FRANCO-BEHRING ASSOCIATION

The Franco/Behring Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association is one of the most reputable Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu organizations in Canada. It operates under the direction and tutelage of Master Sylvio Behring of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and Professor Shah Franco of Toronto, Canada. The Franco/Behring team is a solid fraternity and brotherhood of reputable Canadian Martial Arts Instructors, acting in unison under one Alliance, dedicated to the love, respect and perpetuation of Traditional and Modern Jiu-Jitsu.

One of the core values in the Franco-Behring System is the Progressive Guard.  Performed in an almost kata-like manner this allows the student to build a practical skill set that is applicable in the real world and allows the same student to further build on these skills as he or she progresses.  Below is an example of the progressive guard. 

To find a Franco-Behring Association dojo near you check out their homepage.

Master Professor Sylvio Behring

Master Professor Sylvio Behring started training in 1966 at the age of four, out of Master Joao Alberto Barretos’ Academy (9th degree, red belt under Master Helio Gracie). He primarily trained with his younger brother Marcelo Behring under the watchful eye of his father, Master Flavio Behring, also a direct student of Helio Gracie.

In 1972, they moved to Sao Paulo and trained at Professor Gastao Gracie Junior’s School. Master Flavio Behring would teach all the classes when they would visit. This played an important part in developing the self-defense skills of Sylvio Behring and his brother Marcelo. During the summers, Sylvio and Marcelo would train at Master Alvaro Barretos’ School (9th degree, red belt / blackbelt) in Copacabana. When they moved back to Rio, Sylvio signed up with Master Alvaro and began studying and developing his understanding of the Progressive method of teaching. They trained everything: self-defense, Judo and very technical ground fighting (gi and no gi grappling). Under Master Alvaro’s instruction, Sylvio would receive his Blackbelt.

Training was intense between freestyle and reality-based self-defense. Sylvio, along with Marcelo, trained in Judo with Sensei Helcio Gama, Ney Wilson, Marco Aurelio Gama and Julio Gama. In 1982, Master Flavio Behring felt that his sons were ready for the next step in Judo so he signed them up at Sensei Mehdis’ School. There, they would learn a lot of Jiu-Jitsu and Judo from Edgard Freitas while having had the honour of attending classes with Sensei de Lucca, Master Helio Gracie, Master Relson Gracie, Master Rickson Gracie, Sensei Geraldo Bernardes and countless others.

Master Professor Sylvio Behring was honoured as the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach in Brazil in 2003 and is currently regarded as one of the premiere Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructors in the world. He continues to bring honour to his father, his family, the art and the history of Jiu-Jitsu through his diligent practice, love of the art, his patience as a teacher and the respect that he gives to all of those that have the privilege of meeting him in person. He is an inspiring Martial Artist, a gentleman and a true Master.

CREDENTIALS

• Master Professor Sylvio Behring (www.sylviobehring.com.br)
• 7th dan Professor de Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• Developed the Progressive Guard System of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – praised for its effectiveness in Gracie Magazine
• Invited to teach the Progressive System to the U.S. Army
• Presidente Franco / Behring Alliance of Canada (www.francobehring.org)
• Vice-Presidente FJJERIO (www.fjjerio.com.br)
• Diretor Tecnico FLOAERJ (www.floaerj.com.br)
• Diretor Tecnico Departamento Nacional de Grappling (http://grapplingbrasil.wordpress.com/)
• Arbitro Internacional Grappling (www.fila-wrestling.com)
• FILA International Referee for Grappling Coordenador de Lutas XTRIKER (www.xgym.com.br)
• Head Coach for National Grappling Team and Rio de Janeiro Wrestling Federation

Professor Shah Franco

With over 20 years of teaching and training in the Martial Arts, Toronto’s legendary MMA trainer, Professor Shah Franco is one of the most respected and well-known Traditional and Modern Martial Arts Instructors in all of Ontario. A Master of Traditional Karate, Professor Franco was one of the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners to be ranked to Blackbelt in Canada directly under the legendary Master Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Professor, Sylvio Behring, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

CREDENTIALS

• International Instructor – 7th Degree Blackbelt, Karate
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Blackbelt – 2nd Degree
• Certified Instructor in Israeli Scientific Combat
• Professional MMA Coach/Manager
• I.K.A. World Champion
• North American Champion
• Top eighth finish at the World Games
• IOC-recognized national champion

• Former Canadian National team captain
• Former Karate Ontario team coach
• Trained a long list of provincial, national, and international Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and MMA champions
• Received International Achievement Award in Amateur Sport from Ontario Ministry of Culture and Recreation