Isaque Bahiense

Isaque Bahiense Braz was born on December 10, 1995, in Bangu, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro's West Zone. His first major jiu-jitsu influence was Fabio Andrade of Nova Uniao Bangu, who repeatedly invited the young Bahiense to train before giving him his first kimono around age 10 when the cost of gear kept him off the mats. Under Andrade's guidance he became a standout juvenile, winning world titles in gi and no-gi and a Brazilian juvenile national title before his colored-belt career took him onto the international circuit.

Bahiense's Alliance connection began in 2014, when he spent time in Sao Paulo and trained at the Alliance headquarters with Fabio Gurgel and Michael Langhi. After returning to Rio, he moved permanently to Sao Paulo with Andrade's support, a decision that accelerated his development inside one of jiu-jitsu's strongest competition rooms. Gurgel and Langhi awarded him his brown belt and then his black belt in December 2016. By then Bahiense was already known for pace, athleticism, and pressure-oriented guard passing, a style that translated quickly at adult black belt.

His black-belt peak arrived in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Bahiense won the IBJJF World Championship at middleweight in 2018, added IBJJF European Open titles in 2018 and 2019, and won the IBJJF Pan Championship in 2019. He also captured Copa Podio's lightweight grand prix, the IBJJF European No-Gi Open, AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro gold in 2021, and the ADCC South American Trials at -88 kg before competing at ADCC 2022. Subsequent seasons showed his range at higher weights: IBJJF World silver medals in 2021 and 2022, IBJJF Grand Prix gold in 2022, ADXC and BJJ Stars wins, and World Championship bronze medals in 2023 and 2024.

Away from his own medal record, Bahiense became most influential through Dream Art. Founded in Sao Paulo in 2018 with Warley Pimentel, the project grew from Bahiense's experience in social jiu-jitsu into a professional development program for talented athletes, offering high-level training alongside support such as accommodation, education, English classes, and medical resources. Dream Art helped launch champions including Anna Rodrigues and Carlos Henrique, and it remains the team most closely associated with Bahiense's coaching and leadership. In late 2023 he publicly announced plans to make 2024 his final IBJJF World Championship run before focusing more on no-gi and an eventual move toward MMA.