STAFF

 

Name: Mauricio " Tinguinha" Mariano
Rank: Black Belt- 3rd Degree
TBJJ Academy Head Instructor

Mauricio " Tinguinha" Mariano has been dedicated to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for more than 20 years. He has been teaching the gentle art for more than 12 years and is known worldwide for his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills. He is the Head Instructor of The Tinguinha BJJ Academy and dedicates himself to the growth of the art and to passing his knowledge on. He is well known for being an excellent instructor, very patient, technical and for knowing how to get the best out of each student.

For Professor Tinguinha's complete Bio and Tournament's tittles go to:
http://tinguinha.com/tinguinhahistory.html

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Name: Michael Brown
Rank: Black Belt
Competition Team Classes- Instructor
TBJJ Academy Instructor

Mike started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 34. He started training with Mauricio “Tinguinha” Mariano 8 years ago and was Tinguinha’s first student in Orange County, he competed in several BJJ tournaments and dedicated his time to the values of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, studying every aspect of this martial art. Besides having his own successful business, Mike is an instructor and competition team coach at Tinguinha BJJ Academy where he shares his vast knowledge and experience in Brazilian JiuJItsu.

  • 2003-Pan-American Championship- 1st Place
  • 2002- American National Championship- 1st Place
  • 1996- California Friendship Cup- 1st Place
  • 1996- California State Championship - 2nd Place
  • 2207-Pan-American Championship -3rd Place

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Name: Chris Gutierrez
Rank: Brown Belt
TBJJ Academy Assistant Instructor- Beginners Morning Class

Chris has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 2001. He has competed in several tournaments in Southern California and is very serious and comitted about his BJJ goals.He divides his time between his family and studying to fulfill his goal of becoming a BJJ Black belt and full time instructor. As a young father he is very responsible and brings that sense of comitment to The Tinguinha BJJ Academy, showing dedication and love to the BJJ art and TBJJ Academy.

  • WORLD JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP 2007  (Purple Belt Division) in Long Beach California.
  • PAN AMERICANS Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Tournament (Blue Belt Division) in Los Angeles, California April 2003
  • PAN AMERICANS Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Tournament (Blue Belt Division) in Los Angeles, California April 2005
  • PAN AMERICANS Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Tournament (Purple Belt Belt Division) in Los Angeles, California April 2007
  • US Nationals 2003   3rd place
  • 7th Copa Pacifica JiuJiujitsu Tournament (Blue Belt Division)
  • Marcello Calvacanti  in house tournament 2nd place.
  • 2005 No Gi  grappling championships.

 

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Name: Vince Quitugua
Rank: Brown Belt
TBJJ Academy- Assistant Instructor

Vince Quitugua has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 7 Years. Vince has competed in several tournaments throughout Southern Calififornia and besides being dedicated to training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu he is involved in promoting BJJ Tournaments and events as well as owning a Fight Wear Clothing line, Shoyoroll.Vince is one of the most technical TBJJ Academy's member, when asked about his aproach to BJJ, Vince answered "I believe in angles and disecting the positions to maximize each and every position.  Learning from Tinguinha everyday is a great experiance."

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Name: Alex Orozco
Rank: Purple Belt-III Stripes
Kids Classes- Assistant Instructor

Alex Orozco competed in tournaments in Southern California including The Pan American Championship and is a sargent for the city of Anaheim police department for more than 15 years where he is also an arrest and control instructor same position he ocupied in the Los Angeles police department from 1997 till 1999. Alex is also a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Purple Belt- III Stripes at The Tinguinha BJJ Academy Team and brings his experience in law enforcement and specific tactics training to our school.

  • 1996- Competitor in Pan Am tournament
  • 1997- Competitor Santa Cruz Tournament
  • 1998- Competitor Santa Cruz Tournament
  • 1997-1999- Arrest and Control Instructor LAPD
  • 1999-Present time - Arrest and Control Instructor APD


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Name: John Vitasa
Kickboxing Class Instructor
Rank: BJJ Blue Belt- III Stripes

John Vitasa has an extensive kickboxing and Muay Thai experience having more than 10 years of training and around 5 years of teaching group and personal classes including teaching  at LA Boxing for many years. He has extraordinaire skills, competing in innumerous amateur Muay Thai and kickboxing matches. Besides being a TBJJ Academy  Blue belt and member John have been contributing to the growth of the Tinguinha BJJ Academy by teaching our Kickboxing program.

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Name: Zack Rapadas
Rank: Blue Belt-II Stripes
Mixed Martial Arts- Brazilian JiuJitsu Assist. Instructor
zackrapadas

Zack Rapadas has beentraining and competing in wrestling since Middle school and started competing in BJJ since 2001. He is an all around athlete and fierce competitor which earned him several different titles in BJJ, Grappling and wrestling tournaments such as The Best of The West and a victory by TKO in his MMA debut in Japan besides a scholarship for wrestling. He is an excepcional addition to our staff and has been hands on contributing to the TBJJ Academy's competition team and our Mixed Martial Arts- BJJ Class.

  •   2001- All Island Champion 112lbs.
  • 2001- Best wrestler lower weight division
  • 2001- Simon Sanchez High School MVP
  • 2001- Tito Ortiz invitational No-Gi Champion- BJJ
  • 2002- All- Island High School champion 115 lbs.
  • 2002- Best wrestler lower weight division
  • 2002- 3rd So-Cal Summer Open Champion- BJJ
  • 2002- Simon Sanchez High School MVP
  • 2002- Pacific Open Champion
  • 2003- All Island Champion 199 lbs.
  • 2003- Best wrestler lower weight division
  • 2003- Pacific Open Champion
  • 2004- All Island High School Champion - 125lbs.
  • 2004- Best wrestler lower weight division
  • 2004- Pacific Open Runner Up
  • 2004- Pacific Show Down BJJ/ No-Gi Champion
  • 2004- Pacific Show Down Best Take-Down Award
    2004- First Person in 15 years to be underfeated (Only 2 in Guam)
  • 2005- Oceana Free Style wrestling champion
  • 2005- Oceana Greco Wrestling champion- Division 1
  • 2005- Cal- State Fullerton University Red-Shirt/Wrestler (scholarship)
  • 2006- Best of the West No-Gi  beginners champion 139lbs
  • 2006- 1st Gracie Barra Culver City- In House Tournament- Champion
  • 2006- Kokoro MMA Debut Fight- winner by unnanimous decision

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Name: Livia Mariano
TBJJ Academy General Manager
livia

Livia Mariano curently manages The Tinguinha BJJ Academy.She is a key element for the growth and development of our school, assisting our students and covering every aspect of our school's fuctioning. She is a FIDM graduate in Fashion Design and applies the graphic side of her profession at our school's projects such as The TBJJ Apparel,school's website, advertizing and more...