ERNANI ASSUNCAO
3RD DEGREE BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU BLACK BELT
He started training at Renzo Gracie Academy Headquarters in New York City back in 2005 and over the last 18 years has trained under master Renzo Gracie himself, and renowned black belt instructors such as Gregor, Igor Gracie and John Danaher. Professor Rafael Gordinho was also one of his first mentors when he was teaching and running RGA HQ. One day at 36 years old he decided to take an intro class, signed up right away and never looked back.
Ernani believes that jiu jitsu changed his life in a big way both physically and mentally. Before moving to South Florida with his wife and two kids he was teaching jiu jitsu classes right where he fell in love with the gentle art at Renzo Gracie Academy. The idea behind West Pines Jiu JItsu is to change peoples lives thru Martial Arts and help the community to increase awareness living a healthy and joyful life style.
It goes beyond self defense.
RAFAEL LIMA “GORDINHO”
6TH DEGREE BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU BLACK BELT
Due to his strong identity and closeness with his brother, Professor Roberto ‘Gordo’ Correa de Lima, who started in the art of Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 10, Professor Rafael started training and grew up with other great icons of martial arts in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Professor Rafael ‘Gordinho’ Lima won the 1998 Mundials World Championship in the Black Belt Division. He is also a 4-time National Champion in the birth place of Jiu-Jitsu, Brazil, (1994–1997) where he was voted the most technical fighter.
Some members of the Gracie family such as Renzo, Ralph, Ryan, Russo and Daniel were Professor Rafael’s classmates at the Anglo-American School of Rio de Janeiro, and since then, the Gracie and Correa de Lima families have always been together and inseparable.
Professor Rafael’s despise of drug use and his passion for healthy natural foods and way of living have always been his priorities and main concern. His life reflects this philosophy that has contributed to maintain his excellent shape and physical condition.
Professor Rafael moved to the United States and the Start Academy in Miami was born ready to shine in excellence and quality, with an outstanding professional team to help develop future generations of champions!
The spiral (helix shape) is a symbol of resilience and is found throughout nature in galaxies, weather patterns and in every living organism’s DNA.
From our finger prints, the shells of nautilus, the horns of antelopes, seahorses, sunflowers, pine cones to ancient mathematics and architecture… all have the helix as their underlying structure.
Because of its stability and universality it has withstood the test of time, religion, biological and cultural influences.
In a nut shell, the spiral defines our human nature.
We believe that thru the teachings of Jiu Jitsu that resilience can be learned and developed in anyone.
The resilience is within all of us.