Rodrigo Munduruca

Rodrigo Mundruca is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He immigrated to Canada from Brazil in 1999. Rodrigo has become a very accomplished instructor with his roots as an assistant instructor at the Behring school in Rio de Janeiro. His teaching/coaching has produced many accomplished fighters who have competed in the UFC, Pride, King of the Cage, MFC , TKO, Elite, CFC, Gladiators.

Rodrigo is the main instructor at the Winnipeg location from teaching kids classes, women’s, beginner’s, to advanced Gi and No Gi classes as well as the head coach of all the grappling related aspects of MMA.

His personal accomplishment include competing in Judo, Wrestling, and has an MMA record of 6-1, while being ranked Canada’s number 2 heavy weight along side his students Tim Hague (UFC Vet) ranked number 1 and Nick Penner ranked number 3 as ranked by Top MMA News. Also: Member of the Canadian National team for 2008 and won gold in Switzerland for Gi and took 3 place for No-Gi. Formerly Rio state Champion, 3 place in worlds, 3 place Pan-Am games, South Brazilian Champion, won the North American qualifier for Abu Dhabi.

Rodrigo has two affiliate schools in Alberta where he visits routinely to ensure the level of excellence and standards are progressing and being achieved. Rodrigo also travels across Canada routinely to hold seminars and conduct private lessons for other schools or competition teams.

Jerin Valel

Jerin (aka – Ninja or NinjaPreto) is a Brown Belt in BJJ, who coaches the kids and beginner class. He has competed as a wrestler out of the University of Manitoba, as well as competed in Kickboxing , and various BJJ tournaments. He has also competed as a professional athlete in MMA. His background extends to being a certified as Judge for MMA and Boxing, a Referee in Kickboxing, as well as being one of Canada’s premier Referees in MMA.

Spencer Lalonde

Spencer Lalonde is a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under 2nd degree black belt Rodrigo Munduruca. Spencer began his grappling training in 1990 as an amateur wrestler. Spencer has won multiple high school and collegiate wrestling tournaments, including gold medal Canadian winter games, bronze medal OFSAA, gold medal GBSSA. Spencer has won multiple Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments including multiple Manitoba open medals, and multiple Toronto open medals. Spencer has trained with a wide array of BJJ & MMA champions including Rodrigo Munduruca, Joe Doerksen, Georges St. Pierre, Ainsley Robinson, Leonardo Santos, and Wagnney Fabiano, amongst others.

Bruno Munduruca

Bruno is the “little” brother of Rodrigo Mundruca and is a purple belt who has been involved in the sport since the 1990′s in one form or another. He also runs the BJJ Brazil Camps providing opportunities for North American BJJ practitioners to improve their game training or competing while in Brazil. He is also owner/founder of FightertsMarket.ca.

Airton Nakamura

Airton Nakamura is a 2nd degree black belt in judo from Brazil. He started practicing judo when he was 8 years old and got his first degree black belt with 16 years old. In mid ’90s he was considered one of the top 10 under 60kg judo players in Brazil. As a coach, his students got several titles including national, sul-american, and pan-american championships. Trained with the best coaches and fighters in the country, he has a vast knowledge in technical and physical training for competitors.

Guest Instructors and Seminars

Throughout the years we have had many great guest instructors in our club to give us seminars and teach us different styles and techniques so we can constantly improve. Following are few of the many great instructors that we already had the opportunity to learn from:

• Royler Gracie – 7th degree black belt son of Grandmaster Helio Gracie.
• Sylvio Behring – 7th BJJ Red and Black belt. Current Anderson Silva’s instructor.
• Mauricio Pereira – 3rd Degree Black Belt under Sylvio Behring (RIP 2006).
• Bas Rutten – Dutch-American mixed martial artist (MMA) and kickboxer. He was the UFC Heavyweight Champion, and three time King of Pancrase world champion.
• Joe Doerksen – UFC veteran, Canadian mixed martial artist (MMA) and a Brazilian JIu Jitsu Black Belt.
• Jeremy Horn – UFC veteran, American mixed martial arts fighter and considered one of the most experienced fighters in the sport.
• Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) specialist and mixed martial artist (MMA).
• Wagnney Fabiano – Jiu Jitsu black belt professional MMA fighter. Currently fighting at WEC.