LEAD BJJ Jiu-Jitsu Schools Legacy And History

1. LEAD BJJ

LEAD BJJ is one of the most accomplished BJJ academies founded by Bruno Bastos. The LEAD BJJ Academy is known for its world-class instruction, excellent facilities, and supportive community. The academy offers classes for all ages and skill levels, from beginners to advanced competitors. Classes include Gi and No-Gi grappling, as well as fitness classes that focus on developing the strength and endurance necessary for BJJ training.

The LEAD BJJ Academy has produced some of the top competitors in the sport. The school’s commitment to excellence has earned it a reputation as one of the top BJJ schools in the world.

One of the unique aspects of the LEAD BJJ Academy is its focus on developing the whole person, not just their grappling/martial art skills. The academy encourages students to develop discipline, focus, and mental toughness, qualities that can translate to successfully navigating all areas of life. Its core values are respect, discipline, and perseverance, which are emphasized in every aspect of training.

2. Founder of LEAD BJJ

Photo Credit: Team BJJ

The man behind one of the most successful BJJ academies is Bruno Bastos. He is a 6th-degree BJJ Black Belt under Wendell Alexander. He is known as the champion in the execution of Half Guard. He is not only a notable name in the IBJJF but also the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals.

3. Main Achievements

Year	Championship	Position
2011	Brazilian Nationals No-Gi	1st
2008	IBJJF Rio Open	1st
2012	IBJJF World Championship No-Gi	1st
2015	IBJJF World Championship No-Gi	1st
2016	IBJJF World Championship No-Gi	1st
2018	IBJJF World Championship No-Gi	1st
2016	CBJJ Brazilian Nationals	1st
2013	IBJJF Masters World Championship	1st
2020	IBJJF Masters World Championship	1st
2017	IBJJF European Open No-Gi	1st
2019	IBJJF European Open No-Gi	1st

4. Meaning Behind Team LEAD

The LEAD in “Team LEAD” stands for “Live Everyday to Achieve your Dreams”. The meaning coincides with the belief of Bruno Bastos. He was of the belief that only hard work and a strong passion for success can make practitioners the best in the world.

5. The Idea Beyond Team LEAD

“I created the Team LEAD BJJ back in 2016 because I wanted something that wasn’t about my name. I had students of affiliates winning tournaments – especially from Alvarez BJJ [Danny Alvarez academy] traveling all over the World, and I was getting compliments on how good my students were doing, when in fact I wasn’t their coach.”
(Bruno Bastos)

Bruno Bastos wanted to form a team that was solely fighter-centered. He then devised a team whose gigantic success rate put it on IBJJF charters within no time.

6. History Behind LEAD BJJ

6.1. Visited Ahjo Training Center For a Seminar

In 2016, Bruno Bastos held a seminar at Ahjo Training Centre.

6.2. Bruno Bastos Association

Before the formation of LEAD BJJ, Bruno Bastos was the founder and head coach of the Bruno Bastos Association which was formed in 2014.

6.3. Change of Plans

Bruno Bastos was happy with his academy. Suddenly, he was of the view that he wanted an academy that totally focused on practitioners. Bruno is a humble and kind BJJ fighter. His sole concern is his students, so he came up with a name representing his ideology for forming a BJJ team.
He made this decision when some of his affiliate students from Danny Alvarez Academy won championships and Bruno was praised for their performance. Also, the seminar conducted at Ahjo Training Center inspired Bruno Bastos in forming a BJJ academy where like-minded fighters can train together.

6.4. Inauguration of LEAD BJJ

In 2016, Lead BJJ was founded by Bruno Bastos. Many notable academies joined LEAD BJJ. Dennis Jiu-Jitsu Club was the first academy that joined LEAD BJJ despite Edenilson Lima having his own academy.

“Some like-minded people saw the opportunity of being a part of a growing team without being behind someone’s name.”
(Bruno Bastos)

There are many examples in BJJ where different academies affiliate from a specific team. LEAD BJJ is not the only one in this regard. Dennis Jiu-Jitsu Club was the first academy affiliated with LEAD BJJ right after its formation. Though it is a separate academy who has been in the sport for a very long time, it represents LEAD BJJ and the world’s top BJJ fighters.

6.5. Number of Affiliates

Though LEAD BJJ was formed in 2016 but within years this academy enhanced its circle and many affiliates joined it. Affiliates from all continents including Brazil, the USA, Australia, Bulgaria, and Mexico joined LEAD BJJ.

7. LEAD BJJ - Headquarters

The Headquarters of Team LEAD BJJ is located in Midland Texas. LEAD BJJ is also famous for its World Championship camp that was previously conducted in Midland, Texas but now Bruno Bastos wants to conduct camps in other countries too. He aims for 3 weekend rotational camps, in Midland, Dallas and Houston.

8. LEAD BJJ’s Mantra

The Mantra behind Team LEAD BJJ is “Live every day to achieve your dreams”. Despite this mantra, Bruno Bastos is of the belief:

“Life is a competition where you have to fight for everything you want.”

9. Ranked 10th on 2022-2023 IBJJF Charters

Team LEAD BJJ is ranked 10th under the Overall IBJJF 2022-2023 rankings. Since 2021, team LEAD has been creating history. In the recent 2023 Dallas International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Team LEAD scored 1st position.

10. The Legacy of the LEAD BJJ Team in the BJJ Community

The LEAD BJJ Team was gradually respected in the BJJ community. Bastos’ dedication to creating a team that is only student-centered has inspired and fascinated many practitioners to take the sport professionally and create their name in it.

The ideology of LEAD BJJ Team has made it one of the most distinctive BJJ teams. And this ideology will be the reason for LEAD BJJ’s future success. This team has always influenced its students as well as people outside the sport.

11. The Growth of LEAD BJJ

Since its foundation in 2016, the LEAD BJJ Team has grown significantly and now has multiple academies across the United States. There are countless academies that are affiliated with LEAD BJJ that are making tremendous success in the sport. This team is responsible for attracting practitioners of all ages to BJJ.

Bastos has associated accomplished Black Belts with his team and also created elite Black Belts under his strict instructions.

12. The Philosophy Behind the LEAD BJJ Team

The LEAD BJJ Team is founded on several key principles that guide its philosophy and approach to the sport. One of the most distinctive principles on which LEAD BJJ is built is its specific attention to individual’s thinking. This team is concerned about its students and highly accepts appreciation and criticism from them.

Bastos founded this team with the sole aim of giving a platform to BJJ students where all students who think the same can come forward and play their part in building the strongest BJJ team. It teaches important values such as discipline, respect, and humility. Bastos is so dedicated towards this team that he urges practitioners to keep on learning and improving themselves, regardless of their rank or experience.

13. Alliance With Ahjo Training Centre

Video Credit: By Ahjo Training Center

In 2020, Ahjo Training Center, which was inspired by Bruno Bastos because of his remarkable Jiu-Jitsu techniques, decided to join Team LEAD BJJ. This alliance turned fruitful for Ahjo Training Centre as its students gained more international recognition.

14. Future of LEAD BJJ

Bruno Bastos never founded LEAD BJJ with the aim of hundreds of thousands of practitioners and many branches. He just aimed for an institute where elite and like-minded grapplers/martial artists can train with the same aim. Bastod doesn’t aim to make a large team. Rather he wanted to create a team where practitioners have the same aim and the same series to fulfill their goals.

There is an open invitation for those practitioners whose thoughts coincide with Bastos’ ideology.

15. Top Fighters in IBJJF World Championships

15.1. Dallas International Open IBJJF Championship 2023

Fighter	Belt	Weight Class	Position
Jesse Chase Sosa	Black	Featherweight	2nd
Salvador Izar Espara	Black	Middleweight	2nd
Jorge Vasquez	Black	Light Featherweight	1st
Rennick Keolani Kama Jr.	Black	Ultra Heavyweight	2nd

15.2. Austin Winter International Open IBJJF Championship 2023

Fighter	Belt	Weight Class	Position
Emily Elizabeth Fernandez	Black	Lightweight, Open Class	1st
Jorge Vasquez	Black	Light Featherweight	1st
Marcos Augusto O. Rodrigues Frois	Black	Featherweight	3rd
Christopher William Story	Black	Lightweight	2nd
Chris Orozco	Black	Middleweight	1st

15.3. Austin Summer International Open IBJJF Championship 2022

Fighter	Belt	Weight Class	Position
Gregory Hernandez	Black	Rooster Weight	3rd
Alejandro Ramos	Black	Medium Heavyweight	1st
Marc Martinez	Black	Light Featherweight	1st
Daniel Sigala	Black	Light Featherweight	3rd
Logan B Morrow	Black	Heavyweight	2nd

15.4. Dallas International Open IBJJF Championship 2022

Fighter	Belt	Weight Class	Position
Danielle Rene Alvarez	Black	Middleweight	1st
Cesar Rodriguez Jr	Black	Light Featherweight	1st
Jamie v Lara	Black	Lightweight	3rd
Marc Martinez	Black	Light Featherweight	2nd
Issac Rodriguez	Black	Featherweight	3rd

16. LEAD BJJ - Record

Year	Championship	Position	Points
2023	Dallas International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship	1st	27
2023	Austin Winter International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship	1st	27
2022	Waco Kids International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship	2nd	9
2022	Waco International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship	2nd	9
2022	Campeonato Sul-Americano de Jiu-Jitsu	3rd	3
2022	Austin Summer Kids International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship	1st	27
2022	Austin Summer International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship	1st	27
2022	Kids International IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu - Dallas	1st	18
2022	Dallas International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship	1st	18
2021	Dallas International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship	1st	9

17. FAQs

17.1. How Many Academy Affiliations Does LEAD BJJ Have?

LEAD BJJ has 40 to 180 team associations spread over 7 continents.

17.2. How Many Medals Team LEAD Has Won?

Team LEAD has won 22 medals at the 2023 IBJJF Pan American Championship. Before that, LEAD BJJ won many other national and international championships.

18. Takeaways

LEAD BJJ is one of those BJJ academies that took no time to appear on the IBJJF charters and maintained an elite symphony in its aim and practices. Bruno Bastos founded LEAD BJJ with the aim to gather practitioners who want to reach the highest points through hard work. This academy was formed in 2016 and today it consists of almost 180- team associations from around the globe.

Photo Credit: @leadbjj/