Pedro Sauer - 8th Degree Coral Belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor

1. Pedro Sauer’s Details

2. Pedro Sauer’s Biography

Pedro was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His connection with martial arts began when he was five years old. He began training in boxing and later introduced judo and taekwondo to his repertoire.

Now, Pedro Sauer is the owner of one of the world’s largest and most renowned jiu-jitsu associations, the Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association (PSBJJA) The PSBJJA was founded in 1978 by Master Pedro Sauer to maintain the BJJ legacy and pass on the art that Helio and Carlos Gracie developed throughout the years.

2.1. Pedro Sauer’s Early life and Amateur Fighting

Pedro is a family friend of the Gracies. When Pedro was 15 years old, Rickson Gracie introduced him to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and practiced with the younger brother Royler Gracie. Pedro has been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since then.

Pedro Sauer graduated from college with a Degree in Business Administration and Economics from Fundação Getulio Vargas, then completing a post-graduate program afterward.

Blue Belt Period

Pedro spent three years as a blue belt. At that time, he started to discover jiu-jitsu but had difficulty understanding the martial arts . At that time, he was a blue belt and effective against somebody who didn’t know anything about jiu-jitsu. But everyone at school was an expert and it was stressful being around experts like Helio Gracie and his sons.

“He said Can you imagine walking into a school and you see Rickson, Relson, Rorion, Royer, and Royce? Those were the normal partners you had at school.”
(Pedro Sauer)

Pedro had suffered a lot until he was close to the black belt level. He became more aware of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a brown belt.

He claimed:

“As a brown belt, that’s when I was more aware of things and started putting things more together.”
(Pedro Sauer)

Pedro made it a habit to train six hours every day but he made it through. Today, he isn’t known because of his association with the Gracies but by his title: Pedro Saue - 8th Degree Coral Belt Instructor. 

During his training, Sauer worked as a stockbroker in Brazil for 11 years. Pedro was convinced after training with Royler that jiu-jitsu was the most effective martial art.

2.2. Pedro Sauer’s Historic Fights

Black Belt Promotion

While training under Helio and Rickson Gracie, Pedro achieved the rank of black belt in 1985 at the Gracie Humaita Academy in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In 1986, he taught with an organization known in Brazil as Corpo/Quatro, where he completed his study under jiu-jitsu master Alvaro Barreto, a 9th degree red belt master under Helio Gracie.

Later in 1990, Pedro Sauer left his profession as a stockbroker and relocated to California, United States. Where he took further training with Rorion, Rickson, and Royce Gracie, along with the Machado brothers.

In 1996, Pedro became an official black belt instructor in the Rickson Gracie American Jiu-Jitsu Association.

Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association

After training under the Rickson Gracie American Jiu-Jitsu Association, Pedro decided to open his first gym in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Pedro, the owner of the gym became well known for issuing open challenges to anyone ready to take him on in a no-holds-barred battle. Pedro undertook this initiative to prove the power of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was victorious against every opponent who came his way.

Eventually , Lance Batchelor, a competitive bodybuilder and former Mr. Utah challenged Pedro to a one-on-one match. Although Lance Batchelor had a significant weight advantage over Pedro (100lbs), he was still able to subdue the bodybuilder in an all-out brawl.

Over the years, the Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association has now grown to include affiliate gyms throughout the United States and other countries worldwide.

After living in Salt Lake City, Utah for 16 years, Pedro relocated to Herdon, Virginia.

In 2005, he was included in a list of the “Best of the Best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructors” in an online worldwide poll conducted by the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC). 

In the middle of 2006, Pedro and his family moved to Washington D.C where he teaches at the Pedro Sauer Total Self Defense Academy in Sterling, Virginia. He has promoted around 200+ people to the rank of black belt in BJJ, including Jeff Curran and Eric Schafer (UFC fighters) and MMA coach Greg Nelson.

8th Degree Red Black Bet

In 2010, Sauer was promoted to an 8th degree red black belt by Reson Gracie.

Pedro Sauer is currently employed as a coach at One Spirit Martial Arts in Herndon.

Pedro Sauer as a Trainer

Aside from instructing ordinary students in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Pedro has instructed FBI and CIA officers in Texas, plus SWAT teams in Colorado and Utah. Pedro has also trained police officers in Provo and Orem, Police Officer’s Standard Training (POST), the Sheriff's Department in Salt Lake City, and Orem First Department.

Pedro Sauer devotes a significant amount of his time training law enforcement officers, as well as members of several branches of the United States military such as the Marines and Navy SEALs.

Pedro Sauer and Lance Bathchelor Fight

PedroSauer vs LanceBatchelor

In 1994, a controversial fight took place between Pedro Sauer and Lance Batchelor. Lance Batchelor, who won the Mr. Utah bodybuilding competition in 1992, challenged black belt Pedro Sauer. Pedro weighed less than 100 lbs compared to Lance .

The fight started with Pedro using his taekwondo skills to kick in the left leg of his bulky opponent. Pedro also used his boxing skills to land some strong lead hooks on Batchelor during the fight. After being beaten up on the feet for a short time, Batchelor bull-rushed Pedro and forced the bout to the floor. Little did Bachelor know, this was the beginning of the end for him.

As Batchelor took Pedro to the floor, Pedro was able to grab a butterfly hook just as he was about to fall, however, Pedro was unable to sweep Batchelor because of his size and momentum. Pedro still trapped the enormous bodybuilder within his full guard.

Lance Batchelor attempted to raise his arms to hurl some ground and pound, but Pedro was able to maintain complete control over him from the ground up. Pedro Sauer was eventually successful in securing an armbar from the full mount and defeating Mr. Utah in front of a large crowd in his gym.

“It was the first time that I saw him. I had no idea whatsoever. I got a phone call on a Tuesday and fought on a Friday morning. That’s how it happened. No preparation. Nothing. No mouthpiece, groin protection, gloves - nothing. It was a bare-knuckle brawl. He was training in martial arts. He had some wrestling experience like every American does. And he was a huge guy. There was some vaseline going on so it was basically like trying to hold a wet fish. The Gi helped me out tremendously to keep his hands busy, that's number one . And to dry out a bit of vaseline, that’s a number two . Because I know self-defense. If you watch the fight, the whole, entire fight, I never got hit a single time. I kinda knew. If I’m going up 100 lbs to this guy, I just can’t afford to get hit. One blow can knock me out.”
(Pedro Sauer)

2.3. Fundamentals of Side Control Escapes by Pedro Sauer - DVD

Pedro Sauer, America's most respected Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor has shared instruction on the principles of escaping hard and tough positions. Variations on the side control position with Pedro’s fundamentals and techniques for reliable escapes.

• Proper use of framing and body mechanics to create space and escape.
• Proper use of framing and body mechanics against opponents in a scarf or a reverse scarf hold.
• Use legs and body for better escapes
• How you can become harder to submit and pressure
• Using counters and surprising submissions from the bottom position id side control.

The digital videos have four volumes.

Volume 1

• Concepts - Becoming Comfortable from Bottom Position
• Upper Body Framing
• Lower Body Framing
• The Shoelace Hook Guard Recovery
• The Heel Hook Mount Reversal
• Cross Face Arm Trap Counter
• Preventing the Cross Face & Countering with Americana

Volume 2

• Troubleshooting the Harpoon Reversal
• Counter to ‘Wrestle Pin’
• Choke from ‘Wrestle Pin’
• Shibonis Sweep
• Shibonis Sweep to Shoulder Lock
• Troubleshooting the Harpoon - Sprawl
• Troubleshooting the Harpoon - Sprawl 2
• Leg Pinch Reversal
• Leg Pinch Re-Guard
• Trap and Bridge Reversal
• Leg Pinch to Scoop
• Knee Drive Counter
• Sword Arm to Overhook
• Taboo Turn
• Obtaining the Underhook
• Low Underhook Double Leg

Volume 3

• Threading the Needle to Sit Out 2
• Threading the Needle to Headlock Counter
• Threading the Needle to Shoulder Lock
• Mantis Hook
• Busting a Grip
• Busting a Grip 2
• Busting a Grip 3
• Frame and Turn
• Kimura Reversal
• Paper Cutter Choke Counter
• Deceptive Armbar

Volume 4

• Flanking against Scarf Hold
• Shoulder Lock Scarf Hold Escape
• Scarf Hold to Armbar
• Overhead Scarf Reversal
• Go to Knees
• Leg Over Head
• Wrestles Escape
• Reverse Scarf Hold - Cross Face to Mata Leao
• Invite to Mount
• Butterfly Hook
• Mount Reversal
• Back Take

2.4. Pedro Sauer’s Championships and Accomplishments

Pedro Sauer did not participate in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on a professional level, and as a result, does not have a competitive record.

3. Pedro Sauer’s Main Achievements

In terms of championships, Pedro Sauer has not won any medals or titles. He does, however, hold the coveted 8th degree coral belt, which many fighters would claim is more difficult to obtain, making it more prestigious than any other championship title.

4. Pedro Sauer’s Main Achievements

5. Pedro Sauer’s Professional Record Breakdown

Pedro Sauer did not participate in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on a professional level, and as a result, he does not have a competitive record.

6. Pedro Sauer’s Video Links

Photo credit: @gjjsingapore , @pedrosauer