I stopped in at JJ Performance Training Center in Pacifica, California. I was greeted with a friendly staff who was accommodating upon my arrival. I met Jay, the proprietor of JJ Perfomance, and Christian his Fit Camp class instructor. They told me to make myself at home and shoot at my leisure, so I did. The Fit Camp class started with and iPod and a stereo to get things rolling. The students were ready for their workout as the usual gym banter died down as the music started.

Christian begins the workout by running the class through warm-up movements before they moved onto the weight portion of their training. Christian had a comfortable relationship with his students, and although he put them through the paces, they responded positively.

Sweat and grumbles are common place in a gym, and there was no exception here. Some students grumbled in pain, some in determination, and some at the camera. Overall I had a good time shooting the Fit Camp class, and that was just the beginning of my evening at the gym.

After the Fit Camp class was done, the spandex and tank-tops began to flow out of the door, along with good-byes and “see you tomorrow” from several students. Slowly but steadily, the room began to fill with blue and white gi’s. The Jiu-Jitsu classes were about to begin, and in typical fashion, students were huddled up covering current events and other common subjects to the Jiu-Jitsu students’ demographic. Smiles pretty much filled the room as everyone awaited the arrival of their guest instructor.

Enter Leonardo Seixas, a large and imposing man whose size alone is menacing, although it does not match his disposition. Leonardo is a solid Jiu-Jitsu instructor whose method is not to teach through intimidation, yet he does focus of the proper execution of movements from his students.

Leonardo knows what to look for from his students, he has been studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for nearly twenty years. He began his training at the Gracie Humaita Academy at the age of thirteen in Rio De Jinero, Brazil. He studied under Masters Rolker and Royler Gracie in group and private settings. Yes, the same Gracie family synonymous with the carry over of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to America via the Ultimate Fighting Championships.

From there, he moved to Barra da Tijuca and began training at another prestigious camp within the Gracie family, the Gracie Barra  Academy. This academy was under the instruction of Carlos Gracie Jr., and was where Leonardo trained for ten years before acquiring his black belt.

Learning his methods in intense training conditions with world class instructors instilled character in Leonardo that allowed him to gain and carry more responsibility in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  In 1998 , he began work at the Brazilian Confederation of Jiu-Jitsu, where he organized Brazilian, Pan Americans, and World Championships venues that contributed to the growth of Jiu-Jitsu as we know it today.

INTERVIEW WITH LEONARDO SEIXAS

Download | Duration: 00:08:21

More evidence is his relationships with top Jiu-Jitsu practitioners is written in his biography:

“In Barra Gracie I had the opportunity to train, eventually making great friendships with some of the best Jiu-Jitsu fighters in the world, such as: Mauricio Mariano “Tinguinha”, Roberto “Gordo”, Alexandre “Soca”, Antonio “Nino” Schembri, Vinicius “Draculino”, Helio “Soneca”, Joao Paulo “Big-Head”, Rommel Cardoso, Marcio “Pe de Pano”, Rafael “Gordinho”, Marcio Feitosa, and many others as well as Gracie family members such as Renzo, Ralph, Ryan, Rollezinho, Igor, and Roger.

This contributed directly for my level of Jiu-Jitsu, helping me to become a “Heavyweight” class fighter, combining the agility and technical skills of a “Lightweight” class fighter.

I can attest that Jiu-Jitsu contributed in a very positive manner in the development of my character, morals, and lifestyle. And I transfer this knowledge daily to all my students and friends, providing them with the same opportunities and benefits that I had as a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner”

Not only has Leonardo been instructing students as a guest instructor at JJPerformance, but he was also invited by several members of the Jiu-Jitsu community in the Bay Area to attend and teach as a special-guest at a seminar instructing police officers from the Department of Veteran Affairs in San Francisco, California.

We look forward to seeing Leonardo at the seminar, and also look forward to bringing you more photos and interviews with some of the Bay Area’s fighters and trainers in the world of Martial Arts and Mixed Martial Arts.