Mauricio Villardo
Encyclopedia
Mauricio Villardo Reis (born January 14, 1975) best known as Mauricio Villardo is a third-degree black belt under Royler Gracie
, head instructor of Gracie Humaitá
and he is also a former World Champion of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship
for the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
. Living close to the beautiful beaches, Mauricio's hobby was surfing
, but once he experienced Jiu-Jitsu
, he fell in love with the sport. Mauricio’s first experience with the martial arts
was not Jiu-Jitsu. When he was seven,he began practicing Judo
at Clube do Flamengo,in Rio de Janeiro.
At the age of fifteen, Mauricio began to practice Muay Thai
. A few months later, a friend invited him to visit a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy and for Mauricio, it was love at first sight.
Mauricio began to compete at local and regional tournaments in Brazil. During this time, he began to assist Professor Royler Gracie
with classes. He won many major tournaments including the 1996 first World Jiu-Jitsu Championship
and many . In 1997, Mauricio accomplished a lifelong dream receiving his black belt from the hands of his professor Royler Gracie
.
In 2002 Mauricio moved to south Florida
. He liked the United States
and decided to continue teaching his style of jiu-Jitsu in the Palm Beach County, Florida
area. Since 2002, Mauricio has been developing and expanding Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
in the West Palm Beach area where he lives and operates academies in Wellington
and Boca Raton.
→ Carlos Gracie Sr.
→ Hélio Gracie
→ Royler Gracie
→ Mauricio Villardo
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...
, head instructor of 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...
and he is also a former World Champion of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship
World Jiu-Jitsu Championship
The 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...
for the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation is the major and most prestigious governing body for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that hosts several of the biggest tournaments in the world, including the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship and European Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship...
. Living close to the beautiful beaches, Mauricio's hobby was surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
, but once he experienced 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...
, he fell in love with the sport. Mauricio’s first experience with the martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
was not Jiu-Jitsu. When he was seven,he began practicing Judo
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...
at Clube do Flamengo,in Rio de Janeiro.
At the age of fifteen, Mauricio began to practice Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
. A few months later, a friend invited him to visit a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy and for Mauricio, it was love at first sight.
Mauricio began to compete at local and regional tournaments in Brazil. During this time, he began to assist Professor 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...
with classes. He won many major tournaments including the 1996 first World Jiu-Jitsu Championship
World Jiu-Jitsu Championship
The 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...
and many . In 1997, Mauricio accomplished a lifelong dream receiving his black belt from the hands of his professor 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...
.
In 2002 Mauricio moved to south Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He liked the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and decided to continue teaching his style of jiu-Jitsu in the Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County is the largest county in the state of Florida in total area, and third in population. As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134, making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the United States...
area. Since 2002, Mauricio has been developing and expanding 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...
in the West Palm Beach area where he lives and operates academies in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and Boca Raton.
Instructor lineage
Mitsuo "Count Koma" MaedaMitsuyo Maeda
,a Brazilian naturalized as Otávio Maeda,was a Japanese judōka and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions. He was also known as Count Combat or Conde Koma in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, a nickname he picked up in Spain in 1908...
→ Carlos Gracie Sr.
Carlos Gracie
Carlos Gracie was the first Gracie to learn Judo from Otávio Mitsuyo Maeda. Based on this judo training, Carlos and his brothers founded the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...
→ Hélio Gracie
Hélio Gracie
Hélio Gracie was a Brazilian martial artist who, together with his brother Carlos Gracie, founded the martial art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, known internationally as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...
→ 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...
→ Mauricio Villardo