Born in São Paulo, Brazil but raised in San Diego, Sarah Galvão is inarguably Brazilian jiu-jitsu royalty. Following in the footsteps of her legendary parents – Andre and Angelica Galvão – Sarah is already carving out her own legacy in sport.

From an early age, Sarah dabbled in a number of athletic pursuits, from gymnastics and dance to tennis. However, she was destined to find her way back to the gentle art, where the skills she had developed – body awareness and flexibility from gymnastics, coordination and fluidity from dance, and speed and agility from tennis – served her well. So well, in fact, that her jiu-jitsu career took off like a rocket, becoming one of the most accomplished juvenile athletes of her generation. 

It was her first double Grand Slam in the Juvenile 1 division that she attributes as the pivotal moment in her career. “It was as if everything clicked into place, and I felt an unwavering sense of purpose. I knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be.” It was then that she dedicated herself fully to the gentle art. “Every part of my life, on and off the mat, is about getting better and fueling my jiu-jitsu growth. Whether I’m recovering on the beach or drilling new techniques, I’m always working to improve and become the best version of myself.”

Multiple championship wins and Grand Slam victories later, Sarah is now one of the most dangerous black belt in the sport. Like her father, she is a well-rounded practitioner, as proficient in guard as she is playing top position, but passing is her passion. As she notes, “Passing in jiu-jitsu demands a unique blend of speed and finesse. Whether executing a stack pass, pressure pass, or outside pass, the key is to be swift and calculated. I relish the challenge of outmaneuvering my opponents."