Marcelo Tomio Uemura

Background

Born in São Paulo on March 4, 1977, Marcelo comes from a traditional martial arts family. He is the son of Paulo Uemura, former president of São Paulo's Traditional Karate Federation, and began his martial arts journey at just 7 years old.

In 1993, Marcelo moved to Japan, where he studied at the Nagoya International Center while dedicating himself to martial arts training. In 1998, he earned his Black Belt in Karate under the Japan Karate Association (JKA) in Aichi-Ken, Japan.

Driven by a passion for grappling and ground fighting, Marcelo began training in Judo due to the lack of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools nearby at the time. In 2003, he graduated as a Black Belt under the prestigious Kodokan, the world headquarters of Judo. The same year he started training Jiu-Jitsu with a Brazilian instructor living nearby in Japan, and became a Japanese National Champion in 2003 under Tani Jiu-Jitsu.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Also in 2003, Marcelo traveled to the United States for the first time, visiting Los Angeles and participating in the preparatory training camp for the legendary Abu Dhabi superfight between Mark Kerr and Ricardo Arona. During this experience, he also trained alongside former UFC heavyweight champion Fabrício Werdum.

Returning to Brazil, he trained at Lotus Headquarters under Professors Fábio Negão and Rubinho, in competition training camps alongside elite athletes such as Givanildo Santana, Fábio Negão, Lapela, Serginho, and Augusto Ferrari. In 2005 he continued his BJJ journey under the legendary Ricardo De La Riva team in São Paulo with Professor Matsumoto.

In 2007, Marcelo earned 3rd place at the IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship. In 2008, due to a work relocation, he joined the renowned Barbosa B9 team under Master Barbosa, where he later earned his Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2012.

Refereeing & Education

In 2005 Marcelo was officially approved as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu referee by the Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu Esportivo. In 2016, he moved to the United States, where he has expanded his contribution to the martial arts community as an international referee for the IBJJF, NEWBREED, AJP, and other organizations.

Marcelo holds a degree in Physical Education from the University of Guarulhos (2007), and completed an advanced postgraduate program in Sports Training Methodology at Universidad Camilo Cienfuegos in Cuba the same year.

Teaching

Professor Marcelo Tomio Uemura combines decades of international experience in Karate, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with academic knowledge in physical education and sports performance methodology. His mission is to share discipline, technical excellence, and the true spirit of martial arts with the next generation of students.

Black belts

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — under Master Barbosa (Barbosa B9), 2012
• Judo — Kodokan, Tokyo, Japan, 2003
• Karate — Japan Karate Association (JKA), Aichi-Ken, Japan, 1998