Everdan Olegário
“Mestre Dan”
Source: bjjheroes.comHe built a São Paulo youth program to keep kids off the streets, and grew it into a jiu-jitsu network that reached all the way to Chile.
Biography
Sources for this profile
BJJ Heroes, "Everdan 'Mestre Dan' Olegário" fighter profile(opens in a new tab)
His full name is recorded as Everdan Olegário da Silva.
Where in the source: Full Name: Everdan Olegário da Silva
Accessed:
He is described as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who trained under Fernando Tererê.
Where in the source: is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt who trained under the illustrious Fernando Tererê
Accessed:
As a Brazilian national, his region is South America.
Where in the source: born on the 3rd of February, 1971 in Sao Paulo – Brazil
Accessed:
He was born on 3 February 1971 in São Paulo, Brazil, and grew up in the COHAB 2 social housing project in Itaquera, São Paulo.
Where in the source: born on the 3rd of February, 1971 in Sao Paulo – Brazil, having spent his formative years in COHAB 2
Accessed:
Martial arts entered his life early: he started karate at 10, switched to basketball at 13, returned to combat sports (boxing) at 22 and won titles including a 'FORD' championship and the 'Copa de Ouro' (Golden Cup), then added jiu-jitsu at 23 without initially taking it seriously.
Where in the source: started karate classes at the age of 10... competing in boxing and achieving some titles such as FORD champion
Accessed:
In 1998, blue belt Antonio "Tony" Carlos (from Lótus Jiu Jitsu Academy) launched the "Equipe de Jiu-Jitsu da Cohab José Bonifácio" (then called "Cohab Lótus"), training on mattresses used as mats, and Everdan became Tony's first student.
Where in the source: In 1998 a blue belt from Lótus Jiu Jitsu Academy named Antonio "Tony" Carlos launched... Everdan would become Tony's first student
Accessed:
Being tied to Lótus, he was graded from blue to brown belt by Givanildo Santana, one of that team's head figures.
Where in the source: Olegário was graded from blue to brown belt by Givanildo Santana
Accessed:
Because his Lótus-linked team could only enter tournaments run by the CBJJE federation, he severed ties with the São Paulo team and joined Fernando Tererê and Eduardo Telles's academy, TT, to open up competition options for his athletes.
Where in the source: he was only authorised to enter tournaments promoted by CBJJE... Olegário decided to sever his ties... and join Tererê and Eduardo Telles' academy – TT
Accessed:
At TT — training alongside future world champions such as Lucas Lepri, Cobrinha, Michael Langhi and Caio Almeida — he received his black belt from André Galvão.
Where in the source: It was also at TT that Everdan Olegário achieved the rank of black belt, a belt that was tied around Dan's waist by André Galvão
Accessed:
TT closed in 2005, and Olegário's Cohab team then switched allegiance to join Alliance.
Where in the source: The TT academy eventually fell (2005)... Olegário's Cohab team was forced to switch allegiance, opting to join forces with Alliance
Accessed:
His team/association is Alliance (via the Cohab team/branch).
Where in the source: Team/Association: Alliance
Accessed:
He is universally known by the nickname "Mestre Dan" (Master Dan); his own name, chosen by his parents and said to be of Germanic origin, was hard to pronounce in Portuguese and was shortened to "Dan" in childhood, and later students added "Mestre" once he became a coach.
Where in the source: The name chosen by Olegário's parents (Everdan) is said to be of Germanic origin and hard to pronounce in Portuguese
Accessed:
As he took over the academy, he launched the social project "Nasci Para Vencer" (Born to Win), aimed at giving neighbourhood children a competitive outlet to keep them away from drug trafficking.
Where in the source: launched a social project named "Nasci Para Vencer" (Born to Win)... to driving the children from the neighbouring burgs away from drug trafficking
Accessed:
From his Cohab academy he produced a number of high-level competitors, including Sérgio Moraes, Guilherme Augusto, Dimitrius Souza and Paulo Baraúna.
Where in the source: Master Dan has produced numerous high level jiu jitsu competitors, including Sérgio Moraes, Guilherme Augusto, Dimitrius Souza, Paulo Baraúna
Accessed:
Prefeitura de São Paulo, Secretaria Municipal de Esportes e Lazer, "Homenagem da SEME a voluntários dos Centros Esportivos é marcada pela emoção", published 10 October 2019 (ceremony held 9 Oct 2019)(opens in a new tab)
A dated São Paulo municipal government article from 10 October 2019 gives his age as 48.
Where in the source: Everdan Olegário, 48, conhecido como Mestre Dan
Accessed:
On 9 October 2019, São Paulo's Secretaria Municipal de Esportes e Lazer (SEME) gave out medals and certificates to 208 sports-center volunteers at a ceremony in the Câmara Municipal — the first such recognition in the department's 50-year history — and singled him out for special mention for 31 years of volunteer work; his Cohab Team attended in force and celebrated.
Where in the source: Everdan Olegário, 48... Com 31 anos de voluntariado... De lá, surgiu o Cohab Team, que compareceu em peso à cerimônia e foi à loucura com a homenagem ao mestre
Accessed:
Prefeitura de São Paulo — Subprefeitura Itaquera, "Jiu-Jitsu muda vidas em Clube Municipal do Conjunto José Bonifácio"(opens in a new tab)
He took charge of the project as its first student after its founding instructor, professor Toni (Tony Carlos), moved to Brasília.
Where in the source: Mestre Dan, o primeiro aluno do Nascidos para Vencer, assumiu o projeto depois que o professor Toni foi morar em Brasília
Accessed:
Elite Sports, "Guilherme Augusto - Top BJJ Black Belt"(opens in a new tab)
Everdan Olegário, 'Mestre Dan', is named as one of the instructors at the Cohab branch of Alliance Academy.
Where in the source: Everdan Olegário, also known as 'Mestre Dan,' became Augusto's first instructor. He was one of the instructors at the Cohab Branch of Alliance Academy
Accessed:
Guilherme Augusto trained from white belt under Everdan Olegário at the Cohab branch of Alliance, and was promoted to black belt on 14 July 2015.
Where in the source: Head Coach: Everdan Olegário... from white belt through black belt promotion on July 14, 2015
Accessed:
Prefeitura de São Paulo, Secretaria Municipal de Esportes e Lazer, "CE José Bonifácio recebe centenas de lutadores no final de semana", 17 December 2014(opens in a new tab)
He holds the rank of black belt.
Where in the source: Hoje faixa preta, Everdan é conhecido como "Mestre Dan"
Accessed:
About 380 children currently train at the José Bonifácio Sports Center through the "Nascidos para vencer" project, alongside adults who can also train for free.
Where in the source: cerca de 380 crianças treinam no local atualmente por meio do projeto "Nascidos para vencer", além de adultos
Accessed:
Instagram, public profile bio for @mestredan.bjj (Everdan Olegário), viewed 2026-09-22(opens in a new tab)
His public Instagram bio self-describes him as a black belt and leader of the Cohab Team's main branch.
Where in the source: 🥋 Black Belt / Líder Matriz @cohabteam
Accessed:
Prefeitura de São Paulo, Secretaria Municipal de Esportes e Lazer, "Campeões Natos"(opens in a new tab)
He is named as the founder of the "Nasci Para Vencer" project, in his own words wanting to build a gym and get children off the street, saying he grew up in the streets himself and knows how strong the pull of drugs still is there today.
Where in the source: O meu sonho era montar um ginásio e mais ainda tirar a molecada da rua. Eu cresci nas ruas e sei que o assédio pelas drogas é grande até hoje
Accessed:
Elite Sports, "Sergio Moraes - The Multiple Times BJJ World Champion"(opens in a new tab)
Sérgio Moraes began BJJ through Everdan Olegário's social project, was coached by him throughout his BJJ career, and was promoted to black belt by Olegário in 2006.
Where in the source: Sergio Moraes was promoted to Black Belt by his coach Everdan Olegário in 2006
Accessed:
BJJ Heroes, "Chile: From Poets to Grapplers"(opens in a new tab)
A practitioner in Chile, Andreas Perez, unable to find local jiu-jitsu instruction, reached out online around 2003-2004; Mestre Dan was the one respected figure who replied, and visited Chile for the first time in 2004, planting the seed for what became the Cohab Chile affiliate.
Where in the source: Luckily for him one man replied, Mestre Dan – founder of the COHAB academy... In 2004 Dan visited Chile for the first time
Accessed:
He has kept visiting Chile up to three times a year to guide Perez's growth; the Cohab-affiliated network there grew to over 400 students across hubs in Viña del Mar, Copiapó and Punta Arenas, helped by black belts Vitor Soto and Hansel Bermúdez.
Where in the source: carried on visiting the South American territory up to 3 times per year... COHAB reaching over 400 students, spread throughout an affiliate network with hubs in Viña del Mar, Copiapó and Punta Arenas
Accessed:
Andreas Perez himself became a Cohab academy affiliate and, after competing extensively in Brazil, earned his black belt under Olegário.
Where in the source: Andreas Perez has also visited Brazil on numerous occasions, competing extensively and earning himself a black belt under Olegário
Accessed: