How a Brazilian Champion Found His Calling Teaching Kids in Fort Mill
Starring
Frederico Silva is a 2nd degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and head instructor at Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Fort Mill, with an impressive competition record including Brazilian national champion, #1 IBJJF ranking at brown belt, and multiple Pan-Ams podium finishes. He moved from Brazil to the United States in 2015 to assist his cousin Lucas Lepri at Alliance Charlotte before opening the Fort Mill location, where his passion for teaching kids—especially ages 3-13—has become his primary mission, drawing from his own experience of how jiu-jitsu redirected his life as a troubled teenager in BrasĂlia.
About the Gym
Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Fort Mill is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy in Fort Mill, South Carolina, led by head instructor Frederico Silva, a 2nd degree black belt under Lucas Lepri. The academy is part of the Alliance family and offers programs for all ages and skill levels, including Little Champions (ages 3-5), Junior Champions (ages 6-13+), and adult classes ranging from fundamentals to advanced training. Silva opened the Fort Mill location approximately three years ago after teaching most of the kids classes at Alliance Charlotte headquarters. The academy emphasizes the Alliance training methodology with a strong focus on youth development and character building.
Alliance Fort Mill welcomes students from complete beginners to experienced competitors, offering gi and no-gi training, competition classes, private lessons, and specialized programs like summer camps. The academy maintains a family-friendly atmosphere where kids learn discipline, respect, and confidence alongside technical jiu-jitsu skills. Silva's teaching philosophy centers on patience, long-term student development, and understanding that every student comes to the mat with different challenges and needs.
đź“Ť 1852 Highway 160, Suite 105, Fort Mill, SC 29708
đź“ž 803-396-0325
Summary
This video tells the story of Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Fort Mill in South Carolina, where head instructor Frederico Silva has built a thriving kids program centered on patience and long-term thinking. Silva is a Brazilian national champion who ranked #1 at brown belt in his division and earned podium finishes at Pan-Ams as a black belt. The episode highlights how his own transformation from troubled teenager to elite competitor shaped his teaching philosophy.
The video shows Silva's approach to teaching kids ages 3-13, explaining how he splits classes by age and attention span rather than belt level. Silva shares his belief that building confidence and self-esteem comes before chasing grades or stripes, drawing from his experience using jiu-jitsu to redirect his own life at 16 years old in BrasĂlia, Brazil.
