Wendell Alexander
“Dell”
Source: novauniao.comKnown as Dell, he co-founded Nova União in 1995 and, by his own account, set out to build champions, stepping back somewhat as a fighter.
Biography
Sources for this profile
Nova União Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (official site), "Fundadores".(opens in a new tab)
Nova União's founders page names Geraldo Flores as his first teacher, a figure of great importance to him, with whom he built his base and stayed until purple belt.
Where in the source: Fundadores page, Wendell Alexander section, sentences on his first teacher — "faixa-roxa"
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Nova União's official founders page credits the team's history mainly to Dedé Pederneiras and Wendell Alexander as the people who conceived and founded it, and presents Wendell as co-founder.
Where in the source: Fundadores page, introduction and the heading block for Wendell — "idealizadores e fundadores"
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According to Nova União's founders page, the main push towards jiu-jitsu came from his family: his aunt, Bartira Santos, regularly took him to training, and at four he discovered his passion for the sport.
Where in the source: Fundadores page, Wendell Alexander section, first sentence — "Bartira Santos"
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When Geraldo Flores had to move to another city, Wendell began training with Sebastião Ricardo, the teacher who promoted him to brown belt and then to black belt.
Where in the source: Fundadores page, Wendell Alexander section, sentence on his move to a new teacher — "marrom e preta"
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Nova União's founders page says Wendell Alexander is affectionately known as "Dell".
Where in the source: Fundadores page, Wendell Alexander section, second sentence — "carinhosamente chamado"
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According to Nova União's founders page, Wendell built his foundation as a jiu-jitsu teacher at Mello Tênis Clube, an academy in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro.
Where in the source: Fundadores page, Wendell Alexander section, sentence on his teaching base — "Mello Tênis Clube"
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Nova União's founders page says that in the late 1980s his standout team was made up of children and teenagers, with dominant athletes in every category of that age group.
Where in the source: Fundadores page, Wendell Alexander section, paragraph on his team — "década de 1980"
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Nova União's founders page states that Wendell Alexander is still active as a teacher, giving classes in Campos dos Goytacazes in the interior of Rio de Janeiro state.
Where in the source: Fundadores page, Wendell Alexander section, last sentence — "continua ativo como professor"
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Nova União's founders page shows a lineage graphic for Wendell Alexander running Mitsuyo Maeda, Luiz França, Oswaldo Fadda, Geraldo Flores, Sebastião Ricardo, Wendell Alexander.
Where in the source: Fundadores page, graphic headed with his name and the word lineage, to the right of the Pederneiras graphic
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Nova União Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (official site), "História — Um pouco da história da Nova União".(opens in a new tab)
Nova União's history page says the team grew out of a wish shared by Wendell Alexander and Dedé Pederneiras in the mid-1990s to build a team able to stand up to the celebrated competition teams of the time, when Gracie Barra and Carlson Gracie stood out.
Where in the source: História page, opening paragraph of the page — "fazer frente"
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According to the team's history page, Wendell and Pederneiras met while competing with their own teams, became friends built on mutual support, and when needed one would coach the other's student during a match.
Where in the source: História page, opening paragraph, last sentence — "na função de técnico"
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The team's history page says the pair first entered a championship as one team under the banner of Pederneiras's team and placed third overall, then entered again under the name of Wendell's team and finished second, and these results led them to create Nova União.
Where in the source: História page, section on how the team began, first paragraph — "terceira colocação"
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According to the team's history page, the partnership was made official in 1995, joining Pederneiras from the Gracie lineage and Wendell, shaped in the Oswaldo Fadda line, and bringing together the South Zone and the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro.
Where in the source: História page, paragraph after the founding account — "lapidado por Oswaldo Fadda"
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The team's history page credits Luiz Hermínio ("Luizinho"), then director of the Mello Tênis Clube team, and teacher Adilson Brites ("Jucão") with key contributions to the start of the union before they went their own ways.
Where in the source: História page, same paragraph as the 1995 partnership — "Luizinho"
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The team's history page says that before the union Wendell taught in Rio's suburbs and Pederneiras in the South Zone, and that, as Pederneiras has recounted, a main early difficulty was bringing together athletes with very different life backgrounds, which demanding training resolved.
Where in the source: História page, section on the first steps towards recognition — "bagagem de vida"
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According to the team's history page, at the first world championship Nova União entered as one team, in 1996, it won seven medals in the coloured belts, and the following year 28 medals across categories and belts, black belt included.
Where in the source: História page, section on the first steps towards recognition, medal counts — "28 medalhas"
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The team's history page says Leonardo Santos took on the presidency of Nova União at the invitation of the founders, Wendell Alexander and Dedé Pederneiras.
Where in the source: História page, closing section on the team today, last paragraph — "aceitou assumir a presidência"
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Nova União Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (official site), "Liderança Nova União".(opens in a new tab)
Nova União's leadership page says Leonardo Santos began training at six, in the second half of the 1980s, at Mello Tênis Clube in Rio's suburbs with his cousin Wendell Alexander, Nova União's co-founder, and received his black belt in 1999.
Where in the source: Liderança page, Leo Santos section, second paragraph — "com o primo"
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Nova União's leadership page says Leonardo Santos has been the team's president since 2018, after Dedé Pederneiras left the leadership.
Where in the source: Liderança page, Leo Santos section, first paragraph — "Desde de 2018"
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Graciemag, "Berço da Nova União na Penha é reformado para atender crianças do Jiu-Jitsu", 29 September 2016 (Redação Graciemag, from a press release).(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag reported in 2016 that around mid-1995 the mats of the traditional Mello Tênis Clube in Penha were led by black belt Wendell "Dell" Alexander, who then joined forces with André Pederneiras's team to start Nova União.
Where in the source: First paragraph of the news item — "em meados de 1995"
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Graciemag reported that the Penha space, by 2016 led by black belt Vinicius Guile, was renovated to serve children's jiu-jitsu classes, and that Pederneiras, attending, called it the place where everything began together with "Dell" (Wendell Alexander).
Where in the source: Second and third paragraphs, Pederneiras's quoted remarks — "onde tudo começou"
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Graciemag, "Bruno Bastos, a veteran heading full steam into the European Open", 29 December 2010.(opens in a new tab)
In a 2010 Graciemag interview, Bruno Bastos said he was grateful to André Pederneiras, Wendell Alexander and Luisinho, who gave him opportunities when he had no money to train.
Where in the source: Interview, answer to the question about life in the USA, last sentences — "didn't have money to train"
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Santos Brothers BJJ (Nova União Canada), "Our Vision & Story".(opens in a new tab)
The Santos brothers' academy says Wendell Alexander, close to his cousin Wagnney Fabiano Santos, started taking him to train at Mello Tênis Clube in Rio de Janeiro when he was three, entered him in his first competition at three although the minimum age was four, and committed to training him after Wagnney won.
Where in the source: Our Story page, third paragraph — "minimum age"
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The Santos brothers' academy says Leonardo Santos, inspired by his older brother Wagnney, also started training under Wendell Alexander and went on to receive his black belt from him.
Where in the source: Our Story page, paragraph on Leonardo — "inspired by seeing his brother"
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BJJ Asia, "Wendell Alexander – Nova Uniao", interview by Jehan, published 11 December 2018 (English text as published).(opens in a new tab)
In a 2018 interview with BJJ Asia, Wendell Alexander said his aunt put him in jiu-jitsu at five so that he would behave better, because he was a very boisterous child, and that he never stopped from then on.
Where in the source: Interview, answer to the first question on how his story started — "very rowdy"
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Wendell told BJJ Asia that when he started there were no role models, that only the Gracies had fame and standing, and that because he came from Oswaldo Fadda's side progress was slower and they had to find their own way.
Where in the source: Interview, second paragraph of the answer on how his story started — "lions’ den"
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Wendell told BJJ Asia that he drew inspiration from his teachers Geraldo Flores and Sebastião Ricardo, that he was not a champion himself but set out to build champions, that he put himself somewhat to one side as a fighter and athlete in order to focus on his students, and that he showed them every technique without holding any back.
Where in the source: Interview, answer to the question on being a role model — "build champions"
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Wendell told BJJ Asia that competing has become expensive (federation membership, travel, accommodation, entry fees), that a teacher sometimes pays out of his own pocket to help an athlete, and that a capable athlete without the means can miss the chance to become a champion.
Where in the source: Interview, answer to whether he pushes students to compete — "own pocket"
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Wendell told BJJ Asia that an athlete he trains becomes like a son, and that when a champion leaves to go his own way the teacher is very proud but also a little hurt.
Where in the source: Interview, answer on the process of building champions — "a bit hurt"
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Wendell told BJJ Asia that he has black belts who do not compete and have built careers as doctors, teachers, instructors and soldiers, and that for him jiu-jitsu was never only about fighting.
Where in the source: Interview, answer to the question about his life outside the mat — "not only about fighting"
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Wendell told BJJ Asia that he competed at ten without taking it seriously and did not win, and that he only began winning championships once he was already competing in the masters age division.
Where in the source: Interview, answer to the question about when he started competing — "already Master"
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Wendell told BJJ Asia that he had dedicated his whole life to jiu-jitsu and tried to live so that he would be an example for his students.
Where in the source: Interview, answer on balancing jiu-jitsu and personal life — "mirror"
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Wikipedia, "Nova União (mixed martial arts)", last edited 31 May 2026.(opens in a new tab)
Wikipedia's article on Nova União gives 1995 as the founding year, names André Pederneiras and Wendell Alexander as founders, and says the team is known primarily for its lightweight fighters.
Where in the source: Infobox lines "Est." and "Founded by"; section Jiu Jitsu — "known primarily for its lightweight fighters"
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BJJ Heroes, "Wendell Alexander" (fighter profile, published 11 September 2010, modified 4 January 2015).(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes describes Wendell Alexander as co-founder of Nova União and as the coach who graduated Leonardo Santos, Rodrigo "Riscado" and Bruno Bastos to black belt.
Where in the source: Opening paragraph above the fact box — "graduated"
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BJJ Heroes says Wendell Alexander was born in the Brazilian state of Maranhão.
Where in the source: Biography, first sentence — "Maranhão"
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BJJ Heroes says Geraldo Flores took him from white to purple belt; when Flores moved his academy to another town, Wendell went to Sebastião Ricardo's gym, which was right across from his home, and under Ricardo earned his brown belt and, in 1986, his black belt.
Where in the source: Biography, second paragraph — "in 1986"
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BJJ Heroes says that, as part of the Oswaldo Fadda line, the training of his instructor put heavy emphasis on footlocks, which fighters from the southern part of Rio de Janeiro looked down on, and that when footlocks were at one point barred from the confederation's competitions he adapted by buying tapes of black belt championships and studying them for hours, fitting the moves to his own build.
Where in the source: Biography, third paragraph — "tapes"
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BJJ Heroes says Wendell was never much of a competitor, partly because there were few competitions in his day, partly because he started teaching right after his black belt promotion, and partly, in his own words, because he "got lazy".
Where in the source: Biography, fourth paragraph, first sentence — "got lazy"
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BJJ Heroes says he competed mainly in the lower belt divisions, against leading names of his generation such as De La Riva and Jamelão.
Where in the source: Biography, fourth paragraph, last sentence — "Jamelão"
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BJJ Heroes lists his main competitive achievement as Pan American champion in 1996 and his weight division as leve (76 kg).
Where in the source: Fact box, lines on main competitive achievement and weight division
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BJJ Heroes says that, on promoting Wendell to black belt, Sebastião Ricardo also wanted him to remain at the gym in Ricardo's place as its teacher, and that Wendell agreed.
Where in the source: Biography, fifth paragraph, first sentence — "take over"
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BJJ Heroes says Wendell and Pederneiras first competed together under Pederneiras's team and placed third, then under Wendell's name and placed second, after which they combined permanently as Nova União, Portuguese for "new union".
Where in the source: Biography, sixth paragraph — "new union"
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BJJ Heroes says Wendell takes part in charity events to help his local community and has organised jiu-jitsu events to raise awareness.
Where in the source: Final paragraph, first sentence — "charity"
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BJJ Heroes says that as Pederneiras became involved in MMA, Wendell became more and more involved with the gi side of the team.
Where in the source: Final paragraph, last sentence — "kimono side"
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BJJ Heroes gives his lineage as Mitsuyo Maeda, Luiz França, Oswaldo Fadda, Sebastião Ricardo, Wendell Alexander.
Where in the source: Fact box, lineage line
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BJJ Heroes, "Nova Uniao Academy" (team page, published 13 August 2012, modified 14 October 2014).(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes' Nova União team page says the team was formed when Mello Tênis Clube, led by Wendell, merged with Pederneiras's academy, Dedé Pederneiras Jiu Jitsu; early in 1995 Wendell asked Pederneiras to look after one of his athletes at a small tournament he could not attend, about three months later Pederneiras's fighters competed for Wendell's team, and the two then decided to merge.
Where in the source: Team history, second paragraph — "small tournament"
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BJJ Heroes' team page says Nova União won seven medals, none at black belt, at the first world championship in 1996, and in 1997 took 28 medals, five of them in the lighter black belt weights, plus the team title, which earned it a name as a lightweight specialist team.
Where in the source: Section on the team as a lightweight team, first paragraph — "specialist team"
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BJJ Heroes' team page says Nova União is known for its work with poorer communities through both Wendell and Pederneiras, who often let students train without paying.
Where in the source: Paragraph on the team's social work — "without paying"
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BJJ Heroes, "Bruno Bastos" (fighter profile).(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes says Bruno Bastos, after starting under Neury Gomes and a short spell with Aílson Brites, trained with Wendell Alexander from 1993, the coach who stayed with him until black belt, and that Bastos's fifth-degree black belt was awarded by Wendell.
Where in the source: Opening paragraph and early-life paragraph — "(in 1993)"
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BJJ Heroes says that, like his master Wendell, Bruno Bastos is involved in charity, founding in 2005 an organisation that uses jiu-jitsu to keep children away from drugs.
Where in the source: Paragraph on charity — "Just like his master"
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BJJ Heroes, "Wagnney Fabiano" (fighter profile, published 30 July 2012, modified 6 April 2019).(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes says Wagnney Fabiano began training as a child at Wendell Alexander's gym, rose through the ranks under him, saw the early days of Nova União, and received his black belt on the podium after winning the brown belt division of the 1996 Brazilian National Championship.
Where in the source: Early-life and career paragraphs — "on the podium"
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BJJ Heroes, "Claudio Joanino" (fighter profile, published 10 March 2017).(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes says Cláudio Joanino met Wendell Alexander in 1990 while competing for the Navy, was invited to one of his classes at Mello Tênis Clube, received his black belt from Wendell in December 1994, and in 1995 took a coaching post in Macaé whose academy became an asset to the new Nova União.
Where in the source: Early-career paragraphs — "competing for the Navy"
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BJJ Heroes, "Geraldo Flôres" (fighter profile, published 7 April 2014).(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes describes Geraldo Flores as a red belt from the Oswaldo Fadda lineage, counted among the leading builders of jiu-jitsu in the north of Rio de Janeiro, and as having played a part in Wendell Alexander's development.
Where in the source: Opening paragraph — "northern area"
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BJJ Heroes, "Marcelo Pereira" (fighter profile, published 16 November 2023).(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes says Marcelo Pereira's first instructor was Wendell Alexander; as a purple belt Pereira began competing out of the team's headquarters in the city centre, where Pederneiras also became his instructor alongside Wendell, and he belonged to Nova União's group of lightweight competitors from the late 1990s into the early 2000s.
Where in the source: Opening and early-life paragraphs — "first instructor"
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BJJ Heroes, "Leandro Nyza" (fighter profile, published 28 November 2011).(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes says Leandro Nyza's first coach was Sebastião Ricardo; after Ricardo left, Wendell Alexander took charge of the class and the gym, and Nyza trained with him through all his belts, receiving his black belt in December 1997 before later coaching at BJ Penn's academy in Hawaii.
Where in the source: Early-life paragraphs — "took charge of his class"
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IBJJF, "Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 1996" (official results page).(opens in a new tab)
The IBJJF results for the 1996 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship list Wendell Alexander, of Lewis Nova Uniao, in first place in the Master 1 / Black / Male / Light division, ahead of Moises Murad (Equipe Paulista) and Breno Sivak (Rickson-Royler).
Where in the source: Results page, division heading "Master 1 / Black / Male / Light", place 1 row
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