Gracie-Barra Marbella is privileged to have some of the best trainers in the world:

Professor Edson “Sururu” Jorge

The original Gracie-Barra Marbella instructor, now mentoring us from Brazil, Edson “Sururu” Jorge received his black-belt under Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhaes, the internationally known head of the Gracie-Barra Belo-Horizonte acadamy.

Through Edson’s leadership and instruction from 2005 through 2008, the club became a BJJ and MMA competitive force in Europe, winning many medals at both the European and Spanish championships. Presently Edson provides mentoring and overseeing of the academy from Brazil, where he’s completing his academic work.

Professor Thelmo Calmon

Colleague of Professor Edson, our present instructor is Thelmo Calmon, also a black-belt under Draculino. Thelmo continues in the world-class training established here by Edson, and representative of Gracie-Barra.

Professor Vinicius Moura

Black-belt under Soca, we frequently receive guest instruction from Vinicius Moura, who led the team in the 2009 European Championships.

Student Instructors

Training sessions are always supported by the academy’s graduated students:

• Jose Antonio Merida, brown-belt. (Runs our affiliate club, GB La Linea, in La Linea, Spain.)
• Matt Henderson, brown-belt.
• Mike Rios, purple-belt.
• Leo Galati, purple-belt. (Leo offers private classes in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA.)
• Augusto Aloisio, purple-belt. (Augusto is a certified professional personal trainer, offering private classes in both physical fitness and martial arts.)
• Daniel Nagore, purple-belt.
• Nacho, purple-belt. (Recently training with world champion Braulio Estima.)

Visiting Instructors

The academy is frequently visited by the following world-class instructors:

• Jude Samuel. Black-belt under Roger Gracie.
• Carlos “Sapao” Ban. Black-belt under Ralph Gracie.