About Us

My journey in Jiu-Jitsu started in 1991, when I was just 14 years old. Since then, I have never stopped training, and in 1995, I began teaching—something that has shaped my life and purpose ever since.

In 2001, I earned my black belt and soon after had the opportunity to teach in Europe. My wife, who was my girlfriend at the time, believed in my dream, and together we moved to Portugal, where we built a strong Kimura foundation. After two years, we made the decision to move to the United States to pursue something even bigger.

When we arrived in Boston in 2003, we had only $2,000 in our pocket, but our vision was priceless. That same year, I started teaching twice a week at a karate school, late at night, with just five or six students—most of them people I worked with at my day job, since I wasn’t yet making a living from Jiu-Jitsu.

In July 2003, I officially founded Kimura USA, and little by little, our school began to grow. My wife worked 80 to 90 hours a week to support us while we built our dream.

From 2004 to 2012 our team dominated the competition scene, winning almost every tournament we entered, solidifying our school as one of the strongest in the Northeast.

A major turning point came in 2008, when my wife left her job to join me full-time at the academy. She had always helped behind the scenes, but now she was fully involved in the daily operations. Her presence took Kimura USA to another level, helping us grow not just as a school, but as a business.

By 2016, with over 250 students, we had created something special. That same year, we made the bold decision to expand to Florida, opening our first affiliated school in Boca Raton. Once again, we started from scratch, with just five students, but we applied the same philosophy, discipline, and commitment that had built our success in Boston. Today, Kimura Boca Raton has over 400 students, even after overcoming the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What made this journey possible? A dream that my wife and I built together. She could have pursued a high-level career in law, following her family’s legacy in Brazil, but instead, she chose to build our future side by side. Today, she is a brown belt, a two-time Pan-Am champion, and continues to live Jiu-Jitsu as a lifestyle. Our children, Mayah and Zyon, have trained since they were three years old, growing up in the Kimura way of life.

Looking back, I see more than just schools. I see a legacy of thousands of students whose lives have been changed through Jiu-Jitsu. I see a philosophy that will last beyond us, because it is built on strong foundations. And I see the proof that if you believe in something, work hard, and surround yourself with the right people, you can build something that truly lasts.

This is Kimura BJJ USA—our dream, our legacy, and our way of life.