Who is Matt Barvo BJJ Black Belt in Idaho?

**Uncle Skippy** · Posted On: 4/26/2010 3:16pm

Regarding the misspelling in the email, there are a few results in Google results for a "Tom Cicero bjj".

http://www.google.com/search?q="Tom+Cicero"+bjj

A few mention a "Tom Cicero" at Ralph Gracie's school from a "Gumby on the Mat" interview:

http://www.sherdog.com/news/intervie...Interview-1734

This would be the same "Tom Cissero" that I called who trained there. I believe that the name in that interview is a typo.

A search for "Tom Cicero vale tudo":

http://www.google.com/search?q="Tom+Cicero"+vale+tudo

brings up a few hits, but only 1 is relevant:

Re:Jiu-Jitsu at BSU Campus Rec - Full Contact Idaho Forum

... follows. i hold a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu with training under Claudio Franca, Fabio Santos, Machado Bro's, in Brazil with vale tudo fighter Tom Cicero, ...

This is interesting because Matt teaches at BSU and it APPEARS (conjecture) that this is him replying to someone's questions into his background. The post has since been removed from that board, so this is a copy/paste from the google cache results.

It is worth noting that the only reference to a "Tom Cicero" with "vale tudo" is this reply.

There are a few more names here to check up on.

**Uncle Skippy** · Posted On: 4/26/2010 3:21pm

Originally Posted by Cy Q. Faunce

OK. I'm not sure if this is the guy Barvo is claiming rank from, but if it is, that's a problem.

I'm not sure either. I'm just trying to close and lock doors.

**It is Fake** · Posted On: 4/26/2010 3:23pm

Originally Posted by Uncle Skippy

I just contacted Tom Cissero himself using the phone number on his web site.

The exact words out of his mouth were:

"I never even heard of that guy"

Tom was very cordial with me and explained in no uncertain terms that Matt Barvo has never trained with him. I explained that I would make it very clear that he is not associated with Matt (he said "Very good. I don't know him."), thanked him for his time and we hung up.

Ask if it is okay to email him to get a semi-official response. Trust me, I had someone disown somebody and in a few days it sort of blew up in my face.

I ended up letting the thread go at that point.

**Uncle Skippy** · Posted On: 4/26/2010 3:29pm

Originally Posted by It is Fake

Ask if it is okay to email him to get a semi-official response. Trust me, I had someone disown somebody and in a few days it sort of blew up in my face.

I ended up letting the thread go at that point.

I'll try to. I'll call back about 10 minutes classes will begin for him just so I don't bother him outside of business hours again.

I'll also just try to find an email address for him so that he can reply on his own time.

**GirlJock** · Posted On: 4/26/2010 5:17pm

http://wikibin.org/articles/matthew-barvo.html

Matt is sponsored by several big name companies in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts community.
Jaco Clothing - The most technically advanced fight shorts ever created.
Datsusara MMA - The first Jiu-Jitsu gi's made from Hemp.
Brazil Combat - One of Brazil's top MMA and Jiu-Jitsu apparel companies
All-American EFX - High quality supplements including the patented Kre-Alkalyn buffered Creatine
Submissions 101 - Matt Barvo is an official contributor to the Submissions 101 Jiu-Jitsu tutorial webs

I emailed All American EFX and asked about sponsorship of Matt/Matthew Barvo, then emailed again asking about Team Beast BJJ (should have done that all at once, but I"m learning) this is the reply; The first sentence "as far as I know we do not" was in reply to the question about Matt. The second response "on the sponsor" was in response to the question about Team Beast BJJ.

As far as I know we do not.

On the "Sponsor/Affiliate" page, perhaps they are simply refering to the fact that they use our products, but no, our company does not sponsor this club.

Jonathan Hanley
www.aaefx.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/AllAmericanEFX (AAEFX YouTube Channel)
Phone:(888)238-1864
Fax:(800)659-3418

**Cy Q. Faunce** · Posted On: 4/26/2010 5:22pm

Originally Posted by GirlJock

On the "Sponsor/Affiliate" page, perhaps they are simply refering to the fact that they use our products, but no, our company does not sponsor this club.

We've seen that one before:

MMA Cross Training Center of Raleigh - No BS MMA and Martial Arts

This isn't looking good.

**Uncle Skippy** · Posted On: 4/26/2010 5:31pm

I spoke with Tom Cissero again (he called back for more information after my initial call). He gave me a contact number for one of his purple belt instructors so that I can get something via email for confirmation.

My guess is that Matt is going to say that this is not the "Tom Cicero" that he is referring to. If that is the case, I'll call Tom back and make sure he knows.

**Cy Q. Faunce** · Posted On: 4/26/2010 6:09pm

Team Beast has not responded with any information about "Tim Cicero" at this writing.

Does anyone object if I inform them of Tom Cissero's response?

**Uncle Skippy** · Posted On: 4/26/2010 6:24pm

Originally Posted by Cy Q. Faunce

Team Beast has not responded with any information about "Tim Cicero" at this writing.

Does anyone object if I inform them of Tom Cissero's response?

I think informing them of Tom Cissero's response would be good. I anticipate they will say "No, not that Tom Cicero" and Mr. Cissero can be removed from the discussion altogether so that he can go on teaching and not be worried about anything here.

Should Matt be invited to the thread at this point?

He can address the points made so far and maybe provide clarification on unanswered questions.

He may be able to provide contact information for the real Tom Cicero and clarify the sponsorships.

**Cy Q. Faunce** · Posted On: 4/26/2010 6:32pm

Originally Posted by Uncle Skippy

I think informing them of Tom Cissero's response would be good. I anticipate they will say "No, not that Tom Cicero" and Mr. Cissero can be removed from the discussion altogether so that he can go on teaching and not be worried about anything here.

Should Matt be invited to the thread at this point?

He can address the points made so far and maybe provide clarification on unanswered questions.

He may be able to provide contact information for the real Tom Cicero and clarify the sponsorships.

Good idea. I think I'll do that.