Douglas Santos
Handed the black belt from his teacher's own waist, Douglas Santos built DS Team in Auckland and became the first inductee in the NZBJJF Hall of Fame.
Biography
Sources for this profile
Gerard Seth, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Gentle Art, M2 Magazine, April 2018 issue (interview with Douglas Santos).(opens in a new tab)
Santos grew up in Florianópolis, Brazil, where surfing was his first sport, and the friends who took him surfing were the same people who introduced him to jiu-jitsu.
Where in the source: Interview, first answer (on growing up in Florianópolis), opening sentences about surfing.
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Santos said he came to jiu-jitsu by acting as a practice dummy for a friend and employer, who needed a partner to practise on during his private sessions with Grand Master Tonicão; he began training at 15.
Where in the source: Interview, second answer (how he came to the art) — "be a dummy".
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Santos described sticking with training as his biggest challenge on the way to black belt, and said a two-year break from jiu-jitsu was the worst period of his life for focus and confidence.
Where in the source: Interview, answer to the question about the hardest part of the road to black belt, second paragraph.
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Santos said a physiologist who helped with his conditioning in Brazil urged him to go to New Zealand; he arrived as a brown belt, found no black belts and no jiu-jitsu there, and spent a year teaching in small venues and private rooms.
Where in the source: Interview, answer on what led him to New Zealand, middle of the paragraph — "actually a brown belt".
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After that first year Santos returned to Florianópolis to train with his instructor Murilo Rupp, who promoted him to black belt straight after a class by taking the black belt from his own waist and handing it to him.
Where in the source: Interview, answer on what led him to New Zealand, second half of the paragraph — "Murilo Rupp".
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Santos said that back in New Zealand as a new black belt he felt lost, with nobody there to measure his jiu-jitsu against, and concentrated on building a school and teaching.
Where in the source: Interview, answer on what led him to New Zealand, closing sentences.
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In 2018 Santos said he had arrived in New Zealand 18 years earlier with a backpack and US$400, and that his school then had more than 100 members.
Where in the source: Interview, final answer (what BJJ can teach about life), opening sentences — "US$400".
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- Conflicting accounts
Santos recalled organising what he called the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu National New Zealand Open at Auckland University in 2001 or 2002; he said 45 people turned up and 32 of them were his students.
Where in the source: Interview, answer on the early days in New Zealand — "Auckland University".
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Santos said he met Xande Ribeiro in Abu Dhabi in 2010 or 2011 and they became friends; Saulo Ribeiro later accepted him into Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu, and his school became part of the University of Jiu-Jitsu network based in San Diego.
Where in the source: Interview, answer on the association with Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu, plus the closing sentences of the preceding answer on San Diego.
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Santos said that as a young student he was inspired by a magazine photo of Saulo Ribeiro finishing a choke, and that competing alongside Saulo in 2016, warming up and weighing in together, was for him worth a gold medal.
Where in the source: Interview, answer on having Xande and Saulo as support — "my golden medal".
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In 2018 Santos said he was a four-time Oceania champion, had made ten attempts at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, and had taken third place at the World Pro in Abu Dhabi in 2013, a result he said convinced him he could win.
Where in the source: Interview, paragraph following the answer about Xande and Saulo, on competition and motivation — "third place".
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In April 2018 M2 Magazine introduced Santos as a fourth-degree black belt, founder of DS Team BJJ-Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu NZ and a pioneer of the sport in New Zealand.
Where in the source: Standfirst paragraph introducing the interview, after the author's account of his first sparring session.
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Santos describes jiu-jitsu as a grappling system grounded in self-defence, and has criticised black belts who know how to win tournaments but not how to defend themselves.
Where in the source: Interview, answer on how to describe BJJ to the average person, middle sentences — "self-defence".
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Santos teaches that the mat mirrors life: being pinned under pressure in training is like hardship off the mat, and the lesson is to breathe, wait for the right moment and use the right technique to escape.
Where in the source: Interview, final answer (what BJJ can teach about life), middle of the first paragraph — "Jiu-Jitsu eyes".
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Santos said it took him almost 15 years to earn his black belt.
Where in the source: Interview, last paragraph of the interview (before the explainer boxes), sentence comparing how long black belts take.
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DS Team Jiu-Jitsu School, home page, dsteamjiujitsu.co.nz.(opens in a new tab)
DS Team calls its six core values its 'six blades': family, discipline, respect, attitude, loyalty and honour.
Where in the source: Home page, section on the school's philosophy, under a quote from Santos — "our six blades".
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DS Team runs a traditional gi school with year-round programmes for children from age five, teenagers and adults, and requires regular students to train in the official white DS Team gi.
Where in the source: Home page, FAQ answers on uniform and minimum starting age.
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DS Team Jiu-Jitsu School, Meet the Team (Our Coaches), dsteamjiujitsu.co.nz.(opens in a new tab)
DS Team Jiu-Jitsu School lists its founder and head instructor, Douglas Santos, as a black belt.
Where in the source: Meet the Team, first coach card (Douglas Santos), list of credentials — "5th Degree BJJ Black Belt".
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DS Team Jiu-Jitsu School lists Douglas Santos as a fifth-degree black belt.
Where in the source: Meet the Team, first coach card (Douglas Santos), list of credentials, same line as d1.
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Santos is the founder and head instructor of DS Team Jiu-Jitsu School in Auckland, where he oversees the curriculum and teaches students from young children to experienced competitors.
Where in the source: Meet the Team, Douglas Santos card: credentials list and the paragraph on leading the school.
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According to his academy, Santos has been teaching jiu-jitsu since 1993.
Where in the source: Meet the Team, Douglas Santos card, credentials list — "Teaching since 1993".
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His academy credits Santos with multiple Oceania and Australian titles.
Where in the source: Meet the Team, Douglas Santos card, credentials list, competition lines.
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Alex Serge, now a black belt and instructor at DS Team, says he has trained under Santos since 2013; his card gives Santos's full name as Douglas Reginaldo Dos Santos.
Where in the source: Meet the Team, Alex Serge (Wolf) card, first sentence — "since 2013".
Accessed:
DS Team Jiu-Jitsu School, About DS Team, dsteamjiujitsu.co.nz.(opens in a new tab)
DS Team's own history describes Patricia Rodrigues's partnership with Santos as transforming the school: she brought a background in education and communication, and developed into a multiple-time world champion while the school built its competition culture.
Where in the source: About page, milestone sections on the Douglas and Patricia partnership and on world-class achievement.
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The academy says Santos's training and competing abroad, including his connection with Xande Ribeiro, shaped the technical standards and teaching philosophy of DS Team.
Where in the source: About page, milestone section on international experience.
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New Zealand Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (NZBJJF), Hall of Fame, nzbjjf.co.nz.(opens in a new tab)
The New Zealand Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation's Hall of Fame entry describes Santos as a fifth-degree black belt from Florianópolis who moved to Auckland in 2000 and founded DS Team Jiu Jitsu in central Auckland.
Where in the source: Hall of Fame page, Male tab, card 'Prof. Douglas Santos' opened to its caption.
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The NZBJJF describes Santos as the first BJJ black belt to establish a school in New Zealand.
Where in the source: Hall of Fame page, card 'Prof. Douglas Santos' caption, second sentence — "the first BJJ black belt".
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New Zealand Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, Facebook post announcing its Hall of Fame induction, 9 May 2025.(opens in a new tab)
On 9 May 2025 the NZBJJF announced Santos as the first inductee into its Hall of Fame, for his vision, leadership and dedication to jiu-jitsu in New Zealand.
Where in the source: NZBJJF Facebook post dated 9 May 2025, closing announcement lines.
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- Conflicting accounts
The NZBJJF dates the first Brazilian jiu-jitsu championship in New Zealand to 9 May 2004, credits Santos with organising it, and says 43 competitors took part.
Where in the source: NZBJJF Facebook post dated 9 May 2025, opening lines on the anniversary of the first competition.
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The NZBJJF lists Saulo Ribeiro, Paulo Guillobel and Felipe Pena among those Santos trained under.
Where in the source: NZBJJF Facebook post dated 9 May 2025, career highlights list, line on training under legends.
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As of May 2025, the NZBJJF described DS Team Jiu Jitsu in Newmarket, Auckland, as affiliated with Six Blades Jiu Jitsu, which it called a global BJJ community.
Where in the source: NZBJJF Facebook post dated 9 May 2025, section on the DS Team academy, affiliation line.
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The NZBJJF says Santos has hosted Clark Gracie, Xande Ribeiro, Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida and Rafael Lovato Jr., and credits DS Team with 11 national team titles.
Where in the source: NZBJJF Facebook post dated 9 May 2025, career highlights list.
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The NZBJJF gives Santos's birthplace as Florianópolis, Brazil.
Where in the source: NZBJJF Facebook post dated 9 May 2025, list headed as the legacy of a pioneer, first line.
Accessed:
DS Team BJJ | Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu New Zealand, Instructors page, dsteamjiujitsu.co.nz, archived by the Internet Archive on 27 March 2017.(opens in a new tab)
In March 2017 DS Team's website described Santos as an IBJJF third-degree black belt and a member of the Ribeiro team, who began training at 15 in Florianópolis and arrived in Auckland in 2000.
Where in the source: Archived instructor page (Wayback snapshot 27 March 2017), Meet the Team, opening paragraphs under Santos's name.
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DS Team's 2017 website said Santos opened his school in early 2001.
Where in the source: Archived instructor page (27 March 2017), summary list of achievements, line on the school's opening — "Opened early 2001".
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According to DS Team's 2017 website, Santos had known Saulo and Xande Ribeiro for many years, and his academy had officially become Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu New Zealand in 2015.
Where in the source: Archived instructor page (27 March 2017), paragraph on the Masters 2016 camp, closing sentence — "RJJNZ".
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Before the Masters World Championship in Las Vegas in July 2016, Santos did his training camp at the University of Jiu-Jitsu with Saulo and Xande Ribeiro.
Where in the source: Archived instructor page (27 March 2017), paragraphs on the 2016 Masters World Championship — "Masters 2016 Vegas".
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DS Team's 2017 achievement list said Santos was the first black belt to represent New Zealand at the World Jiu-Jitsu Pro Cup in Abu Dhabi in 2009, winning bronze in the master heavyweight division, and that he took bronze at the World Pro in Abu Dhabi in 2013.
Where in the source: Archived instructor page (27 March 2017), summary list of achievements, 2009 and 2013 entries — "Master Heavyweight+".
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DS Team's 2017 website said that in 2016 Clark Gracie, Xande Ribeiro, Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida and Rafael Lovato travelled to teach seminars for Santos's students.
Where in the source: Archived instructor page (27 March 2017), paragraph on 2016 visits by leading athletes.
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DS Team's 2017 website said Santos had been director of the World Pro trials in New Zealand for the previous six years, holding the rights to the World Cup trials.
Where in the source: Archived instructor page (27 March 2017), summary list of achievements, line on the trials — "World Pro trials".
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By early 2017, according to his academy's website, Santos had promoted 10 black belts who were helping him grow and develop the school, and had coached New Zealand and Australian champions and a New Zealand world champion.
Where in the source: Archived instructor page (27 March 2017), summary list of achievements, lines on mentoring — "10 Black Belts".
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DS Team's 2017 website said Santos had worked with the Auckland Blues and the All Blacks, providing conditioning training and groundwork.
Where in the source: Archived instructor page (27 March 2017), summary list of achievements — "All Blacks".
Accessed:
IBJJF, Pan Pacific IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2016, official results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2016 IBJJF Pan Pacific Championship, Douglas Reginaldo dos Santos of Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu won gold in the male master 3 black belt heavyweight division (91.5 kg) and gold in the master 3 black belt open class.
Where in the source: IBJJF results, Pan Pacific IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2016, divisions Male / Master 3 / Black / Heavy (91.50kg) and Open Class, place 1.
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IBJJF, Pan Pacific IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2016, official results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2016 IBJJF Pan Pacific No-Gi Championship, Santos (Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu) took silver in the male master 2 black belt heavyweight division (91.5 kg) and silver in the master 2 black belt open class.
Where in the source: IBJJF results, Pan Pacific IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2016, divisions Male / Master 2 / Black / Heavy (91.50kg) and Open Class, place 2.
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IBJJF, Pan Pacific IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2017, official results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2017 IBJJF Pan Pacific Championship, Santos (Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu) took silver in the male master 2 black belt heavyweight division (94.3 kg).
Where in the source: IBJJF results, Pan Pacific IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2017, division Male / Master 2 / Black / Heavy (94.30kg), place 2.
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IBJJF, Pan Pacific IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2017, official results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2017 IBJJF Pan Pacific No-Gi Championship, Santos (Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu) won gold in the male master 2 black belt heavyweight division (91.5 kg) and bronze in the master 2 black belt open class.
Where in the source: IBJJF results, Pan Pacific IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2017, divisions Male / Master 2 / Black / Heavy (91.50kg), place 1, and Open Class, place 3.
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IBJJF, Pan Pacific IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2022, official results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2022 IBJJF Pan Pacific Championship, Santos, now competing for Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu, took silver in the male master 4 black belt heavyweight division (94.3 kg) and bronze in the master 4 black belt open class.
Where in the source: IBJJF results, Pan Pacific IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2022, divisions Male / Master 4 / Black / Heavy (94.30kg), place 2, and Open Class, place 3.
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IBJJF, Pan Pacific IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2022, official results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2022 IBJJF Pan Pacific No-Gi Championship, Santos (Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu) took bronze in the male master 4 black belt heavyweight division (91.5 kg) and silver in the master 4 black belt open class.
Where in the source: IBJJF results, Pan Pacific IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2022, divisions Male / Master 4 / Black / Heavy (91.50kg), place 3, and Open Class, place 2.
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IBJJF, Master International Jiu-Jitsu Championship - North America 2024, official results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2024 IBJJF Master International Championship – North America, Santos, registered with Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu, took bronze in the male master 5 black belt heavyweight division (208 lb).
Where in the source: IBJJF results, Master International Jiu-Jitsu Championship - North America 2024, division Male / Master 5 / Black / Heavy (208.00lb), place 3.
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Mount Maunganui Jiu Jitsu, Meet the Professor (instructor page), mountjiujitsu.co.nz.(opens in a new tab)
Felipe Santos, a third-degree black belt who runs the Mount Maunganui Jiu Jitsu club full-time, began jiu-jitsu in Auckland and progressed from white belt to black belt under Douglas Santos.
Where in the source: Mount Maunganui Jiu Jitsu, instructor page, section introducing the club's professor, first paragraph — "under Sensei Douglas Santos".
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Competition results
| Year | Event | Result | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | IBJJF World Pro Championship (Abu Dhabi World Professional), black beltSource: m2now.comGiVerified | 3rd place | GiVerified |