I am Ricardo Murgel, the Head Coach, Instructor, and Founder of the Union Team. I am one of the few (less than 25) 9th Degree Grandmasters of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the world. I have a unique background, with no parallel to any other BJJ Master or Professor.

I am currently 74 years old. l started my Martial Arts & Law Enforcement Journey at the age of 12, back in 1957, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Since 1974, I am a Judo Black belt, and I trained and competed in Europe, Japan and Brazil, for almost 27 years, with extensive training in Boxing, Muay-Thai, Luta Livre (Free Style Grappling), Submission Grappling, and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), as a competitor, Instructor, and Coach. I also have weapons expertise covering edged and improvised weapons as well as firearms. I am the only 9th Degree Grandmaster of BJJ that also is certified by the Peace Officer Standard Training Council (P.O.S.T) as a Guest Defensive Tactics and Firearms Instructor. I have been sharing my practical, hands on experience all over the world for more than four decades now. Read my full Q+A interview here.

In the field of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Submission Grappling and Mixed Martial Arts, my accomplishments speak for themselves. I have trained and continue to train and coach hundreds of competitors, including dozens of World, National, and State BJJ and Submission Grappling champions. I have also trained and coached MMA fighters in the Pride Championships and the UFC.

As a Law Enforcement Instructor, with specialties in Extreme Close Quarters Combat and Science of Human Behavior (a.k.a. Management of Aggressive Behavior), I have instructed Law Enforcement Agencies all over the world, including Elite Forces.