Episode 64: Raffael Eboli: From Sao Paulo To Santa Cruz; Mercy, Trust, and Unity on the Mat

What happens when a kid from São Paulo lands in Santa Cruz and discovers a town where surfing, jiu-jitsu, and community can actually shape the way you live? We go deep with Rafael Eboli—longtime local, Cafe Brazil mainstay, and black belt professor at Claudio Franca Jiu Jitsu Academies—on how a six-month plan turned into a life built around waves, trust, and family.

Rafael shares why Santa Cruz clicked: the ocean as a daily classroom, in a culture that rewards respect over noise, and a gym where people are learning to kill each other, yet leave more connected. We unpack the sharp differences between judo and jiu-jitsu, how humility shows up because the mat tells the truth, and why tapping on time is a profound lesson in empathy. He explains the unwritten rules of the lineup, why regulation matters for safety, and how coming from a high-pressure city shaped his early edge—and the mellow he earned later from a town that embraced him.

This is also about balance and purpose. We talk hangovers punished by white belts, the quiet discipline of training three to four times a week, and the strange joy of pain that signals growth rather than damage. Rafael opens up about fatherhood, teaching, and building a life that prioritizes presence over performance. From West Side crowds to East Side community, from Cafe Brazil’s warmth to the hard warm-ups that make people swear and smile, you’ll hear what keeps him here: trust, mercy, and the people who practice both.

If you’ve ever wondered how surf etiquette meets self-control, or how a combat art becomes a safe haven, this conversation offers a grounded, human map. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves Santa Cruz or jiu-jitsu, and leave a review with your favorite takeaway. Where do you practice trust in your life?