Marcio “Zaca” José de Oliveira is an IBJJF-accredited second-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, coach, and official referee whose influence spans both the Brazilian and North American competitive grappling circuits. Known for his technical mastery across Gi and No-Gi disciplines, Oliveira has spent decades building top-tier athletes, leading high-performance training programs, and serving as a trusted official at major international tournaments.
Oliveira’s athletic career features notable podium finishes at premier international competitions. His major competitive awards and accolades as an athlete include a silver medal at the 2018 AJP South American Continental Championship, a bronze medal at the 2016 IBJJF Brazilian National Championship and a bronze medal at the 2015 IBJJF São Paulo International Open Championship.
Beyond his own achievements on the mats, Oliveira’s impact as a coach and program builder is widely recognized. Based in São Paulo, Brazil, for much of his early coaching career, he held leadership roles across key academies, including Alliance Berrini, CIA Atletica, and Excellence School of Jiu-Jitsu (ESJJ). Driven by a mission to expand access to martial arts, he founded the social initiative Projeto Yuu, an impactful project created to mentor youth through martial arts and provide a pathway to high-level athletics. Recognizing extraordinary talent within the project, he helped funnel promising athletes into elite competition environments.
Oliveira also played a pivotal founding role at Dream Art, serving as Head Coach from 2018 to 2022. Under his guidance, the project evolved into one of the most formidable competitive teams in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, cultivating world-class talent and claiming multiple international titles. His coaching expertise encompasses tactical analysis, competition strategy, youth and adult curriculum design, and tailored instruction for self-defense, fitness, and law enforcement personnel.
In July 2022, Oliveira brought his expertise to California, joining the Excellence School of Jiu-Jitsu (ESJJ) in Torrance as a head coach. Additionally, he holds active referee credentials from the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) and has officiated major competitions across the West Coast and internationally. His referee credentials include officiating for top-tier organizing bodies such as the Jiu-Jitsu World League (JJWL), NABJJF, and SJJIF.
His extensive officiating experience includes refereeing at prestigious JJWL events such as the World Championships in 2023 and 2024, the 2022 Finals Championship, the Champions Cup, the California Championship, and the San Diego Open. For the NABJJF and SJJIF, he has judged matches at the National Open Championship, the All Americas Tournament, the Las Vegas Open, and the Los Angeles International Open.
A certified black belt evaluated by Master Eduardo Santoro de Camargo, Oliveira completed specialized training in sports psychology, earning certification in Mario Reis’s Champion Mentality Course. Fluent in English and Portuguese, Marcio “Zaca” Oliveira continues to shape the future of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through elite athletic development, referee leadership, and global seminar instruction.
