Here at Pendle Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu we are proud to have an authentic lineage:
Mitsuyo Maeda
Mitsuyo Maeda (known in Brazil as Conde Koma—the "Count of Combat"). Maeda, who was taught by Jigoro Kano, the creator of Judo, fought hundreds of victorious challenge matches against practitioners of other styles using his Judo techniques to overcome them. Maeda had become a champion Judoka in Japan and was so highly revered by Kano he was sent around the world to spread Judo.
Carlos Gracie
In 1917, Carlos Gracie—14 year-old son of Gastão Gracie—watched a demonstration by Maeda at the Da Paz Theatre and decided to learn judo (also known at the time as 'Kano Jiu-Jitsu'). Maeda accepted Gracie as a student. Carlos Gracie refined his system by fighting in matches that were open to all skill levels and learning from those experiences to make Jiu Jitsu more effective. Gracie claimed to have fought anyone and everyone who was willing, regardless of size, weight, or fighting style. Though he was 135 pounds, his style proved so effective that Carlos Gracie was never defeated making him a legend in Brazil. With his younger brother Hélio Gracie, Carlos founded Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Carlos Gracie Jr.
Carlos "Carlinhos" Gracie Jr. is a Brazilian 8th-degree red and white belt jiu-jitsu practitioner and instructor. A member of the Gracie family, he is the son of Carlos Gracie, and first cousin to the Machado family brothers. Gracie is the founder of the Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu (CBJJ), also known as International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), which runs multiple jiu-jitsu tournaments around the world, including the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Pan American Championship and European Championship. He is also a co-founder of the well-known Gracie Barra team. Gracie is also the creator and director of Gracie Magazine, a monthly Brazilian jiu-jitsu publication.
Joelson Souza
Joulson Souza is 5th Degree Black Belt and is part of the Gracie Barra team training out of Rio in Brazil. Joulson taught Lucio's since 2000 and awarded him his 3rd degree Back Belt.
Lucio Sergio Dos Santos
3rd Degree black belt Lucio Sergio Dos Santos is the Head Coach and founder of Lucio Sergio BJJ Lifestyle, he received his black belt from Joelson Souza in 2007 in his home city of Rio De Janerio. Lucio moved from Rio to Preston, Lancashire where he trained at the Gracie academy there. Lucio opened his own Gym in Southport in early 2015 and has affiliated gyms across the North-West of England including Liverpool, Southport and Manchester.
John 'Staffordshire' Stokes
John 'Staffordshire' Stokes is head coach at Pendle BJJ and was awarded his BJJ Black Belt on Sunday 19th June 2016 and his 1st Degree in June 2019 by 3rd Degree Black Belt and world champion Lucio Sergio Dos Santos.
John started training BJJ in 2005 being the first Coach to bring this Art to the East Lancashire area. John also holds a 5th Dan Black Belt in Japanese Ju-Jitsu and 2nd Dan in Judo.