Pedro Sauer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pedro Sauer is a 7th Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Rickson Gracie and considered by some as the "most technical instructor in the world." On May 17, 2005, he was named "Best of the Best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor" in a worldwide poll conducted by the renowned Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC).
| Pedro Sauer | |
 Pedro Sauer. |
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| Born |  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
|---|---|
| Residence | Leesburg, Virginia, United States |
| Martial art practiced | Gracie Jiu-Jitsu |
| Teacher(s) | Rickson Gracie, Helio Gracie |
| Rank | 7th Degree Black Belt |
| Notable students | Greg Nelson, Shawn Weaver, James Gardner, Ricky Lundell, John Carlquist, Chet Quint, Robert Lovi, Jeff Curran, Frank Cucci, Eddie Camden, Jorge Jimenez, Matt Strack |
| Website | http://www.pedrosauer.com |
Contents |
[edit] Personal History
Pedro Sauer was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where from an early age, he began training in the martial arts. At age five, he began boxing and later took up judo and taekwondo. At age fifteen, however, his friend, Rickson Gracie, invited him to train jiu-jitsu with his younger brother, Royler, who at the time was only nine years old. The outcome of this experience convinced him that jiu-jitsu was the most effective of all the martial arts, and he began training the very next day.
Pedro worked towards a double major (Economics and Business Administration) in college, and took post graduation course at Fundacao Getulio Vargas. He worked in Brazil as a stockbroker for eleven years before deciding to move to the United States and pursue a career teaching jiu-jitsu. In 1990, he moved to California with the original wave of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors. He lived in California with Rickson Gracie and trained daily with the Gracie brothers (Rickson, Rorion, Relson, and Royce), their father, Helio Gracie, their cousin, Renzo Gracie, and the Machado Brothers, as well as many others. In December of that same year, he moved to Utah where he has lived for the past sixteen years, pioneering Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the Southwestern United States.
In the fall of 2006 Pedro Sauer and his family relocated to Leesburg, Virginia. He divides his instructional time between One Spirit Martial Arts in Herndon, Virginia, Jeff Gordon's Mixed-Martial Arts Academy in Germantown, Maryland, and 80 affiliate schools throughout the world. To date he has promoted 40 black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
[edit] Certifications
- 1985 - Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Helio and Rickson Gracie
- 1986 - Tecnico de Jiu-Jitsu. This is a special certificate given by Helio Gracie in recognition of superior technical mastery of the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
- 1990 - Certified Black Belt Instructor by Robson Gracie and the Federacao de Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Judo
- 1993 - 3rd degree black belt from Rorion Gracie
- 1996 - Level 6 Instructor Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy (Rorion and Royce Gracie)
- 2000 - 5th degree black belt under the Federacao de Jiu-Jitsu
- 2003 - 6th degree black belt
- 2007 - 7th degree black belt (Red and Black) awarded by Relson Gracie
[edit] Teaching History
Pedro Earned his Black Belt from Helio and Rickson in 1985. Long recognized for the superior technical efficiency of his jiu-jitsu, he then began his career as an instructor in 1986 when asked to teach with an organization known in Brazil as Corpo/Quatro (Body of Four) where he taught and continued his training under renowned jiu-jitsu instructors Alvaro Barreto (who is a red belt master under Helio Gracie).
After moving to Utah in December of 1990, he taught as one of only two non-Gracie black belts under the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy (run by Rorion and Royce Gracie). In October of 1996, he became an official representative Black Belt Instructor under the Rickson Gracie American Jiu-Jitsu Association.
Recently, Pedro has moved to Virginia where he now teaches at One Spirit Martial Arts in Herndon,VA and Jeff Gordon's MMA Academy in Gaithersburg, MD. He also has several affiliated schools across the country, and visits them on a regular basis to give intensive instruction to the students and instructors. He is one of the most highly sought-after instructors (of any martial arts discipline) in the United States, and has presented hundreds of public seminars across the nation.
On May 17 2005, he was named "Best of the Best BJJ Instructor" in a worldwide poll conducted by the renowned Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC).
[edit] Work with Military and Law Enforcement Agenices
Pedro works extensively with military groups in Virginia, including the Marines and various groups from Navy Special Warfare Groups. He has also trained FBI and CIA agents in Texas. SWAT teams in Colorado and Utah. Also in Utah, Pedro has trained the police in Provo, Orem, DARE officers, the Sheriffs department in Salt Lake City, POST (Police Officer's Standard Training) in SLC, and also the Orem Fire Department.
