BJJ in Bedford

Bedford is home to **Bernardo Faria Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy**, the headquarters academy of **Bernardo Faria** — a 5x IBJJF World Champion, IBJJF Hall of Fame member, co-founder of BJJ Fanatics, and Alliance black belt under Fabio Gurgel (received from Ricardo Marques in 2008). Faria started BJJ at age 14 in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, joined Alliance under Fabio Gurgel in Sao Paulo, taught at the Marcelo Garcia Academy in NYC (2013), and won the IBJJF World Championship Open + Division in 2015 (Best Athlete of 2015) plus 3x Pan-Ams Open Class titles. The instructor bench is unusually deep for a suburban gym: **Marcos Tinoco** (gi and no-gi World Champion, 2x No-Gi Pan-Am, 2x European, Brazilian Nationals champion, World Pro Champion — Marcelo Garcia black belt), **Hana Silva** (Marcelo Garcia black belt, 2007 BJJ start, kids program), and **Jared Welman** (BJJ black belt under Faria and Tinoco, 2nd-degree Taekwondo black belt, 25+ years martial arts experience). Programs include Kids (4-15, age-grouped), Adult Beginners (Fundamentals — Gi & NoGi), Adult Intermediate, Advanced Gi, Executive (early-morning all-levels), and Open Mat (Saturday 12pm and Sunday 11:30am, Gi/NoGi, 2 stripes & up). Free trial via Mindbody.