Isaque Bahiense - Founder of Dream Art Project

Isaque Bahiense's life journey is one of pure inspiration, highlighting the extraordinary power of determination and hard work in achieving greatness and one’s goals. Hailing from the western side of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Isaque is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt fighter and the founder of Dream Art Jiu-Jitsu.

Despite facing financial obstacles early on in his journey, Isaque's tireless passion for BJJ fueled his drive to become one of the most exceptional competitors in the grappling world. His relentless work ethic, combined with his natural talent, earned him the coveted title of 5x World Champion.

Furthermore, Isaque's technical skills in and his impressive technique in the medium Heavyweight divisions have garnered him a reputation as one of the prominent middleweights of his generation. His journey to the top of the BJJ world has been an epitome of resilience and perseverance.

The world welcomed Isaque Bahiense on 10th December 1995 in the vibrant neighborhood of Bangu in the West of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Isaque Bahiense's love for martial arts coursed through his veins, instilled in him by his surroundings and the legendary figure of Fabio Andrade. Andrade met Isaque in his early teens and urged him to join the BJJ classes. Despite his burning passion for grappling, Isaque faced a financial barrier to entry; he was unable to attend his first Jiu-Jitsu class due to his inability to afford a BJJ Gi.

However, the overwhelming desire to pursue his dreams drove Isaque to persevere, eventually finding a way to begin his Jiu-Jitsu journey.

At the age of 10, Isaque was gifted his first BJJ Gi by Fabio Andrade, who took him under his wing as his family was unable to pay for BJJ classes. Isaque began training and later competed in BJJ tournaments.

The expert guidance of Professor Fábio, swiftly established Isaque Bahiense's name among the promising grapplers. His extraordinary talent was evident from the start, as he racked up an impressive list of accolades, including three junior world titles both with Gi and without the Gi, and a Brazilian national title in his juvenile years.

All his achievements promoted him to the purple belt. After getting the purple belt, Isaque continued his winning streak with his mastery of both Gi and No-Gi competitions that earned him widespread recognition and admiration from his peers. His performances on the mat were nothing short of awe-inspiring, displaying a remarkable combination of his extraordinary grappling skills, and sheer determination. Every success solidified his status as a true champion in every sense of grappling.

Isaque Bahiense's insatiable hunger to take his career to the next level brought him to the hallowed grounds of the Alliance Academy Headquarters. The experience left an indelible impression on him, as he bore witness to the incredibly high-level training and unparalleled expertise of the coaches at Alliance.

His determination to hone his skills and reach new heights helped him to make the life-changing decision to uproot himself from his hometown and move to Sao Paulo to join forces with Fabio Gurgel and Michael Langhi at the Alliance Academy Headquarters.

This move would prove to be a pivotal moment in Isaque's journey, as the intense training and world-class coaching elevated his athletic abilities to new heights. He continued to dominate in both Gi and No-Gi competitions that made him the brightest star of grappling.

Sao Paulo's vibrant Jiu-Jitsu scene, coupled with the exceptional training and mentorship at the Alliance Academy Headquarters, created the ideal environment for Isaque to realize his full potential and achieve greatness in the combat sport he loved.

His hard work and persistence paid off in the final month of 2016, as Isaque was promoted to the first step of the highest honor in Jiu-Jitsu - Black Belt. The news reverberated throughout the Jiu-Jitsu community, solidifying Isaque's outstanding athletic status.

After gaining too much success on the national and international levels, competing in the highly competitive middleweight division, Isaque has repeatedly proven himself to be a formidable opponent, earning numerous World, Pan Championships, and Brazilian titles throughout his grappling career.

What sets Isaque apart from his peers is his unique and distinctive style of Jiu-Jitsu. His unrelenting approach to guard passing has become his trademark, leaving opponents scrambling to keep up with his lightning-fast movements and unmatched technique.

In the colored belt divisions, he climbed the ranks to the elite level of black belt which took his game to even greater heights. His opponents quickly learned that facing Isaque meant dealing with a constant barrage of relentless guard passing attacks, leaving them little room to breathe or mount an effective counterattack.

Isaque Bahiense is not only a passionate grappler but also a committed teacher and mentor, dedicated to spreading his art and helping others achieve their full potential. In addition to his own competitive success, Isaque has founded the Dream Art project, an Alliance-affiliated program that identifies and nurtures some of the most talented grappling athletes in the colored and black belts divisions.

Through the Dream Art project, Isaque is working tirelessly to create a new generation of Jiu-Jitsu champions, providing young athletes with the guidance, support, and training they need to become world-class competitors. His commitment to this project is proof of his love for the sport and his desire to share his knowledge and expertise with others.

The much-anticipated semi-final of the World Championship in 2022 was held between the founder of the Dream Art Project, Isaque Bahiense, against the extraordinary grappler, Gustavo Batista. The fight began with Gustavo quickly taking control of Isaque in the close guard within 10 seconds of the fight. As a technical guard player, Gustavo held his guard for a grueling two minutes, making it difficult for Isaque to break free. However, with impressive skill and strength, Isaque managed to pass the guard and escape Gustavo's strong grip.

Despite his best efforts to control Gustavo, Isaque found himself caught in the 50/50 guard by Gustavo once again. But Isaque's determination and skill eventually paid off as he dominated the mat with a powerful choke, nullifying all of Gustavo's attempts to escape. The time of the match ran out, and Isaque was able to maintain his spot in the final round of the World Championship, making history with his exceptional grappling abilities.

The 2019 World Championship was witness to a truly unforgettable moment as two black belt champions, Isaque Bahiense, and Jaime Canuto, faced off in a high-stakes semi-final round. The match was a spectacle to behold, showcasing the elite grappling skills of both of these talented athletes.

Isaque Bahiense kicked off the fight with his signature close guard but was swiftly passed by Jaime Canuto in under two minutes. Canuto was able to secure a two-point lead and maintained the points superiority for some time. However, Isaque Bahiense was not to be underestimated for his technical skills. He dominated the mat with his immense strength and skill, executing a powerful toe hold that left everyone watching in awe.

The crowd held their breath as Isaque Bahiense brought down Jaime Canuto with his stunning performance, submitting him to take the win in the semi-final round of the 2019 World Championship.

In 2022, the IBJJF Grand Prix Championship hosted an epic final bout between two top-notch Jiu-Jitsu fighters - Isaque Bahiense representing Dream Art academy and Manuel Ribamar. The match was filled with high-intensity grappling exchanges that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.

During the bout, Manuel Ribamar managed to catch Isaque in a close guard, but Isaque didn't let that hold him back. He successfully passed the guard and tried to increase his score on the scoreboard. However, Manuel Ribamar wasn't one to give up easily, and he quickly double-hooked Isaque's left leg to imbalance him and tried to set up a knee reap.

But Isaque wasn't going to be taken down that easily. He defended well and freed himself from Manuel Ribamar's grip. In fact, Isaque turned the tables on his opponent by controlling him from the turtle position and grabbing Manuel's collar and secured the collar choke grips to get his back.

In the end, Isaque emerged as the champion by securing more points than his opponent and solidified his incredible skill and technique.

Isaque Bahiense v André Porfirio / IBJJF FLO GRAPPLING GP 2022

Isaque Bahiense v Jackson Nagai / World Championship 2021

Isaque Bahiense v Jonnatas Gracie / World Championship 2021

Isaque Bahiense vs Andris Brunovskis / European Championship 2019

Isaque Bahiense vs Tommy Langaker / European Championship 2019

Isaque Bahiense vs Tommy Langaker / World Championship 2018

Photo credit: @isaquebahienseb