Matsuyo Maeda
Mitsuyo Maeda, also known as Count Koma, was a pioneering Japanese judoka and a key figure in the global spread of judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. A skilled judoka under Jigoro Kano, Maeda traveled worldwide demonstrating judo, before settling in Brazil. He notably taught the Gracie family, influencing the development of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. His legacy is central to the martial arts lineage of judo and BJJ.
Carlos Gracie Sr.
Carlos Gracie Sr. was a Brazilian martial artist who founded Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, a branch of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). He was a key figure in popularizing BJJ, developing it from traditional jiu-jitsu and judo techniques that he learned from Mitsuyo Maeda. Gracie’s innovative training methods, including the emphasis on ground-fighting techniques, revolutionized martial arts. The Gracie family, especially through the teachings of Carlos and his brother Hélio, became renowned for their combat effectiveness, particularly in mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions like UFC.
Helio Gracie
Hélio Gracie was a Brazilian martial artist who co-founded Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Known for his smaller frame, he adapted jiu-jitsu techniques to focus on leverage and submissions, creating a system that allowed weaker opponents to defend against stronger ones. Hélio, along with his brother Carlos, developed and refined Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, making it famous worldwide. His influence extends to MMA through the Gracie family's success in competitions like UFC.
Carlos Gracie Jr.
Carlos Gracie Jr. is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master and an 8th-degree coral belt. He is the founder of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) and Gracie Barra, one of the largest BJJ academies worldwide. The son of Carlos Gracie Sr., he played a crucial role in formalizing the competitive structure of BJJ. Through his contributions, Carlos Jr. helped shape modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and its global presence.
Ralph Gracie
Ralph Gracie is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) practitioner and a member of the renowned Gracie family. Known as "The Pitbull" due to his aggressive fighting style, Ralph is a 5th-degree black belt in BJJ. He has competed in various MMA promotions, including PRIDE FC and the UFC. Ralph also runs a series of successful BJJ academies, helping to spread the Gracie family's martial arts legacy globally. His contributions to both BJJ and MMA have made him a respected figure in the martial arts community.
Dan Camarillo
4th Degree Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu/Ralph Gracie Black Belt and 3rd Degree Judo Black Belt (Head Instructor/Owner). Daniel started Judo at 4 in Bakersfield and competed nationally by 6, training in Japan and ranking sixth in the U.S. in 1996. In 1997, he joined the Ralph Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team, quickly earning his blue belt and winning the Joe Moreira Nationals in 1998. After a year away from training, he returned, earned his purple belt, and later opened his own academy in Bakersfield. He earned his black belt in Jiu-Jitsu in 2005 and is known as "Armhunter" for his armlock skills, winning about 90% of his matches by armbar submission. Daniel is passionate about teaching and values family and friends.
Marc De La Cruz
Marc "The Hitman" De La Cruz is the Head Instructor and Co-Founder, a US Army 82nd Airborne Veteran, and holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a 2nd Degree Brown Belt in Judo. With over 24 years of BJJ training, Marc is a Fight to Win veteran and has an MMA record of 4-4. He is the 2023 SJJIF North American Champion in the Black Belt Masters division and a 2021 NAGA Las Vegas Gi Masters Black Belt Champion. Additionally, he won the 2019 SJJIF L.A. International Open Masters Black Belt Championship and the 2015 Revgear World's No Gi Masters Advanced Championship. Marc also claimed the SJJIF World Masters Championship as a brown belt in 2013 and the US Open Masters Championship as a purple belt.
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