Professor Rodrigo's personality is the basis of Ground Control's culture. He is a highly energetic instructor who has been teaching over a number of years having learned Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Passionate about his sport, Prof Rod strives to make every class engaging and informative. He is known for his technicality and his ability to connect with students. Always keen for more experience, Prof Rod regularly attends seminars with renowned industry leaders and world champions to bring more knowledge back to his gym.  He regularly brings visiting instructors to The Entrance to keep training fresh for his students, who have been lucky enough to meet a world champ or two.

As a teenager in Brazil, Rodrigo was passionate about martial arts and practiced Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Capoeira, and Judo. However, he eventually left martial arts to pursue his other passion: competitive surfing. After moving to Australia, Rodrigo rediscovered his love for Jiu Jitsu and began training more seriously.  Rodrigo is proud of his accomplishments in both surfing and Jiu Jitsu, and he continues to enjoy both sports finding, like so many others, that the sports complement each other well.

BJJ Competition achievements:

• GOLD Triple Bull BJJ Open 
• BRONZE Triple Bull BJJ Open NO-GI
• GOLD Grappling Industries 
• GOLD South Pacific BJJ Championships GI
• GOLD South Pacific BJJ Championships NO-GI
• GOLD State Championships
• GOLD Events Jiu Jitsu GI
• BRONZE Events Jiu Jitsu open division
• SILVER Sydney Cup BJJ
• SILVER Sydney Cup BJJ
• SILVER Pan Pacific Jiu Jitsu Championships
• GOLD Pan Pacific Jiu Jitsu IBJJF Championships GI
• GOLD Pan Pacific Jiu Jitsu IBJJF Championships NO-GI
• GOLD Abu Dhabi AJP Jiu Jitsu Pro
• GOLD Pan Pacific Jiu Jitsu IBJJF Championships GI
• GOLD Central Coast BJJ Open
• BRONZE NSWABJJF Autumn Cup