Alexandre Altenburg Odebrecht, a black belt and head coach of Tao Jiu-Jitsu Academy, has offered a candid look into the financial reality of coaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Dubai.
Odebrecht has been teaching and developing Team Tao in the UAE since 2014, witnessing firsthand how jiu-jitsu evolved from a niche pursuit into a mainstream sport.
Despite practicing for over 21 years and serving as a head coach in one of the world’s fastest-growing martial arts markets, he revealed that his monthly income sits at around $4,000.
When asked whether he considers that fair compensation for his level of experience, Odebrecht did not hesitate:
No, no. If you really like what you do, that’s worth a lot.
But if you start from zero, it takes a long time.
I’ve been doing this for 20 years, so it’s not something you can just start for a few years and expect to get there.
Still, despite the financial frustrations, he emphasized that passion remains his driving force:
When I wake up in the morning, I feel good.
I don’t feel like I’m doing something I don’t like. I just feel like I’m doing something for myself.
He also extended an open invitation to anyone considering starting the sport:
Among all the martial arts, Jiu-Jitsu is a little different.
You don’t have punches or kicks, it’s more grappling.All beginners and new players are welcome, so if you want to come and try, it’s going to be a pleasure to have you there.
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