FaMA - Fitness and Martial Arts recently had the opportunity to host multiple time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion and 4th Degree Black Belt, Professor Rodrigo Teixeira during his visit to Singapore.
The globe-trotting Brazilian spent a few weeks teaching at FaMA alongside Professor Zoro Moreira and Professor Robyn Goudy, and was thoroughly impressed with the facility, the instructors, and the martial arts programme.
“FaMA is doing a great job with Jiu-Jitsu here in Singapore. There are regular classes and there are competition classes. So, there’s something for everyone. For absolute beginners, there are classes catered to them and for those with experience, there are intermediate classes,” said Rodrigo. “FaMA is always hosting different black belts and different instructors to give students various learning options, which is always good. Our job as instructors is to give students the right tools to forge their own path. As the head instructor, Prof Zoro has the mindset and openness to accept different ideas that other instructors bring and this is beneficial for all students at FaMA.”
Rodrigo was also impressed with the facilities at FaMA. The well-travelled instructor, who has been to 26 countries (and counting) to spread Jiu-Jitsu, said FaMA is one of the best maintained academies he has ever seen. “The gym is very clean and there are multiple showers. These things are important for a martial arts academy,” he said.
Rodrigo started training BJJ at the age of 12 under his brother Professor Pedro Carvalho. His brother, at that time, was training at the world famous Carlson Gracie Gym in Copacabana, Rio De Janeiro with the likes of Murilo Bustamante (Mundials World Champion, founding member of Brazilian Top Team), Wallid Ismail (BJJ, MMA legend), Rodrigo ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira (former UFC Heavyweight Champion), and Ricardo Liborio (3x Brazilian Nationals Champion, founding member of American Top Team). Soon after, he moved to the United States.
“I moved to the US in 1995 when Jiu-Jitsu was still being introduced to North Americans. At that time, there were approximately ten BJJ academies in the whole country. I received my blue belt in 1996 and with Jiu-Jitsu gaining popularity, thanks to Royce Gracie and the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), I started teaching at my brother’s academy,” said Rodrigo.
After going back and forth between Brazil and the US for several years, Rodrigo opened his own academy in California and was based there for approximately 10 years. During his time in the US, he trained with Jiu-Jitsu royalty Rickson and Kron Gracie.
Currently traveling the world after taking first place at the 2017 IBJJF European Open, Rodrigo hopes to return to Singapore in the near future and spend some time with the students at FaMA.
FaMA - Fitness and Martial Arts Established in 2016, FaMA is a world-class martial arts training facility located in the heart of the Central Business District in Singapore. Walking distance from the Clarke Quay MRT station, FaMA’s main goal is to help people improve their lives through martial arts regardless of age or athletic capability. Each program is led by experts in their respective fields. Whether it is weight loss, a fun workout, camaraderie, competition training, or just to break a sweat, FaMA has something for everyone.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or BJJ as it is commonly known around the world, is a self-defence martial art that enables a smaller, weaker person to protect themselves against a much larger attacker using leverage and pressure. Formed from Kodokan Judo in Japan, Jiu Jitsu found its way to Brazil in the 1910s through Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese judoka and no-holds-barred prize fighter. During his time in Brazil, Maeda accepted a young Carlos Gracie as his student. Carlos would later pass on his knowledge to his brothers, most notably Helio Gracie - the father of modern Brazilian Jiujitsu. The Gracie family would go on to spread BJJ through The Gracie Challenge and eventually the creation of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Today, BJJ has grown to be more than just an effective unarmed fighting system. It helps young children deal with bullies and adults live a healthy lifestyle. BJJ classes are offered daily at FaMA under the tutelage of Black Belts Zoro Moreira and Robyn Goudy.
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