Douglas Santos founded DS Team on a conviction that ran deeper than competition trophies: that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a vehicle for genuine life transformation. From the very beginning, the academy was built on the belief that what happens on the mats shapes the person who walks off them — more focused, more resilient, more capable of facing whatever the world brings.

In those early days, DS Team was a small circle of dedicated training partners who showed up day after day, not just to drill techniques but to build something together. A culture of mutual respect and honest effort took root quickly, and families began to follow — drawn not only by the quality of the instruction but by the warmth of the community forming around it.

Today, DS Team means belonging — to hundreds of students across every age group and background who have found their place here. Our purpose has never changed: to develop confident, grounded, growth-minded individuals through the art of Jiu-Jitsu. That mission continues to guide every class, every coaching decision, and every new student who steps through our doors.

These five values are not rules posted on a wall. They are principles lived out on and off the mats every single day — shaping how we train, how we teach, and how we carry DS Team into the world.

Respect

We treat every training partner, coach, and visitor as family. Respect is how we enter the academy and how we carry DS Team into the world.

Discipline

Consistency builds champions. The discipline to show up, train hard, and keep improving is the foundation of everything we do.

Leadership

We develop leaders at every level — not just on the competition mat, but in school, at work, and at home.

Family

DS Team is more than an academy. It is a community where students of all ages and backgrounds find belonging, support, and friendship.

Growth

Every student walks through our doors at a different point in their journey. We meet them there and help them become more — physically, mentally, and personally.

Our mission is to use the art of Jiu-Jitsu to develop confident, disciplined, and community-minded individuals of all ages. The sport is our method, not our destination — everything we do is designed to create lasting positive change in the lives of our students well beyond the academy walls.

The impact is visible every day: kids developing sharper focus and genuine resilience, adults rediscovering their fitness and shedding stress, families sharing the mat and growing closer together, and competitors stepping onto world-stage podiums bearing the DS Team name. Each of these outcomes is a measure of what this academy was built to deliver.

Beyond sport, DS Team is a force for good in the local community — welcoming complete beginners and seasoned elite athletes under the same roof, and continuing to grow as a place where anyone willing to put in the work can find belonging, purpose, and transformation.

These are the milestones that shaped DS Team — each step forward driven by students, families, and coaches who chose to be part of something greater than themselves.

Your journey starts with a single step onto the mats. Come train with us — no experience needed, just the courage to begin.