Guilherme Mendes
IBJJF calls Guilherme Mendes a four-time World Champion and Hall of Fame member; AOJ says he co-founded Art of Jiu Jitsu.
Biography
Sources for this profile
Jon Medina, “Art of Jiu-Jitsu & IBJJF Presents: A Conversation With Gui Mendes,” IBJJF, June 16, 2023.(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF describes Gui Mendes as a four-time World Champion and an IBJJF Hall of Fame member.
Where in the source: “Art of Jiu-Jitsu & IBJJF Presents: A Conversation With Gui Mendes”; page description beginning “In this special long form interview”.
Accessed:
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, “Hall of fame,” accessed September 13, 2026.(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF's current Hall of Fame roster lists Guilherme Mendes.
Where in the source: Hall of fame; roster entry “GUILHERME MENDES” between Fabio Duca Gurgel do Amaral and Leandro Lo Pereira do Nascimento.
Accessed:
Art of Jiu Jitsu, “Brand,” accessed September 13, 2026.(opens in a new tab)
Art of Jiu Jitsu says AOJ was founded in the summer of 2012 by Rafael and Gui Mendes with RVCA founder PM Tenore.
Where in the source: Brand; paragraph under “To Create a Positive Impact in the World Through the Art of Jiu Jitsu,” beginning “AOJ was founded in the summer of 2012”.
Accessed:
BJJEE, “Gui Mendes: ‘Rafa is Better in Jiu-Jitsu but I’m the Better Looking Brother (laughs),’” November 1, 2014.(opens in a new tab)
In a 2014 interview republished by BJJEE, Guilherme Mendes said AOJ began as a collaboration with PM Tenore and that the academy opened in 2012 for the Mendes brothers to share their jiu-jitsu.
Where in the source: Interview headed “Gui Mendes: ‘Rafa is Better in Jiu-Jitsu but I’m the Better Looking Brother’”; answer to the AOJ-creation question, beginning “It’s a collaboration between RVCA founder PM Tenore and us”.
Accessed:
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, “2022 World Championships Preview: Adult Male Black Belt,” 2022.(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF reported in 2022 that Thalison Soares had moved to Costa Mesa to train under Professor Guilherme Mendes.
Where in the source: “2022 World Championships Preview: Adult Male Black Belt”; Rooster section, paragraph beginning “Thalison Soares, one of the top contenders”.
Accessed:
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, “Breaking Down Tainan Dalpra’s Black Belt Dominance,” 2023.(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF says Tainan Dalpra of AOJ was promoted to black belt by Professor Guilherme Mendes in the fall of 2020 after winning a brown-belt Pan title.
Where in the source: “Breaking Down Tainan Dalpra’s Black Belt Dominance”; paragraph after “Black Belt Accomplishments,” beginning “Tainan Dalpra of AOJ was promoted”.
Accessed:
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, “AOJ Prodigy Cole Abate Awarded Black Belt at Asian Championship,” July 10, 2023.(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF reported that Cole Abate moved to Costa Mesa in 2019 to train under Rafael and Guilherme Mendes and was promoted to black belt by Guilherme Mendes after the 2023 Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships.
Where in the source: “AOJ Prodigy Cole Abate Awarded Black Belt at Asian Championship”; paragraphs beginning “In 2019, Cole’s career took a turn” and “Following the victories”.
Accessed:
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, “2023 Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship Results: AOJ Wins Five Black Belt Gold Medals In Japan,” July 10, 2023.(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF described Art of Jiu Jitsu as led by Professor Guilherme Mendes at the 2023 Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships, where its black belts won five division gold medals and its adult female team won the team title.
Where in the source: “2023 Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship Results: AOJ Wins Five Black Belt Gold Medals In Japan”; opening paragraph and Adult Female team results.
Accessed:
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, “Zach Kaina 2024 Europeans Q&A,” January 16, 2024.(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF reported that Zach Kaina was promoted to black belt by Guilherme Mendes after winning the 2022 No-Gi Worlds as a brown belt.
Where in the source: “Zach Kaina 2024 Europeans Q&A”; opening profile paragraph, sentence beginning “After winning the Worlds No-Gi”.
Accessed:
Competition results
| Year | Event | Result | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-64 kgGiVerified | 1st place | -64 kgGiVerified |
| 2012 | IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-64 kgGiVerified | 1st place | -64 kgGiVerified |
| 2011 | IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-64 kgGiVerified | 1st place | -64 kgGiVerified |
| 2009 | IBJJF World ChampionshipSource: en.wikipedia.org-64 kgGiVerified | 1st place | -64 kgGiVerified |