I have been training in BJJ since 1992 and have a crazy unique story. I would really appreciate your help in my continued journey to 4th Degree Black Belt. I received my 3rd Degree through the IBJJF in January 6th of 2016.

In short, I started training in Martial Arts under my Father in 1983 when I was 5 years old. In 1992, my father got ahold of some Gracie in Action VHS tapes which then inspired us to order their Gracie Basics VHS tapes. This was 1 year prior to UFC 1. Once UFC began and Royce beat everyone up, we went all in on Jiu-Jitsu but there were no BJJ Academies in our area. My father was running his own Martial Arts club which 1997 became a business known as Self-Defense Tactics, Inc. My first BJJ competition was in 1997 in the Ralph Gracie Open as a Blue belt. Some other popular names that were in my division were Frack Cucci and Fernando Margarida. In the year 2000, I took the business over. At this point I had been training heavily in BJJ for 8 years. In 2003, I renamed it Clinch Academy. I had been competing through the years prior and in 2003 I also won the N.A.G.A. Battle at the Beach Adv. division and in 2005 won the pro division with a cash prize of $500. In 2005, N.A.G.A invited me to a superfight match with Pablo Popovitch which I lost on points. Prior to this superfight I met Leo Dalla and would roll with him and his students in preparation. Dalla and I kept in contact and I would go to his Academy Premier Fight Center to roll on occasion. It was about an hour and 10 mins from my Academy. In 2011, I approached Dalla about getting an official rank in BJJ. At this point, I had been training for almost 20 years. He told me that He didn't feel right giving me a Black Belt under his name because he never taught me jiu-jitsu. He said I earned it on my own and that I should go through the IBJJF and he would validate me as a 2nd degree because I had known him for 6 years at this point and he felt I was a black belt the day we first met and rolled. So in Oct of 2011, I received my 2nd Degree Black Belt through the IBJJF and in Jan of 2016 my 3rd degree. Over the years I have competed with names such as Frank Cucci, Todd Margolis, Nakapan Phungephorn, Marco Delima, Marcus Aurelio, & Paul Schriener. Clinch Academy is still in operation and going strong. I love jiu-jitsu and I love teaching and sharing it with others. When I found out about this community, I thought it may be a good fit for my ongoing jiu-jitsu journey. I am excited to join the community!

Im still connected and in good standing with Leo Dalla and could go through the federation, but I really like the concept here and would like to be a part of the community. If you could check out my profile and give me your vote, I would greatly appreciate your help!