SINGAPORE — Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu icons Rafael and Guilherme Mendes are scheduled to headline the Mendes Bros 2019 World Super Camp from September 16 to September 20 at Evolve MMA. The five-day intensive training event will bring two of the most influential figures in modern grappling to Singapore, offering martial artists and practitioners from around the globe an unprecedented opportunity to study the specialized techniques, training methodologies, and strategic concepts that redefined competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) over the past decade.
For practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the Mendes brothers require no introduction. Originating from Rio Claro, Brazil, Rafael and Guilherme "Gui" Mendes emerged on the international grappling circuit as prodigies, capturing major titles across every rank before transitioning into one of the most dominant runs in the history of the sport’s black belt divisions. Beyond their competitive records, their technical innovations—particularly in the evolution of the guard, inversion mechanics, and modern passing systems—fundamentally transformed how grappling is practiced and taught worldwide.
The upcoming super camp in Singapore represents a rare gathering where participants can dissect the sisters and brothers of the modern grappling movement under direct instruction from the system’s architects. As the international Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community prepares for the event, several foundational elements explain why the 2019 camp stands as a landmark seminar on the global martial arts calendar.
1) A Chance to Learn Directly from Two of the Greatest Competitors in BJJ History
The foundational appeal of the camp rests on the competitive credentials of the instructors. Rafael and Guilherme Mendes do not merely hold championship titles; their records position them among the most accomplished athletes to ever step onto a competitive mat.
Rafael Mendes stands as the most decorated featherweight competitor in the history of the sport. Competing at the highest levels under the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), Rafael captured a historic six black belt World Championship gold medals in the featherweight division. His technical dominance was characterized by an astonishing consistency against the best grapplers in the world, dismantling elite opponents through intricate, modern movement systems that seemed steps ahead of the contemporary competitive landscape.
Complementing his brother’s legacy, Guilherme Mendes secured four IBJJF World Championship titles at the black belt level, taking gold in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2014. Together, their path to the pinnacle of the sport was exceptionally rapid. Both brothers progressed through the traditional belt ranks at an accelerated pace, capturing world titles at blue, purple, and brown belts, and ultimately earning their black belts in less than a decade of training.
For students and competitive athletes aiming to test themselves on the tournament circuit, learning directly from competitors who have reached the absolute summit of the discipline offers critical technical and psychological insights. The Mendes brothers’ instructional framework covers the nuanced realities of high-stakes competition, helping practitioners refine their approach from match strategy to submission efficiency.
2) A Comprehensive System Adaptable to Any Body Type and Grappling Style
A recurring challenge for martial arts practitioners is finding technical frameworks that complement their unique physical attributes. Many traditional instructional curriculums emphasize either extreme speed and agility or overwhelming physical pressure and weight. The Mendes brothers’ comprehensive system stands apart because it offers fully realized, elite-level solutions for both ends of the athletic spectrum.
Athletes who are naturally lighter or rely heavily on dexterity, flexibility, and spatial awareness can look to Rafael Mendes’ refined lower-body control. Rafael popularized fluid guard recoveries, rapid positional inversions, and distance manipulation that systematically negate the strength and size advantages of heavier adversaries. His technical game demonstrates how precise leverage and angle changes can dismantle an aggressive opponent without relying on brute force.
Conversely, grapplers with stronger, heavier builds or those who prefer a crushing, dominant positional game can study Guilherme Mendes’ masterclass in top control and pressure passing. Guilherme’s passing sequences rely on meticulously applied weight distribution, pinning mechanics, and tactical grip breaks. By closing down space incrementally and denying opponents their hip mobility, his methodology provides a blueprint for methodical, safe, and relentless guard passing.
By attending the five-day super camp, students are exposed to this dual technical philosophy. Whether an individual is smaller than their training partners or possesses a compact, pressure-oriented physical build, the Mendes brothers’ curriculum provides technical tools that can be directly adapted to any body type.
3) Mastering the Most Dynamic and Influential Guard Systems in the Sport
The Mendes brothers’ impact on the technical evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is most prominently witnessed in the modern open guard. Prior to their competitive peak, competitive guard play often focused heavily on closed guard setups or basic open guard controls. The Mendes brothers challenged traditional conventions by introducing a fast-paced, multi-dimensional guard game that emphasized active off-balancing and back-take transitions.
Central to Rafael Mendes’ guard framework is the De La Riva guard and the development of the berimbolo—a dynamic inversion technique that uses rotational force to bypass a standing or kneeling opponent’s defenses directly into back control. In competition, Rafael utilized the De La Riva hook not merely as a stalling or defensive position, but as a hyper-aggressive launching pad for sweeps, leg entanglements, and immediate transitions to the opponent’s back.
At the super camp, participants will have the opportunity to break down the mechanics behind these positions. Far from being flashy or impractical, the Mendes brothers’ guard system is built upon rock-solid fundamentals of leverage, wedge creation, and balance disruption. Grapplers will study how to systematically off-balance opponents, neutralize defensive passing postures, and string together rapid attack sequences that force passing specialists onto the defensive.
4) An Opportunity to Modernize and Elevate Overall BJJ Performance
For many intermediate and advanced practitioners, progress in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu often plateaus. Athletes frequently find themselves falling into repetitive patterns, utilizing the same passing techniques and relying on predictable defensive postures that seasoned training partners easily counter.
Breaking through these performance plateaus requires an injection of fresh perspective and modern technique. The Mendes brothers have spent more than a decade examining the micro-details of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, creating an integrated system where guard passing, guard retention, and submissions flow seamlessly into one another.
Rather than teaching isolated moves, the camp emphasizes cohesive tactical systems. Practitioners learn how a specific grip reaction in the guard directly leads into an effective sweep, and how an opponent’s defensive posture immediately opens up a path to the back. By understanding the deep connectivity between positions, participants are empowered to upgrade their technical decision-making and elevate their overall grappling game.
5) Direct Instruction from Two of the World’s Leading Instructors and Coaches
Competitive greatness does not always translate into effective coaching. However, Rafael and Guilherme Mendes have distinguished themselves as exceptional pedagogues, successfully transferring their technical mastery to a new generation of athletes.
Following their historic competitive careers, the brothers established the Art of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ) academy in California. In a remarkably short period, AOJ developed into one of the sport’s premier training grounds, earning a reputation for its pristine environment, rigorous curriculum, and world-class athletic production. Under the Mendes brothers’ daily tutelage, AOJ has produced numerous champions across all age brackets and skill divisions, from youth competitors dominating the juvenile ranks to elite adult black belts capturing gold on the international stage.
Their coaching success stems from a systematic, structured approach to martial arts instruction. The brothers break complex movements down into clear, repeatable mechanics, emphasizing drill efficiency, conceptual awareness, and positional drilling. Furthermore, their experience navigating the highest pressures of world championship finals enables them to teach the tactical discipline and mental fortitude required to succeed in competitive athletics.
The Training Experience at Evolve MMA
The 2019 World Super Camp is being hosted by Evolve MMA through the Evolve Vacation program, an initiative designed to connect international martial arts travelers with world-class champions and training facilities in Singapore. Evolve is globally recognized for housing one of the largest concentrations of world champions across Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, and mixed martial arts.
Held across five days from September 16 to September 20, the camp provides an all-encompassing training environment. In addition to high-level instructional sessions with the Mendes brothers, attendees have the opportunity to engage with international participants, spar across diverse skill levels, and experience world-class martial arts hospitality in one of Asia’s most vibrant metropolitan cities.
As competitive grappling continues its rapid worldwide evolution, opportunities to study under the sport’s primary innovators remain exceptionally scarce. The Mendes Bros 2019 World Super Camp at Evolve MMA stands as a defining educational event for practitioners committed to mastering modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu directly from two of its most celebrated champions.
