Marcos Santana

4th degree Jiu-jitsu black belt, multiple-time world champion, Mentor, Entrepreneur

  • Business degree & MBA in Leadership

  • Entrepreneur with experience running both physical and digital businesses

  • A coach who has guided world-class athletes and everyday people to perform at their best

❊ Testimonial

“Marcos' mentorship approach isn't just about optimizing performance, it's about finding true balance, staying laser-focused, and building a sustainable path to success.

Whether you're an elite athlete or just trying to juggle the demands of training and life, the GrindSet Method provides the guidance, accountability, and real- world insights to help you perform at your best. It's not generic coaching - it's a personalized mentorship that tackles the unique challenges we face as driven individuals.''

Philip Hindes 2 x Olympic Gold Medalist
(Track Cycling)

From Humble Beginnings

1986

BOrn

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

I started with futsal before shifting to martial arts. Over the years, I added wrestling and professional MMA to my journey, broadening my understanding of combat sports.

1999

First step on the mats

I started training through my older brother, Paulo Cesar, who introduced me to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We trained in secret from our family due to the bad reputation the sport had at the time.

2002

Tragedy Struck

Paulo died during a robbery in Rio in 2002, an event that changed my life forever. I decided to continue his legacy in his memory, and eventually gained the full support of my family in this journey.

2009

Received my black belt

After 10 years of training, I received my black belt including a tough 4-year stint as a brown belt marked by personal challenges, study, work and a lack of consistency.

2012

Moved to Dubai

I moved to Dubai and worked for the UAE Presidential Guard and the Ministry of Interior for almost 14 years. I was also part of the team that developed Jiu Jitsu across the UAE.

2015

Professional MMA Debut

Throughout my journey, I also tested myself in wrestling and professionally in MMA and competed professionally in ONE Championship. This expanded my repertoire and vision about different combat modalities.

2017

From the mats to the police force

I became the head coach of the UAE National Police team, it was an experience that provided me with valuable insights about leadership and high-performance development.

2022

Co-founded Roger Gracie Academy Dubai

I co-founded The Forge and Roger Gracie Academy Dubai and have the privilege of having my teacher, the legendary Roger Gracie (the greatest of all time in jiu-jitsu) being a part of this endeavour.

2023

Obtained my business degree and mba

After years, I combined my passion for sports with academic knowledge, obtaining a degree in Business Administration and an MBA in Coaching and Leadership. As a digital entrepreneur, I learned to apply high-performance principles not only on the mat, but also in the business world and personal development.

2025

Started the grindset method

After many requests, I finally decided to share my expertise in the form of a mentoring program, helping people achieve their goals in and out of their sports.

❊ Testimonial

''High-level competition is brutal, it pushes you to the limit, both physically and mentally. But the real challenge isn't just about performance. It's about maintaining balance in your life, juggling the demands of training, work, family, and everything else.

That's where the GrindSet Method with Marcos has made all the difference for me. He helped me structure my daily routine in a way that supports both my athletic goals and my overall well- being. It's not just about generic coaching - it's real-life mentorship that tackles the unique challenges we face as elite athletes.

Marcos understands the grind because he's lived it himself. It's about finding balance, managing stress, and building sustainable habits that allow me to perform at my best while also taking care of myself.”

Cauā Santana World Champion, 3 x Pan American Champion
(Canoeing)

❊ Testimonial

“I've been in the fight game a long time, but balancing training, business, family, and being a dad that is a whole different kind of grind. I've known Marcos since we were kids, back when we met at tournaments and started training together. We built a strong friendship and trust over the years. That's why I believe in what he's doing with GrindSet Method.

It's real, it works, and it comes from someone who actually lives it.”

Herbert “The Blaze” Burns Former UFC Fighter, Pro MMA, No Gi World Champion, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt
(Martial Arts - MMA, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu)