He decided to move from a successful Gracie Barra Santa Ana school, in California, to open the brand new Gracie Barra Westchase, near Houston.

To mark his arrival in Texas, recently he taught a seminar at the academy of another GMA member, Gracie Barra New Mexico,. of Roberto “Tussa” Alencar.

Tussa, Ulpiano

The class was a huge success, with 60 people learning some great techniques from the 1st degree black belt.

Malachias took the oportunity to thank Tussa and another GMA member for the help he is getting in his Texas adventure: “I want to mention Vinicius “Draculino” (GB Texas) for all the help he has offered me”.

Ulpiano has sent some pictures of his class in New Mexico.

For more info, go to graciebarranm.com, graciebarratx.com, gbwestchase.com, gbsantaana.com

Do you own a Jiu-Jitsu academy and want to have your school featured on GRACIEMAG.com? It’s easy, all you need to do is to become a GMA member. Click here and find out how.

Gracie Barra Santa Ana. Photos: publicity

Malachias is opening his new school in Houston for a couple of reasons: “Master Carlos said if I wanted to open a second school, I should open it in Texas,” Malachias says, “He believes we can make GB as strong in Texas as it is in California.” Another reason Houston’s appealing is because his wife, Sophia, is from there. Malachias is a new father and he wants his daughter Lydia to be able to spend time with her family.

Malachias is opening a 3500 sq. ft. school. He says it took him a while to find the perfect place. “I am designing and building everything from scratch; the floors, the lay out of the rooms, everything,” he says, “There’s 2200 sq. ft. of mat area.”

Malachias wants a state-of-the-art academy that includes onsite washers and dryers for his intro gis, showers, and locker rooms.  “I’m putting showers in for business people who may come from work to train,” he says. Additionally, Malachias says, in the future, he wants to have a gi laundry service for the students. “You have to have two gis for it to work,” he says, “Every gi has a tag, and you throw them in the laundry basket, and the next day you grab your gi and train. You never have to wash your own gi.”

Malachias says starting a new school is an exciting change for him. “I have to start all over again,” he says, “But I am looking forward to the challenge. I know Master Carlos wants to make Texas great and I want to help with that. I was the first to open a GB Premium school. The GB Association knows I will follow the GB system and work hard. I’ve been doing this in Santa Ana for three years. I can go to Texas and help other schools learn it as well.”

Malachias will be leaving to oversee the opening of his new school at the end of October and will commute back and forth between Santa Ana and Houston for six months. Because he’s leaving, he wanted to have all of his students come in for a group picture so he could take it with him and put it up at the new school.

“I scheduled for the students to come in for a conditioning class first,” he says, “I told them I wanted to take a group picture for 2010 afterwards. At first I was surprised because 46 people showed up for the conditioning class! We didn’t even have enough room for everyone. Then after the class, 130 people showed up for the group picture, including kids!”

Malachias was completely awed by the support his students showed him. “I am thankful to everybody for taking the time to come to take the picture,” he says, “One of my students said he didn’t even know we had this many people training at the school!”

Ever gracious, Malachias went on to say, “I want to thank the coaches for doing such a great job with the kids and fundamentals classes and thanks to Master Carlos for giving me the opportunity to open a new school in Texas.”

The newest member of the Gracie Barra Family has arrived.

Baby Lydia Assunta Malachias was born with 8 pounds 3 ounces.

The beautiful girl is the daughter of GB Santa Ana professor  and GMA member Ulpiano Malachias.

Our most sincere congratulations to the lovely family.

Hapiness, a lot of health and, of course, much BJJ.

For more info, go to gbsantaana.com

Photos: Deb Blyth; Ulpiano coaching by Mike Pesh.

Meet Ulpiano Malachias. He’s a 1^st degree black belt and the Head Instructor of Gracie Barra Santa Ana. He started training in BJJ at the age of 17, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, under his friend and Professor, Erik Wanderley, who was the 1^st in his state to win the World Championship as a black belt. Malachias became a GB black belt under Vinicius “Draculino” Magalhaes.

By all accounts, nothing has come easy to Malachias, yet his philanthropic philosophy and his contentment with work and life belies all that, but don’t get me wrong: Malachias is no push over. Although this “diamond in the rough” has a very sweet and kind personality under his hard exterior, this truly is a tough-minded, hard working, prideful, authoritative man. He did not float through life on a song, with people giving him hand-outs until he ended up in a “cush” position at GBSA.

On the contrary, this man has worked hard for everything he has. That being said, Malachias is the first to say that he couldn’t have done anything on his own and is extremely grateful to those who’ve helped him along the way, “Everything I have and everything I am is because of Master Carlos, Marcio Feitosa and Flavio Almeida. I say this to them all the time. Without them, this is not possible.”

Malachias says the trio has helped him in many ways, from teaching him how to manage his school, to instructing him on how to interact with his students, “Before, nobody liked me. I’m so competitive, they thought I was mean. I had to change the way I act. Master Carlos, Marcio, and Flavio showed me how to talk to people to earn their respect. They made me understand that BJJ is a gentle art.”

Ulpiano (front and center) with his group at GB Santa Ana

Malachias says his early hard-core attitude came from his rough BJJ upbringing in Brazil, “The first month I started training, a guy got me in an armbar and I tapped. He ignored it and broke my arm. One month later, when I got my cast off, I was back on the mats and tougher than before. That was just the way of life in Brazil.”

In 2002, Malachias came to the U.S. to compete in the Pan Ams and decided to stay, “I wanted to try life here. I knew it was going to be hard. I have a business degree and everything I needed in Brazil, but I gave it all up to come here with no support. I worked as a dishwasher and a bouncer at a Brazilian bar, just to be able to make money and train.”

Malachias had a turn of good luck when he met Rorion Gracie’s daughter, “She was a bartender and I was the bouncer. We became friends and she took me to her dad’s school to train, but I couldn’t afford the tuition, so she introduced me to her uncle, Royce. He was my hero. I started training BJJ because of him. I became his training partner, taught in his school, and he took me all over the world, to every fight he had, while I was with him. For three years I was in his corner.”

Malachias says traveling with Gracie was memorable, “We were in Japan for one of his fights and it was my first time there. We were on a train going to our hotel. I had no idea where I was. Royce stood in front of the open door, and right before it closed at our stop, he jumped off, so me and the other guys couldn’t. Royce and Royler knew Japan really well because they’d go there all the time, but none of us did! We were on that train for over an hour going from stop to stop until we found the right one.”

Malachias says he loved his time with Gracie and made some great friends, too, “Royce’s cameraman, Arthur and I are still friends and we talk almost every day. I learned a lot from Royce. To have the opportunity to train with him and be his training partner was a dream come true for me.”

In 2005, things changed when GB Lake Forest opened. He went there to train as a brown belt, “Although I was grateful for the opportunities I’d had, I was ready to give BJJ up because I couldn’t find a place to teach and I was broke. I lived in Redondo Beach and had to drive 40 miles every day to train. I’d get home at 3 a.m. from work, and then would leave my house by 10 to train at 11. Professor Tussa and Professor Dande convinced me to stay. We were all living together at the time and they said, ‘you can’t stop. You’re too good.’”

So, Malachias stuck it out and more good luck and hard work ensued, “In 2006 Master Carlos surprised me with my black belt. It was one week before the Asian Championships. I was registered as a brown belt, but I had to compete as a black belt! Master Carlos said he believed in me and thought I could win. So, I went to Japan, won my fights, and took home gold.”

Malachias went on to open his own school, GB Santa Ana in December of 2007. As history has dictated for Malachias across time, he chose Santa Ana because he was trying to find low rent that he could afford, “I love this school and location. Like my upbringing in Brazil, this is a rough neighborhood and the environment here makes you tough. My students work hard for the little money they have, and I’m humbled that they spend it training here. They are loyal and dedicated people.”

Malachias says he’s labored over his school, “When I first opened GBSA, I was owner, instructor, program director, cleaner, and billing company. Now I have over 200 students and I’m happy to be changing people’s lives. Sometimes I almost cry on the mats because a movie goes off in my head and I replay how hard I worked to get here. I’ve had to do things that people have never had to do. I look around and see all that I’ve accomplished and I’m so grateful.”

Malachias has made a life of giving back to others and it shows. While GracieMag was at GBSA, his young students continually hugged him and handed him pictures they had drawn for him in school. His adult students bowed to him reverently and shook his hand, coming and going from the school. Their respect for their Head Instructor was obvious and it’s no wonder: Malachias often goes the extra mile for his students. He goes to their schools and explains the art of BJJ to classrooms. To help one particular student, he goes to the gym with him at 6 a.m. to help him lose weight. If they don’t show up for class a few times, he calls them to make sure they’re ok. But that’s not all, “I met a guy on the street today. He was overweight, so I told him to come to a class and he did. He just texted me and told me that after one day of training, I’d changed his life. That’s what I live for. I care about all my students. They are my family.”

And that’s what makes Malachias so special and beloved. He treats his students like family. And like a lot of other Professors around GB, this year is bringing another new baby girl into the GB family and to Malachias, “I live for my fiancé, Sophia and my daughter. They are the most important things in my life. I’m excited about being a dad. I love kids and have a passion for them. Kids like me and I like them.”

As for his future, Malachias says he’s going to pursue his MMA goals (he’s a natural at the sport and recently submitted an opponent in 42 seconds), and wants to keep teaching until he can’t anymore. He also wants to open more GB schools, “I want to be a successful guy. I want to give a good life to my family. It’s all I think about. I’m not rich, but I love what I do. I’m happy. I go home everyday knowing I do good things for people.”

Malachias is a class-act. He may not be monetarily wealthy, but he is rich in heart and soul, for sure.

Alberto Crane, of Legacy MMA, announces a busy week for the academy. His students will be competing at the Gracie Nationals. One of the coaches of the academy will be competing at the World Pro BJJ Cup, in Santa Cruz and Alberto himself is getting ready for another MMA bout at the  Called Out MMA event. More at legacymixedmartialarts.com.

In Arizona, Gustavo Dantas announces the main sponsor for the upcoming 5^th Arizona BJJ International Open, scheduled March 13 & 14th in Mesa, AZ. Many Weapons has been sponsoring BJJ Competitors such as: Gustavo Dantas, Steve Rosenberg, Kristina Barlaan, Issa Able,and the Broadnax Brothers. More at manyweapons.com. To register at the event, go to gdjiujitsu.com.

Wellington “Megaton” Dias announces another seminar. The leader of Team Megaton, in Arizona, will be at the North West Martial Arts Academy next February 27^th-28^th . For more info, go to teammegaton.com or call (541) 912-9099.

Browsing the website of our member Cadu Francis, we have found no breaking news, but we did found a taste of Cadu teaching. So, we direct you to this calss of the black belt teaching a arm bar from closed guard. Enjoy: myjiujitsuschool.com.

After organizing the World Pro BJJ Cup US west coast trials, in a partnership with Emirates Team leader Carlao Santos, to be held this Sunday, in Santa Cruz,  Claudio Franca is ready for yet another tournament. The Jiu-Jitsu by the Sea is scheduled February 6^th and registration is open at strongvon.com/jjbts0210.

In Irvine, California, Gracie Barra America, has some great news too. The BJJ for MMA class is just about to kick off. Professor Marcio Feitosa will be in charge of the training. BJJ for MMA will take place on Wednesday, January 27th at 8:00PM and it is open to all Advanced and Black Belt Program members. On the same subjet of improving your skills, GBA will host a Braulio Estima Seminar next February 5^th. Before January 31^st, Gracie Barra students will pay only $50.  After that, the cost is $75. Non Gracie Barra students will pay $100 before January 31st and $150 after that. For more info, go to graciebarraamerica.com.

Gracie Barra Corona, of Tom Reusing,  also in California, has launched a women’s self defense program. It is called “know means no” and already a success, as the picture shows. Next class is scheduled January 31st and February 7^th and 21^st. For more info, go to graciebarracorona.com.

Another GB branch with a innovative Idea to teach BJJ is Gracie Barra Dana Point, run by black belt Flavio Almeida. Last Saturday, the school kicked off its Buddy week.  The idea is for students to invite friends and family to go train with them and have a taste of what BJJ is all about. For more info, go to gbdanapoint.com.

And in Santa Ana, Ulpiano Malachias and his GB students had no rest during the hollyday season. They took the time to make improvements to the academy. The purpose is to bring more comfort to the classes. As you can see in the picture, they realy needed more room. For more info, go to gbsantaana.com.

And GMA member Robson Pereira, of Team Pereira, in Pennsylvania, informs that this Wednesday, January 20^th, is the last day to pre-register for UGC XI “ADRENALINE”. For more info, go to www.ugc-challenge.com.