Our Academy & Our Professor
Albania's first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school, and the story of the first Albanian BJJ black belt — now ranked 4th degree.
The First BJJ School in Albania
Gracie Barra Sarandë traces its roots back to 2003, when Dorian Lapaj founded the very first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA school in Albania, right here in the coastal city of Sarandë. At a time when BJJ was virtually unknown in the country, Dorian began teaching the fundamentals of the gentle art to a small but dedicated group of students.
Over the years, as the school grew and its curriculum deepened, the academy earned its place as an officially licensed Gracie Barra affiliate — known today as Gracie Barra Sarandë (also referred to locally as Akademia GB Sarandë). This licensing connects our students directly to the global Gracie Barra network, one of the largest and most respected Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu organizations in the world, and to the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) ruleset under which our curriculum is taught.
Today, Gracie Barra Sarandë continues that same mission: bringing authentic, structured Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction to Sarandë and to Albania as a whole — for adults, kids, women and complete beginners alike.
Our training facility in Sarandë, Albania.
Professor Dorian Lapaj, Head Instructor.
Professor Dorian Lapaj
Dorian Lapaj holds the distinction of being the first Albanian to be awarded a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt — today ranked 4th degree. His black belt was promoted and certified by Master Carlos Gracie Jr. and Professor Victor Estima, a Gracie Barra black belt based at Gracie Barra Braço de Prata in Lisbon, Portugal — among the most respected names in the Gracie Barra organization.
Since founding Albania's first BJJ school in Sarandë in 2003, Dorian has spent more than two decades teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, shaping generations of students and helping grow the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu across the country. He has helped organize community BJJ events in Sarandë, including a "BJJ Summer Camp Sarandë" and local competitions such as the "BJJ Albania Open," bringing competitors together under IBJJF rules.
As the head instructor of Gracie Barra Sarandë, Dorian personally oversees the academy's curriculum, ensuring every student — from first-day white belts to competitors — trains under an authentic, credentialed Gracie Barra black belt.
Official Rank
Black Belt · 4th Degree
- Awarded to
- Dorian Lapaj
- Awarded by
- Master Carlos Gracie Jr. & Professor Victor Estima
- GB Global ID
- #0033367
- Issue date
- 12-10-2025
- Official Gracie Barra member, training in direct lineage under Professor Victor Estima, within the global Gracie Barra family.
- IBJJF certified (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation).
- First black belt in Albania's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu history.
- Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 30 Google reviews — see the reviews badge below.
Officially certified by Gracie Barra — Dorian's Instructor Certification.
Our Core Values
The three principles Gracie Barra academies around the world train by — and that guide every class on our mats in Sarandë.
Integrity
Every class is grounded in the real Gracie Barra curriculum and IBJJF standards, taught with honesty and respect — no shortcuts, no watered-down technique.
Development
A clear, structured belt path for every student — from a first day on the mats to competition and beyond — built on more than two decades of teaching in Sarandë.
Brotherhood
From kids to grandparents, Gracie Barra Sarandë is built as a family — supportive, welcoming and rooted in respect, on and off the mat.