Co-Founder • Professor • Program Director
Bruno “Tank” Mendes is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu professor, coach, and one of the founders of the Soul Fighters BJJ Association. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tank began training Jiu-Jitsu in 1995 at the legendary Kioto Academy, under the lineage of Grandmaster Francisco Mansor and Master Alvaro Mansor—making him part of the third generation directly connected to the roots of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
After years as a competitor, instructor, and coach in Brazil, Tank joined his brother Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes, Rafael “Formiga” Barbosa, Leandro “Tatu” Escobar, and Alvaro Mansor in the group that became Soul Fighters in 2008. The team went on to develop champions at every level of the sport and establish academies and affiliates around the world.
Experience
A 5th-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Tank has been teaching professionally since 1998 and has spent more than three decades studying not only Jiu-Jitsu technique, but also athlete development, coaching methodology, curriculum design, and instructor education. Throughout his career, he has helped develop dozens of World Champions across youth, adult, and masters divisions.
His experience extends far beyond coaching. Tank worked with the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation in Brazil and internationally, serving for years as an official at major IBJJF competitions. This experience gave him a unique perspective on the technical, competitive, educational, and organizational sides of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Coaching
As a coach, Tank belongs to a very select group whose athletes have captured titles at virtually every major stage in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling, including the IBJJF World Championships, ADCC, and the IBJJF Grand Slam—winning the European Championship, Brazilian Nationals, Pan Championship, and World Championship in the same season.
Over the course of three decades, he has built an international reputation as a highly respected professor, coach, and developer of athletes and instructors.
Today, Professor Tank oversees programming and technical development at Soul Fighters Martial Arts Training Center. His teaching philosophy is centered on strong fundamentals, self-defense, positional control, decision-making, problem-solving, and developing students for the long term—not simply collecting techniques.
“We rise by lifting others.”
This belief comes directly from Professor Bruno’s values and philosophy. He believes Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most powerful tools we have to become the best version of ourselves—but that personal growth carries a responsibility.
The skills, discipline, confidence, and strength we develop through Jiu-Jitsu should not stop with us. They should be used to positively impact the people around us, strengthen our families and communities, and help others become better as well.
For Professor Bruno, becoming stronger is not only about what we can accomplish for ourselves. It is about what we are able to give back.
We rise by lifting others.
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