André Luiz Candido da Silva
“Marola”
Source: bjjheroes.comAndré “Marola” Candido helped rebuild Nova União’s jiu-jitsu team, bringing together veterans and younger competitors across belt levels.
Biography
Sources for this profile
BJJ Heroes, Andre Marola, undated biography.(opens in a new tab)
His full name is André Luiz Candido da Silva.
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He is known in jiu-jitsu as Marola.
Where in the source: Opening identification
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He was born on March 2, 1973, in northern Rio de Janeiro and grew up around Méier.
Where in the source: Biography, opening paragraph
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Walter Nogueira taught him before Wendell Alexander took over during his teens.
Where in the source: Biography, childhood-teachers paragraph
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Wendell Alexander awarded him his black belt in December 1996.
Where in the source: Biography, end of childhood-teachers paragraph
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He began assisting his instructors as a purple belt in 1990.
Where in the source: Biography, coaching paragraph
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As Nova União stars shifted toward MMA, he sought responsibility for its jiu-jitsu competition squad; Pederneiras and Alexander approved his appointment in 2008.
Where in the source: Biography, final two paragraphs
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BJJ Heroes credits Marola and Fábio Andrade with rebuilding the team during the 2010s.
Where in the source: Biography, closing sentence
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BJJ Heroes lists guard passing as his preferred specialty.
Where in the source: Technique field
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FightNews, André Marola: Do Tatame à Arbitragem, March 24, 2025; updated March 27.(opens in a new tab)
He recalled starting at five through his father, a Carlson Gracie blue belt.
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He remembered frequent losses between eight and eleven as part of learning.
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He particularly valued an IBJJF black-belt middleweight world podium.
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Walter and Wendel introduced him to refereeing; training with Pederneiras reinforced its importance. He began officiating around twenty, as a purple belt.
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He emphasized understanding jiu-jitsu beyond memorizing rules, continuing study and explaining decisions confidently.
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He said pandemic travel disruption during a 2020 Portugal visit led him to stay.
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By 2025 he led Family Marola Jiu-Jitsu in Almada, with European affiliates.
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Invited by the federation, he trained referees through internships, prioritizing brown and black belts.
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He wanted more competitions to give Portuguese officials further experience; some already worked internationally.
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He encouraged students to find capable mentors and people who believed in them.
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Graciemag, Veteranos da Nova União atrás do glamour no Internacional, e do ouro também, July 15, 2010.(opens in a new tab)
In July 2010 he was assembling Nova União veterans for the International Masters and Seniors, including Rafael Carino and Gustavo Dantas.
Where in the source: Opening and first Marola quotation
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For him, the International offered older athletes a reunion and a chance to show younger competitors what they could still do.
Where in the source: Final two Marola quotations
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Graciemag, Nova União celebrates results in Rio, July 31, 2010.(opens in a new tab)
In 2010 he described a two-year rebuilding effort: Nova União finished second at the Rio Open and third at the International Masters and Seniors.
Where in the source: Opening report and first quotation
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He reported ten matches over two days, closing his weight division with Rafael Carino and continuing after hurting his shoulder in the absolute; he credited his judo.
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Graciemag, International Master and Senior absolutes, July 26, 2010.(opens in a new tab)
He won the 2010 International Masters and Seniors black-belt Senior 1 absolute, defeating Rodrigo Otávio after closing ultraheavyweight with Rafael Carino.
Where in the source: Report, Marola paragraph
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Graciemag, Atual campeã quer manter o título no BR de Equipes, September 21, 2010.(opens in a new tab)
Before the 2010 Brazilian Teams event, he planned heavyweight brown/black, two purple-belt teams and a full adult and juvenile blue-belt entry to defend Nova União’s 2009 title.
Where in the source: Two Marola quotations
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IBJJF, World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1998, official results.(opens in a new tab)
Competing as Andre Candido for Nova União, he took bronze in the 1998 adult male black-belt middleweight Worlds.
Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Middle: third-place Andre Candido row
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CBJJ, Campeonato Brasileiro de Equipes 2011, official results.(opens in a new tab)
His name appears on Nova União’s winning master men’s heavyweight brown/black team at the 2011 Brazilian Teams Championship.
Where in the source: Master / Marrom Preta / Masculino / Pesado, first team roster
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CBJJ, Campeonato Brasileiro de Equipes 2013, official results.(opens in a new tab)
He again belonged to the winning master men’s heavyweight brown/black team at the 2013 Brazilian Teams Championship.
Where in the source: Master / Marrom Preta / Masculino / Pesado, first team roster
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Olivar Leite, Copa André Marola de Jiujitsu, February 3, 2015.(opens in a new tab)
In 2015, student Marcos Cunha named a Nova União internal tournament in Santa Catarina after Marola to honor his teacher.
Where in the source: Article and interview with organizer
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O Dia, Equipes renomadas exaltam a chegada do Europeu da ISBJJA em Portugal, July 13, 2023; updated July 14.(opens in a new tab)
O Dia described him as a sixth-degree black belt in July 2023.
Where in the source: Marola introduction before first quotation
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In 2023 he said he represented Nova União while developing his own Família André Marola association in Portugal, training weekdays and focusing on students beyond competition.
Where in the source: First Marola quotation
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CBJJD, Coordenador da equipe Família Marola no Algarve, Giovanni Capela projeta Europeu da ISBJJA em Portugal, report discussing 2023.(opens in a new tab)
Giovanni Capela described Marola as his teacher and leader, with affiliated schools in Faro, Olhão and Ferreiras.
Where in the source: Capela first quotation
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Família Marola Faro, official academy homepage, undated.(opens in a new tab)
The Faro academy now lists a wider Família Marola network including Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António alongside Faro, Olhão and Ferreiras.
Where in the source: Academy introduction and affiliate section
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Lineage
No teaching connections are shown on this page.
Open lineage