Josh Hinger built his career under the Atos banner, yet he posted a brief but pointed message on Instagram that drew immediate attention across the jiu jitsu community.
“The truth is that @alexahersejj and @simas_andressa are telling the truth,”
The women referenced are Alexa Herse and Andressa Simas, both of whom have publicly accused Atos founder and head coach Andre Galvao of inappropriate conduct. Alexa Herse was the first to go public, filing a report with local law enforcement and sharing her account on social media. Days later, Andressa Simas posted her own account on Instagram describing a pattern of behavior she says occurred during training and beyond.
Simas described how Andre Galvao would routinely interrupt training partnerships to ensure she drilled specifically with him, always in no gi sessions and consistently in back take or mount positions.
“I felt uncomfortable and coerced because I could not refuse since he was ‘my professor,'”
She also alleged that she received messages through a temporary Instagram account containing a photo of her working out, along with comments about her body, while noting his wife was asleep at the time. She further claimed that at his home, in the presence of his family, she was touched inappropriately without consent and that when she attempted to pull away, the behavior continued. She said she was also given a nickname of an inapropriate nature that caused embarrassment.
One of the key elements in Simas’s account involves what she describes as an admission. She stated that a conversation took place between Andre Galvao, his wife Angelica and her then boyfriend (Andy Murasaki), from which she was excluded despite being the subject of the discussion.
“What was done to me was acknowledged, and there was also an apology to my then-boyfriend, although accompanied by justifications,”
Screenshots shared by Simas appear to show messages sent by Andre Galvao to Andy. In one message he wrote:
“Andy, I recognize that I messed up badly with you and with Andressa. I disrespected you and that was sin and shame. I’m not going to justify myself. When I come back, I want to ask for forgiveness personally and take responsibility for everything with humility. I am taking real measures to change. Forgive me.”
In a follow up message he added:
“Andy, thank you for the message. I respect your attitude and your sincerity very much. And it was nothing inappropriate to talk to the professor, I understand totally. I recognize my mistake and want to talk to you and Andressa personally with humility, to hear you and also open my heart.”
Murasaki was among the first to publicly depart Atos when he was spotted at Kingsway in lead up to UFC BJJ debut. However he has left Atos for AOJ and kept majority of his attention pointed to competitive endeavors.
Simas also alleged that Herse was pressured to sign a document agreeing to delete her Instagram post, withdraw her police report and stop discussing the matter publicly. She stated that when she attempted to file an individual report, authorities advised her to attach it to the existing case opened by Herse, and she was later interviewed as part of that process.
She further described pressure outside legal channels, including attempts to discredit her account and threats related to visa status after speaking with law enforcement.
“Countries have different laws, and while in one, the report is sufficient, in another, this is merely a point of view,”
“But the truth is one and we all know that between a purple belt and a professor who is a multiple-time world champion, it’s not difficult to know where the rope breaks.”
Screenshots also included a message exchange between Alexa Herse and Angelica Galvao. Herse wrote:
“Professor, can I call you? I talked to the professor and got kind of anxious, wanted to talk to you, or then meet you just me and you.”
The response was:
“No.”
Simas explained why she chose to speak publicly:
“I do this because I believe that situations like this should not be silenced, much less treated as something ‘normal,'”
“After everything I saw happen to me and to other girls, remaining silent would be disrespectful to myself, as a woman and as a human being.”
Andre Galvao released a statement on February 1st maintaining the allegations are false, citing cameras and staff presence at the academy and attributing the situation to former employees with financial grievances. ATOS HQ posted the response attached below to Simas while disabling comments.
This accompanied a statement from lawyers asserting that the United States investigation was closed without charges and that no formal accusations are pending in Brazil. The organization also announced the launch of the “ATOS SAFE MAT PROGRAM”, describing it as a safety and ethics initiative within the sport.
Josh Hinger’s public support for the accounts stands in contrast to the institutional response. As the situation continues to circulate within the community, pressure on governing bodies to address the matter continues to grow.
Galvao has disabled comments on the post announcing his new ‘program’ launch.
Full statements from lawyers representing Galvao in Brazil and in the US:
The law firm Hueso & Andrade Advogados Associados, as the legal representative of Mr. André Galvão in Brazil, comes to the public to provide the following clarifications:
As is publicly known, a serious accusation was made against Mr. André Galvão by a former student. In light of such allegations, Mr. André and his family promptly sought legal guidance in Brazil and the United States, fully cooperating with the competent authorities for the proper investigation of the facts and clarification of the truth.
The investigations were conducted by the San Diego Police Department and forwarded to the local Prosecutor, accompanied by Attorney Dr. Earl, as is standard practice. After thorough investigation, the North American authorities concluded that there were no elements capable of supporting any type of criminal charge, and the case was formally closed. The complaint was, therefore, unfounded and without any proof.
In Brazil, likewise, there is no formal accusation before the national Judiciary. André Galvão continues with a clean record, no prior convictions, and a good background, both in Brazil and abroad!
We deeply regret the distress caused to Mr. André, his family, and ATOS, an institution that has dedicated so much to building, due to accusations that, when submitted to the competent authorities, proved to be devoid of any foundation. The widespread dissemination of these narratives, even before any investigation was concluded, violated the presumption of innocence of a citizen whose story deserved to be heard before being judged.
It is precisely in defense of this constitutional guarantee, and of every person entitled to it, that the firm Hueso & Andrade Advogados Associados reaffirms its commitment to the seriousness and care that each case deserves. Those who irresponsibly offended the image and honor of Mr. André, his family, and team will have to answer equally before justice.
Cauê Costa Hueso
OAB/SP nº 308.493
Pedro Andrade Leite Ribeiro
OAB/SP nº 542.242
ROSING POTT & STROHBEHN LLP
Earll M. Pott, Esq.
Founding Partner
(619) 248-9697 – Direct
(619) 235-6000 – Office
[email protected]
www.RosingLaw.com
770 1st Ave, Ste 200
San Diego, CA 92101
April 19, 2026
Re: Professor Andre Galvao Investigation
To whom it may concern:
This office represents Andre Galvao with respect to a criminal complaint lodged by Alexa Herse with the San Diego Police Department (“SDPD”) on or about January 30, 2026. Based on social media posts made shortly after the filing, it is our understanding that Ms. Herse, who was a student of jiujitsu with Professor Galvao, was alleging inappropriate behavior in the course of a grappling training session at an unspecified time within the last six months. SDPD investigated the allegations and thereafter, as part of its routine procedure, referred the matter to the San Diego City Attorney’s Office to review for potential misdemeanor violations. On April 9, 2026, the City Attorney’s Office officially advised me that the office had declined to file charges against Professor Galvao and anticipated no further action.
We are grateful for the thorough investigation conducted by SDPD and the City Attorney’s dispassionate review of the evidence.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email at [email protected], or on my direct line, 619-387-3158.
Very truly yours,
ROSING POTT & STROHBEHN
