MAZI HEYDARY

Mazi Heydary is a lifelong student of martial arts. Mazi has been training in various martial arts, including Okinawan Kempo Karate and Tae Kwon Do since 1975. Since 1996 he has been developing his understanding of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He began his Jiu Jitsu training under Greg Thompson, Team R.O.C. founder and the first Royce Gracie Black Belt in North Carolina. After decades of dedication, Mazi earned his Black Belt from Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Fame member Royce Gracie in 2011. He currently is a third degree black belt. In addition to being the head instructor at the Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy and owner of Train for Life, Mazi also heads the University of North Carolina’s Jiu-Jitsu Club. Mazi brings a rare passion for martial arts into his teaching methods. With his technical proficiency and detail-centric instruction, demonstrated through his “lead by example” approach, Mazi can push his students to achievements they never thought possible.