Claudio França Pires
Claudio França pioneered the teaching of BJJ in Santa Cruz, California – coming to us from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1995. He has studied BJJ since the age of seven and holds a 5th degree Black Belt from Master Francisco Mansor, who is a 9th degree red belt certified by the Confederation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Rio de Janeiro. Professor França also holds a black belt in Judo from Gama Filho University in Rio de Janeiro. Professor França has more than 30 years experience teaching and competing in BJJ. He took a Silver Medal in the 2001 Mundials (World Championships), in Rio de Janeiro, and was a two-time Pan-American Middleweight Champion (’97, ’98), four-time Lightweight Brazilian Champion, and three-time Lightweight State Champion. Claudio has coached several students who have won in the Mundials and Pan Americas. Since 1995, Master França has hosted one of the most lauded international Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in the country, held right here in Santa Cruz: the U.S. Open Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament. |
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Tyson Camp Tyson Kamp earned his Black Belt from Master França in 2010. Tyson has trained on and off since February of 1995, taught since 2002, has completed the IBJJF referee course 5 times as of Nov 2011, and makes trips to Rio de Janeiro to train with the Grappling Fight Team (GF Team) and compete. From 2009-2011 Tyson medaled 17 times in competition as a brown and black belt. |
Erik Benaquisto Erik Benaquisto is from Santa Cruz and is currently living in San Jose. Erik is a 2nd degree brown belt and co-owner of Claudio Franca San Jose Acadamy. He started BJJ in 2000 with Claudio and is now a full time instructor at the San Jose acadamy. He likes to compete at the local tournaments and when he is not thinking about Jiu Jitsu, he is enjoying time with his wife and new baby girl. Stop by the Acadamy and say hi to Erik and the dogs- Deja & Hilo (they love Jiu Jitsu too). |
Scott Savage |