The Institute · About us

A story of grit that became a mission.

Founded by MMA champions Rodrigo “Minotauro” and Rogério “Minotouro” Nogueira, the Institute uses martial arts as a tool to educate children and young people.

The minds behind the project

The Nogueira Brothers

Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, “Minotauro,” and Antônio Rogério Correia Nogueira, “Minotouro,” created the Institute to give children and young people the same foundation that shaped them: grit, discipline and resilience.

Minotauro · Co-founder

Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira

Regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, known for his exemplary conduct inside and outside the ring and the octagon.

Career highlights

Started judo at an early age.
At age 11 he was hit by a truck: he was in a coma and spent a year in hospital.
After the accident, he trained boxing, jiu-jitsu, muay thai and wrestling.
Belt champion in the biggest MMA organizations: Rings, Pride and UFC.
UFC Hall of Fame member.
UFC ambassador in Brazil.
Ambassador of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee.
Commentator for the Combate and SporTV channels.
Entrepreneur, alongside his brother, in a franchise network.

Minotouro · Co-founder

Antônio Rogério Correia Nogueira

Born in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, he left a career in law for MMA and became one of the sport’s best-known names worldwide.

Career highlights

Started fighting through judo.
Boxing bronze medal at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Jiu-jitsu black belt.
A lawyer, he left his legal career for MMA in 2001.
Fought in the biggest events in the world, such as Pride and UFC.
His fight against Maurício Shogun is cited among the greatest in MMA history.
Leads one of the largest MMA teams in the world.
Social entrepreneur.
Entrepreneur, alongside his brother, in a franchise network in Brazil, Dubai and the USA.

Our journey

From volunteer work to thousands of students.

Every chapter was made possible by Brazil’s tax-incentive laws and by companies that believed in the project.

2010 The beginning Minotauro and Minotouro start volunteering with children and young people.
2013 First incentive-funded project Funded through the state ICMS tax-incentive law and sponsored by TIM and the Rio de Janeiro State Department of Sports, Leisure and Youth: 500 students in Manguinhos, Nova Iguaçu, Terreirão do Recreio and Vila Cruzeiro, through 2014.
2016 Scaling up A project under the Lei Pelé agreement serves more than 1,050 students a year in Gramacho, Complexo do Alemão, Mangueira, Bangu, Terreirão, Nova Iguaçu and Vila Cruzeiro: more than 4,200 students over 3 years and 6 months, through March 2020.
2021 Federal incentive law More than 200 students at Arena 3 in Barra Olympic Park and at Vila Olímpica do Mato Alto, with Grupo Protege and the Special Secretariat for Sports.
2022 New territories Two new centers in Macaé and Maricá for 500 students, funded through the state ICMS tax-incentive law and sponsored by ENEL.

What drives us

“Grit, discipline and resilience have always been part of the Nogueira brothers’ lives.”

Grit
Discipline
Resilience

Registered methodology

Our methodology, registered with Brazil’s Ministry of Culture

Read the methodology book

Read the student pledge Financial reports

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