Less than a month after Andre Galvao and Angelica Galvao were separated from leadership roles at Atos Jiu Jitsu HQ amid serious allegations, Angelica has returned to social media with a defiant message that exposes the cultural rift fracturing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Angelica wrote in Portuguese, “I’m back,” declaring that “the last few weeks do not define what this place truly represents.”
Her lengthy Instagram caption detailed her journey from modest beginnings in Brazil to co-founding one of the sport’s most prominent academies. She portrayed herself as self-made, saying she moved to the United States at 24 with three thousand dollars, borrowed suitcases and a four year old daughter.
“touched me inappropriately during training sessions and repeatedly commented on my body and my appearance,”
and claimed he would interrupt her training to partner with her himself.
More damaging for Angelica was Herse’s account of seeking help from someone she viewed as a mentor.
“I reached out to Angelica Galvão, someone I have always looked up to as a second mother and who has known me and mentored me since I was a kid,”
“Not only did she do nothing about it, she told me not to say anything and told me that if it’s wrong, you have to at least act like it’s right. And don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
The allegations led to an unprecedented exodus from Team Atos. Top competitors including Bruno Frazatto, Kaynan Duarte, Lucas Hulk Barbosa, Andy Murasaki, JT Torres, Dom Bell, Lucas Pinheiro and Gustavo Batista publicly cut ties with the organization.
Under mounting pressure, Atos HQ announced it had decided to
“immediately and indefinitely separate Andre Galvao and Angelica Galvao from their position and all associated roles within the organization.”
The statement added that
“Andre and Angelica will no longer be involved in the teaching, administrative work, or operations of Atos.”
However, corporate filings with the California Secretary of State list Andre Galvao as the sole registered agent for Atos Jiu Jitsu LLC, along with Galvao Jiu Jitsu LLC, Galvao Jiu Jitsu 2 LLC and Galvao Jiu Jitsu 3 LLC. Sarah Galvao has since been named head coach on the academy’s website.
Angelica’s return to Instagram underscored a community divided along cultural lines. Andre himself commented on her post with heart emojis.
This post is very indicative of the divide in BJJ,The non-Brazilians are adamant that there need to be cultural changes and accountability. The Brazilians seem less into the change despite most of the Atos team leaving.
In her caption, Angelica framed the situation as a test of faith rather than a question of accountability.
What the statement does not confront is why so many students and elite competitors felt compelled to leave. It offers no acknowledgment of the allegations that prompted the restructuring. Instead, it presents the turmoil as external pressure rather than internal accountability.
Make no mistake, this is a blatant attempt to justify her further involvment with the academy despite the fact she had enabled the behavior that made it unsafe to begin with. Shame!
And as for the people who engaged with the post, they’re many of the BJJ’s biggest Brazilian stars including those who chose to distance themselves from Atos.
