The Instructors of Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Central Savannah River Area, South Carolina
Joshua "Foca" Miller opened
Gracie Barra CSRA in 2005.
His career in Jiu-Jitsu began upon meeting 3rd degree black
belt Eduardo de Lima when Eduardo first came to the US
to open a Gracie Barra facility in the Tampa, Florida area. Joshua was
a black belt in Shotokan Karate at the time, but was soon training under
Eduardo. He was awarded his Brown belt after winning the Tampa International
in 2006, and now has one stripe. Joshua also won the Gold at the Florida
Open, and a Bronze at the Pan Ams. He has had the privelege of training
at Gracie Barra Rio, as well as Gracie Barra America in Wake Forrest, California.
In addition, Joshua is a CrossFit certified fitness instructor, and a former Gold's Gym personal trainer. He has a Bachelor's degree in Nursing as well as an Associate degree in Emergency Medical Service, with experience in a level one trauma center ER and in a Critical Care Unit. Additionally he served in the Fire Dept for 10 years and has flight nursing experience. Joshua operates Gracie Barra CSRA with assistance from Eduardo de Lima. Eduardo makes regular trips from Tampa Florida to assist in running the training program in Gloverville, SC. Eduardo and Joshua are affiliated with the Gracie Barra School of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Gracie Barra has produced more world champions than any other school in the world, and Gracie Barra CSRA is already following in that tradition.
Eduardo "Veio" de
Lima is a 3 rd degree black
belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
under Carlos "Carlinhos" Gracie, Jr. and
the head of Gracie Barra Tampa. He has won several gold medals in the black
belt divisions at the Pan American
Championships .
Eduardo began training in BJJ at age nineteen after his friend Renzo Gracie recommended he try a class at the Gracie Barra Academy in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil . For the first two years, he studied under Jean Jacques Machado , then the head instructor, who awarded his blue and purple belts before leaving for America . From then on Carlos Gracie, Jr. was his instructor and awarded his brown and then black belt (the latter in 1997 after 8 years of training).
As a purple belt, Eduardo was made an instructor for white belts and less experienced blue belts, but by the time he was promoted to brown belt, everyone was attending his class, including black belts. Once he reached the rank of black belt, Eduardo was made the head instructor of Gracie Barra. Roger Gracie , one of the most successful BJJ competitors today, was one of his pupils in the children's class during his tenure as instructor.
In 2000 , with the help of Carlos Gracie, Jr. and American businessman Bob Rosseti, Eduardo came to the United States. He taught BJJ out of a Taekwondo dojang in Dunedin, Florida until he was able to start his own school, Gracie Barra Tampa. The school is actually located in nearby Clearwater, and is where he teaches today. While in America, he has trained award-winning white, blue, purple and brown belt competitors, and he continues to compete in the Pan American Championships. He is also a member of the Florida Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
