News » Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
News » Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
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Nova Uniao: Two Lineages, One Team That Changed the Game Nova Uniao: Two Lineages, One Team That Changed the Game
Back in 1995, two coaches with different backgrounds decided to join forces. Dedé Pederneiras, from the Carlson Gracie school, and Wendell Alexander, from the Fadda lineage, came together and created Nova Uniao.
Even today, it’s rare to see a team led by professors from such different roots. What seemed unlikely at the time became one of the most important stories in Jiu Jitsu and MMA.
Where They Came From
Dedé was already a respected name. More than just teaching techniques, he built athletes. He created a structure where even kids from tough neighborhoods could train, grow, and compete. That’s where names like José Aldo, Renan Barão, and Leo Santos came from.
Wendell was all about the foundation. Always on the mat, teaching with patience and an eye for detail. Guys like Robson Moura, Wagnney Fabiano, and Bruno Bastos started with him. His training was calm, consistent, and built to last. The kind of teaching that sticks.
Each one had his own way, but they shared the same goal: build fighters with responsibility, from white belt to black. That attitude played a big role in how the team evolved.
What the Team Achieve
In IBJJF competitions, Nova Uniao quickly made a name for itself, especially in the lighter divisions. Their athletes showed up with solid timing, good positioning, and sharp technique built through honest training. Some of them became world champions. It wasn’t hype. It was the result of doing the work every single day.
When they moved into MMA, there was no rush to adjust. They were already ready. Nova Uniao fighters showed up with tight grappling, smart fight IQ, and real conditioning. They stepped in to win, and they did.
Still Active, Still True to the Roots
Today, Nova Uniao is still going strong. They’ve got schools in several countries and have formed hundreds of black belts. But numbers don’t tell the whole story. What really matters is the kind of Jiu Jitsu they continue to teach.
Dedé is still in front, leading training and bringing up new names. Wendell is still on the mat, teaching with the same calm energy he’s always had. No spotlight, just work.
Our Respect
At Atama Europe, we make it a point to recognize everything Nova Uniao represents. What Dedé and Wendell built wasn’t just a team. It became a culture. They opened doors, set the tone, and showed what it means to live Jiu Jitsu with purpose.
This isn’t just a throwback. It’s a thank you.
If you value tradition on and off the mat, check out our gear and train with what real history looks like.
Atama. We wear history.
Back in 1995, two coaches with different backgrounds decided to join forces. Dedé Pederneiras, from the Carlson Gracie school, and Wendell Alexander, from the Fadda lineage, came together and created Nova Uniao.
Even today, it’s rare to see a team led by professors from such different roots. What seemed unlikely at the time became one of the most important stories in Jiu Jitsu and MMA.
Where They Came From
Dedé was already a respected name. More than just teaching techniques, he built athletes. He created a structure where even kids from tough neighborhoods could train, grow, and compete. That’s where names like José Aldo, Renan Barão, and Leo Santos came from.
Wendell was all about the foundation. Always on the mat, teaching with patience and an eye for detail. Guys like Robson Moura, Wagnney Fabiano, and Bruno Bastos started with him. His training was calm, consistent, and built to last. The kind of teaching that sticks.
Each one had his own way, but they shared the same goal: build fighters with responsibility, from white belt to black. That attitude played a big role in how the team evolved.
What the Team Achieve
In IBJJF competitions, Nova Uniao quickly made a name for itself, especially in the lighter divisions. Their athletes showed up with solid timing, good positioning, and sharp technique built through honest training. Some of them became world champions. It wasn’t hype. It was the result of doing the work every single day.
When they moved into MMA, there was no rush to adjust. They were already ready. Nova Uniao fighters showed up with tight grappling, smart fight IQ, and real conditioning. They stepped in to win, and they did.
Still Active, Still True to the Roots
Today, Nova Uniao is still going strong. They’ve got schools in several countries and have formed hundreds of black belts. But numbers don’t tell the whole story. What really matters is the kind of Jiu Jitsu they continue to teach.
Dedé is still in front, leading training and bringing up new names. Wendell is still on the mat, teaching with the same calm energy he’s always had. No spotlight, just work.
Our Respect
At Atama Europe, we make it a point to recognize everything Nova Uniao represents. What Dedé and Wendell built wasn’t just a team. It became a culture. They opened doors, set the tone, and showed what it means to live Jiu Jitsu with purpose.
This isn’t just a throwback. It’s a thank you.
If you value tradition on and off the mat, check out our gear and train with what real history looks like.
Atama. We wear history.
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Royce Gracie – The Man Who Put Jiu Jitsu on the Map Royce Gracie – The Man Who Put Jiu Jitsu on the Map
Before the world knew how powerful Jiu Jitsu could be, a quiet fighter in a white gi stepped onto the mat, and changed everything. Royce Gracie didn’t need to talk big. He let his technique speak. And the world listened.
Born Into the ArtGrowing up in Rio de Janeiro, Royce was part of a family that didn’t just practice Jiu Jitsu, they lived it. His father, Helio Gracie, taught that technique, leverage, and control could beat raw strength. For Royce, the mat was as familiar as his own home.
While other kids played ball, he was drilling guard passes and escapes with his brothers. For the Gracies, this wasn’t just training. It was tradition.
From a Garage in California to the World StageWhen Royce moved to the U.S. as a teenager, there were no big plans, just a goal: introduce people to the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He and his brother started small, teaching in a garage in Torrance. No glamor, no hype, just a few students, a few mats, and the confidence that their style worked.
1993 – When Everything ChangedAt the very first UFC, Royce entered not as a favorite, but as a question mark. He didn’t look like a threat. He wasn’t a striker, wasn’t flashy. But once the cage closed, Royce made history.
In one night, he submitted three opponents - all bigger, all stronger - and showed the world that Jiu Jitsu was real. No gloves, no rounds, no secrets. Just fundamentals under pressure.
Beyond the Wins – The Moments That Matter⏳ The 90-Minute War with Sakuraba
No time limit. No corners. Just two grapplers testing their mental and physical limits. It wasn’t pretty. But it was pure.
🥇 The Judoka Clash
Against Hidehiko Yoshida, Olympic gold medalist, Royce reminded everyone that Jiu Jitsu isn’t about prestige. It’s about problem-solving.⚖️ The Sumo Showdown
Facing Akebono, a mountain of a man, Royce stayed calm. In under three minutes, the fight was done, proof that timing beats size every time.
A Legacy That’s Still on the MatsRoyce was never about the spotlight. He didn’t need to be. His impact runs deeper than stats.
He showed kids, adults, and future champions that Jiu Jitsu is more than a sport. It’s a mindset. He was the first to enter the UFC Hall of Fame, but more important than the honor was the path he paved.
To this day, Royce travels the world, spreading the art, one seminar at a time.
Why Atama Europe Honors RoyceWe don’t just make gis. We carry history. The same cloth that Royce wore when he introduced the world to Gracie Jiu Jitsu, that spirit still lives in every Atama product.
To honor him is to honor the roots. To remind every new practitioner that Jiu Jitsu started simple. Real. Efficient.Train with gear that carries tradition.
Explore our Atama BJJ Collection and roll with the legacy that started it all.
→ Shop NowBefore the world knew how powerful Jiu Jitsu could be, a quiet fighter in a white gi stepped onto the mat, and changed everything. Royce Gracie didn’t need to talk big. He let his technique speak. And the world listened.
Born Into the ArtGrowing up in Rio de Janeiro, Royce was part of a family that didn’t just practice Jiu Jitsu, they lived it. His father, Helio Gracie, taught that technique, leverage, and control could beat raw strength. For Royce, the mat was as familiar as his own home.
While other kids played ball, he was drilling guard passes and escapes with his brothers. For the Gracies, this wasn’t just training. It was tradition.
From a Garage in California to the World StageWhen Royce moved to the U.S. as a teenager, there were no big plans, just a goal: introduce people to the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He and his brother started small, teaching in a garage in Torrance. No glamor, no hype, just a few students, a few mats, and the confidence that their style worked.
1993 – When Everything ChangedAt the very first UFC, Royce entered not as a favorite, but as a question mark. He didn’t look like a threat. He wasn’t a striker, wasn’t flashy. But once the cage closed, Royce made history.
In one night, he submitted three opponents - all bigger, all stronger - and showed the world that Jiu Jitsu was real. No gloves, no rounds, no secrets. Just fundamentals under pressure.
Beyond the Wins – The Moments That Matter⏳ The 90-Minute War with Sakuraba
No time limit. No corners. Just two grapplers testing their mental and physical limits. It wasn’t pretty. But it was pure.
🥇 The Judoka Clash
Against Hidehiko Yoshida, Olympic gold medalist, Royce reminded everyone that Jiu Jitsu isn’t about prestige. It’s about problem-solving.⚖️ The Sumo Showdown
Facing Akebono, a mountain of a man, Royce stayed calm. In under three minutes, the fight was done, proof that timing beats size every time.
A Legacy That’s Still on the MatsRoyce was never about the spotlight. He didn’t need to be. His impact runs deeper than stats.
He showed kids, adults, and future champions that Jiu Jitsu is more than a sport. It’s a mindset. He was the first to enter the UFC Hall of Fame, but more important than the honor was the path he paved.
To this day, Royce travels the world, spreading the art, one seminar at a time.
Why Atama Europe Honors RoyceWe don’t just make gis. We carry history. The same cloth that Royce wore when he introduced the world to Gracie Jiu Jitsu, that spirit still lives in every Atama product.
To honor him is to honor the roots. To remind every new practitioner that Jiu Jitsu started simple. Real. Efficient.Train with gear that carries tradition.
Explore our Atama BJJ Collection and roll with the legacy that started it all.
→ Shop Now