About
I’m a fifth-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Paulo Coelho, my long-term professor training under Royler Gracie. I’m currently the head instructor in Gracie Barra Bothell.
As a teenager, I was of short stature but always set to stand for myself or others. Inevitably that got me involved in the fights, where my persistence helped, but soon I noticed that kids who trained Jiu-Jitsu were able to dominate in most situations. Not long after (1988), I started training Jiu-Jitsu too. It boosted my self-confidence, and there was no need to fight in the streets anymore due to respect to martial arts and people’s knowledge of its efficiency.
My first teacher, Falabella, at the time (1988) was a blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu and Luta Livre (Grappling). This academy focused on No-Gi fights and Vale Tudo. After a few years, professor Falabella received his purple belt in Luta Livre and fully dedicated himself to it. Many students and I chose to leave the academy to continue practicing Jiu-Jitsu. That’s when I got to the Monteiros brothers academy, the most respected in the Northern region of Brazil in the 90’s. Eventually, my studies’ schedules got in a way, and I had to move again. In 1992, I started training at the academy Cássio Façanha, one of Manaus’s oldest teachers. I practiced there for two years, but the schedules and the distance got in my way again. Finally, I arrived at Academia Paulo Coelho, my long-term and current teacher. Now and then, he was dedicated all of his time to Jiu-Jitsu training and competition, becoming a state, national, and World champion in the black belt.
I got my black belt in 2001. Over time I learned not only fighting aspects of Jiu-Jitsu but its philosophy around resiliency, self-confidence, respect, and many other values. My teachers always had “old school” Jiu-Jitsu as a priority, focusing less on sport and more on practical application. There was no limit to my passion for learning Jiu-Jitsu. In addition to my home academy, I frequently visited my friends’ gyms. At the time, every academy was unique, like my academy trained very hard how to pass guard, another academy taught a lot to pull guard, others used the half guard a lot, and so on. That experience helped me to learn more and get a broader perspective on Jiu-Jitsu.
I participated in seminars taught by champions like Royce, Rolker, and Rickson Gracie. They taught me a lot, like the importance of not leaving spaces, connecting positions, and always being one step ahead. I also participated in seminars with MMA, Muay Thay, Box, and Capoeira athletes. That allowed me to prepare my students who were looking to enter MMA scene.
Now my passion is to share that knowledge and teach you everything I know.
Competitions
During years as a white and blue belt, I was very competitive. I always liked to test my knowledge and feel the rush of adrenaline. I became champion in the regional competitions six times. I kept my competitive spirit as a black belt. Below are the results of the most recent competitions I took part in.
Testimonials
Seth MillerBlack belt If you want to become accomplished in Juijitsu then you cannot train with anyone better than Melvin Revilla. He is an expert and one of the best instructors I have every studied under. His style is to encourage you and point out how you can do something differently. He NEVER says you are doing anything wrong, rather how you can improve. It is such a graceful way of teaching.
Old school, fundamental Juijitsu. Heavy pressure, solid submissions and understanding the basics which he uses see to defeat all of the new school players. You won’t train using a berimbolo with Professor Melvin, but he will show you how to defeat the people who do. Lots of Fun! His style will make anyone an accomplished competitor if that is your goal. He had helped me become a champion and I am grateful for all that he teaches me.
You cannot ask to train with a more humble, nice, caring person who leads by example. Professor Melvin Revilla is a master at juijitsu, someone I trust and highly recommend as a great instructor.
Please take a moment and join his class or take a private lesson with him. You will not regret it.
Rocky AbildBlack belt Professor Melvin is a world-class Jiu-jitsu instructor, with a wealth of knowledge, attention to detail, unlimited patience when teaching, and a real passion for sharing his talent. I continue to learn and develop my Jiu-jitsu in every training session.
Andrew MendozaBrown belt Professor Melvin Revilla’s knowledge and experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is truly world-class. The depth of his understanding of grappling is endless, and his teaching and perspective on Brazilian jiu-jitsu have made an irreplaceable impact on my expression and knowledge of jiu-jitsu. Professor Melvin is truly a master, and anyone who has had the privilege of working with him will tell you the same.
Jon CampbellPurple belt Professor Melvin’s emphasis fundamentals and connections is simply world-class. While any instructors focus on teaching an assortment of moves, Professor Melvin instead uses a positional approach that focuses on the mechanics and opportunities that each position provides. As an experienced martial artist in other disciplines I craved detail and nuance. Professor Melvin is able to articulate those details, providing active feedback tailored to each student. His old-school approach takes the best of traditional BJJ and blends it with a modern, thoughtful delivery.
Ted VilutisBlue belt I started training Jiu-jitsu just for an experience that I could enjoy with my kids. I was a typical hobbyist with a passion for figuring out how it works. I had few professors before, and they were great with their perspective on martial art. But professor Melvin is at a different level. He can explain things from all angles, like self-defense, sport, or basic anatomy, and then adjust it to your situation depending on strength, body type, and so on. That made me fall in love with Jiu-jitsu and elevated my understanding beyond just moves or techniques. If you’re looking for answers in Jiu-jitsu, he might be your best solution.