Erik Robert Klinger

Erik Klinger is the founder of Level Up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and holds the rank of 4th degree black belt under Grand Master Joe Moreira. He began martial arts more than 40 years ago at age six, training mainly in Shotokan Karate near his hometown of Palo Alto, California, and was helping teach classes by 13. After teaching in Chico, he moved to Okinawa, Japan at 25, where he coached karate, trained with Pancrase fighters, and won the 2004 Okinawa Open Grappling Tournament. Klinger then moved to São Paulo, Brazil to study Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Fabio Leopoldo at Gracie Morumbi, became an instructor there, earned his brown belt, and later became the first non-Brazilian promoted to black belt under Leopoldo. With 35 years of teaching, training and competing behind him, he built Level Up around the idea that great teaching and service can create change.