Meet Luiz Ribeiro — Head Coach, Oakville BJJ.
"A black belt is a white belt who never quits."
A lifetime of martial arts, condensed.
Luiz Ribeiro's journey started at 8 years old — not with Jiu-Jitsu, but with capoeira. Rhythm, movement, and the Brazilian spirit of play. At 17 he added Muay Thai to the mix, trading dance for distance and timing. And at 21, he stepped onto a Jiu-Jitsu mat for the first time — and never stepped off.
"Jiu-Jitsu is a journey, not a race."
For 14 years, Luiz has trained under the renowned Jorge Britto of Jiu Jitsu for Life. He's competed in two IBJJF World Championships as an adult, most recently stood on the podium at the Canadian Nationals, and earned a spot at the World Championship in Mongolia. But for Luiz, competition is only part of the story.
He's taken breaks from training and come back. He's had the bad days that make you question why you started. He's learned the only lesson that matters: the black belt belongs to the white belt who never quit. That's the lens he teaches through — and that's why students who start with Luiz tend to stay.
Off the mats, you'll find him with his dogs and cats, watching soccer, or snowboarding. Approachable, down-to-earth, and deeply passionate about martial arts. Whatever your starting point, Luiz will meet you there.
30 years, marked in milestones.
Capoeira — the first love.
A Brazilian martial art disguised as dance. Luiz's earliest lessons in rhythm, movement, and the relationship between two bodies in space.
Muay Thai — the art of eight limbs.
A shift from rhythm to timing. From play to pressure. Luiz discovered what it meant to train hard, spar, and get back up.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — the final home.
Luiz walked onto a BJJ mat and never walked off. He began training under Jorge Britto of Jiu Jitsu for Life, the start of a 14-year relationship that continues today.
First IBJJF Worlds.
Luiz competed at the IBJJF World Championships as a blue belt in the adult division — the sport's biggest stage, for the first time.
Canadian Nationals podium.
Stood on the podium at the Canadian National Championships, representing his team and his lineage.
World Championship bid.
Earned a spot at the World Championship in Mongolia — competing at the international level and bringing that experience back to every class he teaches in Oakville.
Head Coach — Oakville BJJ.
Teaching the same lesson he learned: Jiu-Jitsu is a journey. Start where you are. Show up tomorrow. Do it again the day after.
What we believe.
Improve 1% every day.
Mastery isn't made of leaps. It's made of consistent, boring, patient showing up. Every class is a chance to be 1% better than the last.
Technique before strength.
The whole point of Jiu-Jitsu is that technique beats strength. If you're winning because you're stronger, you're not doing it right. We teach the art, not the workaround.
Protect your training partners.
Your partner is the person who makes your training possible. We take care of each other, on and off the mats. That's not a rule — it's a culture.
Train with
Luiz.
Your first class is on us. Walk in. See how you feel.