Rolando Samson
Rolando Samson is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under André Galvão, Rolando has also earned a reputation as one of the top athletes of his generation while competing in the lower ranks of this sport/martial art, winning important championships like the World Championship, the World No-Gi Championship, and the American Nationals of the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). Additionally, Samson is recognized for his hard work ethic.
Rolando Samson is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under André Galvão, Rolando has also earned a reputation as one of the top athletes of his generation while competing in the lower ranks of this sport/martial art, winning important championships like the World Championship, the World No-Gi Championship, and the American Nationals of the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). Additionally, Samson is recognized for his hard work ethic.
Rolando Samson was born on September 13, 1994 in San Diego, California – United States of America.
Rolando became interested in martial arts as a child, influenced by cartoons like Dragon Ball Z. After watching classes at the after-school karate program in his neighborhood, Samson's curiosity increased.
At the age of nine, Samson showed a keen interest in martial arts and was guided by his father to a Brazilian jiu jitsu school. Rolando’s dad was a mixed martial arts (MMA) fan and had a decent understanding of grappling and it’s value in hand-to-hand combat, opting to register his son to Alex Brandão’s academy – a gym under the lineage of Master Fábio Santos.
His first IBJJF World Championship came while competing for Brando, where he was a child and juvenile belter. He began to ponder switching to a gym that emphasized competition over his jiu jitsu career as a blue belt. This thought was doubled down on after a conversation with fellow competitor Michael Liera Junior – who advised Rolando to try a class at Atos HQ in San Diego.
Already a big fan of André Galvão‘s game, Rolando decided to take the challenge and visit this famed grappling stable. Once there, and given that Samson was already a relatively well known blue belt competitor, he was put through ‘the ringer’. In an interview given to BJJ Heroes in 2017 Rolando remembered that first experience at Atos HQ: “I tried to keep up and I was completely exhausted. I learned so much in that one night and I was already looking forward to the next class right after the class finished. That was how I knew Atos was where I wanted to be“.
While training and competing regularly, Rolando Samson’s focus never strayed from his academic studies having attended a junior college for 3 years before being transferred to San Diego State University to further his education – all this while also working part-time.
On June 2017, after another fantastic competitive year where he achieved a silver medal at the Worlds (while training only 2 times per week), Samson was promoted to black belt by André Galvão.
Today you can find Rolando teaching our fundamentals classes with a lot of enthusiasm helping every single student to achieve their goals on and off the mats!
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Over Under Pass to Half Stack
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Over Under Pass to Half Stack during the fundamental class on 12/04/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is a 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all duri...
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Troubleshooting Over Under Pass
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Troubleshooting Over Under Pass during the fundamental class on 12/03/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is a 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all du...
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Over Under Pass Concepts
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Over Under Pass Concepts during the fundamental class on 12/01/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all during his ...
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Shin Slicer Pass From Reverse DLR
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Shin Slicer Pass From Reverse DLR during the fundamental class on 11/25/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all du...
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Passing the Guard Without Grip Change Concepts
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Passing the Guard Without Grip Change Concepts during the fundamental class on 11/24/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Cha...
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Windshield Wiper Drill
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Windshield Wiper Drill during the fundamental class on 11/18/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all during his co...
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Passing Guard Using Crazy Dog Concepts
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Passing Guard Using Crazy Dog Concepts during the fundamental class on 11/17/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (a...
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Diving Leg Drag From Shalow Lasso
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Diving Leg Drag From Shalow Lasso, during the fundamental class on 11/14/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all d...
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Troubleshooting Shalow Lasso
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Troubleshooting Shalow Lasso, during the fundamental class on 11/13/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all during...
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Split Pass Review
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Split Pass Review during the fundamental class on 11/12/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all during his colored...
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Intro to Headquarters Passing
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Intro to Headquarters Passing during the fundamental class on 11/10/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all during...
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Passing Lasso Review
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Passing Lasso Review during the fundamental class on 11/07/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all during his colo...
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Passing Lasso Using Side Smash
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Passing Lasso Using Side Smash, during the fundamental class on 11/06/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is a 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all du...
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Passing Spider Lasso Drill
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Passing Spider Lasso Drill during the fundamental class on 11/05/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all during hi...
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Troubleshootling Deep Lasso
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Troubleshooting Deep Lasso during the fundamental class on 11/04/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all during hi...
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Outside Passing Drill | Part 2
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Outside Passing Drill during the no-gi class on 11/04/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all during his colored b...
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Outside Passing Drill | Part 1
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Outside Passing Drill during the no-gi class on 11/04/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all during his colored b...
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Intro to Passing Shallow Lasso
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Intro to Passing Shallow Lasso during the fundamental class on 11/03/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all durin...
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Underhook Takedown in the Gi
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Underhook Takedown in the Gi, during the fundamental class on 10/31/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all during...
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Interchanging Upper Body Guards Drill
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Interchanging Upper Body Guards Drill during the fundamental class on 10/29/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (al...
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Collar Drag From Collar Sleeve Guard
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Collar Drag From Collar Sleeve Guard, during the fundamental class on 10/28/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (al...
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Overview of Upper Body Guards
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches an Overview of Upper Body Guards during the fundamental class on 10/27/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is a 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all d...
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Upper Body Guard Q&A
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Upper Body Guard Q&A during the fundamental class on 10/23/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (all during his colo...
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Getting to X Guard From Double Sleeve
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Getting to Double Guard From Double, during the fundamental class on 10/22/2025.
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is a 2x IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, an IBJJF World Champion, and a UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (a...
