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Rodrigo Vaghi

Rodrigo Vaghi's path from Rio judo to Gracie instruction took him to St. Louis, where he based his school.

Biography

Rodrigo Vaghi is a jiu-jitsu instructor whose path ran from competitive judo in Rio de Janeiro to Gracie teaching and a school in St. Louis. He began judo at four and found success in Rio state competition. Team Vaghi North's history places the turning point at 15, when a friend used the guard to reverse their encounter and submit him. Vaghi then asked his father to let him train jiu-jitsu. Vaghi began that training at the original Gracie Academy in Rio de Janeiro, with Hélio Gracie and his sons Rickson, Royce, Royler, and Rolker named among the instructors. Team Vaghi North says he then trained with the Gracie family in Brazil for thirteen years, taught at the downtown Gracie Academy, and became known there for his knowledge of the Gracie self-defense system. In a first-person account of private lessons with Rickson, Vaghi described a method centered on small details and the importance of every inch of position. That background shaped a move in 1997. Team Vaghi North says Vaghi joined Rickson Gracie's American association as an instructor and chose St. Louis, rather than California, as the base for his school. Competition remained part of the picture: IBJJF lists him as the 2010 Master 3 male black-belt heavyweight champion for Gracie Tijuca. Current IBJJF athlete lists still include competitors under the Rodrigo Vaghi BJJ academy name. His teaching reaches beyond St. Louis through a concrete example. BJJ Heroes reports that Heath Pedigo moved to East St. Louis in 2007 to live and train with Vaghi, then returned to his hometown, with Vaghi's consent, to establish what became Pedigo Submission Fighting.

Sources for this profile

  • Team Vaghi North, "Team History" (accessed 2026-09-13).(opens in a new tab)

    • Team Vaghi North's history says Rodrigo Vaghi began judo at age four and developed a successful competitive background in Rio de Janeiro state judo.

      Where in the source: started his martial art training in judo when he was just four years old; competing and finding success; Rio de Janeiro State judo champion

      Accessed:

    • The team history says a teenage Vaghi turned to jiu-jitsu after a friend used the guard to reverse and submit him despite Vaghi's judo background.

      Where in the source: When Rodrigo was 15 years old ... Alexandre ... use the guard to gain top position and eventually submit Rodrigo ... told his father he wanted to train jiu-jitsu

      Accessed:

    • Team Vaghi North says Vaghi trained with the Gracie family in Brazil for thirteen years, later taught at the downtown Gracie Academy and became known there for his knowledge of the Gracie self-defense system.

      Where in the source: trained with the Gracie family in Brazil for 13 years; taught as an instructor at the Gracie Academy located downtown; well-known for his knowledge of the Gracie self-defense system

      Accessed:

    • The team history says Vaghi moved from Brazil to the United States in 1997, joined Rickson Gracie's American association as an instructor and chose St. Louis rather than California as the base for his school.

      Where in the source: In 1997, Rodrigo left Brazil and came to the United States; brought Rodrigo into the Rickson Gracie American Jiu-Jitsu Association as an instructor; decision to settle in St. Louis, Missouri

      Accessed:

  • Team Vaghi, "Rodrigo Vaghi" (accessed 2026-09-13).(opens in a new tab)

    • Vaghi's official academy profile says he began jiu-jitsu at the original Gracie Academy in Rio, where his instructors included Helio, Rickson, Royce, Royler and Rolker Gracie.

      Where in the source: started his training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ... in the original Gracie Academy Rio de Janeiro; instructors ... Grandmaster Helio Gracie and his sons: Rickson, Royce, Royler and Rolker

      Accessed:

  • On The Mat, "Jiu-Jitsu Super-Computer Cracks The Code" (accessed 2026-09-13).(opens in a new tab)

    • In a published first-person passage, Vaghi says Rickson Gracie taught him and his brothers private lessons built around minimal details and the importance of every inch of position.

      Where in the source: Rodrigo Vaghi ... Rickson gave me the opportunity to train with him, me and my brothers; teach us privates, teaching details; every inch is important

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, "Master International Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2010 - Results" (accessed 2026-09-13).(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF's official 2010 Master International results list Rodrigo Vaghi of Gracie Tijuca as champion of the Master 3 male black-belt heavyweight division.

      Where in the source: Master 3 / Black / Male / Heavy; 1 | Rodrigo Vaghi Gracie Tijuca

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, "Kansas City International Open IBJJF 2026 - Athletes List" (updated 2026-09-11; accessed 2026-09-13).(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF's September 2026 athlete list still records competitors under the Rodrigo Vaghi BJJ academy name.

      Where in the source: Kansas City International Open IBJJF 2026; Rodrigo Vaghi BJJ | Benjamin David Strickland

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Heroes, "Heath Pedigo" (accessed 2026-09-13).(opens in a new tab)

    • BJJ Heroes says Heath Pedigo moved to East St. Louis in 2007 to live and train with Rodrigo Vaghi, then returned home with Vaghi's consent to open a school that became Pedigo Submission Fighting.

      Where in the source: move to East St Louis to live and train with Rodrigo Vaghi in 2007; returned to his hometown with Rodrigo's consent to open a jiu-jitsu gym ... starting the Pedigo Submission Fighting team

      Accessed:

Lineage

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Students1