Few stories in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu reflect loyalty and redemption as deeply as the bond between Fernando Tererê and his longtime student, Alan Finfou.

At one of the lowest points of his life, Tererê was struggling with personal battles and financial hardship.

In a desperate moment, he sold his black belt for just one dollar, or five Brazilian reals.

When Alan Finfou discovered what had happened, he stepped in.
He bought the belt from his master, but more importantly, he made a promise – he vowed to return it when Tererê overcame his struggles and found his way back to the sport.

That moment finally came in 2013 at the European Championship in Lisbon.
Fate placed the two in the same bracket, and when the time came, they were called to face each other on the mats.

But for Finfou, competing against Tererê was unthinkable:

There I was, him and some other guys. I would not compete with him in any way.
It’s the only match that, my friend, will never happen.

It’s like a son raising his hand to his father.
That doesn’t exist.

As the referee called them forward, Finfou bowed out immediately:

When the judge called us, I entered, he entered.
The judge shook hands and said, the match will not happen…

Give the victory to the master, I will never compete with him.

But what followed became an iconic moment in Jiu-Jitsu history.

As the referee raised Tererê’s arm in victory, Finfou removed his own black belt and spoke directly to his master:

I took it, removed the belt and said here, here is the belt that you sold to me. That one day I said I would return to you.

And when I said I would return it, in my mind, you would be deceased and I would return it to you in your casket. Today you are here, where many would never expect you to be.

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