Here is a list of Authors and Contributors to the Blog.
Assistant Instructor: Colby “POPPA-ROTZEE” Black:
Purple Belt – 1 Stripe
I am a Purple Belt and Assistant Instructor for Draculino at Gracie Barra Texas. I created and shoot all of the videos for Draculino’s youtube channel “DraculinoTeamTx”. In between training, I’m typically running around with a video camera recording the class or Draculino teaching which got me the nick name “Paparazzi” due to my running around with cameras all the time.
As someone who is involved in teaching and training Jiu-Jitsu..my goal was to make videos that I was interested in watching. I wanted to bring High Quality video, with up close and unique angles that brought the viewer right there on the mat. After success with the Youtube Channel, this blog was the next step as a place I could collaborate with other like minded practitioners.
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Samuel Braga:
2nd Degree Black Belt
6x Black Belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion
Samuel started with martial arts young at seven years old , practicing Taekwondo. Ever since he was young, he always loved to compete, winning a couple tournaments as a Taekwondo fighter . He practiced Taekwondo for several years until he got his black belt and took a break from martial arts when he was a teenager.
Samuel was planning to come back to his training in Taekwondo but his gym also offered a Jiu-Jitsu class that took Samuel’s attention. He was already watching UFC and a fan of Royce Gracie (one of Helio Gracie sons who spread jiu-jitsu to the world using the MMA fights and dominating the biggest events in that time), as well as a big fan Rickson Gracie (Royce’s older brother fighting in Japan’s Pride MMA, which became some the most watched MMA events during 21 Century until purchased by UFC).
After he watched this class his mind changed and he began his BJJ training. His parents supported from beginning until today, something Samuel is very thankful for, especially his father who gave all support he needed to compete in tournaments. After winning six World Championships, Samuel is still practicing this beautiful art that changed his life, giving him more discipline, confidence, and respect in all areas of his life—inside and outside the ring.
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Stephan Kesting:
Black Belt
I am a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt, and have been doing martial arts for over 25 years. I am also a certified instructor in Erik Paulson’s Combat Submission Wrestling, a black belt in Kajukenbo Karate, an instructor in Dan Inosanto’s Jun Fan JKD, Maphalindo Silat and Filipino Martial Arts program. Additionally I have also studied Japanese Judo, Russian Sambo, various Chinese Kung Fu systems, Brazilian Capoeira, Muay Thai Kickboxing, and many other martial arts.
I have published over 20 articles in magazines like Black Belt, Ultimate Grappling, Tapout Magazine and Ultimate Athlete, and been interviewed by The Fightworks Podcast and Lockflow.com.
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Jeremy “The Gerbil” Arel
Black Belt
Jeremy “The Gerbil” Arel began training in martial arts at the age of 7 and has studied Isshinryu Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Jeet Kune Do, and was an alternate on the WTA US Kickboxing team in 2004. Jeremy began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2004, and in 2009 moved to Rio de Janeiro to train under the innovator of the half guard, Roberto “Gordo” Correa. In December 2010, he became only the 2nd non-Brazilian to earn a black belt from Gordo. During the nearly 2 years he spent in Brazil, Jeremy maintained a popular blog about living and training in Brazil on Sherdog.com. Upon returning to the US, he opened his BJJ Academy, Great Grappling Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, in his hometown of Fort Mill, SC, near Charlotte, NC. Jeremy holds a degree in Physical Education and applies traditional, proven teaching principles to his BJJ instruction.
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Dennis Asche
Black Belt
Main Achievements:
- First Gracie Open Champion (2003 – grand prize winner)
- US Team Trials Champion (2003 IBJJF)
- US vs Brazil team Champion (2003)
Dennis Asche was born in Oregon, USA on the 11th of April, 1977. Dennis started practicing martial arts at 7 years old, training several systems including Kenpo Karate, Escrima, AKEA, Muay Thai and Progressive Fighting Systems. He decided to train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the age of 18 to become a well rounded fighter, his first PFS/BJJ instructor was Patrick Lachman.
He grew fond of and MMA and Jiu Jitsu and started training under several different instructors, in trying to find the best training possible. Also with the best training in mind, Dennis moved to California supported by a friend and training partner Brett Garlock who convinced him the move would do him a world of good. Returning to Oregon, Dennis changed camps to train with J.T. Taylor, under Marcelo Alonso (winning his very first BJJ competition for Alonso as a white belt in 1999 at Tacoma, WA). Dennis was awarded his blue belt by Marcelo Alonso. Shortly after he moved cities to refine his Muay Thai at W.V.K.B. in Corvallis, Or under Coach Daniel Dunn for one year before competing and turning professional in MMA.
Not long after his professional career in MMA began Dennis returned to Los Angeles training Muay Thai at North Hollywood MTA and Jiu-jitsu under John Machado. Under Professor John Machado Dennis would develop his game as a competitor and earn his purple belt and passage to Rio de Janeiro through competition.
Dennis Asche met Roberto “Gordo” early in 2003 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He began training with him from there on, earning his brown belt and later his black belt (on the 4th of July, 2009) from the Brazilian.
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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Rob Kahn (Royce Gracie)
13 years of teaching and competition experience
Professional MMA Fighter
-Ultimate Fighter Season 8 Veteran
- Ring of Combat LW Champion
- Sportfighting LW Champion
Earned Medals at
ADCC North American Trials
Pan Ams
NAGA Worlds
Grapplers Quest Pro Division
Competition victories over
Ryan Hall
Enrico Cocco
Sean Spangler
Andrew Smith
Wilson Reis
Current Coach at Precision MMA and AMA Fight Club
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Brandon “Wolverine” Mullins:
1st degree Black belt
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Wolverine’s Major Competition Accomplishments
2005 Pan Am Silver ( Purple Belt )
2006 Pan Am Bronze ( Brown Belt )
2006 Gracie Worlds Silver ( Brown Belt )
2006 U.S. Open Gold ( Brown Belt )
2007 Rio State Ranking Silver ( Rio De Janeiro )
2008 Worlds No – Gi Bronze ( Black Belt )
2009 Pan Am No-Gi Gold ( Black Belt )
2009 Grapplers Quest Advance Division Gold
2010 Worlds No-Gi Gold (Black Belt)
3x Grapplers Quest Adv. Division Gold
2x Fight to win Adv. Division Champion
3x Battle of H-Town Champion
Judo
3x Brown Belt Judo State Champion
Wrestling
Multiple medals in wrestling competitions
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Jordan Shultz
Brown Belt
Major Accomplishments:
2011 IBJJF World Champion – Lightweight Brown Belt
2012 Abu Dhabi Pro Trials Montreal – 3rd place
2011 IBJJF European 2nd place
2010 IBJJF World Champion – Lightweight Putple Belt
2010 IBJJF Pan Champion, 3rd in Open Class
2009 IBJJF No gi Pans Champion
Abu Dhabi Trials 2009 Champion Purple
Jordon’s dapper jiu jitsu style set him apart from many of his BJJ peers, and his confidence often came across as boastful or even egotistical, albeit amusingly so. This flamboyance, of course, made for good press, something that Schultz enjoyed throughout his early career. Possessing a keenness that belied his age, Schultz came to be a rising young star over the course of late 2010 based on his lethal submission execution. Consciously building up his academy’s BJJ competition reputation he sought to create a BJJ game that was uniquely American.
In early 2012 Schultz relocated to Team Lloyd Irvin, and joined the ranks of the Medal Chasers, one of the most feared and nationally acclaimed teams. Modeled after the olympic training program, the Medal Chaser team is the perfect fit for Schultz who has been publicly criticized for leaving his former team (Alliance). Among jiu-jitsu aficionados, Schultz is revered for his flawless technique and physical dexterity, and his revolutionary approach to teaching the fine art can be discovered inside his highly acclaimed 4 volume DVD series, Guard Passing for Competitors, and Online Course, Law of Guard.
In addition to his accolades in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition, Jordon is a degreed Mechanical Engineer, self proclaimed computer nerd, and loves dogs.
websites and products:
http://jordonbjj.com/
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Matt “Aesopian” Kirtley
Brown Belt
Matt Kirtley is a brown belt under Professor Eduardo de Lima, an old school Gracie Barra black belt that came up the ranks alongside teammates like Draculino and Roleta. Matt started BJJ at Gracie Barra Clearwater in 2004, and has been training (and eventually teaching) there ever since. He runs www.aesopian.com, a BJJ blog where he writes about techniques, training and gear.
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Jason Scully
Black Belt
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black belt under Jared Weiner (Lloyd Irvin’s First Black Blet)
- Active Competitor – Placed in Naga, Grapplers Quest, IBJJ Worlds, No-Gi Pans,
- Featured on Lockflow.com, MixedMartialArts.com, GrappleArts.com, Shoyoroll.com, Bullshido.net, BloodyElbow.com, TheFightNerd.com
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Renato Migliaccio
3rd Degree Black Belt in BJJ and Judo
World champion bjj
Pan american champion
European Champion
Brazilian National champion
brazilian wrestling team mernber
pro MMA fighter 6-1
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Wally Holem
Black Belt BJJ Certified Instructor
MS Exercise Science
Green Belt Judo
Level One Crossfit Instructor
Crossfit Gymnastics Certified
Crossfit Nutrition Certified
Crossfit Olympic Lifting Certified
Certified CPR Instructor
CardioFight Founder
Performance Enhancement Specialist PES
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Simon Boulter
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Kyle “Apache” Callaway:
2nd Stripe Blue Belt
My name is Kyle. I have been training under Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhaes at Gracie Barra Texas since March of 2008. I am currently a 2-stripe blue belt. When not training I enjoy playing guitar, sleeping, wrestling with my dog, hanging out with my beautiful fiancee, and playing Xbox until 4 A.M. I can be found on many MMA/BJJ forums trolling under the name TalkShowOnMute. Cheers!
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Assistant Instructor: David “Babalu” Gonzalez:
2nd Stripe Purple Belt
Draculino Purple Belt…..Mexican Brown Pride ……The Babalu Experience 
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Ruben Avila:
Blue Belt under Marcos “Yemaso” Torregrosa
I train under world champion Marcos “Yemaso” Torregrosa in Sacramento, CA. While looking for a job, I realized I could be putting my business degree to work by helping Marcos with some marketing advise. Since then, I have been responsible for the majority of the media that comes out from Marcos and the academy. I even get to travel with him to his seminars and meet a lot of great people.
I decided to create my own bjj blog to keep a collection of my experiences, opinions, and rants. I am an artist in every sense. I love the aural, written, spoken, and martial arts. Sometimes, I want to write about things that aren’t necessarily relevant to my blog. So, I applied to be a contributor here, and was accepted. I look forward to adding value to this website’s readers.
Follow me: @rubeneavila
My Personal Blog: BJJGrappling.com
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JR DILL:
Blue Belt under Draculino.
I’ve been a student under Draculino since May of 2010. I met him while working at Guitar Center and he asked me to come in for a lesson and the rest is history, including 30 pounds off my mid section! Jiu-Jitsu has literally changed my life both physically and mentally. Outside of the mats I am an avid guitar player and artist. I enjoy watching and covering mixed martial arts and I hope to bring you the latest news and great articles fromt he world of MMA!
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