Organization
Nova Uniao
Overview
Nova Uniao is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu team and academy affiliation originating in Rio de Janeiro. The team rose to prominence through strong competition results and is widely recognized for producing elite-level athletes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts.
Affiliation
Core Identity
Organization name Nova Uniao
Common name Nova Uniao
Organization type Academy affiliation and competition team network
Founded Circa early 1990s
Founder
- Andre Pederneiras
- Wendell Alexander
Headquarters (historical) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Headquarters (current) Distributed (international academy network)
Operational status Active (lineage- and competition-based)
Primary discipline Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Gi and No-Gi); Mixed Martial Arts
Affiliation Model
Affiliation structure Competition-driven academy network with affiliated gyms operating under the Nova Uniao name, often led by lineage-connected black belts.
Gym independence Affiliated academies operate independently while identifying with the Nova Uniao team and lineage.
Branding / naming conventions Affiliated gyms commonly include Nova Uniao in the academy name or competition registration.
Instruction / curriculum Emphasis on competition performance, speed-based passing, guard retention, and tactical efficiency; curriculum varies by academy.
Typical affiliation signals Nova Uniao team designation in competition registration, public lineage references, and historical association with Nova Uniao athletes and coaches.
Competitive Presence
Primary competitive ecosystem IBJJF, CBJJ, AJP, and international Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments with historical crossover to professional MMA.
Ruleset fit Aligned with standard Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu rulesets; not a governing body.
Athlete representation Competitors register under Nova Uniao or Nova Uniao-affiliated academy names.
Footprint
Global footprint Originating in Brazil with affiliated academies across Brazil, Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific; current footprint is smaller than peak years but remains influential.
Discover affiliated gyms Affiliation appears at the gym level within city and gym profiles when available.
Relationships
Related organization types
- Gyms (affiliated academies)
- Coaches (lineage-linked instructors)
- MMA teams and promotions (historical and contextual relationship)