Antonio Fernando de Moraes Passos
Fourth-degree black belt Tony Passos built a teaching method around mechanics and extended that work through DreamRoot’s leader network.
Biography
Sources for this profile
BJJ Heroes, Tony Passos individual biography, undated(opens in a new tab)
Antonio Fernando de Moraes Passos was born in Recife on February 14, 1980.
Where in the source: Full Name and Biography — February 14
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A friend suggested jiu-jitsu when Passos wanted exercise during college; creativity and the mechanics of movement kept him interested.
Where in the source: Biography — creativity
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He began training with Moacir 'Boca' Omena in December 1998 and remained with him through the coloured belts before moving to the United States in 2004.
Where in the source: Biography — December 28
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When a nearby Virginia academy's instructor moved away, Passos was invited to teach, only two months after his arrival.
Where in the source: Biography — two months
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Omena and Ricardo de la Riva led his black-belt promotion in Virginia in May 2007.
Where in the source: Biography — May of 2007
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A Galvão seminar in November 2010 addressed Passos's search for strong training connections in the United States; their relationship led him to represent Atos in late 2011.
Where in the source: Biography — November 2010
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His listed results include Chicago Open titles, a 2010 masters Pan silver and adult podium finishes at Houston, Miami and the American Nationals.
Where in the source: Main Achievements — master
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Team Passos, Why We Exist: The Origins, undated(opens in a new tab)
After moving from Recife in 2004, Passos worked at Chuck E. Cheese while teaching and training in the evenings with limited English.
Where in the source: The Origins — Chuck E. Cheese
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He and his wife Amy opened their academy in 2008; its account says teaching satisfaction and her support led him into a business he had not originally planned.
Where in the source: The Origins — 2008
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Tony and Amy Passos founded DreamRoot Leadership Institute to support local jiu-jitsu leaders and social initiatives in underserved communities.
Where in the source: The Origins closing — DreamRoot
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Team Passos, Instructor Tony Passos, undated(opens in a new tab)
His academy describes him as an IBJJF-certified fourth-degree black belt and a coach who moved his focus from competing to teaching.
Where in the source: Opening and coaching paragraphs — fourth-degree
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Passos works with students on goals and competition plans, explains positions from several angles and adapts instruction to individual learning and body styles.
Where in the source: Coaching paragraphs — various angles
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Team Passos, Teaching Methodology, undated(opens in a new tab)
The academy describes a curriculum built around body mechanics, leverage and positioning, with techniques used to illustrate those principles.
Where in the source: Conceptual Teaching Methodology — mechanics
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Its stated teaching cycles last six to eight weeks, allowing repeated study of positions and their mechanics, alongside individual goals and feedback.
Where in the source: Structured Curriculum and Goal Setting — 6 to 8
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Team Passos, Social Impact, undated(opens in a new tab)
Team Passos says it helps develop and deliver DreamRoot's leadership training and outreach, including ongoing coaching and networking for local programme leaders.
Where in the source: BJJ Leader Training — local leaders
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The academy reports helping build two training centres in Brazil, renovate a third and establish a school resource centre in Haiti.
Where in the source: Training Center Construction — resource center
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Its gi-donation programme has distributed uniforms to Brazilian community jiu-jitsu projects annually since 2017.
Where in the source: Gi Uniform Drive — since 2017
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DreamRoot Leadership Institute, Our Team, undated(opens in a new tab)
DreamRoot lists Tony Passos as Global Programs Director and Amy Passos as Executive Director.
Where in the source: Our Team — Global Programs Director
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DreamRoot Leadership Institute, Jiu Jitsu Leader Network, undated(opens in a new tab)
DreamRoot's jiu-jitsu leader network connects academy owners and community-project leaders through monthly group teaching, peer contacts, coaching opportunities and shared resources.
Where in the source: Network benefits — monthly
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Lineage
No teaching connections are shown on this page.
Open lineage