Today we’d like to introduce you to Seidler Rodrigo Santos Ziser.
Hi Seidler Rodrigo, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and today I live in Utah with my wife, Daniela, and our son, Pedro. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been part of my life for many years, but what it has become today is much bigger than a personal journey. It has become a mission to serve families, build leaders, and help develop Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Utah in a professional, organized, and community-centered way.
Before becoming a full-time Jiu-Jitsu instructor and business owner, I worked as a pharmacist and earned a master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences. I spent many years at FIOCRUZ, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, one of the leading bioscience research and development institutions in Latin America. That background shaped the way I think. I learned to value systems, evidence, discipline, structure, and long-term thinking. Today, I apply many of those same principles to running martial arts schools.
I started training Jiu-Jitsu more seriously in 2009, originally because I wanted to improve my health and fitness. What began as a personal decision slowly became a complete life transformation. I started competing, became very involved in the art, and eventually joined Gracie Barra in 2012 as a blue belt. During my colored belt years, I competed often, won multiple IBJJF tournaments, and became ranked number one in the state of Rio de Janeiro in my divisions multiple times.
As I grew in Jiu-Jitsu, teaching became a natural path. I began assisting instructors and eventually taught classes at my former workplace. In 2016, I opened my first Gracie Barra school in Rio de Janeiro, Gracie Barra Vargem Grande. In 2017, I opened Gracie Barra Santa Rosa and received my black belt from Professor Jefferson Moura at the original Gracie Barra school, Gracie Barra Matriz. In 2018, I opened Gracie Barra Icaraí.
In 2020, my family and I moved to Utah. That transition started a new chapter. I became involved with Gracie Barra Salt Lake City, and over time our work expanded into Gracie Barra West Jordan, Gracie Barra Riverton, and Gracie Barra Herriman. Today, I am the sole owner of four Gracie Barra schools in Utah. Our schools serve students across Salt Lake City, West Jordan, Riverton, Herriman, and the surrounding Salt Lake County communities.
Since my last interview, a lot has changed. We added Gracie Barra Riverton and Gracie Barra Herriman, and Gracie Barra has continued to grow throughout Utah. Today, Gracie Barra is the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu team in Utah, with 10 schools across the state. I am grateful to be part of that growth and currently operate four of those schools.
I was also invited to serve as a Regional Development Council Member representing Utah, working with other council members across North America. The goal is to help develop Utah as a key region for Gracie Barra, support the growth of existing schools, and help double the number of schools in the region over time.
For me, this is not about personal recognition. It is about responsibility. We have an opportunity to build something that impacts families, children, adults, and communities for many years. Jiu-Jitsu changes people. It gives them confidence, fitness, discipline, resilience, self-defense skills, and a positive community. Being able to organize that at a high level is something I take very seriously.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has not been easy, and I believe that is part of what makes the journey meaningful.
When I moved from Brazil to the United States, I had to adapt to a new country, a new language, a new culture, and a new business environment. Improving my English was a major challenge. I also had to help my son adapt, because he arrived without speaking English. As a parent, that was one of the most important responsibilities during our transition. In a few months he is going to UVU, and he has already finished 1 year of college education during high school. He is a really good kid. I am a proud dad.
Shortly after we arrived in Utah, the pandemic created another major challenge. Like many small business owners, we had to navigate uncertainty, fear, and operational difficulties. Running a martial arts school during that period required patience, creativity, and faith in the long-term value of what we were building.
I also went through two surgeries, including one on my spine. As a Jiu-Jitsu instructor and school owner, physical limitations can be difficult emotionally and professionally. But those experiences also gave me more empathy for students who are starting with injuries, health concerns, or self-doubt. I understand what it means to rebuild.
Another important challenge was learning how to lead a growing team. In Brazil, I had experience teaching and operating schools, but expanding in the United States required me to grow as a leader, employer, and business operator. I had to learn more about human resources, communication, systems, team culture, and accountability.
Recently, I also bought out my former business partner and became the sole owner of the schools. That was a big step, both financially and professionally. It increased my responsibility, but it also gave me the clarity to lead the organization with one vision, one standard, and one long-term plan.
The biggest lesson from all of these challenges is that growth requires humility. You have to keep learning. You have to listen. You have to improve your systems. You have to take responsibility when things do not go perfectly. In Jiu-Jitsu and in business, progress comes from showing up consistently, solving problems, and staying committed to the mission.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work today is focused on building professional, family-friendly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools in Utah through the Gracie Barra system.
Gracie Barra is the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu organizations in the world, with a global network of schools and a structured curriculum developed to serve students of different ages, goals, and experience levels. At our Utah schools, we offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes for kids, teens, and adults, including beginner programs, advanced training, women’s self-defense, competition training, and family-focused martial arts programs.
Our schools are located in Salt Lake City, West Jordan, Riverton, and Herriman. Each school has its own leadership team, but we operate as one integrated organization. This allows us to maintain high standards, support our staff, share best practices, and offer students a consistent experience across all locations.
One of the things I am most proud of is our professionalism. Every class is structured. Our instructors and coaches are trained and certified through Gracie Barra’s official instructor development process. Our schools are clean, organized, safe, and welcoming. We want parents to feel comfortable bringing their children, adults to feel supported as beginners, and competitors to feel challenged at a high technical level.
We believe Jiu-Jitsu is much more than a sport. It is a tool for human development. For children, it helps build confidence, discipline, focus, coordination, respect, and resilience. For adults, it provides fitness, stress relief, self-defense, community, and mental strength. For families, it creates a shared environment where parents and children can grow together.
Our team has also been very active in competition. We participate in local tournaments, IBJJF events, and Gracie Barra’s CompNet tournaments. I am currently in charge of organizing CompNet for Utah and Idaho, which is an important part of building a stronger regional Jiu-Jitsu community. Competition is not required for every student, but for those who choose that path, it can be a powerful tool for growth.
What sets us apart is the combination of tradition, structure, and care. We are part of a global organization with deep roots in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but we are also very local in how we serve our communities. We know our students. We know our families. We care about their progress on and off the mats.
My goal is to help make Utah one of the strongest Gracie Barra regions in North America. That does not only mean opening more schools. It means building the right culture, developing instructors, improving systems, supporting school owners, and making sure students receive a world-class experience.
I want people in Utah to know that Gracie Barra is a place where anyone can start. You do not need to be in shape. You do not need previous martial arts experience. You do not need to be naturally athletic. You only need to take the first step. Our job is to guide you from there.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up in the Rio de Janeiro metro area, martial arts were always around me. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is part of the culture in Rio, and I was exposed to martial arts from an early age. My mother trained martial arts, and we used to wrestle in the backyard. She encouraged me to train, and I tried different martial arts, including capoeira, karate, boxing, and some Jiu-Jitsu.
At that time, however, my main passion was music. I loved playing guitar and spent a lot of time focused on that. I did not imagine that Jiu-Jitsu would one day become my profession, my business, and one of the main ways I would contribute to my community.
Looking back, I can see how different parts of my life connected. My scientific background taught me structure and discipline. Music taught me creativity and expression. Martial arts taught me resilience, humility, and confidence. Moving to the United States taught me courage and adaptation. Business ownership taught me responsibility and leadership.
I also think growing up in Brazil gave me a deep appreciation for community. In Brazilian culture, relationships matter. People matter. Family matters. I try to bring that same spirit into our schools in Utah. A Jiu-Jitsu academy should not feel cold or transactional. It should feel professional, but also human. It should be a place where people are seen, supported, and challenged to become better.
One thing that may surprise people is that I have a master’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences. Many people know me as a Jiu-Jitsu black belt and school owner, but before this chapter of my life, I was working in science and research. I believe that combination gives me a unique perspective. I love the art and tradition of Jiu-Jitsu, but I also believe in systems, education, and continuous improvement.
Today, when I look at our students, especially the children, I see much more than martial arts training. I see future leaders. I see kids learning how to handle pressure, respect others, overcome frustration, and believe in themselves. I see adults becoming healthier, more confident, and more connected. That is what keeps me inspired.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu changed my life. Now my goal is to make sure it can change many more lives here in Utah.
Contact Info:
- Website: gbslc.com & gbwestjordan.com & gbriverton.com & gbherriman.com
- Instagram: @seidlerrodrigo & @gbsaltlakecity & @gbwestjordan & @gbriverton & @graciebarraherriman
