Carlson Gracie Napa Valley / MARINHO JIU-JITSU

“There are not enough words to describe how incredible of an experience and academy this is. Professor Marinho, and the academy, are a hidden gem. A few months ago, and without any prior experience, I had decided that I wanted to learn martial arts. So, I reached out for a trial class; Professor Marinho warmly welcomed me and made me feel like I had a new family. The respect of the art, the dedication and discipline of the other adult students, the high quality instruction from the Professor and the overall experience have given me a new commitment in life to martial arts, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Technique, Routine, and Execution. Thank you, Professor Marinho and Natasha, for giving me an opportunity to learn. I look forward to our continued classes. Oss! 10/10!”

“Marinho is the most humble yet experienced martial art instructor. His demeanor and style create a uniquely fun yet skillful style that resonates with all the students in the academy. From the youth to the adults it is a safe, fun, family environment that has a skill level of instruction that is straight from Carlson Sr. Great place to train and meet others. Highly recommend.”

“Professor Maurinho is very good with teaching kids. He is very patient and thorough with making sure kids understand the technique and why it works, as well as what not to do. He is very big on respect for the gym and your teammates, and conducting yourself in a disciplined and respectful manner, but also gives the kids time to play and just be kids. It is not uncommon to see a big game of tag before class involving most of the kids..I really respect his approach as he personally told me, " with the younger kids, its about teaching them to love jiu jitsu as opposed to just teaching them techniques. Let them develop a love for being in the gym, for being with their teammates...If you allow them to learn to love jiu jitsu, they will want to learn and the technique aspect will come naturally as a result." I have seen this first hand as I have two young daughters in the class. My older one is 5 months in and has already won 2nd place in a tournament last month. The class is very tight knit, all of the kids are friends, and they welcome new friends readily. It is a very welcoming gym and all of the older youth students are very unselfish and routinely spend time helping the younger kids learn in individual drills or sparring. "Letting them work" so to speak. Sorry this is so long but I obviously have nothing but good things to say about NVMAW.”

“Fantastic gym!. Marinho is a terrific instructor with decades of experience. Family friendly environment and no egos. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned veteran, young or old, competing or just for fun, you’ll find what you are looking for here.”

“It's not often that you find someone like Professor Marinho Vauvenargues - a man who has trained with some of the most elite fighters in the world of MMA and BJJ, and was trained and received his black belt directly from Carlson Gracie Sr., in a relatively small county like ours. Simply put, this is world class BJJ instruction at our front door. Couple that with the fact he is one of the most down to earth people you'll ever meet, and you start to realize why this gym is growing so quickly. His classes are rich in detail, and the atmosphere he fosters is both family friendly and inclusive. You feel like part of a team from day one. Whether you are a budding professional MMA fighter, a law enforcement officer, or someone (at any age) who simply wants to learn confidence and a skillset that translates directly to the real world, this is your place.”