Skip to content
The BJJ Story
Search
Back to people
Two training partners meeting on the mat.Drawn in cream, forest green, and muted terracotta. People and objects are symbolic illustrations.
Portrait unavailable. General BJJ illustration; not a likeness of this person.Illustration: The BJJ Story

Ricardo Miller

Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller taught in Santa Barbara before Paragon opened there in 1998.

Biography

Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller trained in Ipanema before teaching in Santa Barbara, where Paragon opened in 1998. BJJ Heroes says he began at Romero “Jacaré” Cavalcanti’s academy in Ipanema as a late teenager, won the 1996 Mundial at brown belt in the medium-heavyweight division, and received a black belt from Cavalcanti in February 1997. In a 2011 interview, Miller recalled later teaching a small group after coming to the United States; he said its growth led to Paragon with Michael Florimbi’s support. BJJ Legends traces the Santa Barbara route through La Casa de La Raza, a local boxing gym, and a school called Insight. Its 2011 profile says Paragon opened in 1998. Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Ventura says Miller and Florimbi opened Paragon in Santa Barbara that year. In the BJJ Legends profile, Miller said he encouraged students who wanted to open their own schools.

Sources for this profile

  • BJJ Heroes, “Ricardo ‘Franjinha’ Miller,” fighter database biography, accessed September 13, 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • BJJ Heroes’ biography says Ricardo ‘Franjinha’ Miller began training with Romero Cavalcanti at Jacaré Academy in Ipanema as a late teenager, won the 1996 Mundial at brown belt in meio-pesado, and received a black belt from Cavalcanti in February 1997.

      Where in the source: “Ricardo Franjinha Miller Biography”; paragraphs beginning “Ricardo Miller was born” and “At Jacaré’s place,” including the February 1997 black-belt sentence.

      Accessed:

  • Live the Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle, “Ricardo ‘Franjinha’ Miller Exclusive Interview,” February 9, 2011.(opens in a new tab)

    • In a 2011 interview, Ricardo ‘Franjinha’ Miller says he started training in 1990 at Jacaré’s academy in Ipanema and that, after coming to the United States, he began teaching a small group whose growth led to Paragon with Michael Florimbi’s support.

      Where in the source: “Ricardo ‘Franjinha’ Miller Exclusive Interview”; answers to “How did you start your jiu-jitsu journey?” and “How did you come about starting” Paragon.

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Legends Magazine, “The Journey of Ricardo ‘Franjinha’ Miller,” October 24, 2011.(opens in a new tab)

    • A 2011 BJJ Legends profile says that after moving to Santa Barbara, Ricardo ‘Franjinha’ Miller first taught at La Casa de La Raza and a local boxing gym, then opened a school called Insight; it says Michael Florindi helped establish Paragon, which opened in 1998.

      Where in the source: “The Journey of Ricardo ‘Franjinha’ Miller”; paragraphs beginning “When Ricardo and his wife moved to Santa Barbara,” “After out growing the space,” and “When the school was first opened in 1998.”

      Accessed:

    • In the 2011 BJJ Legends profile, Ricardo ‘Franjinha’ Miller says that many people running Paragon schools had trained with him from blue or white belt to black belt, and that he encouraged students who wanted to open their own schools.

      Where in the source: “The Journey of Ricardo ‘Franjinha’ Miller”; paragraph after the listed Paragon schools, beginning “Today at the Paragon family”.

      Accessed:

  • Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Ventura, “Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Ventura,” accessed September 13, 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Ventura says Ricardo ‘Franjinha’ Miller opened Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Santa Barbara with Michael Florimbi in 1998.

      Where in the source: “Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Ventura”; history paragraph beginning “With the help of his good friend, Michael Florimbi”.

      Accessed:

Lineage

View in lineage tree

Students2