Classes

Professor Felipe Guedes was born in São Paulo, Brazil, where he lived for 25 years alongside his parents and younger brother. From an early age, he was fascinated by the “human machine” and how the body and mind work together, and felt a strong calling to help people improve their lives.

This curiosity led Felipe to graduate from dental school at just 23 years old, while simultaneously earning his Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in São Paulo. After practicing dentistry for a few years, Felipe moved to the United States, where he made one of the most important decisions of his life: to dedicate himself fully to his true passion, Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Today, Felipe is the Head Instructor of Gracie Barra San Clemente and a co-founder of twelve Gracie Barra schools across Southern California, the Phoenix metropolitan area, and Utah. Over the years, he has taught thousands of students from around the world and has helped promote more than 60 practitioners to the rank of Black Belt.

Felipe also plays a key leadership role within Gracie Barra North America, supporting over 1,200 Gracie Barra schools worldwide. He is especially passionate about the Gracie Barra Kids Program (GBK) and the organization’s anti-bullying initiatives. Felipe has taught children’s and instructor-development seminars throughout the United States and internationally, inspiring both students and coaches with his energy, structure, and purpose-driven teaching.

His youth competition team is consistently recognized as one of the most accomplished within the Gracie Barra network. However, Felipe’s true mission goes far beyond medals. His goal is to equip children with confidence, discipline, resilience, and strong values—helping them grow into healthy, productive members of society by focusing on personal development rather than simply winning or losing.

“Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an essential part of my life. It’s where I learn to fight—on and off the mat. It’s where I challenge myself, build lifelong friendships, stay physically healthy, and remain mentally balanced. Now more than ever, Jiu-Jitsu is my tool to positively change lives and help others experience the power of this incredible lifestyle.”
— Prof. Felipe Guedes

Gracie Barra San Clemente was founded in 2008 and has since made a lasting positive impact on the local community. Over more than a decade, the school has served and supported over 4,000 families through the dedication of its passionate instructors.

Felipe Guedes is a Third-Degree Black Belt under Flavio Almeida. His competitive accomplishments include:

• 2018 Arizona State Champion – Black Belt Masters
• 2017 GB CompNet Black Belt Masters World Champion (Las Vegas, NV)
• IBJJF Pan American Purple Belt Masters Absolute Champion
• 4× IBJJF American Champion (Masters – Blue, Purple, and 2× Brown Belt)
• IBJJF Bronze Medalist – Brown Belt Masters No-Gi Worlds
• 2023 Orange County Black Belt Master Medium Heavy Weight Champion
• 2024 GB World Summit Florida Black Belt Master Super Fight Winner

Professor Marcus Salerno is a 3rd Degree Black Belt and a Gracie Barra ICP–Certified Instructor through the Instructor Certification Program. Born in Brasília, Brazil, Professor Marcus has built his Jiu-Jitsu journey on years of high-level competition, representing Gracie Barra on mats around the world.

A Black Belt since 2016, Marcus brings the mindset, discipline, and technical precision of an elite competitor into every class he teaches. He is deeply committed to developing both adults and the next generation of Jiu-Jitsu athletes, combining strong fundamentals with a passion for continuous improvement.

Known for his energy, professionalism, and connection with students, Professor Marcus is dedicated to helping each student grow, on and off the mat, through the transformative power of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Professor Scott Mills is a 3rd Degree Black Belt and a Gracie Barra ICP–Certified Instructor through the Instructor Certification Program. As the Head Instructor of our Youth Program, Professor Scott is dedicated to creating a safe, structured, and inspiring environment where students receive world-class instruction and a clear, long-term path toward their Black Belts.

Known for his consistency, leadership, and genuine care for every student, Professor Scott has a unique ability to connect with young athletes and plays a vital role in developing confident, disciplined, and resilient individuals, on and off the mat, through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

All credit and glory belong to Jesus Christ. Everything in my life, every opportunity, achievement, and lesson, has been a gift from Him. My prayer is that He alone is honored through all that I do.

With over six decades dedicated to athletics, coaching, and leadership, Professor Jim West represents a rare combination of elite competition experience, lifelong teaching, and servant leadership. His journey spans wrestling, judo, sambo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, making him one of the most experienced and accomplished martial artists and coaches in the world today.

Martial Arts & Competition Legacy

Professor Jim West has competed in over 3,000 matches across wrestling, judo, sambo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, maintaining an extraordinary 93% winning ratio. His competitive career includes National and World Championship podium finishes across multiple disciplines and age divisions.

Highlights include:

• 6th Degree Red & White Belt (Rokudan) in Judo
• Multiple National and World Judo Championships (Masters & Senior divisions)
• National Sambo Champion and U.S. World Team Representative
• 3rd Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Gracie Barra)
• Multiple IBJJF & SJJIF World Championships (Gi & No-Gi)
• Awarded Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt on July 18, 2015

Throughout his career, he trained and competed alongside legendary figures such as Dan Gable, Gene LeBell, Hayward Nishioka, and many other icons of combat sports.

Coaching Impact

Professor Jim West’s influence as a coach is just as impressive as his competition record.

• Assistant Coach, Cerritos College Wrestling (1964–1972)
  • 9× Conference Champions
  • 9× Southern California Champions
  • State Champions (1970)

He has coached countless state champions, national placers, and lifelong athletes, always emphasizing discipline, character, and perseverance.

A lifelong student of growth and challenge, Professor Jim West:

• Co-authored The Judo Textbook
• Climbed to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar
• Completed two full 630-mile coastal hikes
• Ran a sub-3-hour marathon
• Traveled to over 100 countries, including 20+ mission trips

Today, Professor Jim West teaches and coaches with a singular mission: to develop strong, disciplined, and humble individuals, on and off the mat, using martial arts as a vehicle for lifelong growth, faith, and service.

Professor Suzy West brings a unique blend of discipline, professionalism, and lifelong leadership to the mat. With decades of experience in operations, finance, and organizational leadership, she has built a career grounded in structure, service, and attention to detail—qualities that strongly shape her approach to teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Professor Suzy began her Jiu-Jitsu journey in 2009 and earned her Black Belt in 2015. She is currently a 3rd Degree Black Belt under Felipe Guedes and has taught and coached alongside respected Gracie Barra instructors, contributing to both adult fundamentals and ongoing class instruction. She also holds a Blue Belt in Judo under Nori Bunasawa, further strengthening her technical foundation.

In addition to teaching, Professor Suzy has supported instructor development through her work as a proofreader and editor for the Gracie Barra ICP program. Known for her consistency, organization, and calm leadership, she is passionate about helping students grow with confidence—on and off the mat.

Outside the academy, she enjoys traveling, hiking, golf, biking, and staying active.

Professor Matt Blasdel is a 3^rd Degree Black Belt and a Gracie Barra ICP-Certified Instructor. Born in San Clemente, Professor Matt began Jiu Jitsu at 29 years of age and has been a Black Belt since 2014. A lifelong competitor, he began Jiu Jitsu as an extension of a long athletic career (D1 collegiate soccer/track, pro soccer) with a desire to achieve in a new athletic endeavor. Although competition was the impetus, Matt found a calling to use the art of Jiu Jitsu to unlock deep levels of learning that had alluded him in previous pursuits.

Professor Matt is obsessed with growth. While he cares deeply about helping his students cultivate technical skills, his main interest is in helping people see themselves and their true potential by using the many lessons on the mats to help students unlock potential off the mats. He credits his Jiu Jitsu journey not merely with saving him from mediocrity, but with helping him overcome impossible difficulty in his professional life as a mid-size business owner, as a father of 3, and as a widower.

Now remarried, and a father of 7 (blended) kids, Matt brings a breadth of experience to students, and he spends his time helping them build a character that he believes can help them sustain any challenge. He is convinced that his time on the mats will change lives, and he aims his heart at that challenge every day at Grace Barra San Clemente.