Like most Brazilians, I grew up chasing a dream of soccer greatness. But I always struggled with the fact that the outcome never fully depended on me. At 14, I started Judo, made it to green belt, and then had to stop when my family moved.

That’s when I found Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At first, I resisted, I thought it wasn’t for me. But a friend kept pushing me until I finally took a class just to get him off my back. And I’ve never looked back.

I lost 55 pounds, entered my first tournament a month later, and even changed my college major from Law to Physical Education so I could build a life around this art. Now, 22 years later, I’m a 3rd-degree black belt. My whole family trains. Jiu-Jitsu is who we are.

It’s an honor to be part of Dino Jiu-Jitsu and to help pass this life-changing art to the next generation.

Lineage
Gastão Gracie Hello Gracie Carlson Gracie Joares Patricio Hugo Velasco Rafael Pinheiro

DescriptI started martial arts at four years old. I was a hyperactive kid, dealing with bullying, and a school psychologist suggested martial arts as a solution. That’s where my journey began, with Judo. From age four to nine, I learned discipline and took my first steps into competition.

At twelve, inspired by Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris, I got into striking. I started training Muay Thai and later put those skills to the test. Growing up in Rio, fighting wasn’t just about sport. It was self-defense and survival. Over time, I earned respect in my neighborhood, in the gyms, and eventually in national federations, becoming a black belt at seventeen.

By eighteen, I was teaching. I built a team that competed in MMA, kickboxing, and Muay Thai, and many of my students turned professional. That led me to coaching athletes competing in UFC, Bellator, WGP, BRAVE, Pancrase Japan, and Bahrain’s national MMA team.

Now, I’m here at Dino Jiu Jitsu in the USA, ready to build something new. My goal is simple. Help people grow, transform lives, create future coaches, and shape champions on and off the mat.ion goes here

I’ve been obsessed with martial arts since I was a kid. I studied Taekwondo early on, and earned my 2nd-degree black belt at 36. In 2019, I started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with my two sons, and I was all in from day one. I jumped into training and started helping with the kids' classes in 2020.

In 2023, I competed at my first IBJJF World Masters tournament in Las Vegas, took gold, and was awarded my purple belt on the podium. That moment was unreal. But honestly, nothing compares to coaching. Watching kids grow tougher, more confident, and more disciplined on the mat, that’s what keeps me going.

Being part of the Dino Jiu-Jitsu team is a blessing. These kids are the future, and I’m proud to help shape it.

My Jiu-Jitsu journey started like it has for a lot of people, watching old Gracie Challenge fights on YouTube. Something about the raw intensity and control pulled me in, and I knew I had to try it for myself. What I didn’t expect was how much it would reshape the way I handle life.

Through training, I’ve developed better emotional control, more patience, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Jiu-Jitsu became more than just a physical outlet. It became a tool for personal growth. And while I love competing, what really keeps me on the mat is the constant challenge of figuring out this ever-evolving puzzle.

Teaching has taken that love even deeper. Helping others improve is one of the most rewarding parts of my week. Seeing a student use a skill I helped them build never gets old. Watching our team grow sharper, tougher, and more connected with every session is what keeps me coming back.

At Dino Jiu Jitsu, I’m proud to help lead our kids program and contribute to a culture that values growth, respect, and showing up for each other.