-time ADCC world champion JT Torres also announced that Essential Jiu-Jitsu and its affiliates are no longer associated with Atos.

While acknowledging Atos’ importance in his career, Torres made it clear that providing a safe and accountable training environment is non-negotiable. Moving forward, Essential Jiu-Jitsu will operate as an independent association.

Additional Elite Athletes Who Have Left Atos

In the days leading up to — and following — Hinger and Torres’ announcements, several longtime Atos competitors and black belts confirmed their departures, including:

Andy Murasaki, one of Atos’ top lightweight competitors
Lucas Pinheiro, respected black belt and international competitor
Bruno Frazzato, veteran Atos black belt

These exits further weaken Atos’ competitive roster and highlight growing concerns among elite athletes about remaining publicly associated with the team.

Major Academies Publicly Sever Ties

A growing list of academies across the United States and internationally have released official statements confirming their departure from Atos, including:

Island Jiu-Jitsu (Hawaii)
Logic Jiu-Jitsu (Kristian Woodmansee)
Legend Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Alavanca
Reno Jiu-Jitsu Collective

Across all statements, the language has been remarkably consistent: safety, accountability, integrity, and trust were cited as the primary reasons for leaving.

Affiliate Network Fractures Across the U.S., UK, and Australia

Beyond individual athletes and academy owners, the Atos global affiliate structure itself is now unraveling. Multiple flagship regional branches have publicly confirmed their departure, while others have quietly removed Atos branding and ceased public association.

Atos Miami and Atos United Kingdom Exit

Atos Miami and Atos United Kingdom have confirmed that they are no longer affiliated with the Atos organization. These were among the most recognizable Atos branches outside of headquarters, making their departures particularly significant.

Majority of Australian Affiliates Leave

In Australia, most Atos-affiliated academies have now exited the association, effectively dismantling Atos’ presence in the region. While not every school released an individual statement, multiple academy owners confirmed their departures publicly, signaling a coordinated move away from the brand.

Growing Number of U.S. Schools Depart

Across the United States, numerous Atos-affiliated academies have also severed ties in recent days. Some have issued formal statements, while others have opted for quieter exits by rebranding or announcing independent operation going forward.

Kingz Kimonos Suspends Sponsorship

Adding to the pressure, longtime Atos sponsor Kingz Kimonos announced it has suspended its sponsorship of both Atos Jiu-Jitsu and Andre Galvão while the situation is reviewed. Given Kingz’s long-standing relationship with Atos, the move represents a significant commercial and reputational blow to the organization.

A One-Way Momentum Problem

Within less than 72 hours, Atos has lost:

Its former kids program head coach
A two-time ADCC champion and major affiliate network
Multiple elite black belts
Flagship regional branches (Miami, UK)
Most of its Australian presence
A growing number of U.S.-based academies
A longtime global sponsor

As departures continue to surface daily, a pressing question now dominates the BJJ world: who is left — and is there a viable future for Atos as a unified global association?

As of publication, Atos Jiu-Jitsu has not announced leadership changes, independent investigations, or a clear path forward. With trust eroding at every level, the organization’s long-term survival as a dominant force in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu remains deeply uncertain.