In late 2003, Queiroga undertook a significant life transition, relocating from Brazil to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Rather than stepping away from the mats, he continued teaching BJJ throughout this transitional period, working out of various locations as he established his presence in North America.
His path eventually led him to Austin, Texas, where he founded Mario Esfiha BJJ and committed himself fully to instruction. The academy operates under the dual banner of Mario Esfiha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Brasa Clube de Jiu-Jitsu, maintaining his connection to the team he helped build while forging a distinct identity in the American BJJ landscape.
The depth of Queiroga's instruction is reflected in the black belts his academy has produced. Among his graduates are Travis Joyner, Nelson Blair, Jason Claunch, Paul Ferrante, and Frank Ungaro — practitioners who carry forward a lineage that runs through Queiroga, Roberto Traven, and the broader Alliance-to-Brasa tradition. His trajectory from a teenager at Corpo Quatro in Brazil to the founder of a respected academy in Texas traces a career defined by loyalty to coaches, commitment to team building, and an enduring dedication to passing the art forward.