Professor Demetrios Diavatopoulos is the owner and Head Instructor of Gracie Barra Saint-Laurent. He is a certified 3rd degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt trained directly under multiple-time BJJ World Champion Professor Bruno Fernandes. Through this lineage, his master-level rank traces straight back to the founder of the global Gracie Barra organization, Master Carlos Gracie Jr.
Professor Demetrios leads our school with a strong dedication to safety, consistency, and structural technique. Before committing fully to teaching the martial arts lifestyle, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering and operated as a licensed professional engineer for 25 years. This technical background heavily influences his teaching methodology, allowing him to break down complex ground control positioning, leverage mechanics, and submission grappling concepts into clear, logical progressions for beginners and advanced practitioners alike.
He is passionate about ensuring that every member thrives in a supportive and exceptionally clean facility. His vision is simple: world-class BJJ instruction, accessible to everyone in Ville Saint-Laurent and across Montreal.
Lineage
Programs
GBK1 Little Champions
Foundational BJJ for children ages 5 to 7. Motor skills, mat etiquette, and fun in a safe environment.
GBK2 Juniors
Fundamental BJJ, self-defense, and discipline for children ages 8 to 12.
GBK3 Juniors Advanced
Technical development and competitive preparation for experienced junior practitioners.
GB1 Fundamentals
Core BJJ technique, positional control, and real self-defense for beginners ages 13 and up.
GB2 Advanced
Deeper technical training, live sparring, and refined submission chains for experienced practitioners.
GB3 Experts
Elite-level Gi and No-Gi training and advanced combat strategy for high-level practitioners.