Master Carlos Gracie Jr.

Gracie Barra Founder - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Self Defense

7the Degree Red and Black Belt, Master Carlos Gracie Jr. is a man ahead of his time. Son of Grand Carlos Gracie Sr., he has used his unique visionary skills to create two of the world’s largest and most important Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Organizations: the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) and Gracie Barra. As founder and current Chairman of both institutions, he has channeled his entrepreneurship to take our sport to the next level allowing thousands of individuals across the five continents to experience the ‘Gentle Art’ as students, instructors, or competitors.

As an instructor for more than 30 years, Master Gracie has produced more well known instructors and athletes. Master Gracie divides his time between the United States and Brazil and, despite his enormous responsibilities, still finds time to teach classes every day either at GB America or the GB main school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Professor Vinicius "Draculino" Magalhaes

GB Texas Director - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts

4th Degree Black Belt, Professor Vinicius "Draculino" Magalhaes is the head instructor of Gracie Barra Texas in Webster, TX, The Regional Director for Gracie Barra in Texas, and The Head Instructor for Gracie Barra-BH Schools. You can find Professor Draculino coaching at his academy in Webster. With more than 17 years of teaching experience, he is a primary example of a man who is fully dedicating his life to his Children ( JADE and IGOR), his wife ( Monica), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Gracie Barra and its members. Prof. Draculino‘s personality, enthusiasm, integrity, charisma and leadership make the essence of GB Texas and GBBH and touch all those around him. A great competition background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Submission Wrestling and MMA wins in events like StrikeForce qualifies him as one of the best featherweight competitors on BJJ history.

He collects many titles such as a 4-time Pan American Champion, 2 Times Brazilian national champion, 2 Times Silver medalists at the world BJJ championships, MMA lightweight champion and Abu-Dhabi veteran. Besides these titles as a competitor, Professor Vinicius is considered one of the best instructors in the BJJ world. Among his students, you will find worlds, Pan Ams, national BJJ champions, more than 100 Black Belts, MMA and Grappling champions. Professor Vinicius is also a Lawyer in Brazil, graduated in the UFRJ (Federal University of Rio De Janeiro), one of the top three Law schools in the country.

Professor Chad Robichaux "Robo"

Founder & Head Professor
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Mixed Martial Arts

Professor Chad "Robo" is the founder of Gracie Barra North Houston Schools.  He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Black Belt and a Pro Mixed Martial Arts Fighter, who has been a martial artist since the age of 5. After a life of martial arts and practicing BJJ since 1996, he was promoted in Brazil to the rank of Black Belt and is a direct black belt of the legendary Master Carlos Gracie Jr. and Multiple Time World Champion, Professor David Vieira Da Silva; and is currently under the leadership of World Famous BJJ Coach, Professor Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhaes. Chad is also a Black Belt in Traditional Jiu-Jitsu, and a Combative Fighting System Black Belt. Additionally, as a former U.S. Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor and a Federal Special Agent Training Officer, Chad has had developed a high level of skill in the instruction of hand to hand combat and self-defense. Furthermore, Chad has had the opportunity to be a part of the development and implementation of many training programs for real world armed and unarmed combat.

• Professional MMA Fighter w/ a 11-1 record (10 Wins by Submission)
• World Ranked and #1 Ranked Pound for Pound Pro Fighter (Regionally)
• StrikeForce, Bellator, and Legacy FC Veteran
• Legacy FC Bantamwieght Champion
• Reality Combat Superfight Champion
• NAGA No-Gi Champion
• 2009 GOTY Competitor (Paris, France)
• 2009 Black Belt Pan American BJJ Bronze Medalist
• Actively Competes Internationally in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has trained in Brazil
• Officiated MMA bouts as both a judge and referee
• IBJJF Certified Referee; has refereed BJJ Internationally

• Gracie Barra BJJ / Carlos Gracie Jr. - 1st Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt
• World Grappling Association – 3rd Degree American Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt / David Hurley 
• Reality Self-Defense - 1st Degree Traditional Jiu Jitsu Black Belt / Alfredo Ramirez
• Muay Thai Kickboxing - Black Band Level / Daniel Kim
• United States Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor

• Married to Kathy. The "Robo's" have 3 children; Hunter, Haili, & Hayden.  They are a strong Christian Family who all love BJJ together. 
• MBA from New York Tech
• Medal of Valor recipient 
• Served the country for over a decade as a U.S. Marine Corps, Special Operations Force Reconnaissance Marine and Federal Agent.
• Organizer and director of The Mighty Oaks Foundation, Christian based Non-Profit for Wounded Vets.

Professor Todd Moore

Program Director / Manager of GBTW 

Professor - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Mixed Martial Arts

• Gracie Barra BJJ Black Belt
• MMA Record: 20-4
• Professional MMA record:14-4
• Amateur MMA record:  7-0

• Ring of Combat Welterweight MMA Champion 
• Shooto Americas Welterweight MMA Champion 
• 1st Ever Arnold Classic Welterweight MMA Champion  

• Thomas Schulte, King of the Cage Champion from New Mexico
• John Alessio, WEC Champion from Canada
• Neal Rowe, Rich Franklin's Thai coach, from Ohio
• Shinya Aoki, Dream World Champion, from Japan

• Former head wrestling coach for St. Francis Episcopal
• Muay Thai, Boxing, and Condition Training for students and competitors.
• Cornered several MMA professionals including Professor Robo, in his Legact FC Title and StrikeForce wins. 

Professor Alex Gotay "Papo"

Head Coach for BJJ Youth Program - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

BJJ Black Belt, Professor Alex Gotay is an active competitor, and one of the Gracie Barra's rising stars. Charisma, humility, integrity, and teaching skills are just some of the natural talents displayed by him in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. To see his discipline and passion for training and teaching is very inspiring to anyone who takes the time to know him. His goal as a competitor is to become a Black Belt World Champion representing the Gracie Barra Family.

Prof. Gotay's passion is teaching kids. In addition to earning his BJJ black belt, Prof. Gotay has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from the University of St. Thomas (Dec. 2010), a Masters Degree in Counseling from Prairie View A&M University (Graduate Hours), and is pursuing a Masters Degree in Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas. As the GB TW Youth Coach he led the Youth Team to win the Pan Jiu-Jitsu 2010 BJJ Championships (the most prestigous youth tournament in the World).

Coach Gerardo Abadie

Coach - Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts

Coach Abadie has spent more than 10 years training in combative sports in many different martial arts including Muay Thai and Boxing, and currently boasts a 4 and 0 record as a professional MMA fighter. Coach Gerardo began his training in 1997 when he started boxing in South America. In 2000, his training turned to no-gi Judo and Jiu Jitsu. Gerardo continued training with various gyms throughout Houston until he found a home at UH MMA Club in 2004 where he served as an Assistant Coach. Then in 2005, he advanced his Muay Thai training with Kru Pong. Throughout his years of training, Coach Gerardo has also completed numerous classes in Human Physiology, Kinesiology, and Sport’s coaching. In 2010, Coach Gerardo accepted a full time instructor position with Gracie Barra Magnolia and heads the Muay Thai and MMA program at that location. Gerardo has a great understanding of the body and focuses on weight free exercises that include all areas of his martial arts training and incorporates them into one action packed high intensity work out suitable for both adults and children. Coach Gerardo’s vast experience in so many areas of MMA has made him an invaluable coach and training partner to students and fighters throughout Houston.

Coach Alex Morono

Coach - Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts

Coach Alex Morono is one of Gracie Barra Houston's "Rising Star" competitors and has always had a passion for coaching his peers.  You can always find him on he mats training for hours and this is why there is no mistake in him earning the reputation as one of the top up and coming Professional Mixed Martial Artist in the circuit.

• Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Prof. Chad Robo
• Muay Thai Expert, 3x International Competitor in IKF 
• Pro MMA Competitor with a 3-1 Record
• #1 Ranked as and Champion as an Amateur MMA Competitor
• Trained in BJJ and MMA in Brazil
• Coached for 3 months in South Africa
• Experienced BJJ Referee
• 2nd place in NAGA no-gi 2009
• 2nd place in Battle of H-town 2009
• Pan Am Bronze Medalist 2009
• World BJJ Championships Bronze Medalist 2009
• Judo practitioner under Wessel Boshoff 2nd Dan Judo Black Belt
• Master Tactitian and Strategist - Awarded Valor Grand Cross top 1% "In the World" Killzone 2 - Online Gaming :)

Coach Jody Trantham

Head Wrestling Coach for GB North Houston Schools
Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts Strategist

Coach Jody's actively competed and coached in Wrestling and Tae Kwon Do for close to 30 years.  He grew up wrestling in Alaska where he won 100+ bouts prior to his successful collegiate wrestling career at Colorado School of Mines.  As captain of his college wrestling team, training under Dan Lewis and Former UFC HvyWght Champion, Shane Carwin.  Jody was a two-time NCAA National Championship qualifier and ranked 6th in the nation his senior year.  Jody has coached and cornered top GB Pro MMA fighters to wins to include Prof. Robo for his Legacy Title and StrikeForce win. 

As a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do under Master David Keller, Jody won several Alaska state titles and several Junior Olympic metals including a Gold metal at the USTU Adult Senior Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia.  As a Purple Belt in BJJ, a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and a nationally ranked collegiate wrestler, Jody brings well rounded insight to our coaching staff.

•  BJJ Purple Belt under Prof. Chad Robo
• Two-time Wrestling NCAA National Championship Qualifier, 2000, 2001
• #6th ranked U.S. NCAA College wrestler at 149lbs, 2001
• 3-time Alaska State Wrestling Championship runner-up, 1995, 1996, 1997
• Alaska State Free-Style Wrestling State Champion 1997
• Tae Kwon Do USTU National Champion, Atlanta, Georgia, 1995
• Tae Kwon Do USTU Junior Olympic Bronze Medalist, Chicago, Illinois, 1996
• 6-time Alaska Tae Kwon Do State Champion, 1991-1996

 PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Married to Adrienne and has three boys; Austin, Cameron and Brandon
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Business from Colorado School of Mines
• Commenced his MBA at Texas A&M Corpus Christi
• A real estate investor and small business entrepreneur
• A devout Christian