Coach Luis Eduardo, a Brazilian black belt based in Orlando, has publicly cut ties with the Orlando BJJ academy (OBJJ) after raising a sexual harassment complaint about a fellow instructor and, according to him, being told by management that he was the one “escalating the situation.” His Instagram statement, posted on April 22 in both English and Portuguese, has gathered more than 5,000 likes and over 400 comments in five days, with multiple women publicly confirming similar experiences with the same coach.
What he says happened
According to Luis Eduardo, a female student approached him to report a clear instance of sexual harassment by one of the academy’s instructors. Before taking any formal action, he says he reached out privately to other women on the team to gauge whether the incident was isolated or part of a pattern. The replies, he wrote, took him by surprise.
Through our conversations and text messages, several women disclosed similar experiences. These reports ranged in severity, from being invited to “private sessions” at his home to being touched inappropriately during training. As I looked deeper into the matter, I discovered that these issues have persisted since before COVID, yet no corrective action was ever taken.
With more than eight screenshots documenting the alleged behavior, the instructor says he then took the material to the academy’s leadership. The response, in his words, was not what he expected.
I was left speechless by their answer to me. When I pushed for accountability, the administration shifted the blame onto me, accusing me of “escalating the situation.” I personally believe this is exactly the type of situation that demands escalation and should never be tolerated under any circumstances.
The line that went viral
In a pinned comment posted a day after the original statement, Luis added a quote he attributes to a member of the gym’s management. According to him, this is what he was told:
I know that he has been doing that for a long time, it’s the women’s job to stop him, and if they’re not doing anything it’s because they enjoy it.
The comment drew 383 likes and dozens of replies condemning what readers described not as one professor’s behavior, but a culture of institutional protection. For many in the comments, the message wasn’t only about the unnamed accused, it was about a leadership stance that left women on their own to fend off harassment.
Women confirm the pattern in the comments
Among the most-liked replies is one from a user who identifies herself as a former student of the academy. “Btw you didn’t have to disclose the name for me to know exactly who is responsible because I’ve been on the receiving end of similar comments and offers for privates myself. I never said anything nor defended myself and regret not doing so for the sake of other women but the behavior has definitely been consistent and ongoing,” she wrote.
Other women in the BJJ community thanked Luis publicly for taking a stand. “This is what it takes to end the problem, men like you standing up and speaking out against it. Thank you,” one of the most-liked comments reads.
The story also picked up echo on other accounts. A reel posted days later under the headline “BJJ academies, please check your coaches” amplified the case across the U.S. grappling community.
Where Luis is now
On April 26, Combat Sports Academy (CSA) in Orlando announced Luis Eduardo as its new Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor. He taught his first class at his new home on Monday, April 27, with a flood of supportive messages from students and athletes who follow his work.
Closing his farewell post, the coach wrote: “As a leader and out of respect for these women and in alignment with my own values, I have decided to leave the gym.”
The bigger picture
The case adds to a wave of allegations that has rocked the jiu-jitsu world in recent months. In February, top-level athletes broke ties with Atos Jiu Jitsu following public accusations involving the team’s leadership. In Brazil, athletes and lawyers are also pushing the conversation forward on what counts as harassment on the mats, what responsibility academies bear when they fail to act, and how victims can formalize complaints.
The conversation has stopped being taboo. And anyone running an academy today, especially small teams where everything happens behind closed doors, is being asked to take a stand.
BJJ Girls Mag has reached out to Orlando BJJ for comment. As of publication, no response had been received. The story will be updated if and when the academy responds.