Alex Prates is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt and mixed martial arts fighter who has been engaged by the Rabbitohs to help break their 43-year premiership drought.

A specialist in submission holds, Prates has been putting Souths players through their paces at his TP Gym in Caringbah.

Born in Brazil, Prates moved to Australia in 2006 and soon made a name for himself as a fearsome fighter and then a jiu jitsu coach.

During a colourful career, he won tournaments including the Australian jiu jitsu championship in the 75-85 kilograms division.

He then transitioned into mixed martial arts, where he had notched some impressive victories in the cage. A student of the legendary Gracie school, there is plenty of YouTube footage of of him getting the better of his opponents.

Described as "one of the most successful MMA coaches in Australia", his TP Fight Team boasts an enviable 85 per cent win rate in professional bouts.

Prates is no stranger to NRL teams, having also worked with Cronulla on the dark art of wrestling. Sharks skipper Paul Gallen, who has worked with Prates extensively for more than five years, gives him a testimonial on the TP Gym website.

"Since joining TP Gym and training at their impressive facility, they have helped me become a more solid and head-strong rugby league player and person," Gallen wrote.

"ln particular, at the end of season 2009 and before I went away on tour with Australia to England for the Four Nations Rugby League Tournament, they really dedicated their time to help me understand and master a range of wrestling techniques – both in attack and defence.

"Fitness-wise, they have also been exceptional without making it overly taxing on my body. For that alone, I believe TP Gym is an exceptional organisation for any person to learn this fulfilling sport."

Prates was more than happy to pose for photos and be interviewed by Fairfax Media about his role at Cronulla last season. But he was less forthcoming about his work with the Rabbitohs.

"I work a little bit with Souths but I have nothing to comment about it," he said.

Souths wrestling techniques have come under the spotlight in recent times after five players were charged for illegal manoeuvres in the space of just a fortnight.

Ben Te'o was suspended for a chicken wing against Brisbane's Sam Thaiday earlier this month, while fellow forward Chris McQueen and Kirisome Auva'a were cited for crusher tackles. George Burgess and Issac Luke have also grabbed the attention of the match review committee in the past month.

The Bunnies had previously employed another noted MMA specialist, Marco "The Giant" Villella. Asked if he felt the foundation club was being singled out by the referees for wrestling tactics, coach Michael Maguire told Triple M: "No, not really.

"It's a part of the game. Everyone keeps talking about wrestle moves but it's part of the game and unfortunately we had a couple that didn't go well and we're paying the price for that.

"Every team is working at the defence and whether you want to call it wrestle or defence, it is part of it. You're judged on the momentum and momentum you're building on the opposition, so that's dependent on how [effective] we are in defence."