As the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world continues to react to the most serious crisis in Atos Jiu-Jitsu’s history, one of the few high-profile black belts and academy leaders to publicly stand by Andre Galvão has been Jonathas Eliaquim, also known as “Ratinho,” head instructor of Atos Zurich.

While the past several days have seen a mass exodus of athletes, academies, and sponsors from the Atos organization following sexual assault and sexual harassment allegations made against Andre Galvão, Eliaquim has taken the opposite stance—openly declaring his loyalty to Galvão and his family.

A Community in Freefall

Atos Jiu-Jitsu has experienced an unprecedented collapse of its affiliate network in a matter of days. Prominent figures such as Josh Hinger, who served as a kids coach at Atos for approximately six years, have publicly severed all remaining ties with both Atos and Galvão. Two-time ADCC world champion JT Torres announced that Essential Jiu-Jitsu and its affiliates would operate independently moving forward.

In addition, major academies including Atos Miami, Atos United Kingdom, and a majority of Australian Atos affiliates have confirmed their departures. Numerous U.S.-based schools have also quietly or publicly removed Atos branding and ended formal affiliation.

On the commercial side, longtime sponsor Kingz Kimonos suspended its sponsorship of Atos and Andre Galvão, signaling a significant loss of institutional support.

The Allegations at the Center of the Crisis

The catalyst for this wave of departures was a detailed public statement by Alexa Herse, a former Atos athlete who trained within the organization from a young age. Herse alleged sexual misconduct by Galvão, describing experiences she characterized as sexual harassment and sexual assault. Following her statement, other women also came forward publicly with similar allegations.

While no criminal verdict has been reached at the time of writing, the scale, consistency, and seriousness of the allegations prompted widespread concern across the global BJJ community.

Ratinho’s Public Statement of Support

Amid this backdrop, Jonathas “Ratinho” Eliaquim published a statement on social media expressing unwavering support for Galvão. Unlike many former teammates and affiliates who emphasized safety, accountability, and distancing themselves from the organization, Eliaquim framed the situation as one of loyalty, trust, and presumption of innocence.

Below is the full transcription of Eliaquim’s statement, as published:

I will stand by the Galvão family and not turn my back on them.

@galvaobjj an incredible champion, dedicated instructor, and man of integrity. These unfounded rumors do not define him or his legacy.

We believe in justice, truth, and the importance of standing by those who have given so much to our community.

Our loyalty remains with him, his family.

I know the values they uphold.

True strength is shown in how we support each other through difficult times.

We trust that the truth will come to light and that justice will prevail.

Eliaquim also included hashtags emphasizing presumption of innocence, notably #innocentuntilprovenguilty.

One of the Few Still Standing

Eliaquim’s position places him among a very small number of Atos black belts and affiliates who have chosen to publicly defend Galvão rather than distance themselves. As of now, Atos Zurich remains one of the rare academies still openly aligned with the Atos brand and its former leadership.

His stance stands in sharp contrast to the dominant narrative emerging from former Atos athletes and academy owners, many of whom cited the need to protect students—especially minors—and maintain environments free from fear, coercion, or misconduct.

The Bigger Picture

Atos headquarters has since announced that Andre Galvão and Angelica Galvão have been immediately and indefinitely separated from all roles within the organization, and that a third-party investigation is underway. Despite this, the organizational damage appears extensive, with Atos’ once-massive global network now fragmented.

What happens next remains uncertain. Whether Atos can survive as a recognizable force in elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—or whether it will permanently lose its standing among athletes, parents, and academies—will depend on the outcome of ongoing investigations and the community’s willingness to rebuild trust.

For now, Jonathas “Ratinho” Eliaquim’s public loyalty marks a rare dissenting voice in a moment where the overwhelming majority of the BJJ world has chosen distance, accountability, and institutional separation over allegiance.