Paragon

ELITE MUAY THAI ACADEMY
TRADITION-HONOR-SPIRIT-DISCIPLINE

ELITE MUAY THAI

ACADEMY

TRADITION-HONOR-SPIRIT-DISCIPLINE

Paragon Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Founder
Head Instructor, Santa Barbara, CA&Ventura, CA
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, and now San Luis Obispo.

Chris Lovato began wrestling in high school and wrestled for more than 10 years at the high school and collegiate level as well as freestyle and Greco roman wrestling. From 1989 to 1994 he coached high school and junior high school wrestling with some of his students placing the California State Championships.
In 1995 Chris began training both Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo. He spent about 5 years training and competing in Judo and earned his Judo Black Belt in 1997 from Mario Rubio of Five Cities Judo in Arroyo Grande.
Chris has been training and competing in BJJ and submission wrestling for more than 10 years and earned his Brown Belt from the founder of Paragon BJJ, Franjinha Miller in 2008. Some of his recent titles include the 2009 Pan American Champion, 2007 No-Gi world champion and absolute silver medalist, 2007 Pan American silver medalist, 2007 US Open Champion, and 2006 Pan American champion.
Recently Chris opened the Paragon BJJ San Luis Obispo school offering classes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that incorporate both wrestling and judo into the BJJ curriculum.