Fabio Leopoldo

Professor Fabio Leopoldo is a 2nd 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 Fabio has earned many of the most prestigious titles the sport has to offer including being 3-time World Champion, 3-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 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 11 black belts. After moving to the U.S. his students continue to look after his academy in Brazil. 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 Fabio Leopoldo has always been involved in Martial Arts. Even before being introduced to Jiu-jitsu, Fabio had been a practitioner of both Judo and Karate. In addition to his many accomplishments in Martial Arts, 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

Erik Klinger began training Karate at 7 years of age. After receiving his black belt 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 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, 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, Erik decided to dedicate himself to the study of Submission Grappling and Mixed Martial Arts.  After 3 years of teaching, training, and fighting in Japan, Erik moved to Sao Paulo Brazil to continue his Martial Arts training by studying Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Erik chose to study under 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 Fabio. In 2008 Fabio invited Erik to teach and train with him at his new school in Ventura, California.
     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, Erik is a graduate of California State University, Chico with a bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies.