After 21 years as one of the leaders of Lotus Club BJJ team,  Givanildo Santana (44), aka Giva, decided to leave team where he built his career in Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. The “arm collector” as he is known, has decided to follow One Jiu-Jitsu team and his partner Mo Khayat, which aims at training young athletes and improvement fighters that are already part of the team, located in the United States.

Givanildo Santana was promoted to black belt by Lotus Club founder Moises Muradi. Santana has conquered important titles in tournaments such as the World Cup (CBJJO), the American Nationals (IBJJF) or the Pan American Championship (IBJJF).

Givanildo moved to the United States in 2004 and he fought in Bellator’s Middleweight division. Santana also competed in the promotions ShoXC and M-1 Global. Santana received the nickname “Arm Collector” because 13 out of his 18 wins are by armbar (10 of them wins in a row).

Speaking to TATAME, Giva, who collected numerous titles in the gentle art, such as the World Cup (CBJJO) and also the Pan-American thanks to the time training at Lotus, citing them primary responsible for his success, and explained his choice to go ahead with One Jiu-Jitsu, now his new home.

“I would like to thank TATAME to have given me the space and the opportunity to make public my leaving Lotus Club Jiu-Jitsu team of which I was part of for 21 years, where I built my history in Jiu-Jitsu and also made several friends. I want to place on record here my huge respect for my master Moses Muradi and my teacher Raul Vieira E. Souza.

Importantly, I never had problems with team members, and that the reason for my departure is the search for personal fulfillment and also professional, for I have a project to develop with some black belts that I got to know and train here in the US and Brazil. I wish the Lotus Club to continue growing and producing great champions.

I plan to continue with One Jiu-Jitsu with my partner Mo Khayat and we have set goals that we plan to reach this year and for the future.

Regarding the name chosen, this is due to an intensive search for something that represented how I conceive the Jiu-Jitsu, a factor to be considered, the observation of my students and the perception of a great diversity in them also contributed, which is very common in Jiu-Jitsu.

Children, students, disabled people, lawyers, doctors, nurses, fighters, UFC professionals, world champion Jiu-Jitsu, parents, housewives, engineers, construction workers, among others, all come in search of Jiu Jitsu for different reasons.

Jiu-Jitsu as an education is the same, regardless of whether the student will return home, to school, office, hospital, office, work or will enter the ring or cage.

There is only one Jiu-Jitsu that benefits the life of every citizen. We are excited about this new project and look forward to future possibilities.