Instructors

Jeff Kunze:    (Lehi location)


Jeff Kunze is the highest ranking Machado blackbelt currently in the state of Utah. He holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt directly under the legendary Rigan Machado.  Jeff has practiced Jiu-Jitsu for over 15 years and has won multiple international medals.  He has trained with many pride and UFC fighters and also been a sucessful coach of the Machado Utah Kids team based out of Lehi, Utah. He was given his black belt through a lineage recognized by the international brazilian Jiu-Jitsu federation. Jeff Also studies Judo and is progressing in that art to supplement his Jiu-Jitsu skills.

Lineage: (Carlos Gracie->Carlos Gracie Jr.->Rigan Machado->Jeff Kunze)

IBJJF Pan American Super super heavyweight Bronze Medal (Brown Belt 2003)
IBJJF Pan American Black Belt Superheavyweight Silver Medalist (2005)
IBJJF Pan American Black Belt Superheavyweight Bronze Medalist (2009)


Brandon Ruiz:   (Salt lake location)

Brandon is one of the most qualified instructors in the nation and has numerous titles in submission wrestling as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Brandon is an Instructor in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program; he has also studied the Bayless Jiu-Jitsu system and has a broad background in all forms of wrestling. Brandon is one of the very best currently active grapplers in the world and was awarded his Black Belt through a lineage recognized by the international brazilian Jiu-Jitsu federation.

 
• “The King of Combat Grappling”
• World Absolute Champion- Pancrase Submission Wrestling 2008
• World Heavyweight Champion- Pancrase Submission Wrestling 2010
• IBJJF World Bronze Medalist 2008 (Brown Belt)
• IBJJF Pan Am Silver Medalist 2008 (Brown Belt)
• Abu Dhabi 2004 & 2006 Trials competitor
• 3x Pancrase Submission Wrestling National Champion
• Greco Roman Wrestling Pan Am Silver Medalist
• 8x Greco Roman & Freestyle All-American
• 2008 FILA Grappling World Silver Medalist
• 2009 FILA Grappling World Silver Medalist

 Lineage: (Carlos Gracie->Carlos Gracie Jr.->Rigan Machado->Jeff Kunze-> Brandon Ruiz)

Dave Johnson:   (U.C.T.C location)

Dave has over 16 years of experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He began his Jiu-Jitsu career under Rickson Gracie Black Belt Pedro Sauer, who he trained with from 1993 until 1998. He also studied Catch Wrestling and Bayless Jiu-Jitsu with Olympic wrestling Gold medalist and multiple time world champion Mark Schultz. Years ago Dave began to train under Ricardo "Ica" Medina, and later Jeff Kunze (Both certified Black Belts under Rigan Machado). Dave has won medals in National and International competition. He also has extensive experience training U.S. Special Forces , Defense contractors, S.W.A.T., and law enforcement. Dave has coached and cornered grapplers and MMA fighters. He has also cornered black belt competitors at the Gracie world championships. Dave was awarded his Black Belt through a lineage recognized by the international brazilian Jiu-Jitsu federation.

• IBJJF US OpenXI Bronze Medalist 2006
• IBJJF Pan Ams Bronze Medalist 2007
• IBJJF US OpenXII Silver Medalist 2007
• IBJJF US OpenXIV Black Belt Superheavyweight Champion 2009
• IBJJF US OpenXIV Black Belt Open Division Champion 2009
 
Lineage from white to Blue belt: 
(Carlos Gracie- Helio Graice-Rickson Gracie-Pedro Sauer-Dave Johnson)

Lineage from Purple to Black
(Carlos Gracie-Carlos Gracie Jr.-Rigan Machado-Ricardo Medina &Jeff Kunze-Dave Johnson)

Gerald Harris:     (U.C.T.C location)

 Gerald has been a student of the martial arts for years and is currently one of the Instructors at U.C.T.C. He has trained under Ricardo Medina, and later Jeff Kunze (Both certified Black Belts under Rigan Machado). Gerald has also done various community self defense seminars. Gerald has won 3 medals National and International competition. Gerald was awarded his Black Belt through a lineage recognized by the international brazilian Jiu-Jitsu federation.

• IBJJF Pan Am Silver Medalist 2005
• IBJJF Pan Am Gold Medalist 2007 (Super Heavyweight division)
• IBJJF Pan Am Gold Medalist 2007 (Open Class)
• IBJJF Pan Am Silver Medalist 2008

Lineage:
(Carlos Gracie->Carlos Gracie Jr.->Rigan Machado->Jeff Kunze-> Gerald Harris)


Ricardo "Ica" Medina  (Founder of Team Machado Utah)

Ricardo “ICA” Medina is a 2nd degree Black Belt and certified instructor under 8th Degree Black Belt Rigan Machado (Nephew of Grand Master and founder of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Carlos Gracie Sr.).


In October 2000 ICA became a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He also became the first Mexican to earn the coveted Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This was a great moment for ICA and he is very proud to have earned this title.

Ricardo “ICA” Medina was born in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. At an early age he began to show interest in sports, especially Martial Arts. As a child in Merida, he developed a passion for boxing. A passion that he had then and still has now. When he was 18, Ica immigrated to the United States looking for a other types of training and techniques. Once he established himself in the U.S. the doors of Martial Arts began to open. After practicing Judo and Karate, he began to transition to Muay Thai because of its similarities with boxing. This transition led him to Guru Master Dan Inosanto.

Some years later he was invited to participate in a special class. This class was to be taught by none other than, Rickson Gracie. He liked this class so much that for the next three months he could not think about anything but BJJ. After those three months, Ica was again invited to another class, this time with the Machado brothers. At that time he met five new friends: Rigan, Carlos, Jean Jacques, Roger, and John. After meeting his new friends, he decided to make the MachadoAcademy his choice for BJJ.

ICA Medina has has been training Brazilian JIu Jitsu for over 15 years and has trained and taken seminars with world class BJJ champions such as Master Carlos Gracie jr., Ronaldo Jacare, Fabio Leopoldo, Marcio Feitosa, Marcio Cruz Pe de Pano, Fernando Margarida Pontes, Bibiano Fernandez, Crolling Gracie, Dan Inosanto, Braulio Estima, Erick Paulson,etc.

Since 1996 ICAMedina has traveled to the south of Mexico(Yucatan) to hold seminars and later run to the cities of Mexico, Campeche, Tabasco, Can Cun, Playa del Carmen and Acapulco. Also ICA has traveled to cities in the USA to teach BJJ seminars and clinics: Salt Lake City and ST. Jorge Utah, Colorado, Nevada, and all over California. Visiting some of this cities with his instructor Rigan Machado.

ICA Medina has been a part of Team Machado for over 15 years, participated in various tournaments and always placing in the top 3. Some of those tournaments are:
2005 Pan American Championships: Black Belt 1st place sr.
2005 Pan American Championships 3rd place open
2004 Pan American Championships: Black Belt 3rd place.
2003 December Black Belt Challenge: 1st place.
2003 American Inernational Championship: Black Belt 1st place Light Heavy.
2003 American Inernational Championship: Black Belt 2nd place Open.
2002 International Jiu Jtsu Championships Black Belt: 1st place.
2001 Grappling Games Black Belt: 1st place.
2000 RCJ Machado Jiu Jitsu Submission Tournament: 1st place.
2000 III Copa Pacifica: 1st place.
1998 Pan American Championships Hawaii: Purple Belt 3rd place
1998 ASJJF Inland Classic: Purple Belt 1st place
1998 Machado Jiu Jitsu Championship: Purple Belt 1st. place
1997 Pan American Championships: Purple Belt participant.
1997 Joe Morieria Annual Championships: Purple Belt 1st place.
1996 Pan American Championships: Blue Belt participant.