Another case of harassment involving a Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, has come to light. The subject of the complaint is Brazilian black belt Carlos Henrique Cardoso de Brito, whose student was a 12-year-old girl at the time the messages reviewed by BJJ Girls Mag began.
The conversations, in possession of our newsroom and verified for authenticity through reliable sources, show a textbook pattern of sexual grooming of a minor. Under Brazilian law, sexual conduct or sexually-charged interaction with a person under the age of 14 is considered statutory rape (Penal Code Art. 217-A), with sentences ranging from 8 to 15 years of imprisonment.
Update — May 8, 2026
On May 8, the accused’s attorney, Mateus Magalhães (Brazilian Bar OAB/RS 136.498), sent an extrajudicial notification to the newsroom expressing concern about the publication. The newsroom reiterates that any formal statement from the accused, or his legal representative, will be incorporated into this article with proper attribution.
The pattern of the messages
The reviewed messages show manipulative and sexually inappropriate behavior on the part of the instructor. Carlos Brito explicitly asked the teenager to keep the content of their conversations a secret from her parents and friends. In other instances, he made sexually-charged comments disguised as references to training, requested personal photos, and sent late-night messages asking for content to “keep him awake”.
What we know about his whereabouts
Reliable sources confirmed to BJJ Girls Mag that Carlos Brito was let go by Palms Sports and has already left the United Arab Emirates. The same sources indicate he likely returned to Brazil and is currently in Teresópolis, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The newsroom was unable to officially confirm the reason for his termination by the time of publication.
The teenager’s parents have filed a formal complaint about the case. Since the accused is no longer in the UAE, progress in the local investigation depends on international cooperation or a complaint filed within Brazilian jurisdiction.
Outreach and right of reply
Before publication, BJJ Girls Mag reached out directly to the parties involved to ensure right of reply:
- Carlos Henrique Cardoso de Brito could not be located for comment. The accused had his public social media profiles deactivated and the newsroom was unable to obtain his contact through public channels.
- The victim’s parents were contacted by the newsroom but did not respond by the time of publication.
- Palms Sports, the organization in the UAE where Carlos Brito worked as an instructor, was contacted by the newsroom and did not respond by the time of publication.
This story remains open for updates. Should the accused, Palms Sports, the victim’s family, or anyone with relevant information about the case wish to comment, the newsroom is reachable at bjjgirlsmag@gmail.com. All statements will be reviewed and, where appropriate, incorporated into the article with proper attribution.
Second case in sequence
This is the second consecutive complaint involving Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructors in the sports environment of the United Arab Emirates. In April 2026, BJJ Girls Mag published extensive coverage of the case of André Luís Siqueira Pinheiro, known as “André Motoca”, another Brazilian black belt convicted by the São Paulo justice system for statutory rape and currently a fugitive in the UAE.
The recurring pattern of cases involving Brazilian instructors in sports organizations abroad has drawn the attention of the women’s jiu-jitsu community and raised discussions about background checks and protection mechanisms for female students in academies.
BJJ Girls Mag maintains an open channel for victims and witnesses. Contact through the newsroom is confidential and protected. Reach us at bjjgirlsmag@gmail.com.