Fabio Leopoldo

Professor Fabio Leopoldo is a 3rd degree black belt in jiu-jitsu. He has studied jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family since 1995 when he began training with Master Ryan Gracie in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He achieved his black belt in just five years of training. Over the last few years he has had the pleasure of studying under Masters Renzo Gracie, and Carlos Gracie Jr.(son of the founder of Gracie Jiu-jitsu). In addition to jiu-jitsu Fabio has also dedicated himself to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), training with the Gracie team, and traveling several times with them to Japan accompanying his teachers, Ryan and Renzo Gracie during many of their victories in the Pride Fighting Championships. Throughout his competitive jiu-jitsu career Professor Fabio has earned many of the most prestigious titles the sport has to offer including being 3-time World Champion, 4-time Pan American Champion, 2-time Brazilian National Champion among many other titles. Also fighting in MMA Fabio has competed against some of the top fighters in his weight class from around the world in major events in the USA and Japan. In 2007 he fought on Renzo Gracie’s New York Pitbulls team in the IFL World Team Championships where they won the world title and became champions of the league. In 1999 Professor Fabio opened his own jiu-jitsu academy, Gracie Morumbi, in Sao Paulo Brazil. While dividing his time between competing and giving classes, Fabio was able, with great success to form a strong team where he has promoted 15 black belts. After moving to the U.S. his students continue to look after his academy in Brazil. Professor Fabio now lives in Ventura, California where he moved after studying and training in New York with Renzo Gracie and Ricardo Almeida for several years. He chose California because outside of his love for jiu-jitsu remains his love for surfing. Combining these two passions in one place was a perfect choice. Born in 1977 in Sao Paulo, Brazil Professor Fabio Leopoldo has always been involved in Martial Arts. Even before being introduced to Jiu-jitsu, he had been a practitioner of both Judo and Karate. In addition to his many accomplishments in Martial Arts, Professor Fabio also completed his University studies in Brazil. In 1999 he graduated from Paulista University in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Commerce.

For a detailed description of Professor Fabio Leopoldo Competition accomplishments click here.

Erik Klinger

Professor Erik Klinger began training Martial Arts at 7 years of age. After receiving his black belt in Shotokan Karate, he opened his first Karate club on Stanford University campus where he taught professor’s children there for over a year. Later receiving an invitation to help open a school in Chico, California Professor Erik moved and continued to teach classes for the next five years. Then he moved to Japan where he continued to train and teach on the island of Okinawa. He opened a Karate club for children at a local Junior High school where he was the head coach.
While in Japan, Professor Erik explored other Martial Arts. He began training at a Mixed Martial Arts gym with professional and amateur fighters from the Japanese Pancrase organization. Being amazed with the efficiency of ground fighting techniques, he decided to dedicate himself to the study of Submission Grappling and Mixed Martial Arts. After 3 years of teaching, training, and fighting in Japan, Professor Erik moved to Sao Paulo Brazil to continue his Martial Arts training by studying Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. He chose to study under 3-time world champion, Professor Fabio Leopoldo. After only two years of training Erik became an instructor under Fabio at his academy in Sao Paulo, and after three years he was awarded his brown belt by Professor Fabio. In 2008 Professor Fabio invited Erik to teach and train with him at his new school in Ventura, California. Today Professor Erik Klinger is the first non-Brazilian promoted by Fabio Leopoldo to black belt.
Professor Erik Klinger is also an accomplished competitor in several disciplines including becoming champion in the 2004 Okinawa Open Grappling Tournament, #1 ranked amateur Pancrase fighter in Okinawa in the same year, 2-time gold medalist at the USA National Karate Championships, 2-time medalist at the Gracie Nationals, and earning a gold medal at the 2007 Sao Paulo State Jiu-jitsu Championships.
In addition, Professor Erik Klinger is a graduate of California State University, Chico with a bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies.

Ryan Dahlgren

Professor Ryan Dahlgren has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over 7 years. He started at Gracie Barra's main school in Irvine, California under the tutelage of Master Carlos Gracie Jr. and Professor Marcio Feitosa. Professor Ryan has achieved a high technical level and is very experienced in the Gracie Jiu Jitsu techniques and system. He has had the opportunity to help teach Jiu jitsu with the likes of Marcio Feitosa, Kayron Gracie, Andre Fernandes, Marclo Souza, Philipe Della Monica and many other great Gracie Barra Black Belts while helping within the Gracie Barra organization. One of the original students of Gracie Barra America headquarters, Professor Ryan moved from Orange County to the Thousand Oaks area over two years ago. At that point he began training with Professor Fabio Leopoldo and teaching at Gracie Morumbi Ventura and Thousand Oaks. Professor Ryan has been teaching in Irvine, Moorpark, Ventura, and now Thousand Oaks for the last few years and his teaching skills have increased greatly with both the Adults and Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu programs. Having worked for the IBJJF as a Ring coordinator and as a scorer at many Jiu-jitsu events such as the Pan American Championships, The Nationals and the Worlds, he has seen many different aspects of BJJ. The proud father of 2, Professor Ryan loves passing Jiu Jitsu on to the younger generation. Professor Ryan loves teaching and training and his goals are to continue to grow through BJJ in all aspects of life, and has recently achieved his Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Marty Moody

Professor Marty Moody started his martial arts training over 25 years ago in the art of Tae Kwon Do where he earned a 3rd Degree black belt.In 1993 after winning a national championship in full contact fighting, Marty became a full time professional instructor.  It was there that his passion for martial arts and teaching was realized.  During this time, Marty was introduced to several other arts such as; Kempo Karate(in which he earned a black belt), Sambo, Boxing, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Judo, and Pankration.  In 2000 Marty Moody was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Professor Marcelo Alonso under Master Carlson Gracie, and ever since he has dedicated himself to understanding and training in the Gentle Art. As a blue belt in 2006 after winning several northwest grappling tournaments, Pan American podium finishes and amassing an undefeated Pankration fighting record, Marty opened his own Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy.  BJJ of Bend specialized and taught local law enforcement agencies including SWAT team members, Army Rangers and amateur and professional Pankration fighters. Prior to moving to Ventura with his family (of whom carry multiple black belts), Professor Marty Moody reached the brown belt level in Jiu-Jitsu.  Professor Marty continues to work toward his goal of a black belt under professor Fabio Leopoldo.Professor Marty Moody is excited about  being able to share his knowledge with others and to watch their passion for BJJ grow the way his has.  He hopes to someday get his grandson into the sport as well. 

Art Rivas

Dini Leopoldo

Areas of Expertise:

• Core Strength Development
• Sport Specific Training
• Strength Training
• Decrease Body Fat %

Credentials:

• Certified Personal Trainer – NASM National Academy of Sports Medicine
• RKCII Certified Kettlebell Instructor
• Thai Yoga Stretch Practitioner

Jesse Newell

JesseNewell was born and raised in Ventura, California where he began studying martial arts at the young age of 5. He started studying Karate until he found the sport of Wrestling at the age of 7. Jesse soon developed a deep passion for wrestling. After a long amature wrestling career in which he was recognized as one of the top wrestlers in the state of California during High School. Shortly after high school Jesse’s drive for competition brought him back to the sweet science of Boxing in which he dabbled in and out of for years. Through boxing Jesse ended up at Hostility MMA in Ventura where he began studying Mixed Martial Arts under the instruction of Joseph “Hoss” Janik, Lauren West, and Jeremy Jackson. He mainly studied Boxing, Kickboxing, and No-Gi Jiu Jitsu at the time. After 4 months of specific training Jesse had his first amature MMA fight which ended in a 34 second KO victory for Jesse. After this fight Jesse’s coaches decided that it was time to turn Pro. Since his Professional Mixed Martial Arts debut Jesse Newell has compiled a 6-1 record including 3 TKO’s and 3 Submission wins. His love for competition and training eventually grew into a passion for learning everything he could about the sport of MMA and what it entails including the strength, conditioning, and nutrition aspect of the sport. Due to this passion he began studying at Ventura College to achieve his degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Nutrition and Exercise Science in order to further his knowledge. As well as studying at VC, Jesse was Professor Fabio Leopoldo’s first student when Professor Fabio decided to open his Jiu Jitsu academy here in Ventura. Jesse is currently a purple belt under Professor Fabio Leopoldo at Gracie Morumbi. Under Professor Fabio’s instruction Jesse has won the 2008 Las Vegas Grapplers Quest, as well as competing in several international Jiu Jitsu competitions where he has yet to be scored on. Jesse has also helped with the teaching in the earlier kids Jiu Jitsu programs, as well as the development of the Gracie Morumbi Kickboxing program for adults and children. Currently the head Kickboxing instructor at Gracie Morumbi Ventura, Jesse says, “I feel very fortunate to be a member of the Gracie Morumbi family and look forward to growing with our academy!”

Mike Payson

Michael Payson has been training in Martial Arts since he was 8.  Beginning with Hapkido with his father he was later introduced to boxing at 14 and he fell in love with the sweet science. After training hard for years and finishing up school Michael was approached by Professor Raul Montolfo to begin training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Michael was 20 when he took his first Jiu Jitsu class and he was hooked from then on! Since then Michael has earned a blue belt and is working on his purple belt. He has been teaching and assisting with Kids classes for more than 3 years and as he says, “enjoying every minute of it”. His joy and passion for teaching can be seen in each and every class he teaches. Michael has made it a personal goal to become a black belt professor one day and teach at Gracie Morumbi full time.

Adam Sumano

Adam Sumano has been training in the Martial Arts since he was a child. He is a Marine Corp Veteran and a dedicated father living in Oxnard, California. Adam's passion for teaching started early as he helped with his Karate teachers classes. Now he is an Assistant in the Adults, Kids, and Teens Jiu Jitsu classes at Gracie Morumbi. Adam really enjoys teaching children. "I like to train during the day with the Professors and the other students and then teach at night and help with the classes. Jiu Jitsu is amazing and I hope to be able to train and teach for the rest of my life. Alongside my son of course who is now 9 years old and training hard!"