Gustavo Dantas

Gustavo was the Jiu-Jitsu coach of the Mixed Martial Arts Gym, Arizona Combat Sports for eleven years, where he achieved his 2-0 MMA record. During that time, Gustavo started the mission of promoting Jiu-Jitsu in the State of Arizona, becoming the vice-president of the Arizona State Brazilian jiu-jitsu Federation and turning a small, 40 competitor, "in-house" tournament in 2001 to a 700 competitor tournament in 2011, helping Arizona to be recognized as one of the Jiu-Jitsu power houses in the United States.

Team GD Jiu-Jitsu is the most active Nova Uniao branch in the United States. Gustavo Dantas has been building champions on the mat and in life since October 2000 in Tempe, Arizona. Team GD Jiu-Jitsu has been rated #1 School in the Adult Division at the AZSBJJF Ranking from 2009 to 2014, and #1 School in the kids division at the AZSBJJF Ranking in 2011 and 2012. Additionally, their competitors have international titles in the world's most prestigious tournament operated by the IBJJF (International Brazilian jiu-jitsu Federation), the World Championship (Mundial). To date Team GD has secured over 30 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship medals.

Gustavo Dantas (born 23 December 1974 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), is a fifth degree Black Belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from Andre Pederneiras. With nearly 20 years of coaching experience and being a world class competitor, Gustavo is a public speaker as well as a certified mental and life coach with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education from UFRJ (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro). Gustavo left Brazil in 1999 with a couple thousand dollars, two bags, and one teenage dream: to have his own 100% Jiu-Jitsu Academy and make his living through the passion of his life, Jiu-Jitsu. The Gustavo Dantas Jiu-Jitsu Academy was established in Tempe, Arizona on March 6, 2012, re-enforcing the statement, "Believe in yourself, believe in your dreams. Hard work pays off."