Instructors
Raphael Guidotti Carrão
3rd degree black belt Professor Raphael Carrao, Head Instructor of ERJJA, was born in Piracicaba, Brazil.
Achieving the rank of Jiu Jitsu black belt in 2009, he has established himself as a world-class competitor and multiple-time Jiu-Jitsu champion.
"Rapha" took his career and experience further in 2012 where he had a professional MMA fight debut representing the Nogueira/Black House Team, winning his fight in 1:08 minutes via TKO.
With over 25 years of Jiu Jitsu training experience, Professor Rapha excels as a teacher of Jiu-Jitsu and Self-Defense, imparting his knowledge to the community.
Rapha brings his long history of marital arts training and multiple years of competition experience in both BJJ and MMA to his students.
He continues to stay active both as a student and Jiu Jitsu competitor, training at Prof. Rubens Charles Maciel AKA Cobrinha Academy/Alliance Los Angeles.
Spencer Valenzuela
As a kid watching the movie Bloodsport, Spencer knew he wanted to be a martial artist.
He started his journey in martial arts when his mother put him in wrestling & boxing programs.
Spencer found Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2008 & has embraced the Jiu Jitsu lifestyle.
Spencer is a 2 x time gold medalist as a brown belt in gi and no gi.
Coach: Ethan Pulido
Ethan began training in 2019 at Eagle Rock Jiu-Jitsu with a focus on self-defense, quickly discovering a lifelong passion for the art.
A former multi-sport athlete, he brings discipline and energy to both training and teaching.
He earned his B.S. in Computer Science from CSUN, where he also served as President of the Jiu-Jitsu Club in Spring 2023.
Now a Purple Belt, Ethan continues to compete and instruct with dedication.
Tournament Highlights
• 2023 IBJJF American Nationals – 3rd, Blue Belt No-Gi
• 2023 IBJJF SD Summer Open – 3rd, Blue Belt No-Gi
• 2023 UCI Anteater Open – 1st, Blue Belt No-Gi (CSUN)
• 2021 NABJJF AZ Open – 2nd, White Belt Gi
Coach: Tristan Sawers
Coach Tristan is a local kid, born and raised in Northeast LA. As a young boy, he played the usual team sports at Highland Park & Eagle Rock Rec. leagues & ended up taking an interest in swimming & martial arts later on.
In early adulthood he began coaching, starting off as development swim coach until eventually working with Team USA Olympians & US Masters. He has almost a decade of experience coaching swimming, strength & conditioning and now Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Currently spending more time training BJJ , he still loves to be able to spend time introducing the gentle art to a new audience.
Coach: Edson Landa
Edson's love for sports started when he was a kid.
He played football, basketball, wrestling, and track and field in high school.
That love for sports took him into coaching basketball for 8 years after graduating high school.
Edson was introduced to jiu jitsu by a friend in 2018 and fell in love with it from the first time touching the mat and it sparked a desire to compete again.
Edson has 5 silver medals and one bronze from NABJJF and IBJJF competitions.