You are renowned for your BJJ legacy and skills. You are the head at Cesar Gracie Academy in the USA. How did it feel like to start your own Academy back in the days when BJJ was not as famous as it is today? Could you please tell about the process? How did you decide to move to the USA? How did you find the place for your future Academy? The growth of the number of students etc…

I started teaching in 1990 in the U.S. Back then most people had never heard of our style of Jiu-jitsu and it was an everyday challenge to convince people of the effectiveness of a grappling based martial art. I was living in Brazil prior to that and decided to relocate to Los Angeles to train at my cousin’s academy. After a couple of years I moved to Northern California to start my own school. It was a slow process but over the years Jiu-jitsu became more popular and my student base grew. When Royce stopped fighting for the UFC, other schools became more prominent in the public and I thought it was important to have fighters from the Gracie school representing us, so I formed an MMA team.

Nick Diaz, Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez are some of our most famous fighters. I also have Nathan Diaz fighting for the UFC and several other fighters in different organizations. We have won titles in the WEC, Shooto, the IFC, Strikeforce and several other events.
What are some of the most famous students that you have trained? What are their accomplishments?

In previous years, my top student, David Terrell, also was a top contender for the UFC and Pancrase organization. He had the distinction of being America’s best grappler at the time. Besides fighting we have also excelled at submission grappling and Jiu-jitsu competitions. One of my instructors is currently the World Champion at his weight. His name is Caio Terra. We also have the women’s World Champion, Lana Stephanic.

How did the public perception change towards the sport you were teaching throughout the years?

The public perception of MMA has changed drastically throughout the years. The public has become more informed and now appreciates the technical aspects of fighting. MMA fighters are now mainstream and enjoy a good fan base in the U.S. and abroad. I believe the sport will continue to grow.

Our members are part of a long tradition of a story that  my ancestors and I have have dedicated our lives to. I am proud to succeed Carlson, Carlos and many other Gracies in that tradition.

Could you please tell who’s responsible for the lessons of BJJ, boxing, muay-thai, wreslting, strength & conditioning etc. at your Academy?

My Black belt instructors for Jiu-jitsu are; Caio Terra, Matheus Andre, Andre Freitas, Samir Chantre, Ismael Mota, Jake Shields, Nick Diaz, David Terrell and Lana Stephanic.

Our stand up coaches are Richard Perez for boxing, with Kirian Fitzgibbons and Dan Black for kickboxing.

Strength and conditioning coaches are based outside of our facility.

Have you ever been to Russia and what was your impression? Why have you been there?

I have never been to Russia however I have sent fighters to compete there. In 1995 I sent Ricardo Morais to fight at the IAFC Eurasian Fighting Championships. Ricardo won 5 times defeating, Mikhail Illoukhine in the finals to become the Champion. Russia is a country rich in culture and tradition that I very much admire. Before I was born a famous Russian named Yuri Gagarin visited Brazil and stayed at my grandfather’s house. We have pictures of him at our dinner table and we were honored that he stayed with us.

Three of the five belts in Strikeforce male divisions are held by your fighters. How can you explain that?

We have enjoyed great success in 2009 with Strikeforce. Hard work has paid off and the 3 champions we have there are extremely dedicated in their training and deserve the honor of being champions. We have been told that no other academy has ever had 3 champions in a major MMA show at the same time. Obviously, we are pleased.

When did you start training Gilbert, Nick and Jake? How could you describe their evolution as fighters?

Nick began training with me about 10 years ago in early 2000. Jake joined my team in 2001 and Gilbert in 2002. They have all risen to the top of MMA’s elite and it is amazing where their progression has gotten them.

Jake Shields has been mostly fighting at welterweight earning his place among the best 170 lbs fighters. Recently he transitioned to middleweight. Don’t you think Jake would feel more comfortable at welterweight and at 185 his opponents might be too big for him?

Jake is one of the world’s best welterweights. In my opinion he is the #2 in the world. His next fight will be against Dan Henderson at middleweight. Depending on how he does will determine his future weight class.

What strategy would Gilbert Melendez choose against someone like Shinya Aoki? What does this fight mean for him?

Shinya Aoki presents many challenges. He is extremely flexible and has good submissions. It is important to not trade submissions with him. Strikes must be employed to keep him off balance and uncomfortable.
When is Nick Diaz going to return back to action? Are there any names known as his possible opponents in the near future?

We are currently in discussion for Nick’s next fight. It is possible that he will be competing for Dream in his next fight. If he fights in Strikeforce first he will probably fight a weight class up at 185lbs. As of yet we do not have a firm opponent.

What fighters should we keep our eye on as the most promising up-and-comers from your gym?

We have several prospects. It is difficult to know who will stay commited to training and persevere over the years. Time will tell us.

Any closing words for the fans of Gracie family?

Thank you to our fans and we send greetings to the people of Russia.