ANNUAL TEAM CONVENTION 2026 & GRADUATION CEREMONY
Instructors
6th-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, trained by his father Carlson Gracie Sr. Head representative of the Carlson Gracie Association and head coach of Carlson Gracie Academy in Chicago, Illinois, where he relocated in 1996 from Rio de Janeiro. Also holds a black belt in Judo under renowned Brazilian master Georges Mehdi. Competed extensively in Greco-Roman wrestling, winning six titles and representing Brazil in South American competitions. Began teaching at his father's academy in Rio before moving to the United States. The Carlson Gracie lineage has produced numerous world-class BJJ competitors and MMA fighters.
A lanky guard player who built his reputation in the Carlson Gracie lineage and later anchored the GFTeam banner in Europe, Sergio Zimmermann ("Canudo") earned his black belt in 1999 from Osiris Maia right before a superfight with Vitor "Shaolin." Canudo started training at 15 after a brief stint in Thai boxing, cutting his teeth under Mauricio "Saddam" Carneiro, Carlson Gracie Jr., and Marcelo Alonso at the original Carlson Gracie academy. When his instructors relocated to the United States, he fell in with Julio César Pereira's GFTeam. In 2012 he moved to Germany to establish his own team, settling permanently in Europe after a five-year stint in Lisbon.
A key figure in the diaspora of Carlson Gracie lineage, Olavo Abreu began training in 1994 under Marcelo Alonso and Carlson Gracie Junior at the famed Carlson Gracie Academy. Following the 2000 split that birthed Brazilian Top Team, Abreu aligned with the breakaway group, eventually earning his black belt from Ricardo Libório in 2002. While Libório and Carlos Santos left BTT’s coaching duties to him, Abreu later spent eight years developing interscholastic jiu-jitsu in Abu Dhabi, then six months in Moscow, before settling in Phuket, Thailand in 2012 to build Phuket Top Team from the ground up. His association now spans affiliates across Asia, Europe, and Australia.
Head coach and founder of Carlson Gracie Amsterdam. 6th degree black belt trained directly under Master Carlson Gracie Sr., receiving his black belt in 1997. Founded the academy in 2002 as the first known BJJ academy in Amsterdam.