If you want to learn how to fight, defend yourself, increase your self-esteem, boost your confidence, and get a great workout, then Rio Pro BJJ is the right place for you!
We are a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy, strategically located on both the east and west side of Cleveland. If you live in the suburbs or if you work downtown, you will find our Beachwood and Westlake locations convenient. Take this rare opportunity to train at two schools for the price of one.
What Martial Arts do we teach?
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
- No Gi Grappling
- Judo
- Muay Thai
- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
Is Rio Pro right for me?
Our school is for everyone that is looking to improve the overall quality of their lives. We offer a diverse set of classes that fit everyone's needs from professional fighters to stay-at-home moms.
You may be wondering, how is that possible?
Over our years of experience, we have developed a structured curriculum that fits individual goals by separating programs by experience levels. Whether you are a professional fighter or someone who has never even put on a gi or a glove, don't be afraid, we have a program for you!
Every minute inside our classes is planned to perfection to guarantee you perform at your best and achieve your goals. From the warm up to the cool down, no minute is wasted as our world-class instructors push the pace of the class while still maintaining personal attention. Our attention to detail, when combined with our welcoming and positive environment, we have created more than a school, we have created a family.
A Personal Message From Professor Ze
HELLO!
I am Professor Jose Dias, head instructor of Rio Pro Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. You have taken the time to find our website and see our testimonials. Now, please give me a few minutes to explain the opportunity that I am presenting to you. I give you my word that what we are offering will change your life forever, as it has for hundreds of people that have joined our school. I am a Black Belt under Master Carlos Gracie Jr., the founder of Gracie Barra. I have been training Jiu-Jitsu at Gracie Barra since I was 14 years old. I'm also a brown belt in Judo under the guidance of Olympic Medalist Flavio Canto.
I have had the privilege of training with the world's top black belt competitors and I bring my experience and
technique straight from the mats in Rio to the Cleveland area. Over the years, I have won several tournaments as a
sponsored fighter in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, with the Rio de Janerio State Championship as my
most recent accomplishment in 2011. My team of instructors and I are dedicated to giving you the most unique and authentic
training experience in Cleveland. We provide you with excellence from the first time you step foot in one of our beautiful
facilities to help you accomplish your goals.
If you are still unsure, hear what our students have to say:
GREAT FOR MEN, WOMEN, AND KIDS
Our students come in all shapes and sizes. The beauty of our martial art is that it will allow you to develop your own personal style regardless of your size and strength.
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START TRAINING
The average age of our adult students is 29 with many being 40 or older. Absolutely no experience is required.
YOU HAVE NEVER EXERCISED? NO PROBLEM
You do not have to be in shape to start training. In fact, most people that start at our school are not in "good shape". Through training, you will experience tremendous weight loss, increased flexibility, improved mental awareness, unbelievable cardio, and much more...
WHO TRAINS AT RIO PRO?
Everyone!!! We have a very diverse group of students. Lawyers, doctors, pilots, plumbers, surgeons, police, FBI, teachers, bankers, students, etc. With the majority of students being working professionals, you can expect an inviting and welcoming atmosphere. We do not tolerate the typical tough guy. Everyone is here to have fun, get in shape, and learn something new.
WHAT MAKES RIO PRO BJJ UNIQUE
"I have trained at Rio Pro as a supplement to my MMA training. They have
top notch instruction and the intense training I need as a UFC fighter. If you are in
the Cleveland area, I definitely recommend stopping by and checking them out."
- Spencer Fisher (UFC Fighter)
"Rio Pro BJJ is a diamond in the rough in the stacked wrestling state of Ohio. My son
has been training at Rio Pro BJJ since its opening. He already had two years under his belt before
he met our
new family. Over the last two years, they have taken my son Thomas' grappling game to a whole
new level, working with top fight instructors straight from the motherland of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Rio de Janerio, Brazil.
After winning many state tournaments and the Grappler's Quest U.S. Nationals, I can't believe his game is still improving.
It seems we've only scratched the surface in squeezing knowledge out of his Professor. They bring a steady supply of black belts
in from World Renowned schools, such as Grace Barra in Rio de Janerio, as well as professional MMA fighters to make sure your game
is evolving. These instructors also compete themselves, which help motive the students that they are not only teachers, but students of the
game also. There is no other place we would rather be. Hands down the best BJJ/submission grappling school Ohio has to offer."
- Tom Ceculski
Not long ago I was convinced that my martial arts training had come to an end. Various knee, shoulder and elbow injuries while training
for my second degree black belt in Hapkido, together with my age (58), had taken their toll. It didn't take long for de-conditioning and unwanted
weight to become a problem. 
Fortunately, Rio Pro BJJ came to my rescue with a newly opened Westlake location.
While providing an incredible cardio workout, I found that Ju Jitsu is easier on the body, and offers less risk of injury than most other martial art forms.
The camaraderie and high level of instruction provided by Prof. Ricardo and Prof. Ze has made the transition all the more enjoyable. Except for the unavoidable
work related travel and necessary vacations, Rio Pro BJJ has become an important part of my stress relief and weekly routine. I only wish I had found them sooner.
I can unequivocally attest that Rio Pro BJJ offers the highest quality Brazilian Ju Jitsu training available for athletes of all abilities and ages.
- Bill Hawal
Finding the Right School...
Many people in the area have considered martial arts training, but few know where to begin. Here is a checklist of things you should look for in a reputable martial arts school.
1. Are the instructors qualified to teach?
Answer: This is very important! If the trainers are not experts in their art, then you could be entering into a dangerous situation. What rank do they have in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Where did THEY train? How have THEY been training? Have THEY ever competed in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Mixed Martial Arts? If these answers are unclear, it is best to look elsewhere?
Check out our instructors bios to read about our highly qualified instructors!!!
2. Have they ever created any champions?
Answer: This may be a trick question, but it is a good one to ask. The key element is this: Have they ever taken a person off the street, with ZERO wrestling and ZERO martial arts experience and turned them into a champion competitor in national or world class events?
Rio Pro has produced Ohio Grappling Champions, Pan American Champions, National Champions, and Rio de Janerio State Champions.
3. What is the condition of the facilities?
Answer: The quality of training is not always determined by the structure that it is in, but, you want to know that you are training in a safe, healthy environment, don't you? It also lets you know what kind of value the owners put in their gym. If they pocket all of the students' membership fees while letting the gym fall apart, it only hurts the students.
Rio Pro is located in two premier suburbs of Cleveland (Beachwood and Westlake). The high-end and modern facilities are fully equipped with showers, changing rooms, restrooms, lounge areas, and offices. In addition, training areas are sanitized twice a day with a professional, commercial cleaning company detailing the entire facility weekly.
4. What are you paying for?
Answer: This is an issue of cost vs. value, isn't it? Nobody walks on to the lot of a Mercedes dealership and expects to pay Kia prices. The same goes for your martial arts training. You think you are getting a deal with a bargain price gym membership, only to find out that the guy who is teaching you is barely qualified and is really wasting your time, money, and potentially risking your safety!
At Rio Pro, you get what you pay for. High quality instruction, excellent customer service, great locations, dynamic training...and MORE!
5. Do they offer introductory programs for new students?
Answer: Many gyms just throw the new students into the mix from day one, with a "sink or swim" mentality. This is no way to teach a person with zero experience and it could cause undue injury. A basis in the foundational elements is needed for growth in any martial art.