The coaches
Who you train with
A head coach who learned the game in Costa Rica, sharpened it in the Blue Basement and ran a 700-student room in Brooklyn. And the Gracie lineage he carries to Kendall.
Head coach
Ariel "Tarzan" Sexton
3rd degree black belt · Professional mixed martial artist
Over 25 years on the mats, and known for a pressure-based, submission-driven game. Students describe a coach who is as good with kids and beginners as with top athletes.
"Miami is blessed to a professor with his experience and success at his new amazing facility."Elizabeth J., Google review
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Vancouver, Canada
Where he's from
Ariel is from Vancouver, Canada. Jiu-jitsu took him south.
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Costa Rica
First steps on the mat
He began jiu-jitsu under Professor Mauro Sergio and went on to become a multiple-time Costa Rican Jiu Jitsu champion. Athletic Advance began here too.
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New York City
The Blue Basement
He moved to New York to train under Daniel Gracie and the Renzo Gracie Team in the Blue Basement era, a period that produced many of the sport's most respected athletes, and refined his pressure-based, submission-driven style.
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Brooklyn
Head coach, Renzo Gracie Brooklyn
He led over 700 students, launched the women's program, developed the MMA curriculum and built the kids' jiu-jitsu program.
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The cage
ONE Championship
A professional mixed martial artist and veteran of ONE Championship's lightweight division.
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Kendall, Miami
Athletic Advance Miami
Now he is building his own academy: a space for beginners, competitors and families to train hard, stay humble and grow together.
The lineage
Hand to hand, to you
Jiu-jitsu is passed down teacher to student. This is the line that runs onto the mats in Kendall.
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The teacher
Carlos Gracie Jr.
Daniel Gracie's teacher.
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The name on the door
Daniel Gracie
Coral belt, born into the Gracie family in Rio.
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Head coach
Ariel "Tarzan" Sexton
3rd degree black belt under Daniel Gracie.
The name on the door
Daniel Gracie
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coral belt
Born on June 28, 1972 in Rio de Janeiro into the Gracie family, Daniel grew up around Hélio, Rolls, Carlson and Carlos Gracie Jr., and trained under Carlos Gracie Jr.
He won the IBJJF World Championship absolute division as a brown belt and received his black belt shortly after, in 1996. He competed in major tournaments including the Brazilian Nationals, then fought in MMA from 2002 in PRIDE, the International Fight League, Bellator and Israel FC, and later appeared in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Daniel teaches traditional Gracie self-defense and high-intensity competition training, carrying the family's jiu-jitsu forward for adults and children. He is Ariel's teacher and the lineage behind the academy; Ariel runs the mats in Kendall.
- Over 35 years of experience
- IBJJF World Champion, absolute division, as a brown belt
- Black belt since 1996
At the Costa Rica camps
Javier "Javi" Valenciano
The Costa Rica camps bring in Javi Valenciano, who coaches with Athletic Advance: the first from Costa Rica to podium at the IBJJF black belt Worlds and the country's most decorated grappler, known for calm, detailed teaching.
About the campsFree session
Train with Ariel. First session free.
Kids from age 3, teens and adults. No experience needed.
- Tell us who's training. Kids or adults, beginner or competitor.
- Book your first class. Choose a time on the next screen.
- Come in for your session. See you on the mats!