BJJ News — melqui-galvao

Back in late April 2026, something happened in Brazilian jiu-jitsu that exposed a fundamental structural problem in how the sport handles allegations, accountability, and the people willing to speak up. When Melqui Galvao turned himself in to police on April 27th on a 30-day temporary arrest order,

When you're a child prodigy in jiu-jitsu, the story usually goes one of two ways. Either you're a natural talent backed by a supportive team, or you're the product of a parent pushing you hard to succeed.

Melqui Galvao was transferred to a São Paulo prison on May 10. Brazilian deputy Alessandra Campêlo went public this week with the claim: Galvao has been making video calls from inside the facility — 20 to 30 minutes at a time — to students connected to his BJJ College project in Manaus.

He arrived at Guarulhos International Airport on the night of May 7 with what Brazilian press described as a fixed and defiant gaze. Melqui Galvão spent years with the Amazonas Civil Police, training law enforcement in defensive techniques across the country.

For two years the Galvao PED rumors have lived in the same place every grappling rumor lives. Instagram comment sections.

On Tuesday, the IBJJF and CBJJ issued a joint statement permanently banning Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach Melquisedeque "Melqui" Galvão from both organizations and from every event they sanction. The statement called his alleged conduct "unacceptable" and a violation of "the most fundamental ethical pri