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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Spider Guard Retention Drill
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches the Spider Guard Retention Drill during the fundamental class on 10/21/2025.
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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Maintaining Spider Guard for Beginners
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Maintaining Spider Guard fro Beginners, during the fundamental class on 10/20/2025.
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 (...
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Taking the Back From Arm Triangle
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Taking the Back From Arm Triangle during the fundamental class on 10/16/2025.
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 ...
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Arm Triangle to Back Control
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Arm Triangle to Back Control during the fundamental class on 10/15/2025.
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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Saddle Review With Bear Trap | Part 2
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Saddle Review With Bear Trap during the fundamental class on 10/14/2025.
Part 1- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/saddle-review-with-bear-trap-part-1
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is a 2x IBJJF World No...
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Saddle Review With Bear Trap | Part 1
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Saddle Review With Bear Trap during the fundamental class on 10/14/2025.
Part 2- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/saddle-review-with-bear-trap-part-2
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is a 2x IBJJF World No...
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Outside Pass to Back Take
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Outside Pass to Back Take during the fundamental class on 10/13/2025.
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 his...
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Ezekiel From Back
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Ezekiel From Back during the fundamental class on 10/10/2025.
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 during his color...
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Q&A With Focus on Back
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Q&A with Focus on Back, during the fundamental class on 10/09/2025.
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 during his...
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Connecting Submissions From the Back
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Connecting Submissions From the Back, during the fundamental class on 10/08/2025.
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 (...
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Maintaining Back Control With Triangle Finish
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Maintaining Back Control With Triangle Finish, during the fundamental class on 10/07/2025.
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 Cha...
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Straight Jacket Review
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Straight Jacket Review during the fundamental class on 10/06/2025.
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 during his ...
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Friday Q&A
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson answered the students' questions about the techniques they were struggling with during the fundamental class on 10/03/2025.
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...
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Straight Jacket Back Control
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Straight Jacket Back Control during the fundamental class on 10/02/2025.
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 durin...
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Choke From Back Details
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Choke From Back Details during the fundamental class on 10/01/2025.
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 c...
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Basic Back Retention Drill
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Basic Back Retention Drill during the fundamental class on 09/30/2025.
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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Back Retention With Power Half Nelson
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Back Retention With Power Half Nelson, during the fundamental class on 09/29/2025.
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 (a...
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Rolling Back Defense
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Rolling Back Defense during the fundamental class on 09/23/2025.
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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Back Defense
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Back Defense during the fundamental class on 09/22/2025.
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 belt...
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Back Defense to Single Leg X
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Back Defense to Single Leg X during the fundamental class on 09/19/2025.
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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Single Leg X Splitting the Leg Pass
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Single Leg X Splitting the Leg Pass, during the fundamental class on 09/18/2025.
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...
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Passing Single Leg X Concepts
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Passing Single Leg X Concepts during the fundamental class on 09/17/2025.
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 (all during...
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Single Leg X Entry From Sit Up Guard
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Single Leg X Entry From Sit Up Guard, during the fundamental class on 09/15/2025.
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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Week Review
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson shows Week Review during the fundamental class on 09/12/2025.
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 belts)....
