From Blue Belt to Black Belt: On the Mats with Flavio

Training with Flavio over the years has been a consistent thread throughout my journey on the mats. I first crossed paths with him in 2009, as a blue belt under my original instructor, Kaleb Plank. Flavio and Rodrigo Feijao were the first two black belts from Brazil I ever took a private lesson with—an experience that left a lasting impression. Since then, I've had the privilege to train with Flavio at every belt level, including hosting him for a seminar at my academy, Força Martial Arts & Fitness, in January 2018, just before earning my black belt a few months later.

What makes training with Flavio so memorable is the unique lineage he comes from—the early Nova União team. Training alongside legends like Rodrigo Feijao, Robson Moura, Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro, Bruno Bastos, and Gustavo Dantas, Flavio embodies a style that blends creativity, technical precision, and a deep understanding of the art. Having trained with many of these black belts and also having trained with Masters André Pederneiras and Wendell Alexander, the founders of Nova União, I can say firsthand that this lineage brings a distinctive flavor to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: techniques that are new yet feel instinctively familiar, creative yet fundamentally sound. 

Seminar with André “Dede” Pederneiras and Wendell Alexander, Founders of Nova União

The 2025 seminar continued this trend. Flavio introduced an innovative guard passing sequence he called the “Reverse Toreando,” building off some of the same ideas from his 2023 seminar but expanding them in an entirely new direction. After nearly two decades on the mat, running a large academy, and approaching the art with a scholarly mindset, I still get excited when something sparks an "aha" moment—and Flavio certainly delivered yet again. I even shared some of what Flavio taught with one of our black belts, Randy Melton, who laughed and said, “Why didn’t we think of that?”

Beyond the mats, Flavio’s life story is equally inspiring. Not only is he a seasoned world traveler and decorated competitor, but he also holds a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous trip on a scooter—a 55,000-kilometer ( 34175.41 Miles) journey from Brazil to Alaska. Flavio has taught Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu across Brazil, New Zealand, Thailand, the UAE, and the U.S., shaping the future of the sport in many parts of the world. His nearly 30 years of experience give him a rare ability to connect with students of all backgrounds and skill levels, helping them maximize their potential in Jiu-Jitsu. 

If you'd like to hear more about his adventures, including his epic scooter journey and his time teaching in Abu Dhabi, you can check out my podcast episode with him here: Podcast Episode: Flavio Kenup. 

It was a true pleasure seeing Flavio again—catching up, training, and rolling—and I'm already looking forward to the next time we share the mats. Thank you to Gravitas Martial Arts for hosting such a great event and to Flavio for continuing to inspire with his passion for the art. If you're interested in learning more about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or training with us, we’d love to hear from you! Visit us at Força Martial Arts & Fitness in Russellville, Arkansas, or reach out through our website forcamma.com or by phone at 479-264-2008.