Mica Galvao announced the closure of BJJ College and the launch of Mika Jiu-Jitsu earlier this month and the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world watched closely. Now in a candid video addressed directly to his followers the 21-year-old multiple world champion has delivered a follow-up message that few expected.
Breaking a period of relative public silence Galvao opened his statement with an apology.
“I first wanted to apologize to everyone for the time I was somewhat absent,” he said. “I had to gather my resources to be close to my family.”
The video touched on two central points with the first addressing the state of the team he had originally hoped to build.
“Thinking about the situation of how our whole team became destabilized it basically closed to put it that way,” Galvao explained. “I kind of wanted to take on that responsibility carry the team with me. Because I saw the families athletes everyone needing a place to train. And I wanted to start a project from scratch.”
However Galvao made clear that the vision for Mika Jiu-Jitsu will not be moving forward at least not now.
“With all the events that happened it became completely unviable,” he said. “There won’t be a need to continue with the project.”
The backdrop to this decision cannot be separated from the ongoing situation involving Melqui Galvao who had long served as a central figure in developing the athletes who trained under BJJ College. Melqui is currently facing serious legal allegations including claims involving underage individuals a situation that has deeply unsettled the BJJ community and fundamentally altered the structure surrounding Mica’s team. With that foundation removed the prospects of building something new from within the same framework became increasingly difficult to justify.
The second part of Mica’s message was directed toward those who have come forward in connection with the case.
“I wanted to express my solidarity,” he said. “To say here that if you need me I’m offering my support. If you need help with something within my possibilities I’m making myself available. I believe in justice. I know it’s a delicate moment. But everything will work out.”
For someone who has spent the majority of his life on the mats the past several months have clearly called for a very different kind of focus. Galvao acknowledged that while Jiu-Jitsu remains a significant part of his identity “the moment now is more about taking care of my family.”
That said he left the door open for what may eventually come next.
“I don’t rule out the possibility that in the future who knows someday having a brand an academy coming from me,” Galvao said. “But for now I believe this is not the moment.”
The trajectory of BJJ College and now the shelving of Mika Jiu-Jitsu before it could take root represents one of the more consequential transitions in recent team history.
What remains to be seen is when and how he chooses to channel that reputation into something lasting.
He closed his message plainly:
“I just wanted to bring this message to all the people who follow me. I think they needed a response. I just needed a little time to think about what I would say. Thank you.”
