Classes

Rodolfo Nygaard is a 4th-degree black belt under Professor Mario Reis with over 25 years of BJJ experience. He earned his black belt in 2009 and has won titles like Pan Pacific Champion, AJP Grand Slam Champion, and Australian National Champion. As the head professor at Gracie Barra Carlton, Rodolfo believes BJJ is not only a sport and self-defense tool, but also a powerful means of self-development, helping students grow on and off the mats.

Professor Nick has trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over 10 years and has been teaching for six. He earned his black belt in December 2024 from Professor Rodolfo. A Gracie Barra member from the start, Nick trains and teaches at Gracie Barra Carlton. He’s competed internationally and medaled at various levels. Passionate about self-defense and jiu-jitsu's role in personal development, he’s dedicated to helping students of all backgrounds, especially children and those with disabilities.

Alistair Ho has been training in BJJ for five years and coaches at Gracie Barra Carlton. Passionate about its transformative power, he creates a positive and challenging environment for students to develop skills, discipline, and perseverance. His competitive achievements include AJP 3rd place, double silver (gi/absolute), multiple 1st place finishes, and double gold at GB Nationals (gi/no-gi). He specializes in armbars and guard passing, bringing technical expertise to his coaching.

Gryffen Cunningham has been training at Gracie Barra Carlton for six years and is a purple belt with one stripe. A high school teacher, he brings a clear and structured approach to coaching. Inspired by Marcelo Garcia, Adam Wardzinski, and Jozef Chen, he specializes in butterfly guard, open guard varieties, triangle submissions, and pin escapes. Passionate about student-led learning, he helps students explore their favorite aspects of BJJ with clarity and confidence.

Professor Juarez Junior is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and one of the lead instructors at Gracie Barra Carlton in Sydney, Australia. Recognised for his technical excellence, calm leadership, and passion for developing students, he has built a reputation as both a dedicated competitor and an outstanding coach.

Originally from Brazil, Professor Juarez has spent years refining his craft through high-level training and competition. As an active black belt competitor, he has consistently represented Gracie Barra at prestigious tournaments across Australia, earning podium finishes and victories against some of the country's top athletes. His achievements include a bronze medal at the 2025 Pan Pacific Championship, as well as previous podium finishes at major events in Brazil, including a championship title in Porto Alegre.

Professor Marco Julio Teixeira is a double black belt (Judo and Jiu-Jitsu) instructor at Gracie Barra Carlton in Sydney, Australia. With over 25 years on the mats, his martial arts journey began at just 3.5 years old when his school recommended Judo to help him overcome shyness and build confidence. During his very first lesson, he couldn’t even step onto the mat. His parents brought him back for another class, and this time he walked straight onto the tatami, already feeling at home. Looking back, that small victory marked the beginning of a lifelong passion for martial arts.

Marco began competing at the age of 8 and quickly established himself as one of Brazil’s top junior Judoka. At 11, he earned a medal at his first Brazilian National Championship, qualifying for the South American Championship. Throughout his youth career, he collected numerous state titles and, in 2011, won the Brazilian National Championship, earning selection to represent Brazil at the Pan American Judo Championship. During his teenage years, Marco was a government-sponsored athlete, a role that demanded discipline, consistency, and a strong commitment to training. He also credits his father for the unwavering support that made his journey possible.

After receiving his Judo Black Belt at 17, Marco began teaching children’s classes, where he developed his coaching philosophy and teaching methods for students of all ages. At 20, he transitioned his focus entirely to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, recognising that Judo and Jiu-Jitsu are complementary martial arts. His Judo background provided a strong technical foundation that accelerated his development in Jiu-Jitsu.

At 21, Marco moved to Sydney, Australia as a blue belt. He competed extensively on the Australian circuit before earning his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt at 26, when he began teaching full-time.

Today, at 29, alongside his career in carpentry, Marco continues to teach Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu because coaching has always been his true passion. He believes children learn best through engaging and enjoyable activities where technical skills are introduced naturally. Whether training for competition or simply for fun, his goal is to help every student develop confidence, discipline, resilience, and values that extend far beyond the mats