A recent string of talented acquisitions at Atos gym has not only boosted the California-based team's already-strong posse of homegrown competitors but also promises to increase its medal haul at upcoming tournaments.

Atos was crowned team champion for the first time at Worlds in 2017, and the team looks set to continue its run of success at the 2018 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship on March 7-11 in Irvine, CA.

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Well known for its black belt stars, including Andre Galvao, Keenan Cornelius, Lucas Barbosa, JT Torres, and many more, Atos has built an elite team of top-flight athletes who consistently finish on the podium. They’re backed up by an army of killer colored belts who routinely sweep double golds at tournaments big and small. 

Before winning its first world title, Atos finished second as a team in 2016 and third in 2015. The breakthrough result came just three months after Atos won the team championship at the 2017 Pans. Similarly, it placed second as a team in the two years prior. 

Founded in 2008 by Andre Galvao and Ramon Lemos, Atos HQ has been based in San Diego since 2010. With academies in 14 countries across the world, the two best-known Atos schools to produce competitors are Galvao’s gym in San Diego and the Mendes brothers’ Art of Jiu-Jitsu in Costa Mesa, CA. 

“Together we are stronger”

Such is the motto of Atos. It seems this phrase has resonated with certain members of the community, as a number of high-profile athletes recently announced moves to the team. 

Two-time black belt world champion and three-time black belt world no-gi champion Luiza Monteiro and her partner, Gustavo Batista, a high-level black belt in his own right, were two of the biggest names to switch banners, leaving Leandro Lo’s NS Brotherhood. Rafael Vasconcelos, another Brotherhood athlete, joined them shortly after. 

Andy Murasaki, a Brazilian-Japanese purple belt and world, Pan, and European champion as a blue belt who formerly represented Caio Terra, just publicly announced that he is also joining Atos. In November 2017, Atos acquired another high-profile purple belt in the form of Royal Invitational winner Ronaldo Jr. 

This pattern has repeated itself over the last two years. Atos' position as one of the most prominent teams in jiu-jitsu makes it an attractive place to be for young up-and-comers with dreams of becoming a world champion. Two of its best brown belts, Kaynan Duarte and Jonnatas Gracie, both joined up from smaller teams. 

Scouting vs. recruiting 

The Mendes brothers use a different tactic in developing their squad. By scouting out teenagers, they offer complete sponsorship packages via their "Believe & Achieve" program to begin training them while they’re young and shape them into champions. 

The results speak for themselves: Athletes such as Tainan Dalpra and Matheus Rodrigues have been terrorizing the blue belt divisions, while Jonatha Alves, Lucas Rodrigues, Daniel Amorim, and more scoop medals at purple belt. 

Interview with AoJ's Gui Mendes:

All your medals belong to us 

The winner of the team trophy is decided via points accumulated via podium finishes: A gold medal is worth nine points, a silver is worth three, and a bronze medal is worth one point. 

Atos is in a strong position to win multiple medals at each belt at Pans next week and could potentially win or even close out (take gold and silver) in every absolute division from blue to black. 

The question now is not “could Atos win” but who can stand in the team's way? 

Alliance seem best positioned to challenge Atos. The 10-time world champion is fielding fewer medal hopefuls at black belt but is sending large numbers of colored belts — sometimes outnumbering Atos 4- or 5-to-1 in certain weight divisions. 

The 2018 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship is streaming LIVE or On Demand ONLY on FloGrappling.