Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Phil Yeh was introduced to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu by red belt Carley Gracie in September 2008. Phil is currently a 2nd degree purple belt, and he is ranked #3 in his division worldwide. 

In addition to having trained directly under Carley Gracie, Phil has studied under Romulo Melo. Phil currently trains exclusively under Marco Nascimento at Peninsula BJJ in Foster City.

Jiu-Jitsu Tournament History (events are Gi, unless otherwise noted):

Marco Nascimento teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a sport. He has won over 100 gold medals and passes that knowledge to those seeking tournament wins. His style maximizes tournament points and works most efficiently in a time-based contest on a mat. He does not teach leg locks, strikes, or anything that would be illegal in a tournament.

Marco Nascimento began training BJJ in 1986 under Adilson Lima, earning a belt promotion every other year until he received his black belt in 1994. He has trained exclusively under Professor Lima and is Lima's first black belt. Marco is currently a 4th degree black belt and is the owner and head instructor at Peninsula BJJ, located at 1175 Chess Drive, Foster City, CA. Peninsula BJJ is associated with Pitbull Gracie Barra. After 10 years of teaching in the United States, Marco recently gave out his first black belts in April 2010; recipients include Nathaniel Lane, Luizinho Almeida, Rong Kuan, and Gene Folgo.

Adilson Lima (also known as "Bitta" or "Bita") is a 6th degree Gracie Barra black belt under Renzo Gracie and Carlos Gracie, Jr. He is the founder and headmaster of Pitbull Gracie Barra, which is headquartered in Teresopolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and has branches throughout the world, including San Diego, Connecticut, Tel Aviv, and Slovakia. Throughout his career, Professor Lima has given out approximately 100 black belts, with Marco Nascimento being one of his highest-striped students.

Adilson Lima fought professionally in mixed martial arts events from 1995-1997, with an official record of 5 wins, 2 losses, 0 draws. An unfortunate car accident forced Professor Lima to stop fighting in MMA; however, he continues to compete in Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. He has won multiple gold medals at the Brazilian Nationals, Mundials, Pan Ams, and many other prestigious tournaments. He has been undefeated in IBJJF competition since at least 2010, including gold medals in 2010 (2X), 2012 (2X), and 2013.

Carley Gracie is son of Carlos Gracie, founder of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Carley is currently a 9th degree red belt, officially ranked by the Federation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and he teaches traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as a fighting art. He honed his technique in the streets of Brazil and in no-holds-barred contests. Carley was Brazilian National Champion in Vale Tudo from 1969 to 1972, and he has never been defeated in any match, public or private, even within the Gracie family. His style is designed to win street fights. He teaches leg locks, weapon defenses, neck cranks, strikes, and other moves that would be illegal in a sport BJJ environment. Carley assumes that your opponent is a bad guy in a dark alley who is trying to cause you bodily injury. Carley's focus is on gi training, but also shows how moves can be modified for no-gi. One of Carley's most notable black belts is Japanese MMA fighter Taira Naoyuki. Mr. Naoyuki is Japan's first Vale Tudo champion and has an undefeated record with 100% of wins by submission; he is also one the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts in Japan.

Romulo Melo is also a traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and instructor. His details differ from Carley Gracie's, as his lineage comes more from Helio's side of the family through a decade of training under Royler Gracie (fifth son of Helio Gracie). He earned his black belt in 2007 from Royler Gracie and Charles Gracie (son of Robson Gracie and grandson of Carlos Gracie Sr.). In late 2010, Romulo was promoted to first degree (via Vinni Aieta of Gracie Tijuca, Brazil).

Romulo actively competes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments on the Gracie Humaita Team, and he is also currently an undefeated professional MMA fighter (75% of wins by submission). Romulo teaches both gi and no-gi at his own academy at 1313 Mason St., San Francisco, CA.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Brief History: Carlos Gracie learned judo (also known at the time as Kano Jiu-Jitsu) from Mitsuyo Maeda in Brazil in the early 1900s. After learning the basics, Carlos made many modifications to make the style more efficient for real street combat and "anything goes" competitions. He also focused on using leverage to defeat larger opponents, as he and his brothers were of small stature. The end result of his modifications was a martial art so different that it deserved its own identity. The term Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was coined to describe this new martial art. Carlos taught their style of Jiu-Jitsu to his four younger brothers as well as his older sons, including Carley Gracie. In turn, the brothers and sons taught this art to additional family members, including Kyra Gracie. In 1925, Carlos opened his first school in Rio, known as "Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu," and this became the Gracie family trade. Non-Gracies eventually also became proficient at and started teaching this art under the name Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was introduced to the United States in 1972, when Carley Gracie became the first family member to open a school in America.

Gracie Family Tree: HTML Format  / Graphical Format

"If you want to get your face beaten and well smashed, your ____ kicked, and your arms broken, contact Carlos Gracie at this address."
~1920s Brazilian newspaper ad

"Each person who puts on the kimono and believes in Jiu-Jitsu that myself and my family teaches is the realization of my life's work."
~Carlos Gracie (1902-1994)

Active Member, Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization

Active Member, Mensa

Lifetime Member, IHIQS