Meet Professora Samantha Freitas

The 9x world champion Professora Samantha is a BJJ black-belt, wife, mom, leader of the women’s program at Soca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a fierce competitor who had her debut in the circuit at 41 years old and has never lost, and a true inspiration to Jiujiteiras everywhere.

by Patrish Murphy

Samantha Freitas is ranked number one in her division in IBJJF. She is a New York Open Champion, a six-time Pan-American Champion, and a nine-time World Champion. This past year at Worlds she won all her matches by submission. With all these titles there is much more you should know about this undefeated athlete.

If you walked into Soca Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy located in Wantagh NY, she would be the first person you’d notice. Standing at five foot ten, with an olive complexion, her tattoo of a serpent wrapped in a black belt crawling down her left arm catches your eye. Her thick Brazilian accent fills your ears. Her eyes meet yours and she smiles. That smile somehow makes you feel safe and at home all at once.

Samantha Frietas began her Jiu-Jitsu journey at twenty years old in Rio Brazil. She worked at a gym teaching classes and Jiu-Jitsu was offered. She slipped into a gi and would train for two years. Life would seem to get in the way of training, so she stopped for some time while the universe pulled her in another direction. Falling in love would bring her back to the sport. She had known her husband Alexandre “Soca” Frietas since the age of eighteen, but they would not start dating until she was twenty-eight years old. Soca was a professional athlete in the Jiu-Jitsu world. His many titles, skills, and accomplishments would bring up an opportunity for the couple. Opening a school in America. The choice was between Hawaii or New York. Seeing a better opportunity for growth they chose New York.

Soca went over to the states first and Samantha soon followed. While Soca taught Jiu-Jitsu Samantha looked for work. Already holding a degree in physical education and having experience as a personal trainer, she applied to the gyms in the area. On her first interview, she was denied a job. Her degree from Brazil was not recognized in America and she did not have the proper certifications to teach. Her passion for fitness and helping people would not be snuffed out by this setback. Instead of giving up, she worked towards every certification available. Along with getting certified she ran the administration side of the academy. As years passed Samantha developed and built her clients. The couple was able to open their own academy. The location of the first gym was in Bellmore, NY. This provided a space for her to run her own classes. Any time the mats were not being used for jiujitsu she was there teaching. Brazilian Performance became the name of her conditioning training. It was here Samantha and Soca’s business model was born. A place where you could learn Jiu-Jitsu and have a personal trainer at your fingertips.

The academy was booming. However, Samantha rarely trained Jiu-Jitsu during that time. She only dabbled with training and hit the mats occasionally. She became pregnant with their first son, Davi. She continued to train a little until she was six months pregnant. Taking on her new title as “mamãe”, running Brazilian Performance, and still being the head administrator of the academy Samantha just did not seem to have the time to train. Three years later she became pregnant with her twins Logan and Damian. It was a month and a half after their birth that Samantha began stepping on the mats daily. Her love for Jiu-Jitsu exploded. She would receive her purple belt from her husband at forty-one years old. She competed for the first time at the New York Open and won with a loop choke. Since then, she has never stopped competing. Not only this, she has never lost.

As she flourished in competition and was awarded her brown belt, Soca, began talking in her ear about starting a women’s program. Samantha was afraid she wouldn’t be able to give the attentiveness the program needed due to her full schedule. Soca continued to encourage her. After some time, Soca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Women’s Program was created and led by 3x world champion Coach Samantha. Having some women already in the gym, the program originally started with three white belts, four blue belts, one purple belt, two brown belts, and three black belts. Samantha then invited the teenage girls to participate in class. Four years later, now Professor Samantha and 9x world champion, the women’s class has grown to four grey belts, fifteen white belts, ten blue belts, four purple belts, two brown belts, and three black belts as her students.

Samantha received her purple belt from her husband at forty-one years old. She competed for the first time at the New York Open and won with a loop choke. Since then, she has never stopped competing. Not only this, she has never lost.

The women’s program not only has a focus on Jiu-Jitsu but also gives back to the community. Samantha has always had a calling to help people throughout her entire life. If help was needed a young Samantha could be seen at the front lines. She has carried this over into the program she created. The women’s program runs fundraisers and food drives. The biggest was developed this year Soca BJJ Girls Against DV. She and her students are raising money in the support of The National Domestic Violence Hotline. Just in Samantha’s self-defense seminar alone, they raise 1,000 dollars in under two hours. Her students have amazed her with their skill sets, their willingness to help, and what they have done in her life.

Samantha acknowledges what her students have given her. She believes, through teaching, she has learned patience, empathy, minor detail to technique, and appreciation. Her students have allowed her to go deeper into herself and level up to become a better person. They broaden her jiu-jitsu by watching them move and go through drills. Suddenly, through watching, Samantha will see a move or an opening to a submission she had not seen prior. Learning to navigate people her students have made her a softer person. Where once she was quick to be impatient or dismissive her girls have revealed a way to be gentle. She will tell you over and over that she may be the teacher, but she will never stop being a student.

Her hope for her students and all females in this sport is to have the success she has had. Though it did not come easy she believes it can be obtained by all. She is not only talking about competing in tournaments. “Life is a competition every day,” she says. She wants her students to win those battles as they are presented. Giving up is not an option if you continue to persevere both on and off the mats you are a winner to her.

Samantha’s story is the American dream come true. She immigrated here and built her life from the ground up. Nothing ever stopped her from pursuing her goals. A successful athlete, business owner, mother, wife, and coach she continues to trudge her own path. She has helped hundreds reach their full potential though she will never take the credit for this. She is incredibly humble. She takes lead by example to another level for her students. Samantha is a powerhouse of a woman. Her beauty floods both inside and out. That woman you’d see with an olive complexion, serpent tattoo, and gentle smile is sure to change your life. As the writer, I hope you all have the pleasure and privilege of meeting her.

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Patrish Murphy

Patrish Murphy is a blue belt who trains out of Soca BJJ under legendary Alexandre “Soca” Freitas and Professora Samantha Freitas. Patrish is a part of the R1NG team that competes in IBJJF tournaments. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from SUNY Old Westbury. Patrish has three young children a five-year-old boy and her twin girls who are one. She hopes, through writing, to inspire other women to continue their journey through Jiu-Jitsu, competing, and motherhood. Email