In a heinous story that continues to unfold, BJJ instructor Alencor Alves has been arrested after accusations of assaulting underage students. Since the story first broke, more top athletes have come forward, claiming the instructor also abused them for years.
(Since the article was written, the number of accusers has grow to 12 students.)
The Abuse of Matheus Gabriel
The first to come forward in the Alcenor Alves case was 2x world champion Matheus Gabriel. Matheus shared his story of Globo News in Brazil, detailing over 15 years of abuse by Alcenor Alves.
Gabriel detailed eleven times that Alves abused him on tournament trips during his adolescence.
“We traveled a lot for tournaments like the Brazilian Championship and World Cups in São Paulo and Rio. One night, I woke up to him touching me. I was just a child… in shock. I didn’t know how to react.”
After Gabriel filed a formal complaint, Alcenor Alves was arrested at a Jiu-Jitsu tournament on Saturday, November 23rd.
More BJJ Champions Come Forward
After Gabriel made the initial assault accusations, three more BJJ champions have come forward with allegations of their own. Meyram Maquine, Ary Farias, and Thalison Soares made a joint statement on Instagram detailing the abuse they suffered from Alcenor Alves.
“For years, we carried the pain of a traumatic experience: we were victims of abuse committed by a teacher we trusted. Like many victims, we felt ashamed and afraid to report the crime. Today, we are breaking our silence to seek justice and prevent others from suffering the same. Sports should be a safe space for learning and respect.”
Alves Receives a Lifetime Ban From the IBJJF
Following a demand for action from the BJJ community, the IBJJF responded to the crimes. The IBJJF released this official statement on this awful case of abuse by Alcenor Alves and issued a lifetime ban.
“The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Confederation (CBJJ) and the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) express their profound indignation regarding the allegations of sexual assault committed by jiu-jitsu instructor Alcenor Alves Soeiro against minors, as widely reported by the media. These crimes are unacceptable and violate the most fundamental ethical principles of the sport.
The CBJJ and the IBJJF inform that Alcenor Alves Soeiro will be permanently banned from their ranks and will no longer be able to participate in events and activities promoted by the entity. The CBJJ and the IBJJF repudiate behaviors that violate the integrity and safety of sports practitioners, especially when the victims are children and adolescents.
We commend the athletes who had the courage to expose the situations of violence they suffered, allowing other victims to feel encouraged to report their tormentors. The CBJJ and IBJJF clarify that all cases of abuse will be treated rigorously and reaffirm their commitment to ensuring safe, ethical, and respectful environments in all their activities.”
BJJ’s Predator Problem
It’s no secret that there are sexual predators within the BJJ community. For years, we have seen stories of sexual assaults by black belts from Lloyd Irvin, Fight Sport, and Erberth Santos.
This latest case with Alencor Alves is the most heinous as it involves minors, which went on for years. A BJJ academy is supposed to be a safe place where young students can grow into confident adults.
We as a community cannot allow predators within our gyms and must weed them out to create a safe space.
As adults, we need to let our kids know that they don’t have to stay silent about being abused. We will believe them and will ensure they receive justice.
Bobby is martial artist for almost 20 years with a BJJ black belt under Professor Sergio Miranda. He is also a karate black and former combat sports athlete, who loves all things grappling.