Leo Vieira has built his leadership philosophy on principles far deeper than competition or championships.

Because, for Vieira, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not merely a combat sport – but a transformative tool for personal growth, community building, and mutual understanding:

Your students are your children, and you don’t give anything to them that you wouldn’t give to your own children.

Raised in a Catholic household that emphasized helping others, Vieira internalized the idea that true leadership is about serving those you lead:

I realized Jiu-Jitsu has that power, of saving people, much like a religion.

When it comes to leadership, religion and Jiu-Jitsu are the same, you become responsible for a group of people.
Every teacher has a huge impact inside the gym, they can turn a gym into either heaven or hell.

For Vieira, martial arts are a means of self-discovery and helping the community grow at the same time:

The world of Jiu-Jitsu is much bigger than competition.
You need to understand what you do.

Some people compete, others teach or preach, some spread the word so everyone can enjoy what’s being built.

He explained that it is also about getting to know other people and being humble at the same time:

When you train with someone, you see a lot of their personality and their dynamic.
There’s a mental aspect to it…

While I’m a leader, I’m also a man, a teacher.
I’m not above people.