Marco Alvan is the head 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...

 instructor for Team Link in Ludlow, Massachusetts

Ludlow, Massachusetts

Ludlow is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,103 as of the 2010 census. It is located in western Massachusetts, north of Springfield, east of Chicopee, southeast of Granby, southwest of Belchertown, west of Wilbraham and is considered part of the...

. One of his most famous students is UFC fighter Gabriel Gonzaga

Gabriel Gonzaga

Gabriel Gonzaga , is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who most recently competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is a former member of Chute Boxe Academy and now fights out of Ludlow, Massachusetts as a part of Team Link...

.

Marco has been training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 1988. When he was a teenager, he had the privilege of training with Master Jorge Pina Barbosa. It was Jorge Pina who introduced Marco into the Gracie Barra

Gracie Barra

Gracie Barra is one of the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu associations, with over 400 black belts and 150 schools or affiliates worldwide. It is headed by Carlos Gracie, Jr., son of Carlos Gracie the first Gracie to ever learn Jiu-Jitsu from Japanese emigrant to Brazil Otávio Mitsuyo Maeda.- History...

 school. At the Gracie Barra school he trained under Master Carlos Gracie, Jr.

Carlos Gracie, Jr.

Carlos "Carlinhos" Gracie, Jr. is a 7th degree Red and Black Belt URL accessed on June 7, 2009 in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu . He started the Gracie Barra Academy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is head of the Gracie Barra, one of the largest and most successful worldwide Jiu-Jitsu associations...

 and trained alongside Ryan and Renzo Gracie

Renzo Gracie

Renzo Gracie is a Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr. and a former mixed martial arts competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship . He is member of the Gracie family of Brazil. He is the son of Robson Gracie, grandson of Carlos Gracie, nephew of Carlos...

. At the age of 19 years he joined the Brazilian Army

Brazilian Army

The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...

 and stopped training at Gracie Barra. However, as the Gracie Barra gained popularity, the Gracie family

Gracie family

The Gracie family is a prominent sporting family from Brazil known for their founding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu . They have been successful in combat sport competitions including mixed martial arts, vale tudo and submission wrestling events...

 opened a new location close to his home in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...

. The head trainer at this academy was Master Carlos Augusto, a 4th degree black belt

Black belt (martial arts)

In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...

 under Master Reylson Gracie.

Alvan is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Master Carlos Augusto. He teaches at various Team Link schools throughout Massachusetts.

External links

• Team Link Website