A man wearing a black Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gi, smiling, standing in a martial arts studio with logos on the wall and patches on his gi.

  • Lead Instructor

    Hailing from the vibrant city of São Paulo, Brazil, he began his Jiu Jitsu journey at just 13 years old in 2003. Now a proud Black Belt under the renowned Marcelo Mafra and a dedicated member of the prestigious Checkmat Team, Professor Joao continues to refine his craft under the guidance of Professor Lucas Leite.

    Training alongside some of the world's most skilled black belts, he constantly pushes his limits and expands his expertise. With years of coaching and teaching experience, Professor Joao brings passion, precision, and energy to every class.

  • No-Gi Instructor

    Marcelo Fausto, is a highly accomplished jiu-jitsu black belt under Thiago Abreu, developed at The House FC in São Paulo, Brazil—a renowned Checkmat affiliate. Born on November 20, 2000, in São Vicente, Brazil, Marcelo first explored martial arts through judo but found his true passion in jiu-jitsu at age 10.

    Training under coaches like Tio Chico and later Thiago Abreu at The House, Marcelo quickly rose through the ranks, earning numerous titles as a colored belt, including IBJJF World and Pans Championships at blue belt. Known for his aggressive style and signature "Botinha" (collar-grip straight ankle lock), Marcelo made a strong debut in the black belt division with wins over elite competitors like Ashley Williams and AJ Agazarm.

    Promoted to black belt in 2021, Marcelo continues to represent Checkmat as a top lightweight competitor, showcasing the technical prowess and competitive spirit honed at one of jiu-jitsu’s most respected academies.

  • Gi INSTRUCTOR

    Jéssika Bartoli Almeida is a professional Jiu-Jitsu athlete, a black belt currently training with the Checkmat La Habra and Upland team under Professor Lucas Leite. Born in Minas Gerais, where she first came into contact with Jiu-Jitsu, she truly became a professional after moving to Curitiba, Paraná, and since then has accumulated major achievements on the national and international scene.

    As a representative of the CheckMat team, Jéssika has earned dozens of medals in major tournaments, highlighted by her No-Gi Black Belt World title and multiple gold medals in both the adult and master divisions.

    Beyond being an athlete, she is an example of dedication, balancing intense training with physical and mental preparation to stay at the top. Her journey reflects passion, perseverance, and a commitment to elevating women’s Jiu-Jitsu. In every match, Jéssika showcases refined technique, a warrior spirit, and a constant drive for evolution—both on and off the mat.

    Her goal now is to further expand her legacy, inspiring the next generation while continuing to compete at a high level.

  • Morning Instructor

    Noah Vanaman began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2009 in Folsom, California, under Elizandro Beda, a black belt under Leo Vieira, earning his blue, purple, and brown belts there. After relocating to Southern California, he continued his jiu jitsu journey under the Checkmat banner, which lead him to meeting and training under Professor João. Since joining Randori, he has further developed his jiu jitsu alongside elite instructors including Professor João, Marcelo Fausto, and Jessika Bartoli, earning his black belt in 2025.

    He is passionate about teaching and helping students understand the why behind the what, encouraging exploration, problem-solving, and improvisation rather than rote repetition. Seeing students experience breakthrough moments, when a technique becomes their own or opens the proverbial door to connecting skills, is what drives him as an instructor.

    Being part of Checkmat has provided the opportunity to learn from legends of the art, but beyond the world class instruction, it’s the strong sense of family and shared growth that makes the journey truly meaningful.