On February 1st, 2000, I landed in the United States with two travel bags, $4,000, and one big dream—to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with the Machado Brothers and someday create a dojo that felt like home.

I didn’t speak fluent English. I didn’t know anyone here. What I did have was the same thing I try to instill in every student who walks through our doors today:

Drive. Discipline. And a belief that Jiu-Jitsu can change a person’s life.

For years, I taught out of small rooms, garages, community centers—wherever I could share what I loved. I cleaned mats myself, taught every class I could, and slowly built a community of students who believed in the art as much as I did.

Then in 2005, we opened Guillobel Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in San Clemente.

It wasn’t big, it wasn’t fancy… but it was ours.

And from day one, the mission was simple:

Create a place where people of all ages could train, grow, build confidence, and leave every class better than they arrived.

Today—20 years later—that mission hasn’t changed.

What has changed is the size of our family.
Thousands of kids, teens, and adults have trained with us.
Students who once walked in shy, nervous, or self-doubting now stand tall with confidence.
Parents have told me Jiu-Jitsu has helped their kids in school, friendships, sports—and in life.
Adults have discovered strength they thought they lost.
Families have found community.

And through it all, one thing has stayed true:

Guillobel Dojo isn’t just a martial arts academy — it’s a place where people transform.

As we celebrate our 20th Anniversary, I want to personally thank you—our community—for helping make this dream real. Whether you are brand new or have been with us since the beginning, you are part of our story.

And if you’re thinking about starting your own Jiu-Jitsu journey, there has never been a better time.

​Join us. Be part of the next chapter.