SOLFLO JIU JITSU - Key Persons
Professor Mario Correa was born in Rio de Janiero, the birthplace of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mario began his training under world-class competitors and instructors Roberto "Gordo" Correa and Vinicius "Draculino" Magalhaes. Soon after he began training with instructors from the famed Gracie Barra Academy and joined their main academy in 2002. At Gracie Barra, Professor Marcio Feitosa and Master Carlos Gracie Jr. were responsible for awarding Mario his brown and black belts, respectively. Mario's competitive accomplishments include winning the first Brazilian National Championships in 1993, a bronze medal in the 1999 Brazilian National Championships, a silver medal in the 2004 Brazilian National Championships and winning the BJJ Pan-Am Championships in 2008. Professor Correa has committed his life to the advancement of the art and sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Michel is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Michel started Jiu Jitsu with a self defense objective in mind, and found an amazing martial art with endless room for improvement, combining skills, knowledge and fitness. Having moved across the country multiple times, he got to experience different schools and styles of teaching, also gaining life long friends and mentors along the way. Initially focusing only on his own grappling, he later introduced his daughter to Jiu Jitsu and started coaching shortly after, by taking the "Parents! Please no coaching from the sidelines" sign a little too literal. Teaching Jiu Jitsu to kids is very rewarding. It teaches kids confidence via self defense principles. Jiu Jitsu also teaches discipline, athletic skills and a healthy way of learning from failures and mistakes. Teaching allows him to give back and pass down what he learns from great teachers and professors.
Ryan is a third-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Professor Ryan Walden began his pursuit of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at CBJJ, a Rigan Machado School. He began competing as a white belt and continued through his purple belt medaling at every competition. Ryan then studied under Professor Jorge "Van Damme" Oliveira and Professor Carlos "Sapão" Ban, a 3rd degree black belt under Ralph Gracie. He received his brown belt from 7x World Champion Robson "Robinho" Moura, one of the most decorated BJJ cometitors of all time. While holding a brown belt backed with 5 years of Muay Thai training he tested his skills inside of the cage as a professional mixed martial artist. As a brown belt Ryan began refining his teaching abilities and focusing on the development of Kids BJJ Programs. After almost a decade of dedication to Jiu Jitsu he earned the rank of Black Belt under Professor Mario Busy Correa. Professor Busy Continues to mentor Ryan at SOLFLO Jiu Jitsu. Ryan has helped coach and corner fighters since 2006 through a spectrum of events ranging from local cards to the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC). He has coached amateur and pro fighters across the states including HI, NV and CA bringing home 5 title victories.
Vinny Tinto is a purple belt who started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2020. He has completed in several tournaments since he has begun training with SOLFLO. Vinny is a life-long athlete, having played baseball and football since childhood, who firmly believes in a "healthy body = healthy mind" approach to life. Vinny now assists in growing the next generation of jiu jitsu athletes as a coach in SOLFLO's Lions BJJ program.
Zac is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Zac grew up in Follansbee, WV, where he lived until moving to Colorado in 2007. As a kid, Zac played almost every team sport imaginable, but focused on soccer and swimming as he got older. He has coached soccer and swimming teams in WV, PA, and CO. At the age of 35, Zac decided to give BJJ a try and signed up for the 30 days for $30 deal at Solflo. He attended over 30 classes in those first 30 days and was completely hooked. Zac recounts, "On my first day in the gym, I was played with like a toy. It didn't matter if I was bigger, faster, younger, or stronger than the other students on the mat, they were all able to manipulate my body as they wished. I remember thinking, I have to figure out how to be better at this. There has to be some magic I can't see. I'm still coming to each class trying to figure out how to be better at BJJ and find that invisible magic." Zac has been training under Professor Ryan since 2016 and is currently a purple belt.