About

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor Brooks Doran started training BJJ in 1998 under Kevin Cincotta in Biddeford, ME. After training with Kevin for over a decade, Brooks enrolled into legendary 8th degree black belt Joe Moreira’s instructor’s course. In May of 2015, Brooks received his black belt from Master Joe Moreira. Brooks has competed in many BJJ tournaments over the past 20 years, medaling in many, as well as earning championship belts from NAGA. Brooks is certified in the IBJJF as a black belt under Master Joe Moreira’s instructor Grand Master Francisco Mansur and his academy Kioto.

Master Joe Moreira was born inside a taxicab in front of a Rio de Janeiro hospital. His dark skin and blond hair prompted the affectionate nickname of "Macaco." By age five, Moreira's older brother, Marcos, influenced the youngster to start fighting in Judo. His first title for the Gama Filho University team was won by age six. Around that time he began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu career under the tutelage of Mauricio LaCerda.[2]

At age nine, he began training in Jiu-Jitsu at the schools of the legendary Carlson and Rolls Gracie, where he was taught mainly by Reyson Gracie and Pinduka. Across the street there was another studio owned and operated by Reylson Gracie, another son of the legendary Carlos Gracie. A chance visit to the studio resulted in Moreira spending the next 15 years under the tutelage of Reylson, who took a liking to the young fighter's style and groomed him to become an instructor. During this period with Master Reylson, Moreira also learned to produce tournaments and championships. This would later help him to organize one of the most important Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in Brazil, including the first international Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu event, Atlantico Sul.[2]

Another respected Jiu-Jitsu master, Francisco Mansour, awarded Moreira his black belt in 1984. By competing in the most important Jiu-Jitsu tournaments of the 1980s, such as Copa Company, Copa Lightning Bolts and Copa Cantao, Moreira's collection of titles grew. His participation in such events garnered Moreira's respect and recognition as one of the toughest fighters of his time.[2]

Around that time, the Gracie family was always looking for tough opponents to take on the undefeated Rickson Gracie. It wasn't long before Moreira accepted the challenge to face his idol twice in the same competition (weight - category final and absolute) despite not having good partners with whom to train. Although he was submitted in both matches, Moreira gave the Jiu-Jitsu legend something he was not used to: a tough fight. Following these bouts, a great friendship evolved between the two fighters.[2]

By 1986, Moreira was a black belt in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The next step in his evolution came in the form of internships at Tenri University, in Japan, and at the Kodokan, the traditional Judo academy established by Judo founder Jigoro Kano. After four months of training with the Japanese Olympic team and completing a course with more than 1,000 black belt students, Moreira became vice champ in an international tournament: the Judo World Cup.

After a year of invaluable training in Japan, Moreira returned to his Brazilian academy in Rio de Janeiro and produced his first tournament: the Atlantico Sul Cup, which saw the debut of world names such as Ryan Gracie, Renzo Gracie, and Ralph Gracie, SHOOTO welterweight champion Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro, UFC veteran Jorge Patino, Nino Schembri and Marcio Feitosa, Cleber Luciano, Wander Braga, Wallid Ismail, Jean Jacques Machado, Fabio Gurgel, Murilo Bustamante, Mario Sperry, Allan Goes, Ricardo de la Riva Goded, and others who helped to establish it as a premier tournament. Nine Atlantico Sul Cup events were held between 1986 and 1994, produced with the help of his partners and friends, Claudio Franca and Marcus Viniclus.[2]

In the early 1990s, an invitation from Reylson Gracie prompted Moreira to sell all of his possessions in Brazil and travel to the United States to be a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor. "He promised me everything," Moreira remembers, "but when I got there, it was pretty different." Because of some financial disagreements, he decided to go it alone and forge his own path.

After two difficult months in the United States - and despite not speaking a word of English - Moreira teamed up with entrepreneur Cab Garrett to build his own gym, "Joe Moreira Jiu-Jitsu de Brazil", in Irvine, California. During his eight-year partnership with Garrett, Moreira opened 30 branches of the school across the country. To date, Joe Moreira affiliate schools are in over 26 countries throughout the world. Some notable names of Moreira lineage include: Roy Harris and Rick Lucero (part of the famous BJJ Dirty Dozen), "Pistol" Pete Loncarevich, former UFC Tournament Champion Marco Ruas, Kimo Leopoldo, Michael Jen, Roy Dean, Mark Staniszewski and European MMA Champion Jan Blachowicz.

Moreira also founded the United States Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and played a major role in the dissemination of the art in America. As president of the federation, he created the first international Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament, the Joe Moreira Cup, and organized the first edition of the Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu tournament with Carlos Gracie, Jr., president of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Confederation.

Grandmaster Francisco Mansor (sometimes mentioned as Mansur) is a jiu jitsu red belt (9th degree) who was awarded his instructor’s degree by the late Master Helio Gracie (one of only 6 men outside the Gracie family to receive the rank by Helio), being also regarded as one of the most respected men in the sport/martial art. Francisco Mansor founded the Kioto academy in 1965, one of the most traditional Brazilian jiu jitsu schools in the world, a team strongly linked with the self defense aspect of BJJ. Master Mansor and his academy are known for having one of the biggest jiu jitsu academies for youngsters in Rio de Janeiro, from where he produced high end talent such as Alvaro Mansor (his nephew) Augusto “Tanquinho“, Carlos Henrique, Claudio França, Joe Moreira and many others.

Franciso Mansor was born in 1940 In Brazil. His induction to jiu jitsu was made through his father who had taken private classes in his younger days and passed on this knowledge to his young boy. In his teens Francisco Mansor moved to the centre of Rio de Janeiro to study, once there Mansor also found time to start jiu jitsu classes with Great Master Helio Gracie, Mansor was 15 years old when he met the legendary Gracie Master.

By the age of 17, Master Mansor was ready for his first vale tudo fight (no holds barred). Though the nerves kept him awake for most of the night previous to the event, he managed to keep his composure inside the ring on fight day and finished his opponent in 17 seconds. Master Mansor fought 38 more times in no holds barred rules, winning every bout, remaining undefeated until the end of his fighting career.

Master Francisco Mansor was also an important figure in the building of the first jiu jitsu federation in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro Federation). He opened the doors to his first academy when he was 25 years old, and quickly made a mark as a coach. Mansor had particular success working with youngsters, forming several great fighters with his kids program, and with his outstanding knowledge of grappling fundamentals his class quickly became one of the most sought out places for childrens sporting activities in Rio de Janeiro. His work towards the development of martial arts all over the world earned Master Francisco Mansor several awards, including inductions in the World Karate Hall of Fame, Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Fame, American Okinawan Karate Association Hall of Fame and the Budo International Magazine Hall of Fame.

The Kioto academy, opened in 1965 and was the first of its kind, with a very strict & systematic written curriculum, this BJJ school focuses on the basic techniques taught by Grand Master Helio Gracie as well as on the self defence aspect of BJJ, and is often regarded as one of the most traditional jiu jitsu schools in the world. Master Mansor’s first black belt was Marcelo Rezende Filho, and his BJJ Lineage gave birth to important academies such as Claudio França BJJ, Brazil 021 or Soul Fighters.

Upon Master Francisco Mansor’s departure from Brazil to go and live in the United States, his academy was left in charge of Alvaro Mansor and Kraus Mansor, while the teams’ destiny is supervised by Master Francisco Mansor. In 2008 Alvaro Mansur left Kioto to form a different team (Soul Fighters) together with some of Kioto’s former students.