Gustavo Dantas is a 3rd degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, President of Nova Uniao USA, and the Vice-President of the Arizona State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. He first started to train Jiu-Jitsu when he was 14 years old in a very small school in Vila Isabel, RJ. He trained Judo at the time, while his brother trained train Jiu-Jitsu, but one day Gustavo’s brother convinced him to try a Jiu-Jitsu class and that was that, Gustavo immediately fell in love with Jiu-Jitsu.

Even though Gustavo Dantas was still in his teens, he realized straight away that he wanted to become a Jiu-Jitsu coach and be involved with Jiu-Jitsu for the rest of his life. The school where he trained focused primarily on Self-Defense, but Gustavo was more interested in competition, so, after two years training with his first instructor, he decided to move to a more competition orientated school instructed by one of Ricardo De La Riva’s Black Belts, Fernando Cruz. Under Cruz’s guidance, Gustavo’s Jiu-Jitsu grew, managing a very hard 3rd place and subsequent bronze medal at the 1st World BJJ Championship in 1996 in the Purple Belt division.

Gustavo’s career under Fernando Cruz’s tutelage seemed to be well underway, but sadly, six months after the Worlds, Fernando stopped teaching due to personal problems. Gustavo found himself without a teacher, but that didn’t happen for long as he soon started to train under André Pederneiras (the co-founder of Nova União), who awarded Gustavo Dantas his Brown Belt, followed by his Black Belt in December 1998.

Gustavo started his career as an coach in his old Vila Isabel back in 1995, but in 1998, he left to travel to the U.S. for the first time and compete at the Joe Moreira International Championship in Irvine, CA together with his master André Pederneiras. Four months later, Gustavo moved to Las Vegas to teach at John Lewis’s school (the very 1st Nova União School in the U.S.) after receiving his Black Belt and Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education.

In October of 2000, Gustavo decided to move to Arizona, and Phoenix has been Gustavo’s home ever since.

Gustavo has many National and International BJJ titles which includes 3 World Championship medals, and he has produced 20 World Championship Medalists in the last decade. He is a certified fitness trainer by APEX and I.S.S.A. and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education.

Learn more about Gustavo following his Vlog on youtube @ youtube.com/novauniaousa.

“Gustavo Dantas and Jiu-Jitsu’s Improvement in Arizona” GracieMag Article

“Gustavo Dantas takes reins for Arizona Jiu-Jitsu” GracieMag Article 

JIU-JITSU

Here are some of Gustavo’s Accomplishments:

• 2010 Vegas International Open Champion (Black/Master/Feather) NV, USA
• 2010 International Master & Senior Champion (Black/Senior 1/Feather) RJ, Brazil
• 2009 Rickson Gracie International Champion (Black/Adult/Light) Tokyo, Japan
• 2008 Brazilian National Champion (Black/Light/Master) RJ, Brazil
• 2008 South Bay BJJ Open Champion (Black/Light/Master) CA,USA
• 2002 World Cup – 3rd place (Black/Ultra Heavy/Adult) RJ, Brazil
• 98 & 99 Joe Moreira International Champion (Brown & Black) CA, USA
• 98 Rio de Janeiro State champion (Brown/Feather/Adult) RJ, Brazil
• 97 & 98 World champion (Purple & Brown/Feather/Adult) RJ, Brazil
• 97 Campeonato Brasileiro por Equipes  Champion (Purple/Light/Adult) RJ, Brazil
• 96 World Championships – 3rd place (Purple/Light/Adult) RJ, Brazil

JUDO

• 99 Nevada State Champion
• 95 & 97 Rio de Janeiro State champion

SUBMISSION WRESTLING

• 2001, 2003 Abu Dhabi Combat Championships veteran

MMA Record (2-0)

05/03/2003      Win      Brittish Pena      RITC 48    Submission Triangle/Arm Bar      1st Rd.     2:14
02/16/2002      Win      Jesus Salazar      Desert Heat 1      Rear naked Choke        1st Rd.      0:43

Gustavo and his son, Jonathan Dantas

Gustavo in Action