His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey began in 2009 under Professor Elizandro (Eli) Beda, a black belt under Checkmat founder Leo Vieira. From the very first class, he was hooked. Driven by an insatiable passion, he dedicated himself to training 5-6 days a week, pouring everything he had into mastering the art. Competing became his outlet, and he seized every opportunity, from regional tournaments to state and World events. Under Eli’s mentorship, he earned his blue, purple, and brown belts. Eli didn’t just teach him techniques; he helped him craft and evolve his own game, encouraging him to make it uniquely his own.

In 2016, however, his journey took an unexpected turn. Due to work-related travel, he was forced to step away from Jiu-Jitsu for almost six years. It was a difficult pause, but fate intervened. When he finally settled down, he discovered that a Checkmat gym was opening nearby under Professor João Campos Farias. It felt like destiny—he was home again. Since the opening of Checkmat Moreno Valley Randori BJJ, he has been back on the mats, learning, training, and, most importantly, teaching. He’s passionate about helping students understand the “why” behind the “what” and encourages them to explore and improvise.

Seeing his students have breakthrough moments, where they make a technique their own, is what drives him. Being part of Checkmat has given him the opportunity to learn from legends like Leo Vieira, Marcus Buchecha, João Assis, and many more. But beyond the world-class instruction, it’s the sense of family within Checkmat that truly makes his journey special.