What’s wild is alexa herse, a blue belt has come out with some really disturbing and creepy accounts.
Actually know a purple belt girl who won Europeans who made the move to train at atos. Not sure if she will remain there.
The whole thing reeks.
What’s even more shit is I’ve seen this before where a gym owner and head instructor went through a whole bunch of his female students. It was almost like he couldn’t see how destructive this was.
But to compound it, the female students weren’t groomed, they were complicit in the relationship but left when the relationship inevitably fell apart.
Not victim blaming in this situation but it was a situation where the gym owner was taking advantage of broken people.
All these women gym owner went through, and who were open to it, were broken?
In a written statement dated February 1st, 2026, Galvao categorically denied the accusations, calling them false rumors that have circulated online alleging inappropriate conduct with female students. The statement, posted to social media with notably disabled comments, details his commitment to maintaining a safe, respectful and transparent training environment.
“I have dedicated my life to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and to building academies where people can train safely, confidently and with dignity. I’m proud of our culture: respect, discipline and professionalism on and off the mats.”
The legendary grappler suggested the allegations stem from disgruntled former staff members upset about recent administrative and financial changes.
“This all started by 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.”
Galvao announced his intention to pursue legal action, saying he would take the necessary measures to protect our community and my family’s name and assured that soon everything will come to light.
Galvao‘s statement is overlayed on top of an image of his face in a calibri bold font despite the heading being in a different font making it very hard to read. We will be attaching the full statement on the bottom. There is also a suspicion Galvao used ChatGPT to draft the statement due to the overuse of M dashes.
However, the situation took a more serious turn when Alexa Herse, a young woman who trained at Atos since childhood, released her own detailed statement challenging Galvao‘s characterization of events.
In a multi slide statement posted to social media, Alexa Herse announced:
“Moving forward I am no longer associated with Atos Jiu Jitsu. This is something I never imagined I would have to say, as I have spent most of my childhood and teenage years dedicated to this team. But now unfortunately I have no choice but to step away and speak out.”
Herse detailed a pattern of behavior she experienced over a six month period, alleging that Galvao touched me inappropriately during training sessions and repeatedly commented on my body and my appearance. She described instances where 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 incident, Herse claimed that when his head was very close to my head he licked my ear.
Perhaps equally troubling, Herse alleged that when she reached out to Angelica Galvao, Andre‘s wife and BJJ black belt, she was met with silence and discouragement.
“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 expressed profound disappointment at this response, stating that Angelica chose to ignore me, silence me and protect her husband and that this makes her just as responsible.
The emotional weight of the situation was evident in Herse‘s statement:
“I grew up training at Atos, and it was Andre Galvão who promoted me to grey belt as a child. I’m beyond heartbroken. I once looked up to him not only as my professor but as a hero and a father figure, and to know that he would do this not only to me, but to multiple other people is beyond devastating.”
Herse emphasized that coming forward was not a decision made lightly:
“I never wanted this. I have nothing to gain by making this public. I’m choosing to leave behind all my friends and my family. This is my truth. And I know for a fact that I am not the only affected person of this.”
“I have filed a report with local law enforcement.”
The situation has already resulted in several high profile departures from Team Atos. The latest to depart from Team Atos is Bruno Frazatto. The exodus appears to have begun before the allegations became public lending credence to claims that concerns had been raised internally.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT from Andre Galvao:
February 1st, 2026
Over the past few days, false rumors have circulated online alleging inappropriate conduct with female students. These claims are untrue and we are taking the proper legal steps to protect the integrity of ATOS.
I have dedicated my life to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and to building academies where people can train safely, confidently and with dignity. I’m proud of our culture: respect, discipline and professionalism on and off the mats. Our mat space is surrounded by staff, students and cameras and we have always worked to maintain a safe, respectful and transparent training environment.
I will not engage in social media disputes, however, I will take the necessary measures to protect our community and my family’s name and I assure you that soon everything will come to light, especially the facts on why a few staff members left due to recent administrative and financial changes.
This all started by 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. Which aches our hearts to see such devious ways by someone who has been benefited so much through the years and who should have at least the minimum amount of gratitude and respect for the team.
If you are a current student or parent and you have any concern or a question, I encourage you to reach out directly. We will take any genuine concern seriously and address it through the proper channels, not through vague accusations on social media.
To everyone that has supported our academy and our team: thank you. We will continue focusing on what matters, providing world class instruction in a respectful environment and keeping our academy a place where all students can grow.
In the end I have faith that the truth will prevail. I stand alongside my family, Sarah and Angelica through all tribulations. God bless you all. Andre Galvao
The wonderful black belt debauchery
-sarcasm
That’s why he chose them.. They were broken people and much more easily manipulated.
That’s how these disgusting people operate. I’ve known this guy 20 years.
I stopped talking to him because of this but I wasn’t close to him either but I spent many years training with him.
Honestly, women in the dojo is usually trouble. Doesn’t mean they should be molested though. Not sure who to believe here.
One of the claims was that he missed in a students ear and licked her ear in training. This is such a wild move. How is moaning in anyone’s ear supposed to turn them on? And to do this, and lick someone’s ear in the middle of training seems so unbelievable. I’m Not saying it didn’t happen. I’m just saying it seems so wild.
I am not surprised at all that someone with low morals is being accused of low moral behaviour.
I could see myself using this technique to escape mount
why would this girl invent such detailed accounts and why would she upend her entire life and the team of girls she loved for no reason? And an awful lot of people who have a lot to lose seem to find her claims legitimate. I think this is something that more than alexa was dealing with…a powder keg
I’m not calling her a liar but bitches have had consensual sex with men and claimed it was rape years later. Men have gone to prison for her word against his, no other evidence.
absolutely. There is just something about how fast everyone, men and women alike jumped ship when this broke.
Some guys might have a creepy vibe but aren’t really looking to molest women, they might be shopping though but will back off if the woman rebuffs them
Maybe the allegations are true.
There was a guy teaching here who fucked his students wife and it tore the dojo apart.
Moaning when someone applies a choke never fails.
Never been finished via choke.
Been asked to leave multiple schools due to my choke escape strategy.
They can’t handle my game.
I soft quit my Bjj gym last year because of the cult type shit. None of this surprises me.
To be honest, I have always hated training with women in Bjj and would happily be rid of them for just this type of shit.
The offer ZERO benefit to training with them. The overwhelming majority of them are absolute dog shit at jiu jitsu. I roll with them with zero intention of submitting them and I’ll offer up a basic situation that any blue belt should snatch right up and 99 percent of the time they don’t even see it.
I don’t dare coach them because I see nothing but posts talking about how they hate it when male training partners coach them thru the role. (Despite them proving that they are completely incompetent)
So give them their own class or something but don’t waste my time with these bitches anymore