Train Jiu-Jitsu in Vidigal. Support a real community project.
Projeto Favela BJJ uses Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, education and English classes to create a positive path for children and teenagers from the Vidigal community.
Every visit helps fund daily classes, education and opportunities for the youth of Vidigal.
The mission
More than a class. A path forward.
In the heart of Vidigal, Jiu-Jitsu becomes a tool for discipline, confidence, education and belonging. What started on the rooftop of Igor Canelas’ house grew into a real social movement inside the community. Through difficult moments, faith, unity and perseverance, the project continued to grow — helping children, teenagers and families believe in a different future.
Daily classes for youth
Children and teenagers from Vidigal train regularly, learning discipline, respect, focus and confidence inside and outside the academy.
Education and English
The project supports personal development through education and English classes, helping students communicate with the world beyond the favela and creating opportunities far outside the mats.
Direct community impact
When visitors train or support the project, they help sustain the classes, support the students and strengthen an initiative built from within the community.
How it all started
Built on a rooftop, carried by faith, unity and purpose.
What exists today did not begin with perfect conditions. It started on the rooftop of Igor Canelas’ house, inside Vidigal, with limited structure but with a strong belief that Jiu-Jitsu could become a path for the community.
From difficult moments to a movement of hope.
There were challenges, uncertainty and many reasons to stop. But the project kept moving forward with faith, discipline and the support of people who believed in the mission. Little by little, a simple training space became a place of belonging, protection and opportunity for children, teenagers and families from Vidigal.
More than professor and student
The project is built on real relationships — mentorship, care, discipline and trust between instructors, students, families and the community.
More than sport
Every class helps shape character. The goal is not only to create athletes, but to form good citizens with confidence, values and direction.
More than a dream
Some students had never imagined life beyond the community. Today, many dream of becoming world champions, instructors, travelers and leaders.
Education beyond the mats
Jiu-Jitsu opens the door. English classes expand the future.
The project is not only about training fighters. English classes give the children another tool for life: communication, confidence and access to opportunities outside the favela. Learning English helps them connect with visitors, understand the world beyond their community and imagine a bigger future for themselves. The vision has always been larger than sport — creating citizens, opening doors and helping students discover paths they never thought possible.
Language as opportunity
English gives the students more confidence to communicate with foreigners, tourists, athletes and future professional opportunities.
Discipline through routine
Training and studying together creates structure, consistency and a positive environment after school.
A stronger path forward
The goal is to build better habits, self-belief and real skills that can support the children far beyond the academy.
Founders & leadership
Built from inside Vidigal, led by people who live the mission.
The heart of Projeto Favela BJJ is its people. The project is guided by local leadership, real commitment and a deep belief that Jiu-Jitsu can create discipline, opportunity and a stronger future for the community.
Igor Canelas
Igor is the main force behind Projeto Favela BJJ. Born in Vidigal, he understands the reality of the community from the inside and uses Jiu-Jitsu as a tool to guide the next generation. His role goes far beyond teaching techniques: he is a mentor, leader and example for young students who need discipline, direction and someone who truly believes in them.
What started on the rooftop of his home has become a mission built with faith, sacrifice and love for the community.
Rithiely
Rithiely is part of the foundation and daily strength of the project, helping build an environment of care, organization and support for the students and families connected to Projeto Favela BJJ.
Instructor team
The project also grows through instructors who give their time, knowledge and example to the students. They are not only teaching Jiu-Jitsu — they are helping form athletes, competitors and good people.
Vitor Silva
Vitor is part of the instructor team helping students develop discipline, technique, confidence and consistency on the mats. Through daily guidance, the instructors become role models for the younger generation.
Junior
Junior is also part of the instructor team, helping guide the students with discipline, presence and example. His work on the mats supports the daily growth of the kids and strengthens the sense of unity inside the project.
Visitor experience
Come for Jiu-Jitsu. Leave with a deeper connection to Rio.
Foreign visitors can book a class, meet the team, train in the favela and support a project that gives back every day. Last year, some students even traveled to Malta through the exchange created with the project — a life-changing experience that showed many of them that they too can dream bigger, travel the world and create new opportunities through sport and education.
Message Igor
Ask about available training times and how to visit safely.
Arrive in Vidigal
You will be guided locally and welcomed by the project team.
Train Jiu-Jitsu
Experience authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the community.
Support the youth
Your visit helps the daily classes and education work continue.
Competition & confidence
Testing themselves on the mats, growing stronger in life.
Competitions are an important part of the project. They give the students a goal, a reason to train with focus and a safe way to face pressure, fear and challenge. Win or lose, every competition teaches courage, discipline and belief. Some children who had never left the community before now dream about becoming world champions, instructors, traveling abroad and building a better future for themselves and their families.
More than medals.
For many kids, stepping onto the competition mat is a powerful moment. They learn how to control nerves, respect opponents, represent their community and discover what they are capable of. This experience builds confidence that follows them back into school, family and daily life. The project is also expanding into women's self-defense classes, reinforcing the importance of giving women confidence, awareness and practical tools to protect themselves in today's world.
Future plans
A bigger vision for the next generation.
The project has already changed many lives, but there is still so much more to build. Future fundraising and partnerships can help the project grow with more structure, more classes, stronger education programs and more opportunities for students who deserve to dream beyond the limits they were born into.
Women’s self-defense
The project wants to develop women’s classes and self-defense programs, helping women build awareness, confidence and practical tools to protect themselves.
Education & English
Strengthening the educational side of the project means giving students more than training — it gives them communication skills, confidence and new doors for the future.
Competitors & instructors
Support can help young athletes compete, travel, represent their community and one day become instructors and role models for the next generation.
Sponsor & support
When you support the project, you support a whole community.
Contributions help keep the mats full, the classes running and the doors open for children and teenagers who need positive role models and real opportunities. Future donations and sponsorships can help expand the English program, support competition travel, improve the academy structure, create more women's classes and continue building a stronger educational foundation for the next generation.
Supported by
Avant-Garde MaltaThe support and friendship created with Avant-Garde Malta became an important part of this journey — not only financially, but mentally and emotionally too. Believing in the project, sharing opportunities and helping the students see bigger possibilities strengthened the purpose of everyone involved.