Carlos's Jiu-Jitsu career started in 1993 at the famous Carlson Gracie Academy in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, under the supervision of Marcelo Alonso and Marcelo Saporito. He trained under Carlson Gracie until receiving his brown belt.
Thereafter, Carlos became a head coach of Brazilian Top Team, where he managed the Gi division. Carlão also trained with Luiz Carlos Dias, Mario Sperry, Murilo Bustamante, Bebeo Duarte and Ricardo Libório. He received his black belt in August 2001. Carlos stayed with BTT until he moved to Abu Dhabi.
In Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Emirates Jiu-Jitsu & FIJJA
Carlos Santos first visited Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., in January 2002, after the Abu Dhabi Combat Club struck a deal with Brazilian Top Team in 2001. The terms of the deal directed BTT to send one of its coaches to Abu Dhabi every month for a one-month stay. After staying for a month on his first visit, Carlos moved to Abu Dhabi permanently in August 2002. Carlos was the head coach of Emirates Jiu-Jitsu. The stated goal of Emirates Jiu-Jitsu is to raise awareness of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and make the United Arab Emirates the premier venue for this sport in the world, as well as create a community of BJJ athletes that train and compete in the UAE. He is also the President of the Federation International of Jiu-Jitsu Association that he established in 2009. FIJJA aims at generating financial return to FIJJA and its competing athletes by making jiu-jitsu a profitable business.
School-Jitsu
Carlos implemented BJJ in the local army training, as well as making Jiu Jitsu a mandatory subject in public schools. The Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Schools initiative, named "School-Jitsu", began in 2008. School-Jitsu and aimed to discover future talent in 14 schools for pupils in grades 6 and 7. The program has since expanded to 42 government schools, with 81 Brazilian coaches brought in as instructors. The plan is for up to 500 schools to be participating in the School-Jitsu program by 2015. The project was set up by special request of HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Carlos Santos, who is the managing director of the School-Jitsu Project.
Carlos also works on promoting local and regional tournaments. In 2009, with full support of the local government, Carlos created the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup in Abu Dhabi. Since then, WPJCC drew hundreds of high caliber athletes every year, with qualifying athletes receiving all travel expenses to compete in Abu Dhabi. Carlos's ultimate goal is to make Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a professional sport.
Relocation
In May 2011, Santos returned to his home of Brazil after a nine-year stay in U.A.E.
