Fabio Clemente - Founder Of Studio X BJJ Academy

Fabio Clemente, born in Brazil, is one of the most famous and respectable players and coaches, as he is the founder of the first-ever BJJ academy in New York. He is a 6th-degree black belt under Jacques Machado. Clemente sponsored Marcelo Garcia’s visa so that he could come and train at Clemente’s Studio-X gym. In 1998, before joining the Alliance team, he was a member of the Machado’s Association, and this partnership lasted as long as he didn’t sign up for Checkmat until 2017. Due to his business partner’s disturbance at Studio X, he has to break the duo and open the gym on his own.

Born in 1965, Fabio Clemente spent his childhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Clemente’s father was a soccer coach who also practiced Jiu-Jitsu. Clemente at the age of 9 got involved in physical sports like judo and rowing. After a conversation with a friend, Clemente decided to start his training for BJJ.

In 1983, having a conversation with a friend who was a brown belt at the time, Fabio Clemente was convinced to start his career as a BJJ grappler.

Clemente joined Gracie’s academy to get trained. The gym was a partnership between Carlson Gracie and Rolls Gracie, but after his death, Carlos Gracie Junior took over. Clemente’s first coach was Rigan Machado, who was Carlinhos Gracie’s right-hand man.

Clemente enjoyed training under him and gained a lot of confidence in his jiu-jitsu class.

After being trained under Rigan for some years, Fabio Clemente went to Paris with his wife and stayed there for 4 years.

As there was no BJJ gym at the time, he started practicing judo and randori (MA for freestyle practice) as much as he possibly could.

Clemente’s wife was a model as soon as she got the visa to work in California. Clemente came along with her and got the chance to rejoin his old instructors.

In 1995, Fabio Clemente moved to the United States and opened his own BJJ academy in New York City on the East Coast. Clemente’s BJJ academy was the first one there at the time.

In 1998, Fabio Gurgel asked Clemente for a partnership. Clemente committed, making his gym the first Union central command in New York, as the deal suited both parties.

Fabio Clemente is a very dedicated and helpful teacher toward his students. He imparts his knowledge to every student equally so that they can bring their techniques to a higher level. He keeps a very healthy and light environment in his class so that no one feels hesitant to ask any question.

In 2006, Fabio Clemente sent a visa to Marcelo Garcia and asked him to come to New York and train the students in Studio X. Garcia agreed to this proposal and went to New York City. The students under Garcia’s great coaching gained a lot of knowledge, and the idea of Clemente calling Marcelo Garcia to train his students proved to be a gratifying experience.

This duo didn’t end well, as Garcia went to Florida to join Top Team, and Clemente had to open his gym due to the pressure placed on him by his business partner Studio X.

It was a great start by Fabio Clemente he instantly grabbed Mike and used the close guard method to keep him entangled, Mike tried to escape and get his self free but it was of no use and Fabio Clemente won the 2007, black belt Pan Championship.

Fabio Clemente VS Mike Brown / Pan Championship 2007

Photo credit: @teamfabioclemente