DANIEL MOTTA
Owner & Teens Coach
Co-owner of Combate Academy and a four-stripe blue belt training privately under Professor Igor Paiva, Daniel came to jiu jitsu later in life and never looked back — he believed in the art so deeply he helped build a gym around it. An IBJJF silver medalist who's tested himself against the No. 2 competitor at the IBJJF Worlds, he brings that same drive to the teens classes he loves to coach. Off the mats, Daniel is a Dallas-based commercial and portrait photographer behind Daniel Motta Photography.
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DANIEL MOTTA
Daniel's life took an unexpected yet transformative turn when he discovered jiu jitsu later in life, introduced by a friend. Eager to embark on the journey, he joined the Soul Fighters family, immersing himself in the art under Bruno "Tank" Mendes and the expert guidance of Matt Falavinha. Today he trains privately under his professor, Igor Paiva, and has earned his four-stripe blue belt — a reflection of how seriously he's committed to the gentle art. That commitment runs so deep it led him to co-found a dedicated BJJ gym of his own, Combate Academy, a testament to the profound impact jiu jitsu has had on his life.
Daniel has also stepped onto the competition stage, earning an IBJJF silver medal and testing himself against the No. 2-ranked competitor from the IBJJF Worlds — proof that he holds himself to the same standard he sets for his students. One of his favorite roles at the academy is coaching the teens classes, where he gets to pass that mindset on to the next generation and help young athletes build confidence both on and off the mat.
As he reflects on what once felt like lost time, Daniel embraces the wise words of his professors: jiu jitsu found him precisely when life demanded its transformative influence the most. That realization has become an integral part of his story, a reminder that the art's impact transcends time — that its lessons are timeless and its benefits boundless.
While Daniel may be relatively new to the world of jiu jitsu, he firmly believes in the transformative power it holds. He sees it as more than a physical discipline; it's a holistic path to personal growth, self-confidence, and overall well-being. With that belief, he eagerly anticipates the ongoing chapters of his journey, knowing its influence continues to unfold in ways that reach well beyond the mat.
