Pedro Sauer
Pedro Sauer is an eighth-degree coral belt who helped bring Gracie jiu-jitsu from Rio to the United States and built an international teaching network.
Biography
Sources for this profile
Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association, “Endorsed Black Belts,” undated.(opens in a new tab)
The Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association identifies Pedro Sauer as an eighth-degree red-and-black coral belt and a certified instructor under Rickson Gracie.
Where in the source: Endorsed Black Belts — “Certified 8th Degree Red/Black Belt”
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The association's current rank list places Pedro Sauer in its eighth-degree coral-belt category.
Where in the source: 8th Degree - Coral Belt — Pedro Sauer
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Sauer founded the Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association to preserve and pass on the jiu-jitsu he learned from Hélio Gracie and Rickson Gracie.
Where in the source: What Is An Endorsed Black Belt? — “founded the association”
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Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association, “About Us,” undated.(opens in a new tab)
Sauer was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. His association says he began boxing at five and later practiced judo and taekwondo before taking up jiu-jitsu.
Where in the source: Pedro Sauer — “At age five”
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According to his association, Sauer's friend Rickson Gracie invited him at age fifteen to train jiu-jitsu with Royler Gracie; Sauer began regular jiu-jitsu training the next day.
Where in the source: Pedro Sauer — “At age fifteen”
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Before teaching jiu-jitsu full time, Sauer studied economics and business administration, undertook postgraduate study at Fundação Getúlio Vargas, and worked as a stockbroker in Brazil for eleven years.
Where in the source: Pedro Sauer — “spent eleven years”
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Sauer moved to the United States in 1990 to teach jiu-jitsu full time. He first trained in California with the Gracie family and then moved to Utah later that year, where he helped establish Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the American Southwest.
Where in the source: Pedro Sauer — “moving to the United States in 1990”
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His association says Sauer moved to Northern Virginia in 2005 and opened One Spirit Martial Arts in 2006; the academy became the association's headquarters.
Where in the source: Pedro Sauer — “In 2005 he relocated”
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In 1986, Hélio Gracie awarded Sauer the Técnico de Jiu-Jitsu certificate in recognition of his technical teaching ability.
Where in the source: Técnico de Jiu-Jitsu — “In 1986”
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Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association, homepage, undated; retrieved September 7, 2026.(opens in a new tab)
As retrieved in September 2026, the association reported more than 150 academies across six continents and described a structured curriculum intended for students and academy owners.
Where in the source: Pedro Sauer BJJ Association — “150+ Academies Across Six Continents”
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BJJBrick Podcast, “Epi 179 Pedro Sauer 8th Degree Coral Belt,” March 20, 2017.(opens in a new tab)
The published notes for a 2017 interview with Sauer state that he received his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from Hélio Gracie and Rickson Gracie in 1985.
Where in the source: Show Notes — “earned his Black Belt”
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Jordan Newmark, “Ricky Lundell: The Grappling Chimera,” UFC, January 30, 2014.(opens in a new tab)
Ricky Lundell recalled beginning jiu-jitsu with Sauer's team in Utah in 1992 at age six. The UFC profile says Lundell and his older brother were the sixteenth and seventeenth students at Sauer's gym.
Where in the source: Ricky Lundell: The Grappling Chimera — “Students #16 and #17”
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Marcelo Dunlop, “The fundamental Jiu-Jitsu lesson Jeff Curran learned from Master Pedro Sauer,” Graciemag, dated 04/05/2026 on page.(opens in a new tab)
Jeff Curran identifies Sauer as his jiu-jitsu teacher and recounts visiting Sauer's Salt Lake City academy while Curran was a purple belt, evidence of Sauer's role in developing later instructors and fighters.
Where in the source: Interview — “visiting him in Salt Lake City”
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