Professor Leonardo "The Wizard" Pinheiro Xavier was born January 3, 1976, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the age of 5, Leo ventured into his first martial art, taking judo in school. At the age of 13 Leo began to take Tae Kwon Do classes. Finally, a friend introduced him to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Leo immediately became good friends with his coach, Saulo Ribeiro and Royler Gracie. Under their watchful eye, Leo began to successfully compete in local and regional tournaments in Brazil and, while he was still a blue belt, Leo began to help with classes. Leo trained during this time at the legendary birthplace of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Gracie Humaitá gym in Rio. In 1999, Leo realized his dream of being promoted to black belt from the hands of his coaches Saulo Ribeiro and Master Royler Gracie. He is one of an elite group who have had the privilege of teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Gracie Humaitá.
In May, 2008, Professor Xavier was promoted by Royler Gracie to the rank of third degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
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Sr. Mitsuo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie Sr. → Hélio Gracie → Royler Gracie → Leonardo Xavier
Leo is also considered a World Class Referee of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Wrestling.
In 2000, Professor Xavier traveled to the United States to give several seminars. He liked the United States and started to travel often to the US teaching the art that he loves. In 2003 Leo realized that he loved teaching his style of Jiu-Jitsu to the American people and moved to United States. Leo now intends to remain in the United States to continue his work and efforts to develop Jiu-Jitsu in the United States. Leo is currently developing and expanding Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the Houston, Texas area, where he lives and operates the LX Jiu-Jitsu Association in Sugarland, Texas.
In just a short time, Leo’s students have enjoyed a great deal of success in local, regional, national and even international competitions - winning many tournaments, including the prestigious International Masters and the Pan American Games. Leo has coached several competitors from the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Spike TV reality television series The Ultimate Fighter.
Professor Xavier has several associated schools across the country including Arkansas, Louisiana, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Sao Paulo, Brazil.