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INSTRUCTORS
DIMITRIOS MAVRAGANIS
LEAD INSTRUCTOR/OWNER
Dimitri’s training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu started at the age of 18 at the Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance. There his instructors included Royce &
Rorion Gracie & Caique Elias. After seeing the world championship on a
video he decided that he wanted to become a champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
and felt that the Machado Brothers may be able to help him more to achieve
this goal. In 1999, Dimitri started training under Roger Machado. He was
very impressed with Roger’s style of Jiu-Jitsu and began training very
consistently becoming one of Roger’s most dedicated students. Dimitri
received his purple belt under Roger.
He began training In his garage and more with Rigan Machado once Roger
moved his academy to a location too far to follow. In 2004 Dimitri started
training with Pan-American champion Paulo Guillobel at a Machado affiliate
academy near his home. Dimitri received his brown belt from Paulo Guillobel.
In 2005 Paulo received an opportunity to expand his academy and also began
teaching at a location that was too far to follow. Dimitri then returned to the
Machado Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance where he has been ever since. He
received his black belt from Jiu-Jitsu master Rigan Machado in early 2007
and now holds the rank of second degree black belt.
During his Jiu-Jitsu career Dimitri has won State, National, and Pan American titles as well as many other Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu titles. He remains the only competitor to win 2 championship belts in one NAGA tournament. He did this by dominating both the no-gi expert division, and the brown and black belts in the expert Gi division! He also won the Joe Moriera 2008 Black Belt Challenge, and the 2008 North American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament in the Heavyweight category. He conducts arrest and control seminars for the US Marshal’s, FBI, and Correctional Officers at the federal prison of Terminal Island, in Long Beach, CA. Dimitri has also appeared in Tapout Magazine numerous times in 2009/2010 to demonstrate his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques.
FRANCO MERCADO
ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR
Franco Mercado is an adult & kids class assistant instructor and holds the rank of purple belt in the DMBJJ/Rigan Machado Team, Franco's martial art training began in the Philippines where he studied Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do for 2 years. He then moved to Hong Kong and trained diligently in the styles of Aki-Jitsu, Shorin-Iryu Karate, & Muai thai Kickboxing. His journey then brought him to the US where he began to train with the DM Jiu-Jitsu team. Franco is an extremely fast learner and is known for his solid fundamental positions. He truly enjoys assisting with both the kids & adult classes.
Franco is also available for private classes.
RAMON VALDORIA
KIDS CLASS ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR
Ramon Valdoria has been training with the DMBJJ/Rigan Machado team for nearly 3 years. He is an L.A. County fire fighter and even with his demanding schedule always seems to make time to assist in our DMBJJ kids program. He is extremely patient with his instruction and has a talent for making even the most complicated techniques seem simple. Ramon is also the first student in the DMBJJ team to have completed the entire DMBJJ Fundamental Technique Program.
Ramon's son Justin Valdoria is our top kids class champion. At just 7 years old Justin has already accumulated more then 10 gold medals in BJJ competitions and is still going!
Ramon is also available for private classes.
LINKS
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