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Marcio Simas

Marcio Simas established a 1994 Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in Orlando and taught practitioners including Rodrigo Costa and John Montaldo.

Biography

Gracie Barra Institute recounts that Marcio Simas first encountered jiu-jitsu at a Gracie school in Copacabana, where Rolls Gracie taught, later trained through Tarcisio Moreno, and then joined Rolls Gracie Academy. The institute says he moved to the United States and established Central Florida's first Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in 1994. Gracie Barra Orlando likewise says he opened Orlando's first such school that year and founded Gracie Barra Orlando. The institute says Simas has founded or co-founded five schools in Central Florida and graduated dozens of black belts. Current instructor biographies at Gracie Barra Seminole offer two examples of that teaching: Rodrigo Costa continued training under Márcio Simas after moving to the United States, while John Montaldo began training under Professor Marcio Simas in 1995. On the competition mats, the IBJJF lists Simas of Gracie Barra first in the 2004 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship's Master 4 / Black / Male / Super Heavy division. Gracie Barra Institute also says he asked Carlos Gracie Jr. to support bringing the Pan American tournament to Florida.

Sources for this profile

  • Gracie Barra Institute, “Master Marcio Simas: A Legacy within Gracie Barra,” 2024.(opens in a new tab)

    • A 2024 Gracie Barra Institute profile says Marcio Simas first encountered jiu-jitsu at a Gracie school in Copacabana where Rolls Gracie taught, later began training through Tarcisio Moreno, and subsequently joined Rolls Gracie Academy.

      Where in the source: “Master Marcio Simas: A Legacy within Gracie Barra”; “From Copacabana to Florida” section, paragraphs beginning “Master Marcio's journey” and “Master Marcio recalls”.

      Accessed:

    • The same Gracie Barra Institute profile says Simas moved to the United States and established the first Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in Central Florida in 1994, then asked Carlos Gracie Jr. to support bringing the Pan American tournament to Florida.

      Where in the source: “Master Marcio Simas: A Legacy within Gracie Barra”; “Planting Seeds of Jiu-Jitsu in the Sunshine State” section, paragraphs beginning “Marcio moved to the United States” and “Marcio felt that bringing”.

      Accessed:

    • Gracie Barra Institute says Simas has founded or co-founded five schools in Central Florida and graduated dozens of black belts.

      Where in the source: “Master Marcio Simas: A Legacy within Gracie Barra”; “Planting Seeds of Jiu-Jitsu in the Sunshine State” section, paragraph beginning “Through his pioneering efforts”.

      Accessed:

  • Gracie Barra Orlando, “Private Classes Program,” accessed September 13, 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • Gracie Barra Orlando says Marcio Simas opened the first Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in Orlando in 1994 and founded Gracie Barra Orlando.

      Where in the source: Gracie Barra Orlando “Private Classes Program”; paragraph beginning “Marcio Simas is the first one to open school”.

      Accessed:

  • International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, “Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2004,” results archive.(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF’s 2004 Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship results list Marcio Simas of Gracie Barra first in Master 4 Black Belt Male Super Heavy.

      Where in the source: “Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2004”; Master 4 / Black / Male / Super Heavy table, first row.

      Accessed:

  • Gracie Barra Seminole, “Instructors,” accessed September 13, 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • Gracie Barra Seminole says Rodrigo Costa continued training under Master Márcio Simas after moving to the United States, and John Montaldo began training under Professor Marcio Simas in 1995.

      Where in the source: Gracie Barra Seminole “Instructors”; Rodrigo Costa and John Montaldo profile paragraphs.

      Accessed:

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