Every day in Rio de Janeiro, an inspiring and bittersweet scene unfolds amid the city’s traffic.
trades the comfort of training mats for the blistering asphalt of Recreio dos Bandeirantes, a neighborhood
in Rio’s West Zone. Clad in his gi and adorned with his hard-earned medals, Ronald weaves through lines of
stalled vehicles, selling peanuts and candy to raise funds for his next big competition.
A native of Nova Iguaçu in the Baixada Fluminense region, Ronald took to the streets just a week after
winning gold at the South American Championship in the purple belt, under-100 kg division. His goal now:
to earn enough to compete in the prestigious Brazilian Championship, held in Barueri, São Paulo, from
March 26 to April 4. The estimated cost—including transportation, food, accommodation, and registration
fees—totals around R$2,000 (roughly $400 USD).
“I’ve been a fighter since 2019,” Ronald explains. “I first stepped onto the mats when I took my niece to
her jiu-jitsu class. I decided to try it myself, and from that moment, I fell in love with the sport.
I’ve trained hard, competed, and won titles—but without sponsorship or steady financial support,
I don’t know how far I’ll be able to go.”
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early in the morning and heads straight to the streets, where he stays until nightfall, hoping to make
enough to cover his expenses. On average, he earns about R$100 a day—just over $20 USD.
“There are people who cheer me on, who roll down their windows to give me encouragement and tell me to
keep going,” Ronald says. “But there are also people who look at me with judgment or ignore me completely.”
Sometimes, he’s joined by fellow jiu-jitsu athlete Daniel Meirelles, 17, who also walks the streets
wearing his kimono and seeking help. “The gi gets really hot under the sun,” Daniel admits,
“but it’s the only way we’ve found to grab people’s attention.”
Ronald’s story is one of perseverance and unshakable passion. Despite the odds, he remains determined
to fight not only on the mat, but in life—one bag of peanuts at a time.
You can follow and support Ronald via Instagram:
@ronaldferreira_bjj
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