In the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world, there are moments that many will remember forever. One such moment was captured in a widely shared video featuring BJJ legend Andre Galvao during the Open Class division at Worlds 2008. This match showcased Galvao’s incredible skill as he faced an alleged fake BJJ black belt.

The opponent’s name is Martin Suarez. He’s a black belt in “Yudansha,” which is a martial art he invented. He has since started training legit grappling.

UPDATE: Commenter who knew mr Suarez clarified: “This is Martin Suarez. At the time, he was a judo black belt and a black belt in the “Yudansha fighting system”. Hybrid mma, bjj, catch, judo type of thing. He was a training partner of mine for a long time. He’s a bjj brown belt now.”

In an email, Andre Galvao reflects on that day and provides insights into what truly happened during the match.
The match in question was supposed to be a warm-up, allowing Galvao to assess his physical condition and technical skills. However, it took an unexpected turn when his opponent attempted an illegal heel hook. Galvao immediately alerted the referee, but his concerns were ignored.
Galvao recalls feeling frustrated as the match progressed. His opponent continued to use illegal tactics, such as grabbing four fingers inside Galvao’s pants and tearing them apart. It was at this moment that Galvao decided to embrace his unique style of BJJ as motivation. He moved in unconventional ways that captivated the audience, creating an exciting atmosphere in the venue.
The video of this match, uploaded on YouTube, became the first viral video of BJJ. It gained significant attention and received comments from viewers. Some criticized Galvao for not quickly ending the match. However, Galvao emphasizes that his frustration was not directed at his opponent but rather at the referee’s failure to address the illegal moves.
Looking back on the aftermath of the match, Galvao shares that more people learned about BJJ because of the video. He even encountered individuals who started training BJJ because of it. The video served as an inspiration and introduced BJJ to a wider audience.