Cláudio Franca
Claudio França is a Brazilian coral-belt instructor in California, known for his jiu-jitsu schools and the US Open.
Biography
Sources for this profile
The Pajaronian, byline Juan Reyes, 2022-03-11(opens in a new tab)
França holds a coral belt (seventh degree) in Brazilian jiu-jitsu; the article says he graduated to his seventh-degree black belt 'after 31 years', without stating 31 years of what, and describes the rank as an alternating red-and-black belt.
Where in the source: Final paragraph, before the correction notice > 'after 31 years he graduated to earn his seventh-degree black belt' and 'can now display an alternating red-and-black belt'
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França's instructor is Grandmaster Francisco Mansor, founder of Academia Kioto de Jiu Jitsu in Brazil; França met him 40 years before the 2022 article (i.e. c. 1982) and said of him: 'In my area, he was the only school. If he's not there, I'm probably not going to be here today.'
Where in the source: Paragraph beginning 'França met Mansor 40 years ago' > quoted remarks on Mansor
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Mansor gave a seminar at França's Watsonville school on 8 March 2022, attended by roughly 30 trainees and instructors; França called him 'a person who inspired my life and supported me in the good and bad moments'.
Where in the source: Photo captions for the date 8 March 2022 - the article BODY gives only "Tuesday night"; article body > "About 30 trainees and instructors stopped by the building to catch a glimpse of Grandmaster Francisco Mansor"; and França's quoted remarks on Mansor
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As of 2022 França taught Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Watsonville, Santa Cruz and San Jose.
Where in the source: Article body > 'França now teaches the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Watsonville, Santa Cruz and San Jose'
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Graciemag (Portuguese edition), 2023-04-20(opens in a new tab)
França is described as a coral belt in jiu-jitsu and as a professor at the schools Claudio França BJJ and Coalition 95.
Where in the source: Subject description accompanying the interview > 'faixa-coral de Jiu-Jitsu' and 'professor das escolas Claudio França BJJ e Coalition 95'
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Before emigrating, França organized the Copa Atlântico Sul in Rio de Janeiro, from the late 1980s until he moved to the United States.
Where in the source: First-person interview, passage on his tournament background > 'a célebre Copa Atlântico Sul, desde o fim da década de 1980 até eu me mudar para os EUA'
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- Conflicting accounts
In a 2023 first-person account, França dated his start promoting the US Open in Santa Cruz to 1996.
Where in the source: First-person interview > “Foi em 1996, com o US Open, que comecei a promover campeonatos de Jiu-Jitsu em Santa Cruz”
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Graciemag, 2024-08-26(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag documents a 1994 Copa Atlântico Sul match in Rio de Janeiro between Renzo Gracie and Alexandre “Gigi” Paiva.
Where in the source: Headline “Há 30 anos! Relembre Renzo x Gigi Paiva em 1994, na Copa Atlântico Sul” > body: “Na Copa Atlântico Sul, Renzo Gracie ... enfrentou Alexandre ‘Gigi’ Paiva”
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Patch (Santa Cruz), byline Brad Kava, 2013-10-09(opens in a new tab)
A 2013 Santa Cruz tournament announcement identifies França as founder of the US Open and dates its founding to 1996.
Where in the source: Article body > “The US Open was founded by Jiu-Jitsu Master Claudio Franca in 1996”
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Graciemag (English edition), 2023-04-05(opens in a new tab)
In its first year of US events, França's organization held competitions in three states: California, Nevada and New York.
Where in the source: First-person interview > 'In the first year, we held competitions in three states: California, Nevada, and New York'
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In his 2023 account, França listed All Stars, American Cup, US Open and BJJ Tour among the California events he organized.
Where in the source: First-person interview > "Nowadays, we have the All Stars, American Cup, US Open, and the BJJ Tour events throughout the state."
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França names three principles for running events: 'to keep high-level black belts in Jiu-Jitsu, to attract sponsors outside the sport's bubble, and to bring in the specialized press to cover the events'.
Where in the source: Section presenting the three pillars > 'I have three pillars in mind to thrive in this business'
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Times Publishing Group / tpgonlinedaily, byline Camisa Composti, 2013-10-18(opens in a new tab)
The 18th US Open was scheduled for 19–20 October 2013 at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz, with an estimated 1,000 athletes expected.
Where in the source: Article body > event dates, venue name and 'an estimated 1,000 athletes from around the world'
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As of 2013 França was described as a fifth-degree black belt from Rio de Janeiro who owned and operated jiu-jitsu dojos in San Jose, Santa Cruz and Watsonville.
Where in the source: Article body > 'A fifth degree black belt from Rio de Janeiro, Franca owns and operates Jiu-Jitsu dojos in San Jose, Santa Cruz and Watsonville'
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Graciemag, 2024-10-22(opens in a new tab)
Graciemag’s 2024 interview described the 16–17 November US Open at Independence High School in San Jose as the 29th edition under França’s BJJ Tour.
Where in the source: 2024 interview introduction and question “29th anniversary”; answers refer to “the 29th US Open” and November 16–17
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In a 2024 interview França recalled about 150 entrants at the first US Open and around 1,500 at the time; he projected 2,000 for the 29th edition.
Where in the source: Article body > "Our first event had 150 competitors... Now, we have around 1,500 competitors" and "This year, we're gearing up for an event with 2,000 competitors."
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Claudio França BJJ (official academy site), undated(opens in a new tab)
França's declared BJJ lineage on his own academy site is: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Francisco Mansor > Claudio França.
Where in the source: Section headed 'Our Heritage' > lineage chain
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The official Claudio França BJJ site lists academies in Santa Cruz, San Jose, Watsonville and Scotts Valley.
Where in the source: About Us > opening academy list: Santa Cruz, San Jose, Scotts Valley and Watsonville
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Graciemag, 2011-12-13(opens in a new tab)
On 3 December 2011, four students of the Claudio França Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu School in Santa Cruz earned black belt - Dylan Tescher, Erik Benaquisto, Matt Slatter and Chris Zephro - in a ceremony that also included promotions of 368 children and adults across all belt levels. All four had trained under França for over 10 years. Grand Master Mansor, 9th degree red belt, presided.
Where in the source: Article body > 'Four students of the GMA member Claudio França Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu School' and the ceremony description
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Graciemag, 2012-12-10(opens in a new tab)
In a December 2012 ceremony in Santa Cruz, França promoted nine students to black belt - Nathan Mendelsonh, Steve Opolinsky, Toru Kawamura, Brian Guzmanm, Todd Jones, Steven Cocos, Quintin Cox, Paul Pendergrast and Ken Wong - alongside 420 other belt promotions. Each had trained with him at least 11 years; França said 'Todd Jones and Paul Pendergrast have trained with me for almost 20 years.' Toru Kawamura was 62 years old at promotion.
Where in the source: Article body > "he fastened black belts around the waist of the stalwart competitor Nathan Mendelsonh as well as Steve Opolinsky, Toru Kawamura, Brian Guzmanm, Todd Jones, Steven Cocos, Quintin Cox, Paul Pendergrast and Ken Wong"; the tenure quote; and the note on Kawamura's age
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IBJJF official results archive, 2001 World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship(opens in a new tab)
The IBJJF 2001 Worlds results place Garth Taylor second in Adult / Black / Male / Ultra Heavy, representing the Claudio França team. This is the team’s only appearance on that year’s results page.
Where in the source: Results > Adult / Black / Male / Ultra Heavy > 1 Márcio Corleta (Winner Behring); 2 Garth Taylor (Claudio França); 3 Adriano Maciel (Godoi/Macaco); 3 Márcio Da Cruz (Gracie Barra)
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Graciemag, interview with Claudio França, 2013-01-29(opens in a new tab)
In a 2013 interview França said he first trained judo as a child, then moved to Francisco Mansor’s Kioto jiu-jitsu academy, and regarded Mansor as a continuing teacher and mentor.
Where in the source: Interview question “Você sempre treinou com o grande mestre Francisco Mansur?” > “Primeiro treinei judô e depois me transferi para a academia Kioto de Jiu-Jitsu”
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Graciemag, interview with Claudio França, 2011-03-16(opens in a new tab)
França said that he and Marcus Vinícius founded Clube Barra in Rio in 1991 and organized Copa Atlântico Sul together, with Joe Moreira involved at the beginning.
Where in the source: 2011 Clube Barra interview > “em 1991 criei com o Marcus Vinícius ... a equipe Clube Barra” and “organizava com Marcus Vinícius (e Joe Moreira no início) a Copa Atlântico Sul”
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As of March 2011, Graciemag reported that França had not competed since 2000 and was focusing on coaching and organizing events.
Where in the source: 2011 Clube Barra article > “Claudio França não compete desde 2000” and his explanation about coaching and organizing
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Graciemag, interview with Claudio França, 2025-09-14(opens in a new tab)
In a 2025 interview França recalled learning jiu-jitsu as a child in Francisco Mansor’s classes and later learning from him as an athlete and teacher.
Where in the source: Question “What was Claudio França like as a student” > “I started having fun, learning from an early age with other children, in Master Mansor’s little groups”
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