Our Story
The Origem Sapateiro Collective is a group of like-minded, laid back, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, who all want the same, simple thing......... to practice and pass-on the art, with a politic free, safe environment.
- All Academies/Students in the collective will foster an all-inclusive (except guard pullers), safe, and fun training environment. Although some good ol' fashioned "ribbing" is highly encouraged!
- CROSS TRAINING / OPEN MAT ATTENDING / HANGING OUT / ETC. with other Academies will be allowed. We are not your parents, we are here to help you along your journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and shouldn't be "telling you" where you are allowed to train. (See disclaimer about belting and competing mentioned below).
- Every academy is "allowed" to have your own rules and run by you, NOT me! I will give you advice when you ask,i will never "tell you" what you can/can't do. (Except jump/pull guard....... cause, just dont).
- There are no "manditory meetings/calls/seminars/hugs/etc." that you see with other affiliations. I'm here to help you with your BJJ progression, not have you listen to me banter about the "good ol' days", what you need to be doing with your academies and students, etc.
- With the previous, I will need to meet/speak with you and see if you are a good fit for the collective. You DO NOT have to be a black belt with an academy to join, I can work with you no matter what rank and if you own your own gym!
- Anyone within the collective, professors, owners, coaches, and students are able to reach out to me with any questions, or if any activity goes against what is listed above.
**** This is a very open affiliation program that allows crosstraining, however there are two things that need to be considered:
1: Belting can only be done by one instructor (you can't have different ranks, with multiple BJJ instructors). Cross-train as much as you want, but have this in mind when it comes to being belted.
2: IF you compete, you need to represent one school/instructor, unless they are cool with having multiple schools/instructors listed. This may not be an option with IBJJF and other organizations as you must register with the academy that has ranked you.
What is a "Sapateiro"?
The term "sapateiro" originated during the historic 1950s challenge matches between the Gracie Academy and the rival Oswaldo Fadda team. Translating to "cobbler" (shoemaker), it was used as a derogatory insult by Gracie students toward Fadda’s fighters whenever they applied foot locks and leg locks.
Historical Context:
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The "Dirty" Submissions: At the time, the Gracie lineage heavily favored positional dominance and chokes, viewing leg locks as "dirty" or "suburban" techniques (the trade of the poor and working class).
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The Derogatory Slur: Because cobblers work with shoes and feet, the Gracie students used "sapateiro" to mock the Fadda stylists for constantly attacking the feet.
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The Rivalry: Despite the taunts, Fadda's team used these leg locks to dominate the Gracies in a landmark challenge match, winning 19 out of 20 fights.
Today, the legacy of this rivalry remains in BJJ rule sets. Many restrictive leg lock rules and penalties (such as reaping the knee or certain heel hooks) are rumored to stem from the Gracie school's historical disdain for these "cobbler" submissions
The Association Name "Origem Sapateiro" is Portuguese and means: "Shoemaker Origin", and with the explanation above: Original Leglocker.
About Professor Mike "The Honey Badger" DesRosiers
Driven by a lifelong passion for combat sports, Professor Mike DesRosiers has spent over three decades evolving from a small-town martial arts enthusiast into a highly ranked practitioner.
Mike’s early years were shaped by the grit of the 1990s martial arts scene—ranging from traditional Aikido and Taekwondo to backyard Muay Thai smoker matches. In 1998, inspired by the inception of the UFC, he dedicated himself to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
As a competitor, Mike spent years testing his technique across the East Coast circuit, competing in NAGA, Grapplers Quest, and submission-only cage events.
Awarded his black belt by Nicolas Gregoriades in 2015, Mike currently stands as an IBJJF-certified 3rd Degree Black Belt. Beyond the mats, he utilizes his decades of experience to serve as an appointed MMA Advisor for the Vermont State Office of Professional Regulation and as a certified tactical instructor specializing in Use of Force, restraint, and active shooter response.
Ranks, records, and certifications held by Professor DesRosiers:
- 3rd Degree Black Belt (IBJJF certified)
- 1st Degree Japanese JuJitsu Black Belt
- 5th Kyu Aikido
- Muay Thai Kickboxing training
- Wrestling
- Safariland Use of Force/Tactical Handcuffing Instructor
- ALICE trainer
- State of Vermont Office of Professional Regulation MMA advisor
- 1-0 Amateur MMA record
- 11-4 Cage Grappling Record
- Former BJJ GI Champion for DonnyBrooke Fight Promotions (VT)
Professor DesRosiers currently teaches at the United Fighting Arts Institute in South Burlington, Vermont, and has produced over 14 BJJ Black belts. Helped train and corner numerous local MMA Champions in various weight classes. Has also helped promote MMA, Muay Thai, and Grappling events on the East Coast.