Wilson Junior

Main Achievements

• Founder of Carlson Gracie UK — Established and expanded one of the most prominent, foundational martial arts institutions across the United Kingdom and into emerging international markets.
• 2-Time Brazilian National Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion — Showcased immense cross-disciplinary mastery on the absolute highest domestic stage in Brazil.
• Luta Livre State Champion — Asserted total dominance in the submission-heavy, no-gi proving grounds of Rio de Janeiro.
• Rio de Janeiro State Jiu-Jitsu Champion — Conquered the fiercely competitive Brazilian regional circuits wearing the traditional gi.
• Elite Pioneer Builder — Produced a massive, loyal roster of early European black belts, prominently including British vanguards Richard “Dickie” Martin, Simon Hayes, and Alain Pozo.

Overview

Professor Wilson Cretaro da Luz Junior is a highly influential martial artist, a decorated multi-disciplinary grappler, and the driving force behind the massive expansion of the Carlson Gracie team across Europe. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wilson forged a gritty, old-school reputation as a true hybrid combatant, seamlessly excelling in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Luta Livre, and competitive wrestling. Relocating to the United Kingdom in the early 2000s, his transitional legacy as the founder of Carlson Gracie London and his unapologetic, pressure-heavy pedagogy securely position him at the absolute vanguard of contemporary European combat sports majesty.

Early Life & The Grappling Hybrid

Wilson initialized his combat sports journey in 1994 within the raw martial arts epicenter of Rio de Janeiro. Unlike many traditional BJJ practitioners of his era who remained fiercely loyal to a single discipline, he completely submerged himself in a diverse, cross-training matrix. He competed heavily in Luta Livre—eventually earning his black belt under the Budokan Gym—and asserted himself as a dominant standout in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wilson honed his mechanics under the unyielding curation of Nelson Solari—whose lineage tracks deep through Ricardo Libório and the legendary Carlson Gracie team. Refining his crushing top game, Wilson continued his journey to become a high-ranking black belt under Grandmaster Carlson Gracie Jr., perfectly mirroring the team’s historical ethos of unbreakable pressure and relentless offense.

The UK Vanguard & Carlson Gracie London

In the early 2000s, Wilson made a life-changing, strategic move to the United Kingdom. Arriving in a country where the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was still in its absolute infancy, he co-founded Carlson Gracie London. Bringing a fierce, battle-tested curriculum straight from the proving grounds of Rio de Janeiro, he laid the heavy foundation for what would rapidly evolve into one of the premier BJJ institutions in Europe.

Under his direct leadership and unwavering standards, the Carlson Gracie banner flourished exponentially. He built an expansive network of affiliate academies, spreading his highly effective systems into dozens of schools across the UK and reaching internationally into emerging markets like Turkey.

The Wilson Blueprint & Modern Pedagogy

Tactically, Professor Wilson Junior completely rejects the modern, point-centric evolution of sport jiu-jitsu. He is globally renowned for teaching a gritty, “old school” style that heavily favors unbreakable pressure, solid wrestling takedowns, and aggressive top control—a direct, devastating reflection of his Luta Livre and wrestling roots. His curriculum demands that practitioners learn to dictate the physical terms of the fight from the top position.

Online, he has achieved cult status for his highly entertaining and unapologetic “Wilson rants.” Using a brilliant, no-nonsense approach, he regularly dismantles “fancy” modern sport techniques, firmly advocating for pure, uncompromised combat effectiveness and real-world application. On the mats, his enduring legacy is cemented by the massive roster of elite European black belts he has produced over the last two decades. Professor Wilson Junior stands securely enshrined as an eternal monument to cross-training integration, European pioneering, and unyielding martial arts dedication.