query: what level is purple belt in jiu jitsu

pos: Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking system many Brazilian jiu-jitsu organizations adhere to the IBJJF standard of awarding the yellow, orange, and green belt exclusively as part of a youth belt system (under 16 years of age), some supplement the time between white belt and blue belt with one or more belts of these colors. The IBJJF requires that a practitioner be at least 16 years old to receive a blue belt, thereby officially entering into the adult belt system. Purple belt is the intermediate adult ranking in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The purple belt level practitioner has gained a large amount of knowledge, and purple belts are generally

neg: Rafael Mendes and RVCA founder, Pat Tenore, Rafael Mendes and fellow champion and brother, Guilherme Mendes opened up The Art of Jiu Jitsu Academy in Costa Mesa, California. Rafael Mendes Rafael Mendes Godoy (born 1989 in Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil) is a six time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) world champion at the black belt level. Rafael, along with his brother Guilherme, are 2nd degree black belts under Ramon Lemos and competitors for the Atos Jiu-Jitsu team. Rafael and his brother Guilherme started their jiu jitsu training through an older cousin named Thiago Mendes, who was a purple belt under Leonardo Santos.

neg: Tim Carpenter (fighter) Headquarters for several years as well as one of the top competitors for the team winning numerous grappling and Jiu Jitsu titles including 2004 purple belt Pan American Jiu Jitsu Champion 2004 Arnold World Gracie Jiu Jitsu Champion Purple belt 2004 IBJJF US national silver medalist 2005 IBJJF Brown Belt USA vs. Brazil Champion 2005 Arnold World Gracie Jiu Jitsu Champion Brown Belt 2005 Gracie Worlds Submission wrestling Champion Multiple Time Grapplers Quest Champion NAGA Champion 2007 Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling world Championship Invitee and semi finalist After years of competing in and winning some of the top Jiu Jitsu

neg: Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking system that students be at least 18 years old and recommends they have spent a minimum of 18 months as a purple belt to be eligible for a brown belt. As with many other martial arts, the black belt is the highest common belt within Brazilian jiu-jitsu, denoting an expert level of technical and practical skills. Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts are often addressed within the art as "professor", although some schools and organizations reserve this honorific for more senior black belt holders. The IBJJF requires that a student be at least 19 years old and recommends they have spent a minimum

neg: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique book then sets some guidelines as to what a typical Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school might expect from a student at each belt rank; Blue, Purple, Brown, and Black. Finally, the book describes its model of a typical fight and what a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fight looks like. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique is a book first published in 2001, co-authored by Renzo Gracie, Royler Gracie, Kid Peligro and John Danaher and illustrated by Ricardo Azoury. It was written on the request of Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nayan, creator of the ADCC. The book describes the "paradigm

neg: Keenan Cornelius Keenan Cornelius Keenan Kai-James Cornelius is an American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner known for his competitive achievements, most notably including what has been dubbed a grand slam in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, having won double gold medals at four major tournaments - the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Pan-American Championship, European Open Championship, and Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship - as a purple belt. He is also known for his creation of guard techniques such as the Worm Guard. Keenan's first exposure to martial arts training began at a young age, under his step-father, martial arts teacher Tom Callos, BJ Penn's first Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor. At

neg: Rafael Mendes Rafael Mendes Rafael Mendes Godoy (born 1989 in Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil) is a six time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) world champion at the black belt level. Rafael, along with his brother Guilherme, are 2nd degree black belts under Ramon Lemos and competitors for the Atos Jiu-Jitsu team. Rafael and his brother Guilherme started their jiu jitsu training through an older cousin named Thiago Mendes, who was a purple belt under Leonardo Santos. After only a few months of training, Thiago recognized great potential for the youngsters and took them to come and train with Ramon Lemos & Leonardo

neg: Carlos Lemos (fighter) Carlos Lemos (fighter) Carlos "Escorrega" Lemos, Jr. is a multiple World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Pioneer in Scandinavia, as well as the first Brazilian to teach martial arts in South Korea. Carlos is the Regional Director of Gracie Barra in the Chicago area, and is currently a fourth-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Master Carlos Gracie, Jr. He became a World Champion for the first time in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a purple belt in 1999, followed by his second Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion as a black belt in 2002. Carlos repeated the feat after

neg: Nicholas Meregali Nicholas Meregali Nicholas Meregali is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) competitor who won a gold medal on his black belt debut at the 2017 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the Heavyweight category beating Leandro Lo in the final. Nicholas also won a gold medal in the Super Heavyweight category at the 2018 Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship submitting his opponent from the back in the final. Nicholas began training when he was 16 years old at the ACJJ academy in Santo Antônio. He was a prolific competitor at the coloured belts level winning the IBJJF worlds at both purple belt and brown

neg: Guilherme Mendes Guilherme Mendes Guilherme Mendes Godoy (born 1988 in Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil) is a four time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) world champion at the black belt level. Guilherme along with his brother Rafael Mendes are 2nd degree black belts under Ramon Lemos and competitors for the Atos Jiu-Jitsu team. Guilherme was born in Rio Claro, Brazil. Along with his brother Rafael, he started training Jiu-Jitsu through an older cousin named Thiago Mendes, who at the time was a purple belt under Leonardo Santos. After only a few months of training Thiago recognized great potential for the two boys and took

neg: Maybelline Masuda first home-grown Filipino Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 1st degree blackbelt and founder of the URCC. With Hard work and dedication, she further developed her special talent in Jiu Jitsu under his guidance. Masuda won the lightfeatherweight title at the 2009 World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships becoming the first Filipino to win a title at the tournament. In 2012, she was promoted to purple belt by her mentor Aguilar which made her the first Filipina Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu jitsu. She is among the two who brought home the first gold medals for the Philippines at the Asian Beach Games during the

neg: Keenan Cornelius a membership site that offers Keenan's unique instructional style and curriculum delivery. Keenan Cornelius Keenan Kai-James Cornelius is an American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner known for his competitive achievements, most notably including what has been dubbed a grand slam in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, having won double gold medals at four major tournaments - the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Pan-American Championship, European Open Championship, and Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship - as a purple belt. He is also known for his creation of guard techniques such as the Worm Guard. Keenan's first exposure to martial arts training began at a young age, under his step-father,

neg:
Leandro Vieira a 3rd-Degree Black Belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. 1999 - 1st place Blue Belt Feather Weight at the Brazilian Nationals
 2000 - 3rd place Purple Belt Feather Weight at the World jiu-jitsu Championship
 2002 - 1st place Brown Belt at the Regional Paulista jiu-jitsu Championship
 2010 - 3rd place Black Belt Absolute Division at Submission Ink Grappling Tournament
 2010 - 3rd place Black Belt Master Medium Heavy at the Las Vegas International Open
 2011 - 2nd place Black Belt Master Medium Heavy at the Las Vegas International Open
 One of the most successful teams in contemporary Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Checkmat's worldwide headquarters

neg: Jeremy Arel career in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu when he joined an Alliance Jiu Jitsu affiliate in Charlotte, NC. He achieved the rank of purple belt under the guidance of the late Luis Togno. After several additional years of training in a no-gi combat style jiu jitsu, Arel made the decision to make Brazilian Jiu Jitsu his life’s work and dedicate himself full-time to attaining the rank of black belt. In 2009 Arel moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and achieved the rank of brown belt under the legendary Gracie Barra black belt Roberto “Gordo” Correa. After a brief return home he once

neg: Peter Letsos Peter Letsos Peter Letsos (born January 1, 1979), aka Pete "The Greek," is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Carlson Gracie Jr. Letsos is a 3X Pan Am medalist, as well as a 3X Gracie World Champion. He is known in Brazil for winning seven tournaments in one month. Letsos began training in Jiu Jitsu in high school at the Carlson Gracie Academy in downtown Chicago, and won several matches in the Jiu Jitsu World Championships as a purple belt. He then lived and train Jiu Jitsu in Brazil for four years, spending many hours on the mat with Osvaldo

neg: Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Rio de Janeiro highest to lowest): All promotions involving any black belt rank require a recommendation of two masters and approval of at least five officials of the federation. Ranks below black belt are awarded by individual professors and are then confirmed publicly through competition with other students of the same rank. Beginners and new students wear a white belt. Adult belt levels progress from white to blue, then purple, and finally brown, after which the practitioner becomes eligible for a black belt. There is a larger number of belt colors for children. Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Rio de Janeiro Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Rio

neg: Ricardo Migliarese No-Gi Heavyweight - Champion 2004 Copa Atlantica Brown Belt Heavyweight - Champion 2004 Arnold/Gracie World Championship Brown Belt Open - 3rd Place 2004 Arnold/Gracie World Championship Brown Belt Heavyweight - Champion 2004 Grapplers Quest Beast of the East No-Gi Light Heavyweight - Champion 2002 Arnold/Gracie World Championship Purple Belt Open - Champion 2002 Arnold/Gracie World Championship Purple Belt Heavyweight - Champion 2001 Mat Madness Proving Grounds - 3rd Place 2001 NAGA Garden State Championship Purple Belt - Champion 2001 NAGA Garden State Championships No-Gi - Champion 1997 Annual Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Tournament - Gold Medalist 1996 Annual Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Tournament -

neg: Egan Inoue Inoue defeated fellow American Tim Doyle in the final, 13-15, 15-13, 15-5, to win his second World Championship. In 1989, Inoue had a 50 percent ownership in E-Force, a racquetball equipment company. In 1993, he sold his stake in E-Force and returned to jiu jitsu. In 1996, Inoue won the World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the blue belt division. He was the first American to win the title. He then returned to Brazil in 1997 and won the World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the absolute purple belt division. He now holds a 4th degree black belt in Jiu Jitsu. Inoue

neg: Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking system was created in 1967 by the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Guanabara. Much of the current criteria and modern belt ranks were implemented by the Sport Jiu Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF) and International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. White belt is the first belt within Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The rank is held by any practitioner new to the art and has no prerequisite. Some instructors and other high-level practitioners think that a white belt's training should emphasize escapes and defensive positioning since a white belt will often fight from inferior positions, especially when training with more experienced practitioners. Most academies will additionally require that a

neg: Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking system white belt level practitioner works to obtain a well-rounded skills set, with a knowledge of basic offensive moves, such as common submissions and guard passes. Blue belt is often the second adult rank in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu. At the blue belt level, students gain a wide breadth of technical knowledge and undertake hundreds of hours of mat time to learn how to implement these moves efficiently. Blue belt is often the rank at which the student learns a large number of techniques. Not all Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools or regulatory bodies award the blue belt as the second adult belt. Although

neg: Chad George had an accomplished career in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In 2010, George won his first Brazilian IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) no-gi world championship as a blue belt. In 2012, George captured the purple belt no-gi world title, and then later in 2014 he won the IBJJF no-gi brown belt world championship. In 2016 Chad received his Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. George made his professional MMA debut in April 2005. In his WEC debut, George defeated John Hosman at WEC 45 on December 19, 2009 via unanimous decision. In his second fight for the promotion, George faced Scott Jorgensen at WEC 47,

neg: Lucas Lepri Lucas Lepri Lucas Lepri (born September 19, 1984) is a Brazilian grappler. Lucas is one of few who have won all 4 "majors" at the black belt, adult level – The World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, Pan American Championships, the European Championship (Brazilian jiu-jitsu), and the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship. He has also won the Nogi World Jiu-Jitsu Championship and the Nogi Pan American Championships multiple times in the lightweight division. Lucas is a black belt under Elan Santiago and fights under the Alliance team. He is currently living, training and instructing in Charlotte, North Carolina at Lucas Lepri Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

neg: Gracie jiu-jitsu ranking system of the art, the Gracie brothers: Carlos, Oswaldo, George, Gaston and Hélio. Some notable black belt level practitioners, including Royce Gracie and the Valente brothers, have transitioned to wearing a dark navy blue belt in deference to the historical tradition prior to the colored belt ranking system, (a white belt designated a student, a light blue belt designated an instructor, and head professors wore a dark navy belt). For a period of time, this was the system held by Helio Gracie. Gracie jiu-jitsu ranking system The Gracie jiu-jitsu ranking system is the particular method of signifying competency and moral character

neg: Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking system considered qualified to help instruct lower-ranked students. The IBJJF requires students to be at least 16 years old and recommends they have spent a minimum of two years ranked as a blue belt to be eligible for a purple belt, with slightly different requirements for those graduating directly from the youth belts. Aside from the exceptional belts awarded at the highest levels, brown belt is the highest ranking color belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Brown belt typically requires at least five years of dedicated training to achieve. It is often thought of as a time for refining techniques. The IBJJF requires

neg: Saulo Ribeiro focuses as much on the traditional and character aspects of students as technical and practical ability. The school opened in Feb 10, 2007, and is currently the headquarters of the Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu association with over 50 affiliates world-wide. Saulo is also the author of the book "Jiu Jitsu University", a detailed training manual that presents techniques for each belt level from white to black belt. In addition, he teaches in various instructional DVD releases, like the "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Revolution" series which was first released in 2004. Saulo, through the Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Association, is said to have over 2000 students, and

neg: João Roque João Roque João Roque (born July 22, 1971) is a Portuguese-Angolan former featherweight Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) black belt World Champion and a retired mixed martial artist. He competed in the Featherweight division in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). His first coaches of BJJ were Marcio Pinheiro and Gerson Velasco, and he stayed under their guidance until he was a purple belt. It was under prestigious Osvaldo Alves, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Red Belt and a legend in the sport of BJJ, that Joao Roque graduated to brown belt. When Master Oswaldo had to move to Manaus Roque joined André Pederneiras,

neg: Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Rio de Janeiro Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Rio de Janeiro Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Rio de Janeiro also known as Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Guanabara is a governing body of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. current president of the federation is 9th degree red belt Carlos Robson Gracie. The federation is the official certifying entity for the Gracie style of jiu-jitsu. Specifically, it controls all teaching certifications, as well as all promotions to the rank of black belt and above. The federation awards a black belt after 6 to 15 years of jiu-jitsu practice. The black belt ranks as follows (from

neg: Rener Gracie 2014. Eve is a purple belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and currently works as a spokeswoman and head instructor for the Gracie Women Empowered Self-defense program. They live in Torrance, California with their dog, Tioki (pronounced "cho-kee"). Their first child, Raeven Gracie, was born on September 28, 2015. Kanō Jigorō → Tomita Tsunejirō → Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie → Helio Gracie → Rorion Gracie → Rener Gracie Rener Gracie Rener Gracie (born November 10, 1983) is an American Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, a head instructor at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy, and co-creator of Gracie University. As a member of

neg: 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Erich Krauss. Eddie Bravo also airs an hour to two hour online series every month on his website. 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu uses the standard Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ranking system, its practitioners most commonly train without a gi and belt. 10th Planet offers colored ranked rashguards to help visually denote belt rank. 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu is a non-traditional system of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu developed by Eddie Bravo. It was one of the first Jiu-Jitsu school systems to not use a gi. In 2003, after earning a black belt under Jean-Jacques Machado, Eddie Bravo opened his first 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu school

neg: Nick Diaz indict Diaz after there were inconsistencies found with the victim's story. Diaz is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Cesar Gracie whom he has been training with since he was a teenager. He is accomplished in both gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu. Some of the major titles he has won include the US Purple Belt Open in 2004 and a Pan-American Brown Belt Medium Weight Division title in 2005. He also owns a victory over renowned grappler Jorge Patino in competition via kneebar. He is known for having a modified BJJ style that suits his MMA career very well. Diaz lists

neg: Maurício Rua older brother, Murilo ("Ninja", born 1980), and a younger brother, Marcos ("Shaolin"). Both are mixed martial artists training at Universidade da luta, though Marcos does not compete at a professional level. The Rua brothers occasionally take 10-kilometre runs with their mother. Rua began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of six and Muay Thai at the age of seven. Rua followed his older brother in training at the Chute Boxe Academy, and was successful in BJJ championships at the blue and purple belt levels. In addition to Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he now trains in wrestling and boxing.

neg: Zuluzinho Zuluzinho Wágner da Conceição Martins (born May 19, 1978), better known as Zuluzinho (), is a Brazilian vale tudo fighter and mixed martial artist. He is the son of Vale Tudo legend Casemiro Nascimento Martins ("Rei Zulu"). Wagner was raised by his grandmother and works as a security guard in a number of reggae clubs in northern Brazil. Following in his father's footsteps, he trained in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and vale tudo. Zuluzinho holds a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under black belt Ricardo "Ricardinho Bulldog" Candido Gomes, who also serves as his MMA coach. Zuluzinho reportedly compiled an undefeated

neg: Michael Langhi Michael Langhi Michael Langhi born 2nd April 1985 in Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo, Brazil is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) 3x World Championship Champion and 1x World No-Gi Championship Champion. Langhi is one of a select group of fighters to have won all 4 major Gi Championships more than once – World Championship x3, European Open Championship x6, Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship x2 and Brazilian Nationals Championship x4. Langhi began training in 2002 under Rubens Charles at his academy in Sao Carlos. Prior to receiving his Black Belt Langhi was also a multiple World Champion at Blue, Purple and Brown Belt

neg: Hilton Leão Célio Caneca on the International Masters & Seniors of Jiu-Jitsu. "Leão Dourado" means "golden lion" in Portuguese. Hilton Leão Hilton Leão da Silva (born April 11, 1946) is an 8th Degree Coral (Red and Black) Belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He is the actual president of Liga Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu and also the head of Leão Dourado Brazilian jiu-jitsu Association in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Having originally achieved his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 1975. In 2008 he received his 8th Degree in jiu-jitsu by the hands of the president of Federação Mineira de Jiu-Jitsu, Adair Alves de Almeida. Master Hilton

neg: Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking system of 1 year ranked as a brown belt to be eligible for a black belt. The black belt itself has six different degrees of expertise. When a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt reaches the seventh degree, he or she is awarded an alternating red-and-black belt similar to the one earned at the sixth degree in Judo. This belt is commonly known as a coral belt. Coral belts are very experienced practitioners, most of whom have made a large impact on Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and are often addressed within the art by the title "master". The International Brazilian jiu-jitsu Federation in 2013, amended

neg: B.J. Penn BJJ academy with Dave Camarillo, who he lived with and became close friends with. It was here during his time in San Jose that he decided to pursue a career in martial arts (albeit not mixed martial arts at the time). In 1997 Penn began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ralph Gracie, eventually earning his purple belt from Gracie. At that point he moved to Nova União where he was eventually awarded his black belt in 2000 by Andre Pederneiras. A few weeks later he became the first non-Brazilian to win the black-belt division of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship held in

neg: Eduardo de Lima instructor. In 2000, with the help of Carlos Gracie, Jr. and American businessman Bob Rosseti, Eduardo came to the United States. He taught BJJ out of a Taekwondo dojang in Dunedin, Florida until he was able to start his own school in Clearwater, where he teaches today. While in America, he has trained award-winning white, blue, purple, brown and black belt competitors. He continues to compete in the Pan American Championships. He is also a member of the Florida Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Eduardo de Lima Eduardo "Veio" de Lima is a 4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)

neg: Bernardo Faria Bernardo Faria Bernardo Faria is a 4x World Jiu-Jitsu Champion as a Black Belt from the Alliance Jiu Jitsu Team who holds an extensive competitive resume with titles at the world’ top tournaments such as the European Championship (Brazilian jiu-jitsu), Pan-American Championship (jiu-jitsu) and Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship. In February and March 2013 Bernardo was ranked first in the IBJJF World Ranking of all divisions and was chosen as the best jiu jitsu athlete of 2015. Bernardo received his black belt from his instructor Ricardo Marques in 2008 and moved to the Alliance Jiu Jitsu Sao Paulo team to train

neg: Alexandre Freitas (grappler) Alexandre Freitas (grappler) Alexandre Carneiro Monteiro de Freitas commonly known as Alexandre "Soca" Freitas (born September 9, 1972) is a Brazilian grappler, jiu-jitsu competitor and instructor. He is the founder of Soca BJJ "Soca" was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was an avid surfer as a child until 1998 when he was introduced to his first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class by his brother who was a blue belt at that time at the Gracie Barra Academy. His first instructor was Jean Jacques Machado until he moved to the USA shortly after Soca received his purple belt. Carlos Gracie Jr.

neg: Sport in Brazil jiu-jitsu originated in Brazil in the 1910s, and emphasizes ground fighting techniques and submission holds involving joint-locks and chokeholds. Hélio Gracie had a rather small build and changed jiu-jitsu (originating from Japan) to be used by anyone in a real fight situation. The belt progression system goes in the following order: White, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black, Red-black, and Red. Gracie Jiu Jitsu became known internationally in the 1990s, due to the very skilled fighters in the Gracie family, namely Hélio Gracie, Royce Gracie, and Rickson Gracie, which are also responsible for spreading the practice of vale tudo, meaning "anything goes",

neg: Bill Cooper (fighter) Bill Cooper (fighter) Bill Cooper (born May 5, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, who formerly competed in the lightweight division of Strikeforce. At the time of his receiving his black belt, Cooper was the youngest American to do so. Cooper's achievements include a Pan American gold medal at the brown belt level also a silver medal at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships in the absolute category. Then, in 2008, Cooper placed second in the middleweight division at the black belt level. Also, he has won numerous Grapplers Quest championships. On May 12, 2012, Cooper

neg: James Jarvie his foundational training with Muay Thai at the age of 19 at the Fighting Fit Gym in Kirkcaldy. He has fought in 21 Muay Thai and K1 fights in the UK and held the Scottish Thai Boxing Association light middleweight title from 2005 for 5 years. In 2004, he was runner up in the final of K1 Scotland. Jarvie has also trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ), winning a white belt tournament at the Rio International Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship in 2009, as well as competing in various BJJ competitions since. He gained his purple belt under Christian Graugart, who is considered

neg: Tarsis Humphreys Tarsis Humphreys Tarsis Humphreys (born November 4, 1983 in Sao Paulo, Brazil) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. He became a Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Fabio Gurgel, the co-founder of the Alliance Jiu Jitsu Team. Humphreys is one of Alliance's heavy hitter Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors. From 1998 to 2009 he won a medal in whichever Black Belt adult division he entered. He is the 2010 Medium Heavyweight Jiu-Jitsu World Champion and the champion of the inaugural World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup, at his weight and at the open division defeating Gracie Barra’s Braulio Estima. He is also a medalist at the last

neg: Vyacheslav Vasilevsky Vyacheslav's extensive ground fighting background in Sambo and Judo, he was awarded a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu only after a few months of training. His BJJ trainer is Cornel Zapadka, a black belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter from Poland. Vasilevsky's road to the 2010 M-1 Global light heavyweight championship bout was not easy. It began with a hard fought split decision victory over Sergey Guzev. Two other bouts in the selection – against Xavier "Professor X" Foupa-Pokam and Shamil Tinagadjiev. – went into the third round, though he also achieved a first-round victory over Alihan Magomedov. By contrast, none of

neg: Hilton Leão Hilton Leão Hilton Leão da Silva (born April 11, 1946) is an 8th Degree Coral (Red and Black) Belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He is the actual president of Liga Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu and also the head of Leão Dourado Brazilian jiu-jitsu Association in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Having originally achieved his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 1975. In 2008 he received his 8th Degree in jiu-jitsu by the hands of the president of Federação Mineira de Jiu-Jitsu, Adair Alves de Almeida. Master Hilton Leão is still an avid practitioner of the art. In 2008, at 62 years old, he fought

neg: Jorge Britto Jorge Britto Jorge Britto is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, practitioner and instructor. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education, and is currently the head Jiu-Jitsu instructor at Toronto BJJ. 3rd Degree Black Belt under Vini Aieta (Gracie Tijuca) / Royler Gracie / Saulo Ribeiro 2010 ADCC European Championships 76.9 kg division Champion 2009 IBJJF World No-GI Jiu-Jitsu Championship Middleweight Silver Medalist (Black Belt Master) Open Weight Champion (Black Belt Master) 2009 IBJFF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship Middleweight Silver Medalist (Black Belt Master)/Co-Champion (closed out division with teammate) 2009 New York International Open IBJJF

neg: Guilherme Mendes brothers decided that they wanted to have a traditional Jiu-Jitsu school with their own students. In July 2012, with the help of their long time sponsor and RVCA founder, Pat Tenore, Guilherme and Rafael Mendes opened up The Art of Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Costa Mesa, California. Guilherme Mendes Guilherme Mendes Godoy (born 1988 in Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil) is a four time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) world champion at the black belt level. Guilherme along with his brother Rafael Mendes are 2nd degree black belts under Ramon Lemos and competitors for the Atos Jiu-Jitsu team. Guilherme was born in Rio

neg: Cole Miller to Jeremy Stephens at by TKO in the 2nd round. On July 5, 2008, at UFC 86, Cole submitted Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt and 6-time Brazilian State champion, Jorge Gurgel, with a triangle choke in the 3rd round. Cole was a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the time. He later said that it was the biggest win of his career. He was awarded "Submission of the Night". Cole Miller went on to defeat Junie Browning on April 1, 2009 at , finishing the fight early in the first round. After Browning was caught by a right hook from

neg: Brazilian jiu-jitsu true. Some schools have placed a green belt for adults between the white and blue belt ranks due to the long periods between advancement. In addition, the use of a grey belt has been instituted for many children's programs to signal progress between the white and yellow belt rankings. Unlike in some martial arts such as judo and karate, a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu commonly takes more than several years to earn, and the rank is generally considered expert level. The amount of time it takes to achieve the rank of black belt varies between the practitioner. Some notable

neg: Phil Migliarese Phil Migliarese Phil “Jiu-Jitsu Matrix” Migliarese (born Philip Migliarese III, January 11, 1976) is a 5th degree Relson Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt with over 20 years of experience in BJJ and Mixed Martial Arts. A Gracie Worlds and National Champion, Phil is a trainer, training partner and coach to UFC and MMA fighters as well as World and Pan-Am Champions. Phil is also a Master Level Yoga Instructor, author/creator of Yoga For Fighters and has many years of training in Judo. He is the founder of Jiu-Jitsu Share Online Community , Jiu-JitsuMatrix (a video newsletter and online learning community)

neg: Eddie Bravo jiu-jitsu practitioner which he began under the tutelage of Jean Jacques Machado. Bravo also attended a Jeet Kune Do academy from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, Bravo decided to stop attending other martial arts schools to focus solely on Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Around this time, he received a blue belt and started forming ways to finish opponents with a "Twister", a specific spinal lock submission hold. In 1999, Bravo earned a purple belt and began developing his signature guard, the rubber guard. In 2003, Bravo entered the 145 lbs/66 kg division of the Abu-Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Submission Wrestling World Championship

neg: Ricardo Migliarese of only 28 people to receive this honor from Relson who is notorious for being very hard on promotions. In 1999, Rick traveled out of the country for the first time - to Brazil for the Mundials. He won the silver medal in the Blue Belt division to start what would be a successful and impressive professional career. Highlights of his record include: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championships "1999 Blue Belt - 2nd Place USA vs Brazil Championship "2004 Brown Belt - Champion Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championships "2008 Black Belt - 3rd Place" "2004 Brown Belt - 1st place Champion" "2002

neg: Rubens Charles Maciel Rubens Charles Maciel Rubens Charles Maciel (born December 24, 1979), aka "Cobrinha" and sometimes referred to as Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles, is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) competitor. He is considered the best featherweight in the decade and to be among the best pound for pound jiu jitsu competitors in the world. Cobrinha is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Fernando "Terere" Augusto and a member of Alliance Jiu Jitsu. Cobrinha has won a total of six world championship titles in Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a black belt in the featherweight (or lightweight) category. He started training BJJ in 2000, received

neg: Beatriz Mesquita Beatriz Mesquita Beatriz Mesquita is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) competitor with one of the best competitive records in both Gi and Nogi of all time having won 20 titles at black belt level in the 4 major Gi Championships. Beatriz began training in 1996 aged five and received her brown belt in 2009 from her professor Leticia Ribeiro. She went on to receive her black belt in 2011 again from professora Ribeiro. In 2017 she defeated UFC fighter and 2x World Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Champion Mackenzie Dern in 64 seconds at their first competitive meeting in the Rio

neg: Alexandre Ribeiro Diego, California, where he teaches at the University of Jiu Jitsu and train MMA at The Arena MMA. Xande Ribeiro has a brother, Saulo Ribeiro, who is also a Jiu-jitsu and submission wrestling champion. They have both won multiple ADCC and together, they hold the most titles in World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships. Alexandre Ribeiro Alexandre "Xande" Ribeiro (born January 20, 1981, in Manaus-Amazonas, Brazil), is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, mixed martial artist and submission wrestler. He is a two-time World Black Belt Absolute (open weight) World Jiu-Jitsu Champion, five-time World Black Belt Heavy Weight Champion, and three-time World Black

neg: Relson Gracie Relson began learning the art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu at the age of two, began competing at the age of ten, and earned his black belt when he was 18. He went 22 years undefeated as the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu National Champion. Although Relson's techniques are deeply rooted in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Relson also emphasizes "street effective" techniques. Relson's Jiu-Jitsu has evolved to help defend yourself in a survival situations where there are no rules. On April 6, 2013 Relson was promoted to rank of grandmaster (red belt) the highest possible belt awarded to living individuals in Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Relson has also taught

neg: Robson Moura Robson Moura Robson Moura Fonseca is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor, instructor and a mixed martial artist. He started training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the age of 10 in Teresópolis, Brazil. His first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teacher was Ailson "Jucão" Brites, though Moura attained the rank of black belt at the age of 16 from Nova União co-founder Andre Pederneiras. Today Moura holds a 5th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Professor Brites. He has a mixed martial arts record of 2-1-1. Moura is known for his innovative style and ever-evolving technique in the world of jiu-jitsu. He won

neg: Carley Gracie child of Carlos Gracie, he was the last member of the Gracie family to be trained by his father. He is one of the few people in the world to hold a 9th degree Red Belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and is known to be one of the most technical members of the Gracie family. Carley was a champion in both jiu-jitsu and vale tudo. He received his jiu-jitsu black belt at the unprecedented age of 22, and is currently certified a 9th degree Red-Belt by the Federation of Jiu-Jitsu of Rio de Janeiro (the first certifying organization for the sport

neg: Alexandre Ribeiro Alexandre Ribeiro Alexandre "Xande" Ribeiro (born January 20, 1981, in Manaus-Amazonas, Brazil), is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, mixed martial artist and submission wrestler. He is a two-time World Black Belt Absolute (open weight) World Jiu-Jitsu Champion, five-time World Black Belt Heavy Weight Champion, and three-time World Black Belt Pro Division Champion. Xande was born in Manaus, Amazonas Brazil and moved to the US in 2002. He began training Jiu-Jitsu at the Associacao Monteiro de Jiu-Jitsu under the supervision of Binho, Guto, Yano e Lucinho Monteiro. He lived in Toledo, Ohio, for 5 years, after in 2007 he moved to San

neg: Michael Langhi level. In 2009 Langhi was awarded the best Jiu Jitsu Competitor of the year award. Jiu Jitsu talent runs in the family as his brother Michel Langhi is also a multiple IBJJF World Champion. Langhi is widely considered to be one of the best lightweight competitors of all time and he is also recognized globally as an outstanding BJJ Coach having given seminars throughout Brazil and around the World. He is currently one of the head coaches at the 11x World Champions Alliance Jiu Jitsu Club in Sao Paulo where he teaches alongside 6th degree Black Belt Mestre Fabio Gurgel

neg: Jake Shields San Francisco State University. At that time he began training with the Cesar Gracie Fight Team, resulting in a dramatic improvement of the jiu jitsu variety. He is a three-time Grapplers Quest Advance Champion, Pan American Championships Jiu Jitsu Champion, Pan Am Open Advance Submission Champion, Gracie Open Superfight Champion and finished 3rd place at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in 2005. His victory at the Pan American Championships (which requires wearing a uniform) as a purple belt is notable because Jake Shields claims he has trained "about four hours with the gi in [his] life," and the Pan

neg: Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking system bjj belt. Stripes are only used for ranks prior to black belt. After black belt is achieved, the markings are known as "degrees" and are awarded formally. Time-in-grade and skill level are both important factors. Stripes are not used in every academy, and, where they are used, they may not be applied consistently. A tradition practiced in some Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools immediately after a promotion, is known as "running the gauntlet" ("passar no corredor" in Portuguese). This generally follows one of two basic patterns. The newly promoted student is hit on their back with belts—once by each of their fellow

neg: Sandbagging (grappling) officiating organizations attempt to proactively curb the occurrence of sandbagging. These actions range from simple rule restrictions, such as the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation prohibiting those with a Judo black belt from competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu white belt divisions, to organizations such as the North American Grappling Association employing a special tracking system designed to record competitors nationally and potentially re-assign them to a higher skill-level in NAGA events. Sandbagging (grappling) Sandbagging is a term used in martial arts to denote a practitioner who competes at a skill-bracket deemed less rigorous than their actual level of competitive ability. The term

neg: Andresa Correa Andresa Correa Andresa Corrêa is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) 3x black belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Championship champion and 3x black belt World Nogi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship champion. She is one of a select few athletes to have won each of the major Gi Championships on more than one occasion World Championship x3, European Open Championship x2, Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship x2 and Brazilian Nationals Championship x4. Andresa had an outstanding 2016 season coming very close to winning Jiu Jitsu's "Grand Slam" of gold medals in her category and the absolute at all of the prior mentioned major Gi Championships.

neg: Jorge Britto Championship Middleweight Silver Medalist (Black Belt Adult) 5x Rio-State Champion 2006 Brazilian National Bronze Medalist (Black Belt) 2x Brazilian National Silver Medalist (Brown Belt) Jorge Britto Jorge Britto is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, practitioner and instructor. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education, and is currently the head Jiu-Jitsu instructor at Toronto BJJ. 3rd Degree Black Belt under Vini Aieta (Gracie Tijuca) / Royler Gracie / Saulo Ribeiro 2010 ADCC European Championships 76.9 kg division Champion 2009 IBJJF World No-GI Jiu-Jitsu Championship Middleweight Silver Medalist (Black Belt Master) Open Weight Champion (Black

neg: 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu is a non-traditional system of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu developed by Eddie Bravo. It was one of the first Jiu-Jitsu school systems to not use a gi. In 2003, after earning a black belt under Jean-Jacques Machado, Eddie Bravo opened his first 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu school in Los Angeles, California. Bravo's system emphasizes developing students for submission-only grappling competition rather than points. He focused his jiu-jitsu training without the traditional gi, becoming one of the first jiu-jitsu schools to do so. The idea behind this was to try to implement as many of the techniques as

neg: Murilo Bustamante Bustamante began officially competing when he was 15 years old, before adding judo, and then began boxing when he was 18. Bustamante is a black belt under the renowned Carlson Gracie. He has won numerous world titles in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which includes the World Championships of Jiu-Jitsu. Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie, Sr. → Carlson Gracie → Murilo Bustamante Murilo's grappling accomplishments include Championships at the World Class level, as well as appearances at the ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championships. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he has won The Mundials World Championships in 1999 and has won the Brazilian National

neg: Bernardo Faria with mestre Fábio Gurgel in 2009. Bernardo Faria currently runs his own Jiu Jitsu academy in Bedford, Massachusetts. He is a member of Alliance Jiu Jitsu team and Marcelo Garcia Association. He also has a YouTube channel where he regularly posts techniques alongside other Jiu Jitsu practitioners and MMA fighters such as Dean Lister and Chael Sonnen. Bernardo Faria Bernardo Faria is a 4x World Jiu-Jitsu Champion as a Black Belt from the Alliance Jiu Jitsu Team who holds an extensive competitive resume with titles at the world’ top tournaments such as the European Championship (Brazilian jiu-jitsu), Pan-American Championship (jiu-jitsu)

neg: Luigi Mondelli Luigi Mondelli Luigi Mondelli (born March 24, 1972) is a Brazilian-American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner based in Danbury, Connecticut where he is the head coach of American Top Team's Connecticut program under the umbrella of Ricardo Libório and the Co-Founder and Head Coach of his own program, KORE. Mondelli is a five-time Panamerican Champion and a three-time world masters champion. Mondelli began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1991 under the instruction of Adalberto “Buda” de Souza and Crézio de Souza at their school in Petropolis, until attaining the rank of purple belt. When his family relocated to Rio de Janeiro, Mondelli

neg: Caio Terra Caio Terra Caio Terra (born 1986 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) competitor and world champion. Caio began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2003 and received his black belt in 2006 making his promotion to black belt one of the quickest recorded in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. His promotion “landed” on the same year in which the IBJJF set minimum time frames for each belt, making it mandatory for a brown belt to stay in this belt division for a minimum of 1 year before being promoted. As Caio had not hit the time frame outlined by

neg: Eve Torres she appeared in an episode of the "Supergirl" television series as Maxima. Torres is trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and holds a purple belt from the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy based in Torrance, California. Torres also participates in kickboxing. She is a spokeswoman and head instructor for the Gracie Women Empowered self-defense program. Torres was the first female instructor for the academy. Torres met Rener Gracie when she attended the Gracie Academy for training. They married in April 2014. They have two sons, born September 2015 and August 2018. Torres and her sister-in-law Sage operate an event rental company named "inJOY The

neg: André Soares (fighter) André Soares (fighter) André "Gigueto" Soares is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts fighter. He competes in the flyweight division, and is also an instructor. Shares started training in martial arts at 9 years old practicing Judo. At the age of 15 he fell in love with Brazilian jiu-jitsu. When he was a purple belt he was invited to try out for the Carlson Gracie Competition Team. To make the team there was a tournament style training session in the middle of Carlson Gracie’s gym. He won the tournament and became a Team A competitor. His skills grew quickly

neg: André Soares (fighter) André Soares (fighter) André "Gigueto" Soares is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts fighter. He competes in the flyweight division, and is also an instructor. Shares started training in martial arts at 9 years old practicing Judo. At the age of 15 he fell in love with Brazilian jiu-jitsu. When he was a purple belt he was invited to try out for the Carlson Gracie Competition Team. To make the team there was a tournament style training session in the middle of Carlson Gracie’s gym. He won the tournament and became a Team A competitor. His skills grew quickly

neg: Andresa Correa She missed out narrowly by winning her category but coming third in the absolute at the 2016 World Championship. That year she also won a gold medal in the World Nogi championship. Andresa began training in 1996 at Mestre Carlos Rollyson's academy in Bragança Paulista. She moved to the Alliance Jiu Jitsu academy in Sao Paulo in 2010 to train under Mestre Fabio Gurgel. Andresa Correa Andresa Corrêa is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) 3x black belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Championship champion and 3x black belt World Nogi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship champion. She is one of a select few

neg: Jay White (mixed martial artist) more recognized in the sport. He began competing in events such as NAGA and Grappler's Quest. He quickly took first in his first ever Grappling tournament, Grappler's Quest, competing in the intermediate division. Renzo promoted Jay to Purple Belt in less than a year, becoming one of Renzo's fastest students to earn their Purple Belt. Jay went on to compete in many more tournaments including the Pan-American Games in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, where he placed first 2 years in a row as both blue belt and purple belt. After only one year of training in the sport Jay's accomplishments began

neg: Joe Rogan jiu-jitsu under Carlson Gracie at his school in Hollywood, California. He is a black belt under Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, a style of no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and a black belt in gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Jean Jacques Machado. Rogan was raised Catholic, having attended Catholic school in the first grade, but has since abandoned following any organized religion and identifies as an agnostic. He is highly critical of the Catholic Church and, drawing from his experiences as a former member, believes it is an institution of oppression. Rogan is not affiliated with any political party but has been described

neg: Armando Wridt Armando Wridt Armando Wriedt is one of the 7 people to have received a red belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from the hands of the late Helio Gracie. One of the pioneers of the sport, he fought Jiu Jitsu and in the old Vale-Tudo rules (what later became MMA). Armando Wriedt met Helio Gracie when he was 21 years old; he was in the military service and played Basketball for his regiment. Helio and he had a friend in common and Armando started visiting the Gracie Farm regularly picking up Jiu Jitsu training with the Gracie brotherhood. Finishing his obligatory

neg: Alexandre Paiva Alexandre Paiva Alexandre "Gigi" Paiva (born March 4, 1967, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a long standing figure, having been involved in Jiu Jitsu since the early 1980's, in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu community who has made a number of important contributions to the sport which are referenced below. He began training when he was 15 years old in Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti's school, where he was considered to be one of the academy's most technically gifted students, and received his Black Belt in 1993. In addition to being an outstanding competitive athlete winning the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship 1x at Adult level

neg: Tarsis Humphreys three BJJ World Championships. Humphreys is a veteran at ADCC. In 2007 he was third place losing at the semi-final in a very tight fight against the UFC and ADCC star Demian Maia (who after that became champion overcoming Flavio "Cachorrao" Almeida). Tarsis Humphreys Tarsis Humphreys (born November 4, 1983 in Sao Paulo, Brazil) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. He became a Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Fabio Gurgel, the co-founder of the Alliance Jiu Jitsu Team. Humphreys is one of Alliance's heavy hitter Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors. From 1998 to 2009 he won a medal in whichever Black Belt adult division

neg: Marcio Simas Gracie Barra Orlando Academy. He is currently a 6th degree black belt and has awarded numerous black belts over the past 15 years. His deep understanding and respect for the tradition of the Gracie family motivates his students to: Marcio is also the founder and president of the Florida Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which hosts the Florida State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships as well as the Panamerican Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Florida. Marcio Simas Marcio Simas is a 7th degree coral belt (red/black) in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu understanding Carlos Gracie, Jr. and the head of Gracie Barra Orlando and the Florida Federation

neg: Chris Kelades Chris Kelades Chris Kelades (born February 21, 1981), is a Canadian mixed martial artist who current competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional MMA competitor since 2009, Kelades made a name for himself fighting mostly in his native country. In 2014, he also fought for Bellator MMA. Chris Kelades began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu which led into training wrestling and striking. He currently holds a purple belt in Jiu Jitsu. Chris would amass a 6-0 record before signing with Bellator, but would drop a decision for the promotion at Bellator 119. He would bounce back

neg: Luke Cummo Luke Cummo Luke Joseph Cummo (born April 27, 1980) is a former mixed martial artist who appeared on the reality TV series "The Ultimate Fighter 2" on Spike TV. Cummo fights out of Long Island, where he attended Chaminade High School (class of 1998) in Mineola, New York and works with (Matt Serra) Serra Jiu-Jitsu and Ray Longo's IMAA. Although his grappling ability has been improving, his primary style remains Muay Thai kickboxing. He also holds a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt. He graduated Nassau Community College with a degree in Biology. Cummo began his professional mixed martial arts career in

neg: Brazilian jiu-jitsu as heel hooks, and toe holds) are usually banned in competitions because successfully completing the move nearly always results in permanent damage that requires surgery. Similarly, joint manipulations of the spine are typically barred due to the inherent danger of crushing or misaligning cervical vertebrae. Leglocks are allowed in varying degrees depending on skill level, with the most prominent BJJ tournaments typically allowing only the straight ankle lock and muscle stretching submissions such as the banana split at white through purple belt, with the kneebar, toehold, and calf slicer submissions being permitted at brown and black belt. Most competitions do

neg: Josh Griffiths (Jiu Jitsu practitioner) becoming interested in mixed martial arts (MMA). He has trained under many of the top BJJ instructors in the U.S., including Marcelo Garcia (grappler), who is well known in the worlds of gi and no gi submission wrestling grappling. Josh received his black belt in 2007 from UFC contender Kenny Florian and On 4/25/2014 Kenny Florian awarded Josh his 2nd degree black belt. Currently, Griffiths owns and acts as head instructor of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Clockwork BJJ in New York City's NoHo neighborhood. Josh Griffiths (Jiu Jitsu practitioner) Josh Griffiths is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioner, and an instructor of

neg: Rodrigo Medeiros Rodrigo Medeiros Rodrigo "Comprido" Medeiros (born January 11, 1977) is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. His nickname, Comprido, is Portuguese for "long" - a reference to his tall stature. Rodrigo began BJJ at the age of sixteen. He received his black belt from Rolls Gracie student, Romero "Jacaré" Cavalcanti, he also trained under Fernando 'Magrao' Gurgel and is one of a select group of Jiu-Jitsu competitors to have won the prestigious World Jiu-Jitsu Championship openweight titles twice. Rodrigo has also been a Jiu-Jitsu instructor to mixed martial arts fighters such as former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, former Bellator Heavyweight

neg: Rodrigo Gracie spend a lot of time as a family. Gracie is the head instructor at the Rodrigo Gracie Academy in Palos Verdes, California. Rodrigo also travels conducting seminars all over the world and in some of the ""Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Networks"". Gracie has co-written three instructional books on Brazilian jiu-jitsu with author Kid Peligro; "“Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu No Holds Barred!: Fighting Techniques”", "“Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Path to the Black Belt”", and "“The Complete Guide to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu”". Rodrigo Gracie Rodrigo Gracie (born March 11, 1975) is a retired Brazilian mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. A member of the famous Gracie

neg: Rener Gracie program – especially for students who lack access to resident instruction. Furthermore, a blue belt awarded by video evaluation is called "technical blue belt" (which is white, with a blue stripe running the full length of the belt) indicating that the student has mastered the required techniques. An "official" Gracie Jiu-Jitsu blue belt and all higher belts can only be awarded by a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu certified instructor following an extended, in-person evaluation of the student. The availability of instruction that mirrors that provided to resident students at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy and Certified Training Centers has led to a proliferation

neg: Braulio Estima Braulio Estima Braulio de Oliveira Estima is a 4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He received his black belt from Carlos Gracie Jr. on January 4, 2004. Throughout his grappling career, he has won in many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments across the world, such as the Mundials, ADCC, Pan American Championship, and European Championship. His long list of accomplishments has made him well respected among other Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, such that some consider him one of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in the world. Braulio Estima was born on June 10, 1980 in Recife, Brazil. He was first exposed to

neg: Rodrigo Medeiros Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors to speak out against the widespread use of steroids at the top level of the sport. On August 9, 2014, Comprido fought Saulo Ribeiro in a grappling match in Metamoris IV. The fight ended in a draw. Comprido earned the first ever submission in an IBJJF absolute black belt match when he defeated Roberto "Roleta" Magalhaes in the 1999 World Championships Finals. The 18-second fight is also the fastest submission in a black belt world championship final. Comprido earned seven Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world titles - 4 in the IBJJF and 3 in the CBJJO - between

neg: Fábio Santos friend, Kimo Leopoldo. Fabio Santos is featured in "MMA Sports" magazine, where he has a column called "Jiu-Jitsu 101". It is widely believed that Dean Lister received his black belt from Santos, since Santos was Lister's jiu-jitsu instructor up to brown belt. However, it was Santos's student Jeffrey Higgs. Was actually Rodrigo Salazar awarded by Fabio Santos with his black belt in 2011. Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie, Sr. → Helio Gracie → Rickson Gracie → Fábio Santos Fábio Santos Fábio Santos (born April 4, 1956) is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and instructor. Santos graduated with a BA

neg: Wellington "Megaton" Dias the #1 ranked nickname in MMA by SubFighter. Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie, Sr. → Helio Gracie → Royler Gracie → Wellington "Megaton" Dias Wellington "Megaton" Dias Wellington Leal "Megaton" Dias (born October 2, 1967) is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) practitioner, and an official black belt representative of the Royler Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Association. Wellington originally trained under Rogerio Camoes and later at the legendary Gracie Humaitá jiu-jitsu school in Rio de Janeiro. Wellington received his black belt at the age of 18. Wellington is currently a fifth degree black belt under Royler Gracie. Wellington is a multiple Pan-American

neg: Marcos Torregrosa Marcos Torregrosa Marcos Alejandro Torregrosa is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. He had his first experience with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA in Bayamon, Puerto Rico where UFC 8 took place. Torregrosa began training in July 1999. Once he began, he knew this was his calling and gave it his all, training two practices a day. Torregrosa was awarded a black belt in January 2007. In 2008 Torregrosa became the head instructor at Capital City Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. While teaching at Capital City Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Torregrosa developed Yemaso Jiu-Jitsu, a style of Jiu-Jitsu designed to bring success at competitions. Torregrosa founded Team Yemaso

neg: Gracie jiu-jitsu ranking system that children could not be tested on the adult-level moral qualifications he held for normal rank advancement. For this reason, the colors of yellow, orange, and green were reserved for practitioners under the age of 16. (Both children and adults of any age begin training as a new student wearing a white belt.) In the 1990s, Brazilian judo clubs began awarding grey belts for children advancing from white belt. In the same interest of providing children with more frequent rank promotion within Gracie jiu-jitsu, Pedro Valente Sr. and his sons proposed an adaptation to the youth belt system. It involved

neg: Renê Nazare Renê Nazare Renê Nazare-Azevedo, also known as simply Nazare, is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who previously competed Bellator's Lightweight division. Nazare is an MMA competitor and was previously a jiu-jitsu Instructor at Team Bombsquad. For twelve years, he dedicated himself to the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Rene expressed talent and interest in jiu-jitsu at a young age and studied under 3rd degree black belt instructor, Rodrigo Antonio Garcia Da Silva. As an experienced fighter for Nova Uniao Jiu-Jitsu Club and Club Feijao Jiu-Jitsu, four time medalist, and a nine year veteran instructor, Rene operates his own jiu-jitus gym

neg: Ricky Lundell Ricky Lundell Ricky Lundell is a Gracie (Brazilian) Jiu Jitsu 3rd degree black belt under Pedro Sauer and considered by many to be his most technical black belt. Ricky started jiu-jitsu at age six and is credited with being the youngest North American to receive the rank of black belt in Gracie (Brazilian) Jiu-Jitsu (age 19 when received). Ricky is a two-time Pancrase (Submission Wrestling) World Champion at 149 lbs and a 1x Absolute Pancrase World Champion. He was the smallest person to win the absolute division of Pancrase by over 20 lbs and submitted Brandon Ruiz who is a

neg: Wellington "Megaton" Dias Wellington "Megaton" Dias Wellington Leal "Megaton" Dias (born October 2, 1967) is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) practitioner, and an official black belt representative of the Royler Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Association. Wellington originally trained under Rogerio Camoes and later at the legendary Gracie Humaitá jiu-jitsu school in Rio de Janeiro. Wellington received his black belt at the age of 18. Wellington is currently a fifth degree black belt under Royler Gracie. Wellington is a multiple Pan-American medalist, European medalist, Worlds medalist, US National medalist, Rickson Gracie International Championship medalist, Rio de Janeiro State Champion and Abu Dhabi veteran, among other accomplishments. He

neg: Saulo Ribeiro Carlos Gracie → Helio Gracie → Royler Gracie → Saulo Ribeiro Saulo Ribeiro Saulo Ribeiro (born July 2, 1974), brother of the equally famed Xande Ribeiro, is a 5th-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. After earning a black belt in Judo, he began his training of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Rio de Janeiro under Royler Gracie, the son of Hélio Gracie, at the famous Gracie Humaitá. Saulo received his black belt in BJJ on November 27, 1995. Less than 2 years later, he won his first MMA fight. He also won the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship five times, in an equal amount

neg: Dave Bautista Buddy Lee Parker. He then went to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), who advised him to train with Afa Anoaʻi in the Wild Samoan Training Center wrestling school, where he went to train and compete in Anoa'i's World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW) promotion. He had his debut match as Khan on October 30, 1999. Bautista also trained with Marrese Crump in Muay Thai and Eskrima. Most recently, he trained at Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu under Cesar Gracie and has become a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Upon signing with the WWF in 2000, Bautista was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), a

neg: Stephan Bonnar Brazilian jiu-jitsu with the legendary Carlson Gracie during the summer of 1999, under whom he received his purple belt before Carlson's passing. During his tenure as a student of Carlson Gracie's he was given the nickname Robocop. This experience has led to most of his bouts ending by way of submission. Stephan now trains Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Las Vegas under Master Sergio Penha. However, he also has trained in Muay Thai during several trips to Thailand. Since the beginning of 2010 Bonnar has been training Muay Thai in Las Vegas under Master One Kick Nick Blomgren at One Kick's Gym.

neg: Sérgio Penha from purple to black belt. Some sources claim that Penha may have been responsible for training Kazushi Sakuraba in Brazilian jiu-jitsu during his course of victories over various members of the renowned Gracie family. In an interview, Penha confirmed he had taught Sakuraba at the Takada Dojo, although he clarified it had been only 15 days in December 2001, long after Sakuraba had achieved his wins over the Gracie family. He also revealed the Takada Dojo fighters had been interested to learn "not secret methods and strategies specifically for beating jiu-jitsu," but "just basic techniques." Sérgio Penha Sérgio Luiz da