Instructors
Joe Solorio:
Academy Head Instructor
Joe Solorio is a 1st Degree Black belt under Gustavo Dantas and member of Gustavo Dantas Jiu Jitsu Association and Nova Uniao USA. Joe started training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2003 under Charles Allen and Pedro Sauer. Mid way through his Purple belt, he changed coaches and started training and competing under Gustavo Dantas. Joe's competed in numerous state, national and international competitions. In his most recent competitions at Black belt, he won a Silver medal at the 2018 IBJJF Master World Championships, Silver at the 2018 IBJJF Masters Pan American Championships and Silver at the 2016 IBJJF Masters World Championships. At Brown belt, he won Gold at the 2015 IBJJF Masters World Championships, Gold at the 2015 AZBJJF Masters State Championships and Gold at the 2014 IBJJF Masters Pan American Championships. Joe has been coaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 2009 and is founder of Gi Zers and Jiu Jitsu Over 40, dedicated to the men and women who want to continue doing jiu jitsu through and beyond their forties. The foundation of Joe's grappling, is wrestling. He wrestled in Middle School, High School & College. He's also coached wrestling at the Kids, High School and Jr College levels. He was Head Wrestling Coach at Pima Community College (1998-2007) and in 2002 was recognized as the National Junior College Wrestling Coach of the Year. He was a USA Wrestling Veterans National Champion (2002), a two-time NCAA National Qualifier and a two-time Pac-10 Medalist at Arizona State University (1980 & 1981), an NJCAA All American at Phoenix College (1979) and State Champion at Sunnyside High School (1976). In 2011, Joe was inducted into the Arizona Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for Lifetime Service Achievement in Wrestling. Joe has over 45 years of grappling experience & over 30 years of coaching experience and he still gets on the mat regularly. He has coached and developed champions at the kids, teens and adult levels. Several of his former students have gone on to become elite Grapplers and/or professional MMA fighters including; Anthony Birchak, Efrain Escudero, Drew Fickett, Jesse Forbes, Danny Martinez, Joe Montoya, Jacob Ortiz, James Terry, Jamie Varner and Mark Vujovic. Joe is one of the original founders of Primero and became full owner in 2012. Joe is passionate about coaching and helping others develop. His mission statement; "We Develop Champions" is Primero's mission statement. Come see why Primero has become Tucson’s premier jiu jjtsu academy.
Gustavo Dantas: Association Head Instructor
Gustavo Dantas began training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 1988 and is a 5th Degree Black Belt under Andre Pederneiras. Gustavo is a world class competitor and has competed extensively at the national and international levels dating back to 1997. He most recently won a Silver Medal at the 2014 IBJJF World Masters Championship, Gold at the 2014 IBJJF US Masters National Championships, Gold at the 2014 UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro Masters Championships, Gold at the 2012 IBJJF World Masters Championships, Gold at the 2012 IBJJF US Masters National Championships, Gold at the 2010 IBJJF International Masters Championships. Gustavo is highly respected in the Jiu Jitsu Community, coming to the United States in 1999 with just a suitcase and $2700, he has built one of the most successful schools and associations in the United States and is responsible for the explosive growth of Jiu Jitsu in Arizona. He is Vice-President of the Arizona State Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association and co-founder of Live Jiu Jitsu, a non-profit organization helping under-privileged youth through Jiu Jitsu. Gustavo has over 20 years of coaching experience and is a certified life skills and mental coach. Gustavo is a published author; Launching Your BJJ Competition Journey After 30, and a professional speaker and founder of Inner Discovery for Outer Success, a project of The BJJ Mental Coach. Gustavo is on a mission to help people overcome their fears and reach their full potential on and off the mat. Come see why Primero has become Tucson’s premier jiu jitsu academy.
Juan Cota: Academy Senior Instructor
Juan Cota is a 1st Degree Black belt and began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2007, he's been teaching since 2013. He joined Team Primero in 2018 and comes to us from Carlson Gracie Team where he earned his Black belt under Rey Diogo and Martin Escobar. Juan has competed extensively at the state, national and international levels and most recently won a Bronze medal at the 2018 IBJJF Masters Pan American Championships. He also won Silver at the 2014 IBJJF Masters Pan American Championships, Bronze at the 2013 Masters Pan American Championships, Gold at the 2012 AZSBJJF State Championships, Gold at the 2010 AZSBJJF State Championships and Gold at the 2009 IBJJF Masters Pan American Championships. Juan used to golf, but now he uses the time he spent on the golf course and invests it into his jiu jitsu journey. Juan loves to compete, but his real passion is teaching and sharing his grappling skills and knowledge. He is genuinely interested in making sure that each student learns and understands the techniques and helps students adapt techniques to better fit their body personalities. Juan loves jiu jitsu, it’s his passion and he’s committed to helping others discover the benefits of their own jiu jitsu journey. Come see why Primero has become Tucson’s premier jiu jitsu academy.
