Professor Mel

Professor Mel’s Jiu-Jitsu journey started over 15 years when he just finished graduate school and was looking for an activity that would fill in the free time he had that homework and school previously took. He was exposed to Jiu-Jitsu during his time in the Army, so he decided to pursue it further. He started studying at the Gauntlet in Upland, California under Wander Braga, who awarded him his blue belt. In 2011, he started practicing under Professor Anna and Professor Rafael at Gracie Barra Upland. It was there where he earned his purple belt. Around 2012, his family decided to move to Arizona and one of the major reservations he had about the move was the lack of any Gracie Barra schools in the Phoenix area. He went to several schools at the time, but none has come close to the training atmosphere that he experienced at Gracie Barra Upland. It was a great pleasure, when Gracie Barra Scottsdale opened, and he made the 55 plus miles in order to train there on the weekends. Then Gracie Barra Phoenix opened, and it was at this school under Professor Murillo, that he finally felt like home. It was here where he earned his brown belt.  World Summit 2021 in Sedona, AZ is where Professor Mel, earned his black belt.

He also started a Jiu-Jitsu ministry at the church he attended, and it primarily caters to the youth group ages 13 to 17. It is in this group where he experienced full on how Jiu-jitsu can impact a young person’s life. The kids in the ministry at church are more confident, humble, and focused. His son is currently a blue belt and he saw how Jiu-Jitsu has transformed him from a quiet, video game playing kid, to a more self-assured and confident teenager.

Gracie Barra has had a profound impact in his life. It is for these reasons that he has concluded that sharing the art as a Gracie Barra School with its programs and structure, would be a great benefit to the Buckeye community.