Instructors

Carlos Varona — Head Instructor. Carlos is a black belt under BJJ black belt and MMA fighter Edson Diniz. Carlos moved from the United States to Spain in April 2013 to assume the head instructor position at DYNAMIC Carlos Varona BJJ. Fluent in English and Spanish, Carlos is an admired teacher and competitor in the sports of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling.

Matt Henderson — Assistant Instructor. Matt was awarded his BJJ black belt by Thelmo Calmon in 2011, and has trained under Edson Jorge and Fabricio Pereira. He’s been competing since 2000, and has won gold medal three times at the European BJJ Championships, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Leo Galati — Assistant Instructor. Leo is a BJJ brown belt, and has trained under Edson Jorge and Thelmo Calmon. Leo has competed extensively in BJJ, and has also fought professionally in Mixed Martial Arts. Leo is also the Head Instructor for the children’s BJJ classes, and the Head Instructor of the adult MMA class.

Past Instructors

Professor Thelmo Calmon

Thelmo Calmon, a black-belt under Master Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhaes, was our instructor from 2009 through 2012, carrying on the excellent pedigree of Draculino.

Professor Edson “Sururu” Jorge

Our original instructor, now mentoring us from Brazil, Edson “Sururu” Jorge received his black-belt under Draculino.

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.

Visiting Instructors

The academy has been visited by the following world-class instructors (in alphabetical order):

  • Master Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhaes
  • Roberto Atalla — Gracie-barra black-belt
  • Marcelo “Uirapuru” Azevedo — Draculino black-belt
  • Carlos “Sapao” Ban — Black-belt under Ralph Gracie
  • Romulo Barral — Draculino black-belt
  • Gustavo Coelho — Draculino black-belt
  • Tio Chico —