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Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller

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Ricardo Miller, commonly known in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as “Franjinha”,  is regarded as one of the top BJJ coaches in the world, having graduated from his famed Paragon Jiu Jitsu Academy, big names of the grappling world such as Tyrone Glover, Jeff Glover , Bill “The Grill” Cooper among many others.

Ricardo Miller Franjinha Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Ricardo Miller Chagas Ribeiro

Nickname: “Franjinha” means fringe. The name came about when Ricardo started training at Romero Cavalcanti’s gym in Rio de Janeiro. Miller had straight hair, and he would always have a bowl-style haircut which resembled a comic book character from “Turma da Monica” books and TV show. That character was named Franjinha.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Ricardo Miller

Main Titles/Record:

  • World Champion (1996 brown belt);
  • 5x Pan American Champion (2010 Senior 2weight & absolute, 2007 , 2006 Senior 1, 2003 Master);
  • 2x World No Gi Champion (2008, 2007 Senior 1)

Favorite Position/Technique: n/a

Weight Division: Peso Médio (82kg-181lbs)

Academy/Association: Paragon BJJ

Ricardo Franjinha Miller Biography

Ricardo Miller was born on the 30th of June, 1969, in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. He grew up on one of the most famous burghs of Rio, the Leblon which neighbors Copacabana. The last name Miller comes from Ricardo’s American origins, his great-grandfather was from the USA. It is said that his family owned a Mill a few generations ago, thus the name “Millers” which later turned into Miller. Another peculiarity of Ricardo Franjinha Miller is that unlike many of the athletes in BJJ today who had very humble upbringings, Miller came from a middle-class family in Brazil and had a chance to study in a good school. He found Jiu Jitsu in his late teens (when he was 19) and straight away started training with his one and only mentor, Romero Cavalcanti at the Jacaré academy in Ipanema – Rio de Janeiro.

At Jacaré’s place, Miller had the opportunity to train with and under many of the big names of his time. People like Fábio Gurgel, Traven and “Telo” Mendes. All this hard training paid off in 1996 as “Franjinha” took gold at the Mundial (World Championship) in the meio-pesado brown belt division. He was awarded his black belt by master Romero Cavalcanti shortly after his World title (February 1997) combining a total of 8 years between the time he first stepped on a mat and his black belt ceremony.

In 1997 Franjinha decided he needed a new challenge in life. Ricardo was already one of the coaches at the prestigious Alliance Academy in Sao Paulo (Fabio Gurgel‘s Headquarters), but after a brief stay in Santa Barbara, CA for the 1996 BJJ Pan American he fell in love with the place and moved to the US, seeing great potential for BJJ in the country for Jiu Jitsu.

In California Ricardo Miller founded the Paragon Academy, This academy flourished throughout the last decade having become a testament to its name, a true model of excellence to all BJJ academies all over the World, with great fighters coming out of its camp. Paragon today is famous for its technical prowess that has graduated names such as Jeff Glover, Bill Cooper, and Tyrone Glover (who was Franjinha’s first black belt), but another of Paragon’s most successful competitors is also its founder, Miller is still a very active competitor in many top-level events such as the Pan American the Nogi World Championships and many others.

Franjinha Pan Am 2010 Final – Middleweight

Franjinha Pan Am absolute Final

Bernardo Faria BJJ Foundations

8 Comments

  • Antonio says:

    Franjinha is not only our teacher but also a great role model. We are so lucky to have such an awesome instructor and also a great friend. If you ever in socal come and learn from this awesome instructor.

  • Adrian Quintanilla says:

    Franjinha is one of the kindest people that I have met. He always has a huge smile on his face when I see him. The difference between him and other instructors that I have met is that he not only leaves himself open to answer your questions, he also asks you! He'll ask to get to know a little bit about you even if its the smallest thing. This says a lot about him as a person. He is a very genuine person. He takes his job very serious and is very dedicated to the family that he has built in California and down here in Texas. He is a really nice person in general. When it comes to jiu jitz, he is NO JOKE!! He is very detailed in the way he explains things and does not hold back when he teaches us when he comes down. He doesn't come and show us a simple little thing that we already know. He opens up his book up secrets and lets us in on everything. I couldn't ask for a better person to have as a head instructor. I am very proud to wear the patch on my gi and the tattoo that I have on my wrist. Hope to see you soon brother and I thank you for everything that you have done for us!! Much love from Edinburg,Texas.

  • Charlie Johnson says:

    Franjinha is not only a tough competitor, but he is also a great mentor for all of his students. He welcomes anyone from any affiliation to come and train at his gym(s). I really appreciate how he has made a school for everyone to call their own. You can see this by the way his students open their arms to new and visiting students. Just look at how many paragon schools have opened in the last couple of years. There are certainly going to be more to come! As Franjinha says, "Believe".

  • jason lopez says:

    Franjina I put my hat off to you thanks for all touce done for me

  • Mark Buntich says:

    As a former student of Franjinha's, I can attest to his skill and knowledge as a coach and his warmth and genuineness as a person. A lot of the skills I display today are a direct result of Franjinha's teaching. His school in SB is welcoming, and he always tries his best to give one-on-one guidance to everyone.
    I used to train with him on Saturdays in Lompoc, CA – when Cooper was about 15 and prepared for training with Slim Jims and a Rock Star. Thanks Franjinha!

  • vendetta says:

    franjinha is the man!!

  • A. Jhones says:

    Ola. Gostaria de entrar em contato com Ricardo "Franjinha"
    Por gentileza preciso de verdade. entrar em contato…
    Grato.

    Desde de já agradeço.

    meu telefone e email
    +55 41 8770-8262
    [email protected]
    Alan Jhones

  • Eduardo "Caipirinho" Travasseiro says:

    Tyrone Glover is his first black belt and one of his best bjj champions along with Jeff and Bill. Imagine my surprise that he isn’t listed here unlike them. Probably an oversight but one easily remedied. Great site; I love it!

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