Jiu-Jitsu Instructors

  • "Franjinha"

    Paragon Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Founder
    Head Instructor, Santa Barbara, CA & Ventura, CA

    Ricardo "Franjinha" Miller has being teaching and competing for the last 15 years with many titles in regional, national and international competitions. With his black belt, Ricardo set for himself challenges extending beyond Brazil. In 1996 he came to the United States to compete and to teach. He proved to be successful at both. With American partner Mike Florimbi, the Paragon Academy of Martial Arts was founded in 1998 in Santa Barbara. Under Ricardo’s hands-on direction as coach and fighter, Paragon Santa Barbara has become a powerhouse for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction in California. Ricardo and competitor-level students have dominated in regional, state, and international tournaments. In addition, Paragon has become a community force for recreational Jiu-Jitsu, a resource for law enforcement, and developer of ongoing physical training and self-defense programs for young people, adults, seniors, and women. With the success of the Santa Barbara school, "Franjinha" opened a Ventura location as well as affiliate schools in Lompoc and Santa Maria.

  • Sean Apperson

    Program Director, Santa Barbara, CA

    Sean Apperson, Paragon Black Belt, has been involved with wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for the past 10 years and has trained all over the state of California and even Brazil. Sean has an excellent tournament record and has captured gold medals in the following: No gi Pan American games 2006, US Open of Submission Wrestling 2006, Copa Pacifica 2006, and US OPEN 2002. Sean is a very detailed instructor and is involved at both the SB and Ventura locations.

  • Adam Benshea

    Instructor, Santa Barbara, CA & Ventura, CA

    Adam benShea is a native of Santa Barbara. He has consistently trained under Franjinha since 2000. In June 2006 Adam received his black belt. He has a long history in competitive grappling. Some of his more notable accomplishments were winning the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu California State, Pan American, and World Championships. These days he is more focused on teaching and coaching BJJ. Aside from BJJ he also has a background in wrestling and Judo. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara and recently completed his MA in Middle Eastern Studies from Indiana University.

  • Anthony Califano

    Wrestling Coach

    Anthony Califano has been training at Paragon for the past 9 years and is the head wrestling coach at Dos Pueblos High School. He is also the head coach for the Anaconda Youth Wrestling Club. He has been a member of California Junior National Wrestling team two times. He has also been on the Tri-County All Star wrestling team coaching staff several times. He was a high state placer for San Marcos High School and a Div II National qualifier for Humboldt State University. As a guest instructor he brings over 25 years of wrestling and coaching experience to the academy. Anthony is a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

  • Sean Conley

    Instructor, Santa Clarita, CA

    Sean Conley, a Paragon Black Belt is well known for his sharp technique and excellent teaching skills. Sean has a very strong competition record with victories back to back at the Gracie world championships and runner up at the Pan American National Championships.

  • Bill Cooper

    Instructor, Thousand Oaks, CA

    Bill “The Grill” Cooper, Paragon Black Belt has been a terror in both National and International competition for the past 10 years winning many titles and recently qualifiing for the USA grappling team. Bill is an excellent instructor and is always working hard to improve his students game at the Santa Barbara location.

  • Aurelio Gallegos Jr.

    Instructor, Corpus Christi, TX

    Aurelio Gallegos Jr., is an accomplished and dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and the chief instructor at Corpus Christi Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Trained by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Ricardo "Franjinha" Miller. After 10 years of intense training and traveling all along the West Coast for BJJ, Aurelio’s Martial Arts career continues to dominate Corpus Christi! His experience, talent and dedication makes for an excellent instructor at Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Corpus Christi.

  • Jeff Glover

    Instructor, Santa Barbara and Ventura

    Jeff Glover, Paragon Black Belt, has dominated the tournament scene unlike any other american fighter to date. Jeff has competed and done well in the most prestigious events submission grappling has to offer. Being a local of Santa Barbara Jeff has helped Paragon become the power house it is today.

  • Tyrone Glover Jr.

    Juris Doctor Candidate 09? University of Colorado Law School. Tyrone is one of the founding paragon members and is Ricardo’s first student to be promoted to black belt. Tyrone has won high level Jiu Jitsu tournaments and is a perfect 5-0 in mixed martial arts competition. Tyrone is an excellent instructor and his impact on the paragon team can still be felt by anyone associated.

  • Chris Lovato

    Instructor, San Luis Obispo, CA

    Paragon Black belt, Chris has been training brazilian jiu-jitsu for over 10 years. Has over 20 years of wrestling and grappling experience and holds a Judo black belt. Tournament titles include: 2007 World No-Gi Champion / Absolute Silver Medalist, 2007 Pan American Silver Medalist, 2007 US Open Champion, 2006 Pan American Champion.

  • Katie Weilbacher

    Katie was the youngest American women to be promoted to Black Belt. Katie is the head instructor of the womens program at Paragon and has a stellar tournament record winning the jiu jitsu world championships two times both with and without the gi. Katie is an excellent instructor, her patience and gentle approach make her classes both fun and informative.