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Under Pressure students at the academy in Leiria

UnderPressureJiu-JitsuBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu school in Leiria

Rua Dr. José Gonçalves 15, Loja B

Book a trial classFree · book beforehand on WhatsApp (opens in a new tab)
The first classNo pressure

Or call 915 446 792

5.0 on Google · 133 reviews ()

Three Under Pressure athletes in gi, sitting on the mat
The Under Pressure Kids class
An athlete drilling a grip
A student in an Under Pressure rashguard, from behind
An athlete in a white gi during a drill
An athlete in a NoGi class
A young athlete adjusting his gi

Timetable

Updated 26 October 2026
4 classes
3 classes
3 classes
3 classes
4 classes
1 class

To see today's classes, open the full timetable.

Mon4 classesTue3 classesWed3 classesThu3 classesFri4 classesSat1 class
Full timetable

Monday

Today4 classes

Tuesday

Today3 classes

Wednesday

Today3 classes

Thursday

Today3 classes

Friday

Today4 classes

Saturday

Today1 class

Classes marked EN in the timetable are taught in English.

The first
class

No pressure

Everyone starts as a white belt. Follow these four steps and you're ready for your first class.

The Under Pressure beginners' class
  1. 1StepBook a trial class

    The trial class is free and must be booked beforehand, on WhatsApp.

    Book a trial class (opens in a new tab)
  2. 2StepWhat to bring

    A gi, if you have one. Without a gi, wear suitable clothing.

    • Men: training shorts and a t-shirt or compression shirt.
    • Women: leggings with training shorts over them; on top, a sports top with a t-shirt over it. This avoids any embarrassment or wardrobe accidents.
    • Everyone: water, and flip-flops for going to the bathroom or out for water.
  3. 3StepWhen to arrive

    Arrive 10 minutes before the class.

  4. 4StepDo I need a gi?

    Bring your own if you have one. If you don't, wear the clothing described in step 2.

Enrolment

Prices

Monthly fee with a 12-month commitment
47 €per month
Monthly fee with no commitment
57 €per month
Joining fee
20 €
Annual insurance
26 €per year

The enrolment fee and the insurance are the same for both options.

Prices include VAT (IVA incluído) at the current legal rate.

The monthly fee is always charged on the day of the month the MAAT enrolment was made.

Enrolment, attendance and payments are in the MAAT app. The plan is chosen in the app; the other fees are paid through a payment link.

The trial class is free and must be booked in advance, by WhatsApp or directly in the MAAT app.

Book a trial class (opens in a new tab)Open the MAAT app (opens in a new tab)

To find out more, call 915 446 792.

The Under Pressure Kids class

Kids and parents

What age can they start?

From 4. The Kids class is for ages 4 to 12; from 13 they can join the Beginners classes directly.

4–12

Can parents watch the classes?

Yes, they can.

The Kids classes

More parents' questions →

The instructors

Victor Hugo de Carvalho
Founder and Technical Director

Victor Hugo de Carvalho

  • Black belt, 2nd degree
  • Grade I Coach (IPDJ certified)
  • Member of IBJJF and FPJJB

Victor Hugo de Carvalho is a 2nd-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and began his work as a teacher in Portugal in 2019. His method aims to teach Jiu-Jitsu in a structured, applicable and accessible way, shaping students who can understand positions, make decisions and execute techniques under pressure. Under Pressure was born from that vision: combining technical rigour, a team environment and consistent progress for children and adults.

Languages: Portuguese and English

Ricardo Estrela, teaching

Ricardo Estrela

In charge of operations and classes in Leiria

Brown belt

Classes: Kids, Beginners Gi, Intermediate Gi

Days: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat

Languages: Portuguese

Turkka Turunen, teaching

Turkka Turunen

Black belt

Classes: Beginners Gi, Beginners NoGi

Days: Mon, Wed, Fri

Languages: English

Val Astraverkhau, teaching

Val Astraverkhau

Black belt

Classes: Beginners NoGi, Intermediate NoGi

Days: Wed, Fri

Languages: English

Eliabe Lima

Eliabe Lima

Black belt

Classes: Beginners Gi, Intermediate Gi

Days: Mon, Thu

Languages: Portuguese

John Stacy

John Stacy

Purple belt

Classes: Beginners Gi, Beginners NoGi

Days: Tue, Thu

Languages: English

Competition

Under Pressure athletes compete in national events and on the AJP circuit.

166 medals in events on Smoothcomp: 69 gold, 59 silver and 38 bronze ().

See the results on Smoothcomp (opens in a new tab)See the club on AJP Tour (opens in a new tab)
Victor Hugo de Carvalho in first place on the podium of the Sport Jiu-Jitsu European Championship
An Under Pressure athlete with her medal
An Under Pressure athlete on the podium of the 2025 IBJJF European Championship
An Under Pressure athlete with two medals
Victor Hugo de Carvalho competing

What people say
about Under
Pressure

5.0133 reviews on Google
A melhor escolha em Leiria, o meu filho de 12 anos foi acolhido por todos com um carinho e proteção enorme, deixou de sofrer bulling porque se sentiu mais confiante e aprendeu a acreditar nele! Adora ir aos treinos, passou a ser o momento mais feliz do dia dele!, obrigada a TODOS, sem exceção por serem culpados da felicidade do meu rapaz!
Lucília
original in Portuguese
Been coming here with a friend for couple of months during my stay in Portugal, amazing crew and a phenomenal coach. Everyone is super welcoming and eager to help. Big thanks to everyone for having us 🙌…
Renato
Under Pressure students on the mat
See the reviews on Google (opens in a new tab)

Google rating as of . Excerpts from public Google reviews; we do not check whether the authors are customers (não verificamos se os autores são clientes).

Frequently asked
questions

What age can they start?

From the age of 4 they can start practising Jiu-Jitsu.

How are the classes divided by age and level?

The classes are: Kids, Beginners Gi, Beginners NoGi, Intermediate Gi and Intermediate NoGi. The Kids class is for ages 4 to 12. From 13, they can join the Beginners classes directly.

Can we try a class first?

Yes, the trial class is free. It must be booked in advance, by WhatsApp or directly in the MAAT app.

Book a trial class (opens in a new tab)Open the MAAT app (opens in a new tab)
What should I bring to the first class?

A gi, if you have one; without a gi, suitable clothing. Men can bring training shorts and a t-shirt or compression shirt. Women, leggings with training shorts over them and, on top, a sports top with a t-shirt over it. Bring water and flip-flops too.

When should I arrive?

10 minutes before the class.

Do we need to buy a gi right at the start?

We don't require buying a gi straight away, but we point out that it is the most suitable for progress and for applying the techniques taught in class, unless you only attend NoGi classes (Jiu-Jitsu without a gi). At the trial class, bring your own if you have one; if not, wear suitable clothing.

How many times a week should they train?

It depends on each person's availability, but we recommend at least two sessions a week, since our classes follow a curriculum in which each class is connected to the previous one.

How do gradings and belt changes work?

Progress through the belts follows attendance, understanding of the techniques and training time (converted into classes attended).

Is Jiu-Jitsu safe for children?

Yes. Today Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most recommended activities for children: it helps motor and cognitive development, builds self-confidence and keeps a good level of physical activity, which is essential to staying healthy.

Can parents watch the classes?

Yes, they can.

Can children compete, or is it optional?

They can always compete, but we don't oblige any student to.

What are the enrolment terms and prices?

Monthly fee of 47 € per month with a 12-month commitment, or 57 € per month with no commitment, joining fee of 20 € and annual insurance of 26 € per year. The monthly fee is always charged on the day of the month the MAAT enrolment was made. The other fees are paid through a payment link.

Prices include VAT (IVA incluído) at the current legal rate.

How is attendance recorded in MAAT?

Students check in beforehand for the class they want to attend and, after the class, the instructor in charge confirms who took part.

What is the timetable?

The full class timetable is on this page.

See timetable
Are there classes in English?

Yes. Classes marked EN in the timetable are taught in English.

Where is the academy?

Rua Dr. José Gonçalves 15, Loja B, 2410-273 Leiria.

Get directions (opens in a new tab)

Where we are

The Under Pressure door, with the logo on the glass
The entrance

The entrance is on Rua Dr. José Gonçalves: coming from Av. Marquês de Pombal, walk up the street along the building on your left to the door.

Rua Dr. José Gonçalves 15, Loja B2410-273 Leiria
Get directions (opens in a new tab)See the way in on Street View (opens in a new tab)
915 446 792(call to a Portuguese mobile network)Instagram@underpressurebjj (opens in a new tab)