Rodrigo was born in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. He started training in Judo when he was 5 years old and at 12 years old he started training in Jiu-Jitsu, with Grand master Carlson Gracie when he was promoted to the Black belt in 1996 . Rodrigo is current a 6th degree Black belt under IBJJF/USBJJF rules and regulations .
Rodrigo has competed in over 120 different Jiu-Jitsu tournaments and almost 500 competition matches , most under IBJJF and USBJJF federation.
Rodrigo was Brazilian champion five times, from 1991-1995 ,US National Champion , 4 times US Open Champion , 5 times pan American champion , Asian Champion and 2 times World Master Champion.
He is also a member of Carlson's elite team. The famous team that rule the sport in competition level for 2 decades in Brasil [80s/90s] .He has been raised with some of the top names of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu history .
Rodrigo is been teaching the art of JiuJitsu , since 1992 , teaching all over the world , and had BJJ Schools in Rio {Brasil] , Los Angeles [CA] , Hong Kong [China] and for the last 22 years in San diego ,CA.
" What i can say is that the enthusiasm that makes me to put the Gi on to train and teach for the last 4 decades , is to always to place my mindset as a student mode . I Genuinely believe that the beauty of BJJ is the continuous learning process , a journey that never ends , it is infinity . Mats are your classroom so be a student forever . My academy is a temple that brings positive energy for people lives .BJJ is a Lifestyle that makes our community a better place to live and we offer programs that builds in our members discipline ,respect , self- stem, right atitudes and thats the reason that we being in business , at the heart of pacific beach , for over 20 years . KEEP CALM and TRUST JIUJITSU !
· 5 Times Gold Medalist in Pan-American Tournaments (96/2003/2004/2016)[IBJJF]
· 3 times Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion (93/94/95)[CBJJF]
· Champion of US Open (96/97/98/99)[USBJJF]
· International USA Champion (98/99/00)[USFBJJ]
· Skirmish Grappling Champion Middle Weight and Absolute (98)
· 4 times Rio de Janeiro State Champion (92/93/95/00)[FJJERJ]]
· Medal Bronze in The Abudhabi World Tournament (98)[ADCC]
· 1st Place World Master Championship 2001 [IBJJF]
· Atlantico Sul Cup Champion (90/91/92/93/94)
· Bronze Medal Pan-American 2005 [IBJJF]
· Bronze Medal Pan-American 2006 [IBJJF]
· US NATIONAL CHAMPION 2008 [USBJJF]
· US NATIONAL NO GI CHAMPION 2008 [USBJJF]
· ASIAN OPEN MIDLLE WEIGTH CHAMPION 2013 [IBJJF]
· ASIAN OPEN OPEN WEIGTH CHAMPION 2013[IBJJF]
· Silver Medal WORLDS MASTERS 2015 [IBJJF]
· Silver Medal WORLDS MASTERS 2016 [IBJJF]
· GOLD MEDAL PAN AM 2016 [IBJJF]
· Gold Medal Pan-American 2017 [IBJJF]
· 2017 World Master Light Champion [IBJJF]
· 3rd Place Open Weight 2017 World Master [IBJJF]
· 5 x Champion PAN AM 96-2003-2004 -2016-2017
· Bronze Medal World master 2018 [Light]
.Silver Medal World master 2019 [Light]