Hello Everyone,
I’m planning on going to São Paulo to train for two months but I’m stuck in choosing where to train at… The two academies that have my attention is Alliance HQ and Cicero Costha’s… Has anyone in here have trained at these two locations? I would like to read some feedback. Thanks in advance!
Elias Vera - Hello Everyone,I’m planning on going to São Paulo to train for two months but I’m stuck in choosing where to train at… The two academies that have my attention is Alliance HQ and Cicero Costha’s… Has anyone in here have trained at these two locations? I would like to read some feedback. Thanks in advance!
I trained at Ryan Gracie when I lived in Sao Paulo 2004-2006. Lived nearby, so was walking distance for me. As previous poster wrote, the traffic is situation in SP is really bad.
Alliance is in Vila Olimpia, which is a rich part of town. So either you stay there or in a place like Butant? that have a metro. Buses during rush hour are packed and get stuck in traffic.
The other gym is near Ipiranga park. If you stay in lets say Mooca, old italian part of SP it is ca 30 min from the gym door to door.
I love SP, but if I had a choice I would prob stay somehere else.
I'm not sure why you'd go to Brazil to train BJJ.
Atos SD, AOJ and Unity will likely offer far better training.
Alliance SP is a super nice gym, I guess.
Muffinho -I'm not sure why you'd go to Brazil to train BJJ.
Atos SD, AOJ and Unity will likely offer far better training.
Alliance SP is a super nice gym, I guess.
You should def go. Not only for the training, but to experience a new country and culture. The brasilians are very friendly and will take care of you. They will invite you for bbq, parties and to their summerhouses. I prefer the SP people before Rio people. Not so superficial as the cariocas.
SP is not a prettiest and safest city but well worth knowing.
BigMovie -Muffinho -I'm not sure why you'd go to Brazil to train BJJ.
Atos SD, AOJ and Unity will likely offer far better training.
Alliance SP is a super nice gym, I guess.
You should def go. Not only for the training, but to experience a new country and culture. The brasilians are very friendly and will take care of you. They will invite you for bbq, parties and to their summerhouses. I prefer the SP people before Rio people. Not so superficial as the cariocas.
SP is not a prettiest and safest city but well worth knowing.
how are the SP people different than cariocas in your experience?
not to stereotype but all my brazilian friends from Rio are loud and outgoing and seem to be much darker in skin tone
the majority of SPs are more reserved and have much fairer skin color. they also seem to have a different accent than the cariocas
mideastgrappler -BigMovie -Muffinho -I'm not sure why you'd go to Brazil to train BJJ.
Atos SD, AOJ and Unity will likely offer far better training.
Alliance SP is a super nice gym, I guess.
You should def go. Not only for the training, but to experience a new country and culture. The brasilians are very friendly and will take care of you. They will invite you for bbq, parties and to their summerhouses. I prefer the SP people before Rio people. Not so superficial as the cariocas.
SP is not a prettiest and safest city but well worth knowing.
how are the SP people different than cariocas in your experience?
not to stereotype but all my brazilian friends from Rio are loud and outgoing and seem to be much darker in skin tone
the majority of SPs are more reserved and have much fairer skin color. they also seem to have a different accent than the cariocas
Ive had many discussions with my brasilian friends and other foreigners that experienced the same.
I think it all comes down to the history of both cities.
Rio was for a long time the capital and where the emperor and the court resided. The economy was slave based until the abolition, but continued longer in practice.
SP is an old city aswell, but didnt see a huge growth until 1900s, post slavery. The population of SP was quickly filled with poor immigrants from europe and japan fleeing war and poverty.
I think this is the main difference. This immigrant mentality is still alive in SP. Thats why it is the main industrial city and economic driver of South America.
Paulistanos in my opinion are more hard working, honest and familiar. Cariocas inherited the portuguese way of having things without working for it. Try mention one portuguese multinational company.
Brasilians half jokingly say that when you meet a carioca they gladly invite you for dinner but don't give you their address.
Muffinho -I'm not sure why you'd go to Brazil to train BJJ.
Atos SD, AOJ and Unity will likely offer far better training.
Alliance SP is a super nice gym, I guess.
I live in the Caribbean and it is way cheaper for me to train with a top notch team in Brazil than training with a top notch team in San Diego or NYC.
BigMovie -Elias Vera - Hello Everyone,I’m planning on going to São Paulo to train for two months but I’m stuck in choosing where to train at… The two academies that have my attention is Alliance HQ and Cicero Costha’s… Has anyone in here have trained at these two locations? I would like to read some feedback. Thanks in advance!
I trained at Ryan Gracie when I lived in Sao Paulo 2004-2006. Lived nearby, so was walking distance for me. As previous poster wrote, the traffic is situation in SP is really bad.
Alliance is in Vila Olimpia, which is a rich part of town. So either you stay there or in a place like Butant? that have a metro. Buses during rush hour are packed and get stuck in traffic.
The other gym is near Ipiranga park. If you stay in lets say Mooca, old italian part of SP it is ca 30 min from the gym door to door.
I love SP, but if I had a choice I would prob stay somehere else.
I was looking into staying in Moema and train with Alliance SP but I also remembered that Cicero Costha was out there also and that’s why I was asking about how is SP in general. I guess I will be sticking with Alliance São Paulo.
MarsMan -^ On the same tone, I'd love to spend a couple months in another country and - instead of being a tourist - having Jiu-Jitsu as a way to connect with other people and experience the place.
Voted Up Sir
MarsMan -Elias Vera -BigMovie -Elias Vera - Hello Everyone,I’m planning on going to São Paulo to train for two months but I’m stuck in choosing where to train at… The two academies that have my attention is Alliance HQ and Cicero Costha’s… Has anyone in here have trained at these two locations? I would like to read some feedback. Thanks in advance!
I trained at Ryan Gracie when I lived in Sao Paulo 2004-2006. Lived nearby, so was walking distance for me. As previous poster wrote, the traffic is situation in SP is really bad.
Alliance is in Vila Olimpia, which is a rich part of town. So either you stay there or in a place like Butant? that have a metro. Buses during rush hour are packed and get stuck in traffic.
The other gym is near Ipiranga park. If you stay in lets say Mooca, old italian part of SP it is ca 30 min from the gym door to door.
I love SP, but if I had a choice I would prob stay somehere else.
I was looking into staying in Moema and train with Alliance SP but I also remembered that Cicero Costha was out there also and that’s why I was asking about how is SP in general. I guess I will be sticking with Alliance São Paulo.
Moema is great and they have inaugurated a new subway line there.
It’s within biking distance of Alliance (walking even, depending on where you stay) and it’s also near Ibirapuera park.
All this talk about SP makes me wanna go back:-)
Forgot it is kind of biker friendly nowadays with bike lanes which makes getting around easier.
Im going for sure end of this year.
Elias Vera -Muffinho -I'm not sure why you'd go to Brazil to train BJJ.
Atos SD, AOJ and Unity will likely offer far better training.
Alliance SP is a super nice gym, I guess.
I live in the Caribbean and it is way cheaper for me to train with a top notch team in Brazil than training with a top notch team in San Diego or NYC.
If youre from the carribeans the Rio beaches wont impress you. So you should def go to SP.
Now with weak BR$ it makes it a bargain.
But I warn you. Once you go to Brasil you will never want to go back 
BigMovie -Elias Vera - Hello Everyone,I’m planning on going to São Paulo to train for two months but I’m stuck in choosing where to train at… The two academies that have my attention is Alliance HQ and Cicero Costha’s… Has anyone in here have trained at these two locations? I would like to read some feedback. Thanks in advance!
I trained at Ryan Gracie when I lived in Sao Paulo 2004-2006. Lived nearby, so was walking distance for me. As previous poster wrote, the traffic is situation in SP is really bad.
Alliance is in Vila Olimpia, which is a rich part of town. So either you stay there or in a place like Butant? that have a metro. Buses during rush hour are packed and get stuck in traffic.
The other gym is near Ipiranga park. If you stay in lets say Mooca, old italian part of SP it is ca 30 min from the gym door to door.
I love SP, but if I had a choice I would prob stay somehere else.
The Ryan Gracie school is now disaffiliated from what I understand, and operates as X-coach. It still has Celsinho and Russo teaching, and Big Nog trains there frequently. Demien Maia is also in Vila Madalena, I believe. Lots of good options in SP.
I think you’ll have a great experience OP as there are much fewer gringos passing through SP compared to Rio, where many of the schools are full of visitors.
BigMovie -Elias Vera -Muffinho -I'm not sure why you'd go to Brazil to train BJJ.
Atos SD, AOJ and Unity will likely offer far better training.
Alliance SP is a super nice gym, I guess.
I live in the Caribbean and it is way cheaper for me to train with a top notch team in Brazil than training with a top notch team in San Diego or NYC.
If youre from the carribeans the Rio beaches wont impress you. So you should def go to SP.
Now with weak BR$ it makes it a bargain.
But I warn you. Once you go to Brasil you will never want to go back
Yeah it’s been close to 10 years I haven’t been in Brasil; Last time I was there was in Rio. Yeah the beaches here are awesome. I live near Rincón, Puerto Rico ( surfing capital of the Caribbean).
The Diet Butcher -BigMovie -Elias Vera - Hello Everyone,I’m planning on going to São Paulo to train for two months but I’m stuck in choosing where to train at… The two academies that have my attention is Alliance HQ and Cicero Costha’s… Has anyone in here have trained at these two locations? I would like to read some feedback. Thanks in advance!
I trained at Ryan Gracie when I lived in Sao Paulo 2004-2006. Lived nearby, so was walking distance for me. As previous poster wrote, the traffic is situation in SP is really bad.
Alliance is in Vila Olimpia, which is a rich part of town. So either you stay there or in a place like Butant? that have a metro. Buses during rush hour are packed and get stuck in traffic.
The other gym is near Ipiranga park. If you stay in lets say Mooca, old italian part of SP it is ca 30 min from the gym door to door.
I love SP, but if I had a choice I would prob stay somehere else.
The Ryan Gracie school is now disaffiliated from what I understand, and operates as X-coach. It still has Celsinho and Russo teaching, and Big Nog trains there frequently. Demien Maia is also in Vila Madalena, I believe. Lots of good options in SP.
I think you’ll have a great experience OP as there are much fewer gringos passing through SP compared to Rio, where many of the schools are full of visitors.
Yeah I hope that I will have a good time. Thanks for the information. VU