Ricardo Diogo, also known as Rey Diogo, was one of the first Carlson Gracie team representatives to come to the United States, where he established his own academy based on his master's teachings.

Ever since he landed in the U.S. in 1996, Rey Diogo quickly became one of the top Jiu Jitsu instructors in the country, forming several high level black belts.

His lineage is as follows: Mitsuyo Maeda, Carlos Gracie, Carlson Gracie, Rey Diogo.

Rey received all his belts, including his black belt which he received in 1997, from Carlson Gracie. Carlson also gave Rey all of his black belt degrees, up to fifth degree in 2015. Rey is many times over a world champion:

# 2009 PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPION HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION

# 2005 PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPION HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION

# 2005 PAN-AMERICAN CHAMPION OPEN DIVISION

# 1993 BRAZILIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP I – MIDDLE/HEAVYWEIGHT

# 1993 BRAZILIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP I – OPEN WEIGHT (ABSOLUTE) CHAMPION

# 1994 BRAZILIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP II – MIDDLE/HEAVYWEIGHT

# 1994 BRAZILIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP II – OPEN WEIGHT (ABSOLUTE) CHAMPION

# ROLLES GRACIE TOURNAMENT – MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION

# NASTRA TOURNAMENT – MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION

# NASTRA TOURNAMENT – OPEN WEIGHT (ABSOLUTE) CHAMPION

# IATE CLUBE JARDIM GUANABARA – MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION

# RIO SPORT CENTER TOURNAMENT – MIDDLEWEIGHT

# RIO SPORT CENTER TOURNAMENT – OPEN WEIGHT (ABSOLUTE) CHAMPION

# RAUF TOURNAMENT – OPEN WEIGHT (ABSOLUTE) CHAMPION

# NAPOLEAO VELOSO TOURNAMENT – MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION

# CARLOS ROLLYSON TOURNAMENT – MIDDLE/HEAVYWEIGHT