On Saturday, July 16, 2022, Professor Leonardo Xavier was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame as the International Instructor of the Year. The black-tie affair was attended by over 300 guests, where the Class of 2022 was welcomed into the elite fraternity of martial arts schools and instructors as inductees.
Professor Leonardo Xavier is a Rickson Gracie fifth degree black belt with over 25 years of experience teaching Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He is the only jiu-jitsu professor in the Houston area certified to teach by the original and most traditional jiu-jitsu school in the world, the Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Gracie Humaitá Academy) and by the legendary Master Rickson Gracie. Recognized as a world-class authority of the art and one of its most charismatic professors, few people can match his deep technical knowledge and his passion for teaching. His mission is to continue the legacy of his instructors by preserving and sharing the principles of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with the community as a complete self-defense system that can benefit and empower anyone regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.
The USMAHOF celebration is a black-tie event during which the accomplishments of inductees are presented to the entire audience. It is a time when special people are recognized, camaraderie is enjoyed, and the Martial Arts are celebrated. Sponsored by the International Martial Arts Council of America, the mission of the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame is to recognize those martial artists that have made a profound difference. Their goal is to serve the fundamental martial arts community, honoring all people who dedicate themselves to excellence, both the well-known and hidden treasures that never see the limelight.
