Lindolfo Collor was born in Brazil on 5th February 1957. His father was a diplomat, meaning his family travelled the world, so his first exposure to Martial Arts was in Thailand with Muay Thai at the age of 6 years old. On moving to Moscow Lindolfo enrolled in the Judo school at the American Embassy but was then sent to boarding school in France in 1968. On returning to Brazil in 1972 Lindolfo picked up the martial arts of Karate and Aikido, however it was on moving into an apartment building in Rio that Lindolfo’s family found themselves living a floor below the Gracie’s which spelled the start of his fortuitous change to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Lindolfo soon got to know Rickson, Relson, and Rolls and would often go surfing with Rickson and hangout in Helio’s Gym. This quickly turned to training in Jiu Jitsu at the age of 17 in 1974.

Lindolfo’s first teacher was Rorion Gracie, who taught him the first moves of self-defence such as getting out of the mount and side control, he was tapped a lot during classes when rolling with Rickson Gracie on a regular basis, before being then taught by Rickson himself. Lindolfo was lucky to also have additional time-to-time training under Helio, Rolls, Rolker, Royler and Robin at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Rio. Lindolfo continued his Jiu Jitsu exploration for 8 years in total, under the second generation of the Gracie family, throughout his time studying Law at Rio University, up until1982, and the age of 25 years old, when he then moved to New York to undertake more legal studies. During this time Lindolfo re-engaged with Judo before returning to Rio and Gracie Jiu Jitsu again in 1984.

In 1996 Lindolfo moved to Raleigh, North Carolina with is family and once again re-engaged with Judo and was awarded with his Brown Belt. He also started giving Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lessons. Lindolfo received his black belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu directly from Rickson Gracie in 1997 after 23 years of study, he then moved from Raleigh, North Carolina to Auckland, New Zealand later that year.

On arriving in Auckland, Lindolfo was contacted by the Chris Easley who wanted to write an article about him and Gracie Jiu Jitsu, for the New Zealand Martial Arts magazine, December 1997, issue 23 publication. In turn Chris somehow introduced him to the Ju Jitsu stalwart Terry Evans, and the story of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in New Zealand began. Lindolfo was offered teaching time out of the Waitakere Martial Arts dojo, when Terry wasn’t teaching his Japanese Ju-Jitsu classes, and out of this initial melting pot dojo icons of the current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu scene in New Zealand like Steve Oliver, Peter Aberdeen, Kane Iles and Karl Webber cut their teeth. In 1999 Lindolfo moved to Wellington teaching out of his home dojo, and the Wellington Judo and Ju Jitsu Academy on a Sunday, coaching the likes of Brian Morris, Adrian Smith and Alex Scott. Introductions made by Lindolfo facilitated Steve Oliver to train in L.A with Rickson Gracie and facilitated Vanderson Pires to set up at the Combat Room with Brian Morris. Lindolfo was grade to 3rd degree black belt in 2011 in Rio at the Gracie Humaita headquarters. On 28th February 2020, Lindolfo had the pleasure of returning to New Zealand and to Combat Room, grading Brian Morris to 2nd degree black belt.

Lindolfo can be regarded as the first person to open and teach a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club in New Zealand, as well as being the first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt in this country. His influence and connections are the original ignition point for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Aotearoa New Zealand

written by Simon Ogden, OSA
31 January 2024