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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Basic Butterfly Drill with SLX Entry | Part 2
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Basic Butterfly Drill with SLX Entry, during the no-gi class on 04/29/2025.
Part 1- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/basic-butterfly-drill-with-slx-entry-part-1
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF...
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Basic Butterfly Drill with SLX Entry | Part 1
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Basic Butterfly Drill with SLX Entry, during the no-gi class on 04/29/2025.
Part 2- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/basic-butterfly-drill-with-slx-entry-part-2
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF...
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Crazy Dog Pass to Reverse Stack | Part 2
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Crazy Dog Pass to Reverse Stack, during the fundamental class on 04/07/2025.
Part 1- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/crazy-dog-pass-to-reverse-stack-part-1
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF Wor...
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Crazy Dog Pass to Reverse Stack | Part 1
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Crazy Dog Pass to Reverse Stack, during the fundamental class on 04/07/2025.
Part 2- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/crazy-dog-pass-to-reverse-stack-part-2
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF Wor...
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Side Smash Week Review
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Side Smash Week Review, during the fundamental class on 04/04/2025.
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 c...
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Side Smash Pass From Half Guard With Drills | Part 2
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Side Smash Pass From Half Guard With Drills, during the fundamental class on 04/03/2025.
Part 1- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/side-smash-pass-from-half-guard-with-drills-part-1
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June ...
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Side Smash Pass From Half Guard With Drills | Part 1
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Side Smash Pass From Half Guard With Drills, during the fundamental class on 04/03/2025.
Part 2- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/side-smash-pass-from-half-guard-with-drills-part-2
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June ...
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Foundation of Side Smash Pass
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Foundation of Side Smash Pass, during the fundamental class on 04/01/2025.
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 durin...
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Pinning Basics
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Pinning Basics, during the fundamental class on 03/31/2025.
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 his colored b...
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Triangle From Back Control with Submission Review | Part 2
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Triangle From Back Control with Submission Review during the fundamental class on 03/14/2025.
Part 1- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/triangle-from-back-control-with-submission-review-part-1
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galv...
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Triangle From Back Control with Submission Review | Part 1
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Triangle From Back Control with Submission Review during the fundamental class on 03/14/2025.
Part 2- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/triangle-from-back-control-with-submission-review-part-2
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galv...
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Arm bar Drills From the Back with Finishing Details | Part 2
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Armbar Drills From the Back with Finishing Details during the fundamental class on 03/13/2025.
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...
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Arm bar Drills From the Back with Finishing Details | Part 1
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Armbar Drills From the Back with Finishing Details during the fundamental class on 03/13/2025.
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...
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Clock Choke Finishing Details
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Clock Choke Finishing Details during the fundamental class on 03/12/2025.
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...
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Clock Choke Finish with Cross Collar Choke Review | Part 2
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Clock Choke Finish with Cross Collar Choke Review during the fundamental class on 03/11/2025.
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 ...
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Clock Choke Finish with Cross Collar Choke Review | Part 1
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Clock Choke Finish with Cross Collar Choke Review during the fundamental class on 03/11/2025.
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 ...
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Finishing Cross Collar Choke From the Back
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Finishing Cross Choke From the Back during the fundamental class on 03/10/2025.
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 ...
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Seddle Entry From Half Guard
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Seddle Entry From Half Guard during the fundamental class on 03/07/2025.
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 ...
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Seddle Basics
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Seddle Basics during the fundamental class on 03/06/2025.
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 bel...
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Passing Spider Lasso Review With Side Smash | Part 2
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Passing Spider Lasso Review With Side Smash during the fundamental class on 03/05/2025.
Part 1- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/passing-spider-lasso-review-with-side-smash-part-1
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2...
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Passing Spider Lasso Review With Side Smash | Part 1
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Passing Spider Lasso Review With Side Smash during the fundamental class on 03/05/2025.
Part 2- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/passing-spider-lasso-review-with-side-smash-part-2
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2...
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Passing Spider Lasso Options
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Passing Spider Lass Options during the fundamental class on 03/04/2025.
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 h...
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Basic Spider Guard Pass Concepts | Part 2
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Basic Spider Guard Pass Concepts during the fundamental class on 03/03/2025.
Part 1- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/basic-spider-guard-pass-concepts-part-1
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF Wo...
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Basic Spider Guard Pass Concepts | Part 1
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Basic Spider Guard Pass Concepts during the fundamental class on 03/03/2025.
Part 2- https://live.atosbjjondemand.com/videos/basic-spider-guard-pass-concepts-part-2
Rolando Samson received his black belt from Andre Galvao in June 2017. He is 2x IBJJF Wo...
