MATT FALAVINHA
Head Coach & Owner
Known across the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world simply by his last name, Falavinha is the Head Coach at Combate Academy. A decade-plus on the mats — seven of those years forged under Bruno "Tank" Mendes — earned him his black belt and a reputation as a relentless competitor and an even better teacher. An IBJJF Pans and Worlds competitor, AJP Dallas gold medalist, and multiple-time IBJJF Open medalist, he's on a mission to bring world-class jiu jitsu home to North Texas.
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MATT FALAVINHA
Matthew Falavinha — known throughout the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community by his last name, "Falavinha" — is the Head Coach at Combate Academy. He's a black belt under Bruno "Tank" Mendes and Igor Paiva, with more than a decade of experience on the mats and seven of those years spent training directly under Tank's mentorship. Today he instructs alongside Igor Paiva as part of the Soul Fighters HQ lineage, bringing that championship pedigree to the town he calls home, Aubrey, Texas.
His path to the mats started in New Orleans. As a teenager surrounded by bad influences, jiu jitsu became his way out — a discipline, a community, and a sense of purpose that pointed him in a different direction. As many in this sport will tell you, jiu jitsu saved his life. That isn't a slogan for Falavinha; it's the reason he coaches the way he does.
On the competition stage, his résumé speaks for itself. He's a 2022 IBJJF No-Gi Pans bronze medalist and a 2021 IBJJF American National bronze medalist, with gold at AJP Dallas and multiple medals across IBJJF Opens. He's tested himself at the sport's highest levels, competing at both the IBJJF Pans and Worlds. That experience doesn't stay locked in his trophy case — it shows up in every detail he teaches, every position he breaks down, and every student he pushes to get better.
More than titles, Falavinha is driven by what jiu jitsu can do for the people who walk through the door. He aspires to inspire and empower others to embrace growth and unlock their true potential — whether you're a beginner taking your first class, a competitor chasing the podium, or someone looking for the same way out he once found. At Combate Academy, that's the standard he sets and the culture he builds.
