Kristian CestaroBrazilian Jiu Jitsu Association

Schedule

Founder of the academy

KristianCestaro

Black belt · head coach

Kristian was born in São Paulo in 1976. He is a fourth-degree black belt, graded under professors Rolker and Royler Gracie at the legendary Gracie Humaitá academy. He started teaching while still a purple belt, and as a competitor he won state and Brazilian titles and both won and medalled at IBJJF European championships and international masters tournaments.

In 2011 he came to Russia to teach Brazilian jiu-jitsu, one of the first Brazilian masters to arrive not for a seminar or a season, but to stay, build a life and raise a family here. Later he founded the academy his association grew out of: many black belts, champions and medallists of all levels, and coaches who now develop jiu-jitsu in Russia and beyond.

Producing champions was never the whole point for him. Kristian shows what jiu-jitsu gives a person in every part of life: discipline, confidence, character, respect for your partner and the habit of getting better. Today he still teaches, runs seminars and competes himself.

All coaches

Kristian Cestaro – founder and head coach of the academy

Academy coach

MateusSenna

BJJ black belt 3rd degree · judo black belt

Mateus grew up on the mats: he started judo and jiu-jitsu at the age of three. By five, in 1999, he had already won his first IBJJF Brazilian national title.

He came to Russia in 2013, to Saint Petersburg, where he built wide experience with kids, adults and competitors of every level. Since 2025 he has been teaching at KCA in Moscow.

His method reaches past technique: mental preparation, strategy and making the right decisions inside the fight.

He is always on the mats with a smile and in a good mood, ready to help any student improve their game. You will find him in the gym every day.

All coaches

Step onto theMat

Come to a free intro class at the Kristian Cestaro academy and feel the power of Brazilian jiu-jitsu for yourself. Whether you want to introduce your child to the sport, are completely new, or already train and are looking to sharpen your technique. Our coaches create a welcoming environment for every level.

You can explore traditional Gi, fast-paced No-Gi (grappling) and morning groups for those who start the day on the mats. Groups are split by age and level, so a seven-year-old beginner and an experienced adult athlete both land where the training actually fits them.

You do not need to buy anything for your first session: come in comfortable sportswear, we will lend you a gi, and the coach will walk you through the gym rules and help you pick a group. There is no better way to find out than to step onto the mat.

Book your free class and start your journey.

Join our academy

BrazilianJiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most effective, reality-based fighting systems in the world. Created by the Gracie family, its basic premise is that 90% of fights end up on the ground. Jiu-jitsu is therefore focused primarily on effective ground fighting. The goal is to put an opponent into a position where a joint lock or a choke forces them to submit.

No-Gi and grappling training at the KCA academy

No-GiGrappling

No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is practiced without the traditional kimono, using rashguards and shorts. Grappling is the broader family of no-strike wrestling styles, from wrestling and sambo to submission wrestling, and No-Gi is jiu-jitsu's own branch of it: its own school and rulesets, but much of the technique in common. The objective remains to control your opponent and apply submissions such as chokes and joint locks. Without clothing grips, control relies on positioning, timing and body mechanics, making No-Gi faster-paced and more dynamic with a focus on wrestling and transitions. We run daily No-Gi and grappling classes for beginners, all levels, open mats and competition training.

Kidsclasses

Martial arts have long proved that they teach children far more than technique. On the mats they pick up discipline, resilience, the ability to focus and finish what they started, honesty towards themselves and their partner, and the habit of working as a team. In essence it is daily work on yourself: body, mind and character.

Jiu-jitsu gives a child something to lean on in difficult moments: composure, presence of mind and the ability to hold a boundary without turning to aggression. Children leave every session a little more confident than they arrived, and stay part of a team that backs them up.

Tournaments

Upcoming competitions

Where the academy team is heading next. The full calendar, in Russia and abroad, is on the tournaments page.

All tournaments

Geography

Association branches

Branches abroad

Cyprus

Limassol · BeeJJ

Ioannou Kondilaki, 15

Alexey Bezrukavy · +357 96 939838

Montenegro

Budva · Big Wave

Mediterranska, 4, «MMA Budva»

Anatoly Abramov · +382 68 796127

Kyrgyzstan

Jalal-Abad · Fullmaunt

улица Могол, 19, школа «Билимкана»

Farkhad Ergashev · +996 555 159 044

The first step matters most

Book an intro class: we'll show you the gym, introduce the coach and help you pick a group.