In what appears to be an eleventh-hour attempt at brand preservation, Atos Jiu Jitsu HQ has released a statement separating Andre Galvao and Angelica Galvao from all organizational roles.
The timing, however, has left many in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community skeptical that this represents genuine accountability rather than calculated damage control.
The statement, posted after days of high-profile departures and mounting public pressure, announces:
“We are deeply saddened with recent events and circumstances and after careful consideration ATOS has made the decision to immediately and indefinitely separate Andre Galvao and Angelica Galvao from their position and all associated roles within the organization.”
According to the announcement, the Galvaos “will no longer be involved in the teaching, administrative work, or operations of Atos.” The organization claims to be “moving quickly to engage with a third-party to investigate these allegations.”
But for many observers, the move comes far too late to salvage credibility.
Commenters on social media were quick to point out the profile posting this statement literally had Andre Galvao as the profile picture when they made the announcement.
Over on Instagram, Atos hq removed close to 300 posts last night. We suspect all of the posts featured Andre and or Angelica Galvao.
The statement’s awkward positioning raises an obvious question, who exactly is speaking on behalf of Atos if not its founders? Andre Galvao co-founded the team with Ramon Lemos, and the San Diego headquarters has long been synonymous with the Galvao family itself. Many in the BJJ community are unaware Lemos even exists.
A quick search of California Secretary of State records reveals that Atos Jiu Jitsu LLC lists Andre Galvao as its sole registered agent. The company has been delinquent on required filings since 2016 and has maintained a suspended license status since 2017, though informational updates were made in 2025. Galvao also operates Galvao Jiu Jitsu LLC, Galvao Jiu Jitsu 2 LLC, and Galvao Jiu Jitsu 3 LLC, all currently active with him listed as the agent for service. R/bjj was first to look into the corporate structure.
This corporate structure makes the claim of organizational separation difficult to take at face value.
Even if Galvao is indeed removed from running the organization he’s likely to still benefit from memberships and affiliate fees.
The exodus from Team Atos has been swift and comprehensive. Top competitors and longtime affiliates have publicly distanced themselves from the organization in recent days. Bruno Frazatto, JT Torres, Dom Bell, Lucas Pinheiro and Gustavo Batista are among the notable departures.
Gustavo Batista‘s statement was unequivocal:
“Through this announcement, we are informing that we are no longer part of Atos Jiu Jitsu… I would like to say that we do not agree with and do not condone the actions taken by the team’s leadership. This type of attitude is unacceptable and makes our permanence in the team unsustainable.”
One former affiliate expressed frustration at the delayed response:
“Man, as a former affiliate this is too little too late. I was half expecting this on Saturday that they’d divest from the team, pass it on to Rolando or whoever while everything is investigated. They waited til everyone left to do this.”
The timing indeed appears calculated to stanch the bleeding rather than demonstrate proactive accountability.
The controversy centers on detailed allegations made by Alexa Herse, who trained at Atos since childhood. In her statement, Herse described a pattern of inappropriate conduct over a six-month period, alleging that Galvao “touched me inappropriately during training sessions and repeatedly commented on my body and my appearance.”
She recounted specific incidents, including claims that Galvao would interrupt her training to partner with her himself, allegedly “making s**ual moaning sounds in my ear while he was on top of me.” In another alleged incident, “when his head was very close to my head he licked my ear.”
Perhaps equally troubling was Herse’s account of reaching out to Angelica Galvao for help.
“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.”
Herse stated she has “filed a report with local law enforcement.”
Andre Galvao released his own statement categorically denying the allegations, calling them “false rumors” and suggesting they originated from “someone who recently left ATOS before this whole thing happened and this person isn’t even stated in the rumors but obviously has a personal vendetta due to financial cuts and administrative decisions.”
The speed and unanimity with which top athletes have distanced themselves from Atos suggests the allegations have credibility within the community.
Keenan Cornelius, in a video addressing the situation, indicated that based on conversations with people close to the matter, legal proceedings are likely forthcoming.
The situation has drawn comparisons to other high-profile cases in the BJJ world, with some noting that Team Lloyd Irvin and Roberto Cyborg Abreu’s affiliation continued operating despite similar controversies. However, the universal nature of the Atos departures suggests this case may have a different trajectory.
Some affiliates have chosen to maintain their Atos association despite the allegations. Atos Zurich publicly reaffirmed its connection to the organization, prompting criticism online.
For now, the HQ statement claims that “official reflection of these legal and business changes will take some time but it is being actively pursued.” The organization promises that “all appropriate actions are being addressed through the proper legal and administrative channels.”
But for a community that has watched instructors leave, competitors distance themselves, and sponsors like Kingz drop their associations in real time, the statement reads less like accountability and more like a transparent attempt to preserve whatever financial value remains in the Atos name.
Full statement:
Atos Jiu Jitsu HQ Statement
We are deeply saddened with recent events and circumstances and after careful consideration ATOS has made the decision to immediately and indefinitely separate Andre Galvao and Angelica Galvao from their position and all associated roles within the organization.
This decision was made in the best interest of our students, affiliates and the broader ATOS community and reflects our commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and accountability.
We do not adjudicate matters through social media. All appropriate actions are being addressed through the proper legal and administrative channels.
We are moving quickly to engage with a third-party to investigate these allegations and in the meantime, Andre and Angelica will no longer be involved in the teaching, administrative work, or operations of Atos. As you may expect, the official reflection of these legal and business changes will take some time but it is being actively pursued, as we are taking this matter very seriously.
