Salvatore Pace
“Squalo”
Source: bjjheroes.comSalvatore Pace built jiu-jitsu schools in Sicily and England after training under Carlos Lemos Jr and working as a chef.
Biography
Sources for this profile
BJJ Heroes, Salvatore Pace(opens in a new tab)
Salvatore Pace, also known as Salvo and Squalo, is the Sicilian instructor associated with Gracie Barra Bath and Carlos Lemos Jr.
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BJJ Heroes gives his birth as 25 October 1974 in Sicily, Italy.
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His nickname Squalo means shark in Italian; Salvo is a shortened form of Salvatore.
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He trained judo and karate from ten to sixteen, then became a qualified Muay Thai instructor.
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The biography dates his first grappling to 1996 in Italy and BJJ training to late 2004 after moving to England.
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While working as a chef in England, he also taught and competed in Thai boxing and MMA.
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The biography says an MMA loss to a ground fighter prompted him to devote more time to jiu-jitsu.
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BJJ Heroes lists a 2006 blue-belt World Cup title.
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Countryside BJJ News and Events, Professor Salvatore Pace receives his Black Belt, 8 January 2011(opens in a new tab)
The January 2011 promotion report says Pace began training with Carlos Lemos Jr in early 2005 and received every belt from him.
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He followed Lemos around Europe, helping at seminars while training, with the ambition of becoming a full-time BJJ teacher.
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In 2006 he spent six weeks at Gracie Barra headquarters in Rio with Lemos and Giuseppe Schembri.
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After the Brazilian trip, the report describes his return to Europe and establishment of Gracie Barra Sicily.
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Lemos awarded Pace his black belt at the end of 2010, with Carlos Gracie Jr’s blessing.
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The report says he won a NAGA competition in Paris in December 2010, ten days after receiving his black belt.
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Gracie Barra Bath, current homepage(opens in a new tab)
Gracie Barra Bath dates its establishment to 2007.
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His academy is based in Bath, England.
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The Bath academy offers children’s and teens’ classes alongside adult fundamentals, advanced BJJ and no-gi training.
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Graham Barlow, Episode 19 written introduction, 1 November 2022(opens in a new tab)
Graham Barlow says he began training with Pace in 2011 and received all his belts from white through black from him.
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Writing in 2022, Barlow identified Pace as owner of Bath and West Wilts and co-owner of Gracie Barra Gillingham.
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Angelika, Interview with Graham Barlow, Qialance(opens in a new tab)
Barlow said Pace’s teaching and example as a leader were what kept him attending after his first BJJ class.
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Barlow described Pace’s use of leverage and ground pressure as a revelation and said Pace taught techniques he used himself in sparring.
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Gracie Barra Bath, current instructors(opens in a new tab)
The current Bath instructors page identifies Salvo Pace as its black-belt head instructor.
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Bath currently lists Pace as a fourth-degree black belt.
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Pace heads Gracie Barra Bath and is identified as founder of Gracie Barra Sicilia and South West UK.
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His school lists him as a 2025 Gracie Barra Legacy Hall inductee.
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His academy says he has promoted more than 35 black belts across the region.
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Gracie Barra Bath, current team(opens in a new tab)
His school reports that he has worked with rugby players Matt Stevens, Lee Mears and Duncan Bell.
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OPES, BJJ: seminario il 6 aprile con il maestro Salvatore Pace, 18 March 2024(opens in a new tab)
OPES announced a 6 April 2024 BJJ seminar with Pace at Sole del Sud in Agrigento, covering techniques, tactics and training methods.
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Lineage
No teaching connections are shown on this page.
Open lineage