MARCIO SIMAS - 5th Degree Black Belt

Head Instructor

With over 30 years of training with the Gracie family, Marcio Simas is considered by many to be one of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors in the Southeastern United States. He is the only jiu-jitsu teacher in Florida who studied under the legendary Rolls Gracie (who is regarded as the best jiu-jitsu fighter in the history of the Gracie family). Marcio received both his blue belt and his purple belt at Rolls' Copacobana academy in Rio de Janeiro. After Rolls’ tragic death at the age of 32, Marcio became a student of Rickson Gracie at the famous Gracie Humaitá academy where he earned his brown belt.

When his family moved to the outer suburb of Rio de Janeiro, known as Barra de Tijuca, Marcio was able to reunite with his old friend Carlos Gracie Jr. When Rolls passed away Carlos Gracie Jr. was unanimously voted by the students to take over the teaching. Soon after, Carlos moved the academy to Barra da Tijuca where he founded the Gracie Barra Academy. Marcio was awarded his black belt by Carlos Gracie Jr. As a Gracie Barra Black Belt, Marcio is in an elite group of fighters that includes Renzo Gracie, Ralph Gracie, Crolin Gracie, Rillion Gracie, Rigan Machado, Jean-Jacques Machado, Marcio Feitosa and numerous world champions.

Marcio has been teaching in Orlando for the past 10 years. He is proud to be representing Carlos Gracie Jr. at the Gracie Barra Orlando Academy. He is currently a 5th degree black belt and has awarded 9 black belts over the past 10 years. His deep understanding and respect for the tradition of the Gracie family motivates his students to:

•	incorporate new techniques in order to improve the effectiveness of Jiu-Jitsu	Marcio teaching at Gracie Barra in Brazil.
•	learn self-defense technique in order to defend themselves against hostile aggression
•	excel in Jiu-Jitsu and Vale-Tudo competition

Marcio is also the founder and president of the Florida Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which hosts the Florida State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships as well as the Panamerican Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Florida.