Ricardo "Franjinha" Miller has being teaching and competing for the last 15 years with many titles in regional, national and international competitions. With his black belt, Ricardo set for himself challenges extending beyond Brazil. In 1996 he came to the United States to compete and to teach. He proved to be successful at both. With American partner Mike Florimbi, the Paragon Academy of Martial Arts was founded in 1998 in Santa Barbara. Under Ricardo’s hands-on direction as coach and fighter, Paragon Santa Barbara has become a powerhouse for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction in California. Ricardo and competitor-level students have dominated in regional, state, and international tournaments. In addition, Paragon has become a community force for recreational Jiu-Jitsu, a resource for law enforcement, and developer of ongoing physical training and self-defense programs for young people, adults, seniors, and women. With the success of the Santa Barbara school, "Franjinha" opened a Ventura location as well as affiliate schools in Lompoc and Santa Maria.

Sean Apperson, Paragon Black Belt, has been involved with wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for the past 10 years and has trained all over the state of California and even Brazil. Sean has an excellent tournament record and has captured gold medals in the following: No gi Pan American games 2006, US Open of Submission Wrestling 2006, Copa Pacifica 2006, and US OPEN 2002. Sean is a very detailed instructor and is involved at both the SB and Ventura locations.

Jeff Glover, Paragon Black Belt, has dominated the tournament scene unlike any other american fighter to date. Jeff has competed and done well in the most prestigious events submission grappling has to offer. Being a local of Santa Barbara Jeff has helped Paragon become the power house it is today.

Katie was the youngest American women to be promoted to Black Belt. Katie is the head instructor of the womens program at Paragon and has a stellar tournament record winning the jiu jitsu world championships two times both with and without the gi. Katie is an excellent instructor, her patience and gentle approach make her classes both fun and informative.

After several years of wrestling in high school, Matt started Muay Thai and MMA training at the age of 17. Winning numerous amateur tournaments throughout the Midwest motivated his move to Los Angeles at the age of 18 to pursue a career in professional MMA. Matt has since graduated UCLA and gone undefeated for all of his eight amateur and two professional bouts.

Andrew Hagar began learning martial arts at the tender age of five years old in order to fulfill his dream of being a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. 20 years later and childish dreams aside, Andrew now has almost a decade of Muay Thai experience under his belt, with 7 years under well-known Muay Thai coach and former world champion Ed Wedding. Andrew has studied many different martial arts, including Shotokan Karate, Japanese and Brazilian Jujitsu, Submission Grappling, Kali, Kendo & Iaido, Jeet Kune Do, and Western style Boxing. Andrew has also competed in numerous amateur Muay Thai Kickboxing and Submission Grappling events. Whether you're looking to get in shape or get ready for an upcoming competition, Andrew's emphasis on solid fundamentals and proper technique will help you reach your goals. Remember, there's no special tricks in Thai Boxing; just hard work.

Sean Flanery began training martial arts at the age of nine and continued with various arts all the way through college. He gave up all the other arts when he discovered Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and never looked back. Sean began his endeavor to achieve a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by spending his first three years under the tutelage of Rickson Gracie at the Rickson Gracie Jiu Jitsu academy in Los Angeles. During the summer on ’03 Sean sought out and trained under the guidance of Shawn Williams at the famed Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu academy in Manhattan. Sean continued his training with Shawn when Professor Williams relocated to Los Angeles. On May 4th of 2008, Sean received his black belt from Shawn Williams making him the first ever black belt awarded by Professor Williams.

Tournament highlights: 2003 Pan Am Champion, 2003 American Nationals Champion, 2002 1st Annual Inland Empire Champion.

Todd has been practicing martial arts for over twenty years, studying different arts including Aikido, Judo, and Traditional Jiu-jitsu. Over the last five years his major focus has been Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. This experience brings both an understanding of the grappling arts, as well as the strategic applications of combat. 

In addition, fifteen years in the educational industry has provided him a unique understanding of how people process information in a learning environment.  Todd is now an assistant instructor under Shawn Williams at HBJJ/Team Renzo Gracie and actively competes. He placed as a silver medalist in the 2006 American Nationals and competed in the Pan American games.

Todd is a highly motivated instructor, bringing not only consistent technical training, but insight into the mental game of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

Mr. Steve Cardenas has been doing martial arts for over 22 year's. He started at age 12 in Texas and when he was 16 he received his Black Belt in Karate and began teaching kids after school at his dojo. At age 20 he moved to California after auditioning and getting the role of Rocky the Red Power Ranger on the television series Mighty Morphin's Power Rangers. He has filmed over 180 episodes and 2 Power Ranger motion pictures. 

Since then Steve has run several successful martial arts studios in California and Texas teaching people of all age's. Now Mr. Steve focuses solely on working with kids in after school martial arts programs. He believes that the conditioning, discipline and respect that children learn from martial arts can be carried over into all aspects of their young lives.