The Master

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 Sensei Gharios (née Guerios) began his martial arts journey at the age of four, starting with judo—initially at the insistence of his father. What began as obligation soon blossomed into a deep passion for Asian culture and the martial traditions of the East. Over the decades, he studied a wide range of disciplines including Kung Fu, various Karate styles, European fencing, Japanese swordsmanship, Jiu-Jitsu, Kali Silat, and Kobudo. However, his lifelong devotion was ultimately claimed by Aikido.

Sensei Gharios began practicing Aikido in 1986, became a beginners’ instructor in 1991, and earned his black belt in 1992, officially registered with the Aikikai Foundation in Japan in 1993. That same year, he founded the Shinken Institute, which operated until 2017, promoting Aikido and Japanese culture in five Brazilian cities.

Between 1997 and 2002, he became a direct disciple, personal friend, and business associate of Steven Seagal—Hollywood star and the first Westerner to own an Aikido dojo in Japan. Gharios remains the only South American instructor to have had such a close relationship with Seagal, who deeply influenced his martial and cinematic approach.

In 1999, he was awarded the “Sports Merit” by the Brazilian government for his contributions to martial arts. From 2003 to 2017, he was a direct student of the late Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan (8th Dan), one of the last surviving disciples of Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba. Gharios pioneered Aikikai-style Aikido in Curitiba, Brazil, from 1991 to 2010 and is credited with training dozens of black belt instructors active throughout the country. Was promoted to the 5th Degree of black belt in 2013. 

 As a member of the honorary board of the AWFF- Asian World Film Festival since 2015, created “The Bruce Lee Award” in 2017. The award is an initiative of the AWFF and the Bruce Lee Foundation.  

In 2021, he received the AOF Icon Award at the Action On Film Festival, joining a prestigious roster that includes David Carradine, Don “The Dragon” Wilson, Randy Couture, and Cynthia Rothrock. That same year, he was inducted into the Grandmasters Hall of Fame of the World Martial Arts Masters Association, alongside legends like Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee, Ip Man, and Steven Seagal.

In 2022, Sensei Gharios was inducted into the prestigious International Sports Hall of Fame, founded by Dr. Robert Goldman and co-hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Past inductees include Evander Holyfield, Ronda Rousey, Royce Gracie, Jason Statham, and Lou Ferrigno.

The Grandmaster Tadashi Yamashita (10th Dan in Karate and 10th Dan in Kobudo) called him Yamato-damashii 大和魂, meaning "Old Japanese Spirit."

He is the Soke (founder) of Shinken-Ryū Aikibudō 真剣流合気武道, known as "The Samurai Art of the 21st Century" — a synthesis of traditional Japanese martial principles with modern combat realism.

Since 1997, Sensei Gharios has also practiced the refined art of Shodō (Japanese calligraphy). LEARN MORE

In 2025, wrote the best-selling book "AIKIDO: You're doing it wrong! Why an Amazing Martial Art Became a Joke and How to Fix it" being #1 in two categories at Amazon: Sports Training and Sports Essays.