Leonardo Xavier
Encyclopedia
Professor Leonardo "The Wizard" Pinheiro Xavier was born January 3, 1976, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the age of 5, Leo ventured into his first martial art, taking judo
in school. At the age of 13 Leo began to take Tae Kwon Do classes. Finally, a friend introduced him to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
.
Leo immediately became good friends with his coach, Saulo Ribeiro
and Royler Gracie
. Under their watchful eye, Leo began to successfully compete in local and regional tournaments in Brazil and, while he was still a blue belt, Leo began to help with classes. Leo trained during this time at the legendary birthplace of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Gracie Humaitá
gym in Rio. In 1999, Leo realized his dream of being promoted to black belt from the hands of his coaches Saulo Ribeiro
and Master Royler Gracie
. He is one of an elite group who have had the privilege of teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Gracie Humaitá
.
In May, 2008, Professor Xavier was promoted by Royler Gracie to the rank of third degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Leo is also considered a World Class Referee of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Wrestling
.
. Leo is currently developing and expanding Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the Houston, Texas
area, where he lives and operates the LX Jiu-Jitsu Association in Sugarland, Texas.
In just a short time, Leo’s students have enjoyed a great deal of success in local, regional, national and even international competitions - winning many tournaments, including the prestigious International Masters and the Pan American Games
. Leo has coached several competitors from the Ultimate Fighting Championship
and the Spike TV
reality television series The Ultimate Fighter
.
Professor Xavier has several associated schools across the country including Arkansas, Louisiana, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
in school. At the age of 13 Leo began to take Tae Kwon Do classes. Finally, a friend introduced him to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
.
Leo immediately became good friends with his coach, Saulo Ribeiro
Saulo Ribeiro
Saulo Ribeiro, brother of the equally famed Xande Ribeiro, is a 4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. After earning a black belt in Judo, he began his training of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Rio De Janeiro under Royler Gracie, the son of Helio Gracie, at the famous Gracie Humaitá.Saulo received...
and Royler Gracie
Royler Gracie
Royler Gracie is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner. He ran the Gracie Humaitá jiu-jitsu school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for many years under his father Helio's direction, but currently resides in San Diego, US.Royler travels around the world teaching...
. Under their watchful eye, Leo began to successfully compete in local and regional tournaments in Brazil and, while he was still a blue belt, Leo began to help with classes. Leo trained during this time at the legendary birthplace of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Gracie Humaitá
Gracie Humaitá
Gracie Humaitá or Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu is a Jiu-Jitsu academy on Humaitá Street, in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, founded by Grandmaster Helio Gracie. The Academy offers classes in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, as originally taught by Grandmaster Helio Gracie.-History:The academy is located inside...
gym in Rio. In 1999, Leo realized his dream of being promoted to black belt from the hands of his coaches Saulo Ribeiro
Saulo Ribeiro
Saulo Ribeiro, brother of the equally famed Xande Ribeiro, is a 4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. After earning a black belt in Judo, he began his training of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Rio De Janeiro under Royler Gracie, the son of Helio Gracie, at the famous Gracie Humaitá.Saulo received...
and Master Royler Gracie
Royler Gracie
Royler Gracie is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner. He ran the Gracie Humaitá jiu-jitsu school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for many years under his father Helio's direction, but currently resides in San Diego, US.Royler travels around the world teaching...
. He is one of an elite group who have had the privilege of teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Gracie Humaitá
Gracie Humaitá
Gracie Humaitá or Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu is a Jiu-Jitsu academy on Humaitá Street, in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, founded by Grandmaster Helio Gracie. The Academy offers classes in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, as originally taught by Grandmaster Helio Gracie.-History:The academy is located inside...
.
In May, 2008, Professor Xavier was promoted by Royler Gracie to the rank of third degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Instructor Lineage
Sr. Mitsuo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie Sr. → Hélio Gracie → Royler Gracie → Leonardo XavierAccomplishments in the Art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Multiple Medals at the World Jiu-Jitsu ChampionshipWorld Jiu-Jitsu ChampionshipThe World Jiu-Jitsu Championship is the most prestigious Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in the world. They are hosted annually by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. The first Mundial tournament to be held outside of Brazil was in 2007 at the California State University in Long...
- 2006 Pan-American Games Champion
- Two Time BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian National Champion - Multiple Time Rio de Janeiro State Champion
- Instructor of many International and Pan American BJJ Champions
- Instructor of the 2005 International Grappling Festival Overall Team Champion
- Instructor of the 2006 Elite Grapplers Championship Overall Team Champion
- Instructor of the 2006 GC Championship Overall Team Champion
- Instructor of the 2009 Two-time North American Grappling Association (NAGA) Overall team champion
- Texas Police and Fire Games Grappling Champion Instructor
- International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Certified Referee
- World Class Referee
Leo is also considered a World Class Referee of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Wrestling
Submission wrestling
Submission wrestling or Combat wrestling in Japan, is a formula of competition and a general term describing the aspect of martial arts and combat sports that focus on clinch and ground fighting with the aim of obtaining a submission using submission holds...
.
Relocation to the United States
In 2000, Professor Xavier traveled to the United States to give several seminars. He liked the United States and started to travel often to the US teaching the art that he loves. In 2003 Leo realized that he loved teaching his style of Jiu-Jitsu to the American people and moved to United States. Leo now intends to remain in the United States to continue his work and efforts to develop Jiu-Jitsu in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Leo is currently developing and expanding Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
area, where he lives and operates the LX Jiu-Jitsu Association in Sugarland, Texas.
In just a short time, Leo’s students have enjoyed a great deal of success in local, regional, national and even international competitions - winning many tournaments, including the prestigious International Masters and the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
. Leo has coached several competitors from the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
and the Spike TV
Spike TV
Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...
reality television series The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...
.
Professor Xavier has several associated schools across the country including Arkansas, Louisiana, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Sao Paulo, Brazil.