The Vacirca Brothers founded the first mixed martial arts Academy in Zürich, Switzerland, in 1988. In 1991, they introduced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) to Europe. The first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy opened in Zürich in 1995, and the European GJJ Network (Gracie Concepts®) was established the following year. Franco Vacirca, also known as the ‘Professor of Jiu-Jitsu’, was the first European to earn a black belt in BJJ from the Gracie family. He remains the highest-ranked European today, holding a Coral belt and seventh degree.

He completed his training as a Jiu-Jitsu teacher under grandmaster Pedro Hemetério, the first to earn a red belt under grandmaster Hélio Gracie and the first to earn a black belt under grandmaster Carlos Gracie. Furthermore, Prof. Franco has been a student of Ajarn Surachai Sirisute since 1986 and holds the title ‘Kun Khru’ in Muay Thai boxing.

Professor Franco speaks six languages and has lived in Asia, California and Europe. He also works as a seminar leader sever...