Chris Matakas received his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt from 4th degree black belt Ricardo Almeida in 2015. He opened the Matakas Jiu Jitsu Academy in 2017 to serve the Florence-Burlington area through world-class Jiu Jitsu.
Though successful in Jiu Jitsu competition and undefeated in Amateur MMA, Chris's sole focus is sharing Jiu Jitsu with his students as a tool for personal development. He believes that the most fulfilling life is one spent mastering yourself and serving others, and that the more sincerely we approach our training in this art, the more likely its benefits will extend off the mat into our daily lives. He has published seven books regarding using Jiu Jitsu as a vehicle for personal development, along with being featured on many podcasts in the martial arts world.