Also known as

Description

Brazilian jiu-jitsu master known as the "Encyclopedia of Jiu-Jitsu", a 9th-degree red belt. He was a two-time Pan American judo champion and trained at Tenri University in Japan, bringing new techniques to jiu-jitsu. He was the judo mentor of Rolls Gracie and helped develop the art through students such as Carlos Gracie Jr. and Paulo Filho.

Teachers (3)

• 
  Reyson Gracie

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  BJJ Heroes lineage lists Reyson Gracie as Osvaldo Alves's BJJ teacher, and the OnTheMat interview states Reyson invited Osvaldo to train jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  BJJ Heroes lineage lists Reyson Gracie as Osvaldo Alves's BJJ teacher, and the OnTheMat interview states Reyson invited Osvaldo to train jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie sr > Reyson Gracie > Osvaldo Alves"

  — BJJ Heroes. Osvaldo Alves - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes linkinfo

  "He told me that I was the only guy on our street where we live who practiced Judo. So he invited me to start training Jiu Jitsu with him and his family."

  — On The Mat. (2004). Interview with Oswaldo Alves linkinfo
• 
  Hikari Kurachi

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2

  Probable

  OnTheMat interview states Osvaldo's first judo master was Shikaru Kurashiin (Hikari Kurachi) of São Paulo, then Fujimata; PT Wikipedia and BJJ Heroes name only Fujimata, so the Kurachi attribution rests on the interview's identification

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  OnTheMat interview states Osvaldo's first judo master was Shikaru Kurashiin (Hikari Kurachi) of São Paulo, then Fujimata; PT Wikipedia and BJJ Heroes name only Fujimata, so the Kurachi attribution rests on the interview's identification

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In Judo it was Shikaru Kurashiin of São Paulo, this academy still exist on Bairro da Liberdade. After him, I keep training with his student named Fujimata."

  — On The Mat. (2004). Interview with Oswaldo Alves linkinfo
• Fu
  Fujimata

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2

  Probable

  BJJ Heroes and PT Wikipedia state Osvaldo started judo at age 6 in the academy of Fujimata, a former Japanese champion.

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  BJJ Heroes and PT Wikipedia state Osvaldo started judo at age 6 in the academy of Fujimata, a former Japanese champion.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Judo was an accessible sport and Osvaldo started training as a 6 year old in the academy of a former Japanese champion by the name of Fujimata."

  — BJJ Heroes. Osvaldo Alves - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes linkinfo

Ranks (1)

• linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu

  receipt_longRed belt, degree 9 3

  Confirmed

  BJJ Heroes and PT Wikipedia both state Osvaldo Alves reached 9th-degree red belt in BJJ

  BJJ Ranking System

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  BJJ Heroes and PT Wikipedia both state Osvaldo Alves reached 9th-degree red belt in BJJ

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Osvaldo Alves is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu expert who reached the degree of red relt (nono grau/9th degree) in the gentle art."

  — BJJ Heroes. Osvaldo Alves - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes linkinfo

  "faixa vermelha 9º grau"

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Osvaldo Alves - Wikipedia (PT). Wikipedia (Portuguese)linkinfo

Students (1)

• 
  Rolls Gracie

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  The official Rolls Gracie biography states his first judo cross-training was with Osvaldo Alves; BJJ Heroes and the OnTheMat interview corroborate that Osvaldo introduced the Gracies, including Rolls, to judo

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  The official Rolls Gracie biography states his first judo cross-training was with Osvaldo Alves; BJJ Heroes and the OnTheMat interview corroborate that Osvaldo introduced the Gracies, including Rolls, to judo

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "He was the first of the Gracie's to actively seek competitions in Freestyle, Greco Roman and Sambo wrestling as well as Judo. First cross training was with Osvaldo Alves, training with the Judoka in Brazil."

  — Rolls Gracie Family. Rolls Gracie - Biography (RollsGracie.com)linkinfo

  "The first one to accept to cross train with Alves was Reyson and soon he was followed by a young Rolls Gracie. Rolls adapted extremely well to the Judo game."

  — BJJ Heroes. Osvaldo Alves - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes linkinfo

  "After Reyson, came Rolles Gracie; who surprised everybody. He adapted well to judo and became University and State of Rio de Janeiro Judo champion."

  — On The Mat. (2004). Interview with Oswaldo Alves linkinfo

Sources