COMPANY
Mission
Sell good packages or make profitable sport events is not our primary goal. We are committed to quality, personality and expertise. Our campers and clients are part of our success and we believe in personal progress within the sports and the culture exchange to make better people. That is why our mission is to be 100% dedicated to our clients´ dreams and passions, linking sports and the Brazilian tourism.
About us
Seeking new life experiences and high quality sports? Welcome to Rio Sports Tour.
Imagine how it could be practicing your favorite sport during half a day, getting to know the best spots world-renewed and living like a local. Our programs are created by locals who live in Rio de Janeiro for 30 years and know every possible place to visit. Our staff will make you feel at home by the way they treat campers as if they were family and by the dedicated attention to following closely the entire program.
We offer different types of sports camps with highly qualified coaches, unique tourism programs and real life experiences. Our camps include fighting sports (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Wrestling) and beach sports (Surf and Beach Volley). The special touch is the opportunity of practicing your favorite sport all around the state of Rio de Janeiro (Búzios Peninsula, Cabo Frio, Niterói, and Rio de Janeiro city) combining the big city with nature.
Rio Sports Tour was created when we had the idea of combining the touristic activities that the city of Rio de Janeiro provides and several people from all around the around the world. We would do so by organizing training camps in different sports, by providing tourism management support to special events, and most importantly, with Rio´s uniqueness. Created in 2003, we have organized many training camps which have helped develop a few non-profit sports in Brazil, such as wrestling, that has grown a lot since the foreign exchange program of the Brazilian Wrestling Federation is conducted by Rio Sports Tour.
Rio Sports Tour is also part of a tourism agency group that has almost 6 years of experience in traditional tourism, ski trips and events support. Our staff has the background and the expertise to make any type of medium sport event.
We are proud to be one of the licensed tourism agencies in the world a part of Joao Havelange Institute.
Team
Visiting Brazil is not like a common trip where you eat different things, hear another language, and see a new culture before returning home. In Rio you will feel like if you were at home. Our team is versatile so to speak different languages, help you anytime and also create enjoyable moments that will last forever in your memory. Enjoy the trip and have a lifetime experience!
INSTRUCTION TEAM
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Nearly our entire management team has been enrolled with this sport for the past decades. We have all the networks to make unforgettable BJJ camps. Other than networks by Rio Sports Tour coaches, we made camps with:
- Great Master Flavio Behring (9th Degree Red Belt – part of the first group teached under GM Helio Gracie);
- Master Sylvio Behring (creator of Progressive System and a 6th Degree Black Belt);
- Saulo Ribeiro (6 times BJJ world champion, 2 times ADCC champion);
- Francisco TOCO Albuquerque (3rd Degree Black Belt under Great Master Carlson Gracie);
- Zé Mario ESFIHA (3rd Degree Black Belt under Roberto Traven - ADCC veteran);
- Múzio de Angelis (4rd Degree Black Belt under Roberto Traven - RJ State, National, Continental and Masters BJJ titles);
If you want to learn BJJ from the real world champions and renewed masters, this is the place you´ve been looking for. Contact us for BJJ coaches list availability.
Judo
Tradition and effort are part of Judo evolution in Brazil. Following the oriental philosophies the Brazilian judokas conquered many Olympic, World and Continental titles. Some of the athletes the camper can train with are: Flávio Canto, Daniela Polzin and a few others from the National Team.
If you are looking for knowledge we can offer one of the greatest and respected Sensei’s in Japan and America Sensei George Mehdi .
Wrestling
A sport with less tradition than Judo or BJJ, wrestling in Brazil has achieved several international titles and respect since 2001. Reafirming the versatility of Brazilians in fighting sports, the wrestling results in Continental championships speaks for themselves: 2006 World Junior - silver medal FW 72kg, 2003 Pan Am Games – silver medal FS 96kg, and 10 other different titles in Pan-American events. Rio Sports Tour is the official company for the international cultural exchange program at the Brazilian Wrestling Federation.
Beach Volley
After winning almost every title in this sport the Brazilian Volley Ball Team is top qualified to teach and share their experiences with anyone. To make it happen, our resident coach and permanent consulter is Marcos Miranda with his high-qualified team:
- Marcos Miranda: married with Brazilian volleyball star Ana Paula, he played since 12 and coached for more than 20 years. Marco’s backgrounds include 4 Olympic Games as a supervisor, coach, assistant coach or physical preparing and he is also an FIV coach Level I, II, III. With all these credits, he achieved what almost anyone dreams of.
. Olympic Games: 1992 Olympic Champion (indoor volley), 2 times 5th place in indoor (1988 and 1996) and one time 5th at beach (2004).
. Worlds: champion at Beach Volley World Tour (2003 – Ana Paula/Sandra), Indoor Volley Grand Prix (1998), Indoor Volley World League (1993) and also at the World Cup (1992).
Marcos used to coach other great champions like Brazilians Carlao and Nalbert, and foreign national teams like Switzerland (bronze medal in 2004 O.G), Germany, Sweden, Austria, China and Russia.
- Dennys Gomes: always ready to help Marcos as an assistant coach or as a coach for some of the best Brazilian beach volley players. Since 2003, he’s been coaching the National Beach Volley Team for the Brazilian Volley Ball Federation (CBV) and the top athletes Nalbert/Luizao.
Surf
Almost like a religion, for many generations in Rio our surf camp is technically conducted by surf professionals from Wet Works. The company was founded by renewed shapers and surfers and nowadays is one of the top boards/equipment dealers in Brazil. Professionals, coaches and state of the art materials are just waiting for you. Our surf consulters are Lula Menezes, Joca Secco, and Ricardo Martins whom competed in the 1980´s and achieved several awards and world class exposure.
TOURISM TEAM
HELOISA (FRA, ING) – She has been traveling since 12 years old trough the world for study/work. As a tourist guide, she has already guided many groups all over Brazil for the past years including all Rio Sports Tour groups.
BEATRIZ (FRA, ING, ESP) – Grew up in Copacabana beach, lived for many years in USA with her family and traveled all over the world accompanied by her husband on business trips. Beatriz is well prepared in foreign languages, cultures and ready to guides different profiles of groups.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
FRANCIS – Founder, Executive Manager & Camp Leader
A native from Columbus, Ohio, he moved to Brazil when a baby and has lived in Rio de Janeiro ever since. Passionate about sports and an intense sportsman, Francis was introduced to the world of sports when he was 1 ½ old and began Swimming. After that he went through Gymnastics, Athletics, Tennis, Rowing, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Karate, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Surf and Yoga.
Since 2001 he is working to develop the wrestling sport and the grappling style (under FILA rules) in Brazil. At the National Federation he has organized many different kinds of events (State and Nationals Championships, South American and Pan American Games), marketing projects and also has represented his country in international wrestling events all over the world. In 2008 Francis was invited to join the FILA World Grappling Committee as a member.
BRUNO – Operations Manager & Associated
Raised at one of the most famous beaches in the world (Ipanema), Bruno started to practice sports when he was only a kid. Until today, he has passed through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Soccer, Ski, Gym, Rowing and Running.
With a BA degree and working with tourism since 2001, his background guides him in developing powerful projects. He has helped the tourist agency in several events like: A.A Ski Club (with American Airlines), A.A Runners, 2006 BJJ World Cup, 2006 Pan-American Wrestling Championships, Ski/Snowboard Open Cup (Chile), 2006 Pan-American Archery Outdoor Championships,
With all this expertise, Bruno is a key part of the company and responsible for strategies and the processes at Rio Sports Tour.
