INSTRUCTORS, ATHLETES, & STAFF

Our team of Instructors, Professional Athletes, and friendly Staff are internationally ranked championship winning Black belts with many years of teaching experience, they bring together their experience as coaches and athletes along with our friendly staff are here to inspire and help you reach your goals at Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu.

XANDE RIBEIRO

Sensei Xande Ribeiro is owner of Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu Austin and its Head Instructor. With more than 30 years practicing and competing all over the world, Sensei Xande decided to make Austin his home and build here a strong foundation to share his life philosophy in a mission to disseminate Jiu-Jitsu as a powerful tool to develop skills of safety, healthiness, empowerment, and fitness.  

As the founder of Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu Association with schools in multiple countries, Sensei Xande formed an extensive set of guidelines and instructions for associated academies to implement the methodologies he utilized throughout his successful career. His main goal is to empower children and adults to reach their best potential through the practice of Jiu-Jitsu and the Six Blades code of values.

Sensei Xande’s contribution to the Jiu-Jitsu community goes beyond his knowledge of the martial art and is more significant than the medals and trophies he acquired as a top BJJ athlete to list a few:

  • Only International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Hall of Fame in Texas

  • 5x World Heavyweight Champion (IBJJF)

  • 2x World Absolute Champion (IBJJF)

  • 2x World Submission Wrestling Champion (ADCC)

Whenever Sensei Xande is not teaching or spending time with his daughter Victoria, he is training with his team of elite athletes but he always finds time in his busy schedule to share coffee with friends.

Alexandre Kunzel

Alexandre Kunzel was born in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education (similar to a Bachelor of Kinesiology in the US). Having an academic education empowered Professor Kunzel with great knowledge about children’s developmental stages.

Professor Kunzel believes that the best approach to teach kids about Martial Arts is through creative and fun activities, yet focused on movements that prepare the children for the techniques they will learn along their Jiu-Jitsu journey.

Kunzel also owned his own Jiu-Jitsu and Muay-Thai academy at his home town in Brazil. He moved to the US in 2015 to train with renowned Jiu-Jitsu athletes in San Diego California. There, he met the Ribeiro brothers and went to teach at their academy University of Jiu-Jitsu. Kunzel was hand-picked by Sensei Xande to join the team to build the new Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu headquarters in Austin and lead the Youth Program.

When Professor Kunzel is not teaching or training, he likes to enjoy the outdoors with his wife Taci and their adorable daughter Laura.

Daniel Catuzzi

Professor Daniel Catuzzi is a 4th Degree Brazilian black belt, with almost 30 years of Jiu-Jitsu experience.

  • Brazilian Champion at the IBJJF Master 3 Black Belt

  • 2nd place World Championships WLPBJJ Brown Belt.

Daniel moved to Austin in January 2023 to study English and prepare for his Master's degree in Law, Daniel is one of Sensei Xande's substitutes and also allocated to the Little Samurai program.

Passionate about Texas, when he's not advocating or teaching, Daniel is in IPSC or USPSA tactical shooting competitions.

Jaciara Alvarenga

Jaciara is co-owner of Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu Austin and Executive Director of the Six Blades JJ Association. Jaci grew up in Brasilia, Brazil and moved to the US to pursue her education acquiring a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing degree. Although the Jiu-Jitsu industry is a new endeavor for Jaci, she has been able to transfer her knowledge in business strategies and sales acquired over 20 years’ experience working at Forbes 500 companies. 

Jaci has a “gipsy soul” and has lived in four countries and traveled over 20 more pursuing business opportunities or presenting corporate processes & procedures.  This professional experience deploying business processes and common ways of work to people of different cultures and backgrounds was what caught Sensei Xande’s interest to join forces with her. While he focuses on all Jiu-Jitsu matters, he counts on Jaci to oversee the organizational functions of the business.  

Jaci relocated from San Diego to Austin in 2020 to build the Austin headquarters with Sensei Xande. When Jaci is not “locked-away” in the office, or traveling to affiliates around the map, she is spending time with her son Niklas or hiking around Austin.  

Taci Lago

Taciara – or Taci as we call her – is from the state of Rio Grande do Sul at the south of Brazil. Taci has always enjoyed an active lifestyle, sports, and outdoors activities which drove her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education (similar to a Bachelor of Kinesiology) and a Specialization in Adapted Physical Activity and Health.

In the US, Taci has attained an MBA Sport Management degree. With all these credentials in physical activities and overall health, plus her passion in helping people, Taci is our Customer Relations Manager providing support to our members and improving their experience during their journey with us.

As a purple belt Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, Taci believes Jiu-Jitsu is a great exercise to keep your mind and body in balance. When she is not at the academy, Taci loves to spend time with her husband and daughter, and to go on hikes around Austin.