The evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a continuous, relentless process, driven forward by the sport’s most innovative minds and decorated champions. For practitioners seeking to refine their craft at the highest level, an extraordinary opportunity is on the horizon. Rafael Mendes and Gui Mendes, widely regarded as two of the greatest competitors and most influential instructors in the history of modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, are bringing their prestigious World Super Camp to Evolve MMA in Singapore.
Scheduled to run from September 16 to September 20, 2019, the intensive training program will offer participants twenty hours of elite-level instruction. Hosted at EVOLVE Far East Square, the five-day seminar provides a rare, direct line to the knowledge base of athletes who have fundamentally shaped how the martial art is practiced, taught, and understood today. With investments set at US$899 for Evolve members and US$999 for non-members, the camp represents a significant milestone for martial arts enthusiasts in Asia and international travelers participating in the Evolve Vacation training program.
To understand the magnitude of this event, one must look at the unprecedented competitive legacies of Rafa and Gui Mendes. Before stepping away from active major tournament competition in 2017 at the young age of twenty-seven, Rafael Mendes established himself as a dominant force in the sport’s featherweight division. He secured six black belt gold medals at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Championships, alongside two prestigious ADCC submission wrestling world titles. His brother, Gui Mendes, matched this standard of excellence by capturing four IBJJF black belt world championships. Together, their competitive achievements place them firmly in the pantheon of martial arts greats, yet their post-competition impact as educators has arguably been even more influential.
The modern landscape of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is characterized by rapid innovation, dynamic transitions, and complex guard systems that challenge traditional concepts of leverage and positioning. The Mendes Brothers have been at the absolute forefront of this generational shift. Their signature style—defined by fluid movement, intricate technical chains, and unrelenting offensive pressure—has redefined what is possible on the mats. For practitioners attempting to keep pace with an increasingly sophisticated sport, updating one’s technical repertoire is no longer optional; it is a necessity for continued growth and competitive viability.
This commitment to technical evolution is perhaps best observed through the phenomenal success of the Art of Jiu Jitsu (AOJ) academy, the California-based training facility founded by the Mendes Brothers. Under their meticulous guidance, a new generation of competitors has ascended to dominate national and international podiums. Elite athletes such as Johnathan Alves, Jessa Khan, Matheus Rodrigues, and numerous others have risen through the ranks to become gold medalists and elite contenders in their respective weight and belt divisions. The upcoming World Super Camp at Evolve MMA is designed to grant participants direct insight into the methodologies, drilling philosophies, and strategic frameworks that have enabled these rising stars to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
One of the defining characteristics of the Mendes Brothers’ teaching methodology is its universal applicability. Regardless of a practitioner’s physical stature, body type, or preferred style of fighting, the techniques taught by Rafa and Gui can be successfully integrated into any game. Heavier practitioners and those who rely on a top-heavy style can adapt Gui Mendes’s renowned pressure-passing game to systematically break down defensive structures and control opponents. Conversely, smaller athletes and guard players can leverage Rafael Mendes’s extraordinary guard recovery skills, dynamic sweeping sequences, and submission chains to neutralize larger adversaries. Furthermore, attendees will have the opportunity to demystify complex modern sequences, learning how to effectively execute, prevent, or counter intricate techniques such as the berimbolo.
The philosophy underpinning the camp centers on strategic thinking and precision execution. Watching the Mendes Brothers in archival competition footage reveals a relentless pursuit of positional dominance, where every movement serves a calculated purpose to advance the position or secure a submission. By transmitting this mindset to camp participants, the instructors aim to fundamentally alter how students view the art, fostering a deeper comprehension of timing, momentum, and body mechanics. In a martial art as cutthroat and fast-paced as modern BJJ, the ability to think strategically and adapt to new technical paradigms is an invaluable asset.
The 2019 World Super Camp forms a cornerstone of the broader Evolve Vacation experience, a program designed to merge world-class martial arts training with cultural exploration in one of Asia’s most vibrant metropolitan hubs. By hosting luminaries such as the Mendes Brothers alongside Asia’s most decorated professional fight team and the legendary Evolve Instructor Team, the organization continues to redefine the traditional concept of a vacation. Travelers and dedicated practitioners alike are given the unique opportunity to train under the largest collection of world champions on the planet, all while experiencing the rich cultural tapestry, modern infrastructure, and hidden treasures of Singapore.
As the martial arts community counts down the days to September 16, anticipation continues to build among local practitioners and international visitors alike. The convergence of elite instruction, a rigorous curriculum, and a world-class training environment ensures that the Mendes Brothers 2019 World Super Camp will leave an indelible mark on all who step onto the mats at EVOLVE Far East Square. For those committed to advancing their understanding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, mastering the nuances of modern grappling, and testing their limits alongside some of the greatest minds the sport has ever produced, this five-day intensive stands as a defining moment in the calendar year.
