The Belo Horizonte City Hall have just announced that they will be introducing the ‘Leandro Lo – Jiu-Jitsu in Schools’ program that will introduce the sport to children all around the state capital. The law that created the project was published in the Municipal Official Gazette on October 1st, 2024 and it’s an incredible move for both the growth of the sport and for children in the area. Scientific studies have previously demonstrated that BJJ has a positive effect on children and the idea that martial arts can help steer kids on to the right path is one that’s been taken as common sense for decades.
The classes will be offered outside of school hours at municipal education network units and they will be taught by a qualified professional. Anyone teaching the classes must be registered with an official sports federation or association that regulates the sport. This means that any children in Belo Horizonte that will be given fantastic instruction and through that, a route to succeed in the sport. It’s a similar story to Lo himself, who actually began training BJJ through the PSLPB; at a social project led by Cicero Costha. It’s pretty common among elite Brazilian competitors, with many of them coming from underprivileged backgrounds and benefiting from the guidance of those who came before them.
The Jiu-Jitsu in Schools bill was written by one of the City councilmen, Cesar Gordin, and he took inspiration from the life and success of Leandro Lo. Just a few years after starting Jiu-Jitsu, Lo had won the IBJJF World Championship at the colored belt levels and went on to win it as a black belt on his second attempt in 2012. After a decade of competing at the highest level, Lo had won an incredible 8 world titles across 4 regular weight classes and the absolute division. It was just a few months after his 8th world title that Lo was killed in Sao Paulo at only 33 years old.
City Councilman Cesar Gordin shared the news of the Leandro Lo – Jiu-Jitsu in Schools program himself in a post to his official Instagram account and he made the following comment (translated from the original Portuguese):
“Jiu-Jitsu in Schools is so much more than a project, it’s a mission that’s changing the lives of countless children in (Belo Horizonte). The discipline, respect, and focus that sports teach are key to moving our youth off the wrong path and opening doors to a better future. With the Leandro Lo Project, now a law in our city, we will reach even more children, ensuring that they have access to sport and grow up as stronger and more prepared citizens. Every kid that practices Jiu-Jitsu in schools is a win for (Belo Horizonte)! Together, let’s continue to transform lives and build a safer and more united city.”
