Leonardo Xavier is the founder, president and head instructor of the LX Jiu-Jitsu Association. Leo, as his friends and students affectionately know him, was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil into a family of natural athletes. His father was interested in the martial arts and was an accomplished track athlete, cyclist and volleyball player. He enrolled Leo in swimming lessons when he was 8 months old. Leo learned to swim before he knew how to walk or talk. By his family exposing him to a love of athletic activities and growing up appreciating to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, he became a lifelong student, competitor, and teacher of the martial arts. He was first exposed to Judo at the young age of five when he studied it in school. After he transitioned from Judo to Tae Kwon Do, a good friend of Leo invited him to come join in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class. Leonardo enrolled in the class the next day, falling completely in love with every aspect of the sport and the martial spirit behind the teachings of the Gracie Family. He was 15 and immediately identified with the art, setting himself apart as a student and athlete. From that point on Leo has dedicated his life to learning, competing, and teaching the art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Even before he had reached the rank of black belt, he also began to excel as an instructor. His main goal now is to teach these principles to his own students, whom he hopes will carry the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu flag with as much pride as he does.
Leonardo Xavier is the only black belt in all of the greater Houston area who is certified to teach authentic Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as envisioned by the late Grand Master Helio Gracie and authorized to do so by Royler and Rickson Gracie. In May 2008 Mr. Xavier received the rank of third degree black belt, after 9 years of experience as a black-belt instructor. He is recognized by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) , Confederacao Brasileira de Jiu Jitsu (CBJJF) and the United States Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (USBJJF) as a certified professor of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and by the Gracie Humaita Academy as a professor of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with more than 10 years of experience as a black belt level instructor.

From the beginning of Leo’s learning process of the art, he showed great promise as a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu athlete. His dedicated work ethic, natural skill, and indomitable fighting spirit caused him to be noticed by Saulo Ribeiro, one of Gracie Humaitá’s best students and competitors. Saulo then took Leo under his tutelage and, through the careful guidance of Royler Gracie, helped hone Leo’s skills both as a world-class competitor and sought-after instructor. When Robin Gracie, one of Royler’s brothers and instructors at Gracie Humaitá, decided to take the art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to Europe, both Royler and Saulo recognized Leo’s natural ability as a gifted teacher and entrusted him with helping them teach the daily classes at Gracie Tijuca and at Gracie Humaitá, the cradle of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He was one of the very first people outside of the Gracie family to be allowed the distinctive and rare honor of being a full time instructor working under Masters Royler and Rolker Gracie, sons of Grand Master Helio Gracie, in the traditional Gracie Humaita Academy.

Leo soon became a well-respected instructor at Gracie Humaitá and also represented the competition team quite successfully, becoming a multiple-medalist at such prestigious events as the World Championships, Rio de Janeiro State Championships, Pan-American Games, and the Brazilian National Championship. His success as an active competitor and commitment to the academy, teaching for up to 10 hours a day, was validated by the full support of the Gracie staff of instructors who embraced him and took him in as one of their own. Leo was a student at Gracie Humaitá for 15 years and worked as an instructor for the Gracie family for another 10 years, learning indispensable lessons on and off the mats from such noted grappling luminaries as Rolker, Royler, Rickson and other Gracie family members.
Leo continued to train, teach and compete under the Gracie Humaitá banner as a brown belt. In 1999, after many years of training and sacrifice, his passion and commitment paid off in a big way when mentors Royler Gracie and Saulo Ribeiro awarded him his black belt. Soon after his promotion an even bigger honor followed when he was awarded a Black Belt Professor Diploma by the legendary Royler and Rolker Gracie for his excellent contributions to Gracie Humaitá, the original Gracie academy that taught Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and was founded by Grand Master Helio Gracie. This accolade is reserved for only the most elite practitioners, and it symbolizes the epitome of what Helio Gracie envisioned as the ideal teacher and practitioner of the art he created.

Leonardo is known amongst the Jiu-Jitsu community as “The Wizard”, a nickname given to him by Kid Peligro, the most acclaimed author and one of the most respected writers of Brazilian and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Kid Peligro first noticed Leo’s humble and studious approach to Jiu-jitsu and eventually gave him the nickname because of his ability to read and adapt to his opponents intentions while reacting to every technique by creating a counter move and variation to them seemingly out of nothing. Upon first training with Leo, Kid Peligro was particularly impressed by how his techniques worked on opponents regardless of their size or shapes making them seem weightless.

Leo was competing in the 1999 Mundials (World Championship) where a spectator was so impressed by his technique and skill that he invited him to the United States to come give a few seminars throughout various states. The spectator soon became a regular student, and Leo began the transition from guest-instructor to being based and teaching full time in the United States. Through consistent hard work and dedication, Leo was able to establish a following of loyal students. Leo’s undeniable passion and enthusiasm for teaching the art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu along with his growing school were motivating factors for him to establish the LX Jiu-Jitsu Association with its main headquarters in Sugar Land, TX.
Leo’s constant efforts to promote, develop and expand the art of traditional Gracie-style Brazilian Jiu-jitsu have helped his association to experience a significant amount of growth and success. The LX Jiu-Jitsu Association now has affiliate schools spread all over the country and also in his native Brazil. The LX family can be found in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, New York, Brazil and many other places. All LX Academies are staffed with like-minded and equally passionate individuals that share Leo’s vision and commitment to producing high quality champions in the sport to which he has dedicated his life. The large number of champions Leo’s schools have produced evidences this success. Leo’s students routinely place for medals in all levels of competition from local tournaments to the North American Grappling Association, International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation sanctioned competitions, Pan-American Games and everything else in between.

Leo continues to teach and expand his association, trying to preserve the philosophy of Grand Master Helio Gracie and show an authentic version of this Brazilian system of self-defense. He anxiously waits the day in which he will promote his first generation of Black Belts from the USA so that they can share in spreading his love and knowledge of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.