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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Back Take With Butterfly Hook
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Back Take With Butterfly Hook, during the fundamental class on 05/28/2025.
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 (all durin...
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Basic Back Take From Closed Guard
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Basic Back Take From Closed Guard, during the fundamental class on 05/27/2025.
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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Attacking the Back From Turtle
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Attacking the Back From Turtle, during the fundamental class on 05/26/2025.
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 duri...
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Escaping the Back Concepts
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Escaping the Back Concepts, during the fundamental class on 05/23/2025.
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 h...
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RKO Back Escape
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches RKO Back Escape during the fundamental class on 05/22/2025.
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 b...
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Back Take Escape
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Back Take Escape during the fundamental class on 05/21/2025.
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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Basic Back Defense
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Basic Back Defense during the fundamental class on 05/20/2025.
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 (all during his colore...
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Basic Back Take Drill
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Basic Back Take Drill, during the fundamental class on 05/19/2025.
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 his co...
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Passing Spider Lasso With Cross Grip
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Passing Spider Lasso With Cross Grip, during the fundamental class on 05/16/2025.
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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Passing Spider Guard & Lasso Concepts
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Passing Spider Guard & Lasso Concepts, during the fundamental class on 05/13/2025.
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 (a...
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Single Leg X Entry From Tarantula
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Single Leg X Entry From Tarantula, during the fundamental class on 05/09/2025.
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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Tarantula Guard Sweep From Knee on Belly
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Tarantula Guard Sweep From Knee on Belly, during the fundamental class on 05/08/2025.
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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Tarantula Guard From Lasso
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Tarantula Guard From Lasso, during the fundamental class on 05/07/2025.
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 h...
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Basic 2 on 1 Guard Review
Atos HQ black belt Rolando Samson teaches Basic 2 on 1 Guard Review, during the fundamental class on 05/05/2025.
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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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...
