João Mingo, a distinguished 3rd-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt and former finance executive, has officially announced the expansion of his martial arts mission to the Tar Heel State. The Thiago Rela Academy is slated to open its doors in North Carolina in 2026, promising a “lifestyle-first” approach to martial arts that prioritizes character development, family values, and community impact.
For Mingo, the new academy is more than just a place to learn chokes and transitions. The vision is to establish a hub for personal transformation.
“The vision is to build more than a martial arts school,” Mingo said. “We want to create a true Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle academy; a place where children, adults, families, and military personnel can develop discipline, confidence, physical conditioning, emotional balance, humility, respect, and community.”
Mingo is a 3rd-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with over two decades of experience in the art. A co-founder of the successful TRA Jiu-Jitsu academy in New Jersey and a 15-year veteran of Goldman Sachs, Mingo combines corporate leadership with elite martial arts instruction to empower individuals and build stronger communities.
His new academy’s name, Thiago Rela Academy, serves as a tribute to the technical lineage and core values that shaped Mingo’s own decades-long journey in the sport. It represents a commitment to high-level instruction rooted in authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu traditions.
While the specific municipality is currently being finalized, Mingo is targeting family-oriented communities characterized by strong growth and a demographic that appreciates the intersection of physical fitness and traditional values. Mingo noted that while North Carolina has a growing interest in combat sports, there is a significant opportunity to introduce the “mature” academy model seen in larger metropolitan markets.
“North Carolina has the family environment we are looking for,” Mingo explained. “It has growing communities, many families, professionals, and military connections, but Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has not yet reached the same level of maturity there as in some larger markets. We believe there is a major opportunity to bring a high-level, values-driven academy to the region.”
Mingo’s path to North Carolina is unique. For 15 years, he navigated the high-pressure environment of Wall Street as a professional at Goldman Sachs. While his days were spent in finance, his evenings and weekends were dedicated to the mats.
“Jiu-Jitsu was always in the background,” Mingo said. “Finance developed my discipline, decision-making, leadership, and ability to manage pressure. But Jiu-Jitsu has always been one of my greatest passions and one of the most powerful tools I have seen for transforming lives.”
After successfully co-founding TRA Jiu-Jitsu in Jersey City and helping expand that brand into three locations over eight years, Mingo is ready to apply his dual expertise in business and martial arts to this new venture. He emphasizes that his experience in New Jersey taught him that a successful academy is built on “culture, leadership, and community” rather than just technical prowess.
The Thiago Rela Academy will offer a comprehensive curriculum designed for all ages and skill levels. There will be programs for Youth & Teens, including structured anti-bullying programs, leadership development, and youth empowerment workshops. The new academy will also have classes for Adults, ranging from fundamentals classes for beginners to advanced technical training, and high-level competition prep. The academy will also feature Specialized Training focusing on self-defense, fitness-focused sessions, and programs tailored for military personnel and first responders.
As the opening of the new academy approaches, the Thiago Rela Academy aims to be not for those seeking not just a workout or a challenge, but a path toward a more disciplined and confident life.
Mingo, who is widely recognized for his work in youth empowerment and resilience training, intends to make the academy a cornerstone of the local community. “The next step is to expand this mission in the United States, starting with North Carolina,” Mingo said. “I want to show that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not only a sport; it is a lifestyle based on discipline, respect, humility, resilience, and purpose.”
