Luz Do Verao Luta Livre was founded by Prof Tony Pacenski and incredibly skilled and accomplished martial artist, Prof. Tony was graded to Black Belt in Luta Livre by one of the most recognised and revered names in Brazilian Luta Livre Grand Master and President of the CBLLE, 9th Degree Bosco Lima a true recognition of Prof Tony’s skill and ability in the art of Luta Livre. As the head Instructor at Kaizen Martial Art I have had the honour of being graded under Prof. Tony and currently I hold the rank of Brown Belt in Luz Do Verao.
Anthony, “little” Tony, J Pacenski Jr. is a 4th degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Rodrigo Medeiros earned on October 2006 and a co-founder of the Jiu Jitsu Global Federation (JJGF) with Master Rickson Gracie and Black Belt Carlos Gama. Tony has over 25 years of experience in Grappling and Jiu Jitsu having been taught by many of the top Jiu Jitsu instructors in the United States and Brazil and for over 20 years has worked as a Jiu-Jitsu instructor. He started studying Gracie Jiu Jitsu in 1995 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and now has become one of the style’s most prominent American-born figures. In addition, Tony has earned numerous rankings in Japanese and Brazilian Martial Arts including black belts in Judo and Taiho Jutsu while in Japan, and the covenant faixa preta (Black Belt) in Brazilian Luta Livre where he leads the Luz do Verão team. He is recognized for his captivating seminars and articulate explanations of Martial Arts. Tony enjoys a reputation as a gifted instructor and a teacher of black belts.
In Tony’s pursuit to improve as a teacher, he spent two years in the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu instructor program in Torrance, California. While there, Tony assisted Rorion Gracie and 3-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion Royce Gracie in seminars and training sessions to diverse groups, ranging from the FBI, Navy Seals, Army Rangers, and Los Angeles Police Department (L.A.P.D.) to women and children. He was also able to learn directly from Grand Master Helio Gracie semi-privately during this period, while he visited the academy.
Tony has worked as an elementary school teacher in Los Angeles, CA. and Philadelphia, PA. He is a graduate of Concordia University of Southern California Irvine with a Master’s Degree in Education in Curriculum & Instruction and has also completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Other college Degrees include an Associates of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from Bucks County Community College of Pennsylvania, a Degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology from the Community College of the Air Force, and a second Associates Degree in Education and Training Management from the Community College of the Air Force. Tony is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education in Organizational Leadership at California Coast University.
Professor Pacenski has started two academies under the BJJ Revolution Team Flag: The Revolution Academy in Pennsylvania in 2004; and, the BJJ Revolution Team- Redondo Beach Academy in 2008. He has also released a series of instructional DVD’s called “The Faixa Preta Series” & “The BJJ Seminar Series” being one of the first BJJ instructionals to focus on the 50/50 Guard for BJJ; The Berimbolo Game; and The Sao Paulo Approach To Passing The Guard. Tony continues to teach martial arts seminars across the United States and abroad.
Today, “little” Tony is known as a leader in the Jiu Jitsu community for his vision, educational work and commitment involving the Jiu Jitsu Global Federation as well as for his detailed and well-organized instruction which is showcased in his instructional videos. He has received international acclaim for all of this and has been featured on Budo Videos Rolled Up, InsideBJJ.com, Mat Time Radio, Open Mat Radio, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Rocks Podcasts, Jiu Jitsu documentaries, Japanese|European|Brazilian|American Jiu Jitsu Magazines and endless blogs about state of the art in Jiu-Jitsu as Tony uniquely has certifiable and specialized knowledge because he is one of the rare persons to have ever trained under the Gracie Academy (Grand Master Helio Gracie), BJJ Revolution Team (Master Carlson Gracie) and under Master Rickson Gracie.
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