Rafael Dallinha
“Rafinha”
Source: bjjheroes.comA Florianópolis surfer who took up jiu-jitsu in 1999, earned his black belt under Rodrigo Medeiros and now runs RADA Jiu-Jitsu in La Jolla, San Diego.
Biography
Sources for this profile
RADA Jiu Jitsu Academy, 'Rafael Dallinha' (team page).(opens in a new tab)
Rafael Dallinha was born in 1982 and grew up on the island of Florianópolis in Brazil, where he competed in surfing as a boy.
Where in the source: Team page, biography section, first paragraph — 'born in 1982'
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At age ten his school offered two options for physical education and he chose judo, which he then trained three times a week; this was his first martial art.
Where in the source: Team page, biography section, first paragraph — 'opted for judo'
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Friends who trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu kept urging him to try it; in 1999 he began training at a local academy in Florianópolis under Rafael Mello and Murillo Rupp, and afterwards gave up judo and surf competition for jiu-jitsu.
Where in the source: Team page, biography section, second paragraph — 'In 1999'
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He began competing in regional and state events while still a white belt; Murillo Rupp promoted him to blue belt and sent him to the United States to train under Rodrigo Medeiros in San Diego, California.
Where in the source: Team page, biography section, third paragraph — 'his blue belt'
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Before reaching San Diego he spent almost a year in Los Angeles training under Gerson Sanginitto, who promoted him to purple belt; he then moved on to San Diego and Rodrigo Medeiros.
Where in the source: Team page, biography section, fourth paragraph — 'almost a year'
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Training under Medeiros he travelled to many competitions; in 2007 Medeiros promoted him to brown belt, the point at which he decided to make jiu-jitsu his profession and began helping with the children's classes at Medeiros' P.B. Fight Center.
Where in the source: Team page, biography section, fifth paragraph — 'P.B. Fight Center'
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In 2010 Rodrigo Medeiros promoted him to black belt.
Where in the source: Team page, biography section, sixth paragraph — 'In 2010'
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After his black-belt promotion he kept training at the P.B. Fight Center while teaching at affiliated gyms.
Where in the source: Team page, biography section, sixth paragraph, sentence after the 2010 promotion
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He moved from being head instructor of RADA Jiu-Jitsu in La Jolla to also being its owner.
Where in the source: Team page, biography section, end of sixth paragraph — 'also the owner'
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The academy biography says his aim as a teacher is to pass on knowledge of and respect for jiu-jitsu and the confidence to stay calm in difficult situations.
Where in the source: Team page, biography section, final paragraph, sentence beginning 'His goal'
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RADA Jiu Jitsu Academy, 'Instructors'.(opens in a new tab)
RADA's instructors page lists Rafael Dallinha as head instructor and a black belt.
Where in the source: Instructors page, first entry under his name — '4th Degree Black Belt'
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RADA's instructors page gives his rank as fourth-degree black belt.
Where in the source: Instructors page, line under 'Head Instructor' — same '4th Degree' line
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The academy lists his competition highlights as including an SJJIF world title in the Master 2 division, second place in the SJJIF World Championship adult division, two IBJJF World Master bronze medals, an IBJJF North American Masters title, an Abu Dhabi Grand Slam title, US Open and IBJJF South American titles, and a Hawaiian Triple Crown title.
Where in the source: Instructors page, list headed 'COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS'
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RADA Jiu Jitsu Academy, 'About RADA Jiu Jitsu'.(opens in a new tab)
RADA describes its approach as functional jiu-jitsu for self-defence as well as sport, taught on the feet and on the ground, with and without strikes; it says many of its students are police officers, mixed martial artists and members of the armed forces, and that its instructors roll with students of various ranks.
Where in the source: About page, second and fourth paragraphs — 'functional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu'
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RADA Jiu Jitsu Academy, homepage.(opens in a new tab)
RADA Jiu Jitsu Academy, known as =RADA=, is a jiu-jitsu school in La Jolla, San Diego, for children and adults, headed by Professor Rafael Dallinha.
Where in the source: Homepage, section 'Why choose RADA Jiu Jitsu?' — 'Headed up by Professor Rafael Dallinha'
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RADA Jiu Jitsu Academy, 'RADA Jiu Jitsu Voted Best Martial Arts Academy in La Jolla — Four Years Running!', 1 October 2025.(opens in a new tab)
In October 2025 the academy announced that it had been voted Best Martial Arts Academy in La Jolla in the Village News Readers' Choice Awards for the fourth consecutive year.
Where in the source: News post dated 1 October 2025, first paragraph — 'fourth consecutive year'
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Rafael Dallinha, 'Expanding the academy requires tactical planning', Graciemag, 29 March 2023.(opens in a new tab)
In a first-person Graciemag column in March 2023, Dallinha wrote that RADA had been in the same La Jolla location for ten years; after a nine-month negotiation it moved in January 2023 to a space three times larger.
Where in the source: Column, opening and later paragraphs — 'three times bigger'
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He wrote that about 50 new students had joined since the move, that the new gym was already getting small, and that he planned either to expand it or to open another location in the area.
Where in the source: Column, paragraph after the store photo — '50 more students'
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Describing himself as detail-oriented, he wrote that he planned the new academy step by step and redesigned the space several times, and advised other teachers to hold at least a year of cash in reserve before moving and to stay close to the old location to keep their students.
Where in the source: Column, middle paragraphs — 'detail oriented guy'
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In the same column he described RADA as the largest jiu-jitsu academy in La Jolla.
Where in the source: Column, fifth paragraph — 'largest Jiu-Jitsu academy in La Jolla'
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Graciemag, 'The 5 mistakes you can't make before a Jiu-Jitsu championship, by coach Rafael Dallinha', 28 May 2025.(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag introduced him in 2025 as a black-belt champion and Brazilian professor based in California.
Where in the source: Article standfirst — 'Brazilian professor in California'
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Asked by Graciemag about pre-competition errors, he warned against extreme weight cutting, overtraining out of anxiety in the final week, poor sleep, sparring that never simulates competition rules and timing, and neglecting mental preparation.
Where in the source: Article list, item 5 — 'Failing to prepare mentally and emotionally'
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Graciemag, 'Os mandamentos da puxada de guarda, com professor Rafael Dallinha', 27 February 2024.(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag described him in 2024 as a Brazilian professor based in La Jolla with a complete game who prefers to fight from on top, yet a firm defender of pulling guard; he argued that guard pulling is a legitimate resource and a pure jiu-jitsu concept.
Where in the source: Article (Portuguese), first two paragraphs — 'ferrenho defensor da puxada para a guarda'
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His guard-pulling principles in the article include securing at least one solid grip first, never pulling guard for its own sake because the guard is only the first step of a plan, mapping the second grip once on one's back, and always drilling the basics.
Where in the source: Article (Portuguese), numbered list, items 2-7 — 'Jamais puxe por puxar'
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Graciemag, 'Rafa Dallinha convoca você para a próxima edição do SUG', 21 August 2026.(opens in a new tab)
In August 2026 Graciemag reported that Dallinha is one of the organisers of SUG (Submission Underground), whose next edition was set for 8 November 2026, again in Florianópolis.
Where in the source: Interview (Portuguese), first paragraph — 'um dos organizadores do show'
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He said he joined SUG through Fabiano 'Pega-Leve' Scherner, a close friend since his white-belt days in Florianópolis, who visited his San Diego academy and proposed bringing SUG back in a new format.
Where in the source: Interview (Portuguese), answer on how he joined SUG — 'grande amigo meu'
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He said his experience organising events began in 2009 working alongside Fernando Paradeda, with whom he staged Abu Dhabi Trials events in Hawaii, Las Vegas, Miami and San Diego.
Where in the source: Interview (Portuguese), same answer — 'comecei em 2009'
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He described his SUG role in the United States as planning, structure, partnerships and sponsorship, with Ricardo Bortoluzzi leading the operation in Brazil, and said the group was working towards a first US event of the new phase in Oregon.
Where in the source: Interview (Portuguese), answer on his role — 'parcerias e patrocínios'
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He credited Scherner with creating the rules of the new SUG format, saying he only helped with adjustments, and described the adult no-gi rules as more aggressive and submission-focused, with athletes free to enter divisions above their belt level.
Where in the source: Interview (Portuguese), opening quotes and answer on the first edition — 'a criação foi dele'
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Graciemag, 'San Diego Abu Dhabi WPJJ Trials set for March 2012', 2 January 2012.(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag named Dallinha in January 2012 as coordinator of the San Diego Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu trials, set for 10-11 March 2012 at Point Loma High School and billed as the last qualifier before the World Pro in April.
Where in the source: News item, third paragraph — 'coordinator for the San Diego Trials'
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Graciemag, 'Poll: What is the biggest bit of fake news in BJJ?', 27 December 2018.(opens in a new tab)
In a 2018 Graciemag poll he named learning only online, without ever training on a mat with a real master, and being promoted anyway as the biggest 'fake news' in jiu-jitsu, while saying he did not dismiss online teaching and that in-person classes are vital to understanding the art.
Where in the source: Poll, his numbered answer — 'in-person classes are vital'
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BJJ Heroes, 'Rafael “Rafinha” Dallinha'.(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes says he is known in the jiu-jitsu community as 'Rafinha', a familiar Portuguese form of Rafael.
Where in the source: Profile opening sentence and nickname line — 'also known as “Rafinha”'
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BJJ Heroes gives his lineage as Carlos Gracie, Carlson Gracie, Rodrigo Medeiros, Rafael Dallinha, and places Medeiros in the Carlson Gracie 'BJJ Revolution Team'.
Where in the source: Profile header, lineage line (four names from Carlos Gracie to Dallinha)
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According to BJJ Heroes, he founded the RADA Jiu-Jitsu team in 2017 and opened gyms in La Jolla and Oceanside, California.
Where in the source: Biography section, final paragraph — 'In 2017'
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BJJ Heroes dates his departure for the United States to train under Rodrigo Medeiros to 2004.
Where in the source: Biography section, third paragraph — 'in 2004'
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BJJ Heroes lists his favourite technique as the footlock and his weight class as middleweight (82.3 kg).
Where in the source: Profile header, favourite-technique and weight-division lines — 'Footlock'
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BJJ Heroes lists among his black-belt results titles at the 2018 SJJIF World Championship and the 2018 UAEJJF Grand Slam in Los Angeles, and second place at the 2016 SJJIF World Championship.
Where in the source: Profile header, first 'Main Achievements' list (black belt), first, second and fourth lines
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IBJJF, Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2004 results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2004 IBJJF Pan American Championship he took third place in the adult male blue-belt featherweight division, representing BJJ Revolution Team.
Where in the source: Results table, division 'Adult / Blue / Male / Feather' — place 3, 'Rafael Dallinha', BJJ Revolution Team
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IBJJF, American National IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2005 results.(opens in a new tab)
He won the adult male purple-belt lightweight division at the 2005 IBJJF American Nationals for BJJ Revolution Team.
Where in the source: Results table, division 'Adult / Purple / Male / Light' — place 1, 'Rafael Dallinha', Bjj Revolution Team
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IBJJF, American National IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2006 results.(opens in a new tab)
He won the adult male purple-belt lightweight division again at the 2006 IBJJF American Nationals for BJJ Revolution Team.
Where in the source: Results table, division 'Adult / Purple / Male / Light' — place 1, 'Rafael Dallinha', BJJ Revolution Team
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IBJJF, American National IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2007 results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2007 IBJJF American Nationals he took second place in the adult male brown-belt lightweight division, behind teammate Samuel Hertzog of BJJ Revolution Team.
Where in the source: Results table, division 'Adult / Brown / Male / Light' — place 2, listed as 'Rafael Dall Inha', Bjj Revolution Team
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IBJJF, Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2007 results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2007 IBJJF Pan American Championship he took third place in the adult male brown-belt lightweight division for BJJ Revolution Team.
Where in the source: Results table, division 'Adult / Brown / Male / Light' — place 3, 'Rafael Dallinha', Bjj Revolution Team
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IBJJF, Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2010 results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2010 IBJJF Pan American Championship he took second place in the adult male brown-belt lightweight division, behind Zak Maxwell.
Where in the source: Results table, division 'Adult / Brown / Male / Light' — place 2, 'Rafael Dallinha', BJJ Revolution Team; place 1 Zak Maxwell
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IBJJF, World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2014 results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2014 IBJJF World Master Championship he took third place in the male Master 1 black-belt middleweight division, listed as Rafael Antonio Dallinha of BJJ Revolution Team.
Where in the source: Results table, division 'Male / Master 1 / Black / Middle (175.60lb)' — place 3, 'Rafael Antonio Dallinha', BJJ Revolution Team
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IBJJF, Houston International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2014 results.(opens in a new tab)
He won the male Master 1 black-belt middleweight division at the 2014 IBJJF Houston International Open.
Where in the source: Results table, division 'Male / Master 1 / Black / Middle (175.60lb)' — place 1, 'Rafael Antonio Dallinha', BJJ Revolution Team
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IBJJF, World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2023 IBJJF World Master Championship he took third place in the male Master 3 black-belt middleweight division, now representing Rada Jiu-Jitsu Academy.
Where in the source: Results table, division 'Male / Master 3 / Black / Middle (181.60lb)' — place 3, 'Rafael Antonio Dallinha', Rada Jiu-Jitsu Academy
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Graciemag, 'Dalinha, Gracie now black belts', 16 June 2010.(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag reported in June 2010 that Rodrigo Medeiros, leader of BJJ Revolution Team, had promoted Rafael Dallinha to black belt shortly before the 2010 World Championship in Long Beach, in the same ceremony as Clarck Gracie, with Carley Gracie and Julio Fernandez present.
Where in the source: News item, first three paragraphs — 'prior to the 2010 World Championship'
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SJJIF, Sjjif World Jiu-jitsu Championship 2018 results.(opens in a new tab)
He won the male black-belt Master 30 middleweight division at the 2018 SJJIF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, representing Rada Jiu-Jitsu Academy and listed under Brazil.
Where in the source: Results table, division 'Male Black Master 30 Middle' — '1st', 'Rafael Dallinha', Rada Jiu-jitsu Academy, BRA
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