Hey everyone,

I’m new here, so I’m not sure if posting on the forum helps with the verification process or not, but here goes nothing!

I started training BJJ in 2009 after completing my military service. My first instructor was Adriano Pereira Nasal, a black belt under Murillo Bustamante. Adriano was a co-owner of Total MMA Studios in Tustin, CA, and is now the founder of Açaí Republic. He promoted me to blue belt around 2010.

After that, I returned to Iraq (for private work) and continued training on my own with a few other grapplers. When I came back to California in 2012, I bounced around several BJJ gyms trying to find a new home, since Adriano had moved to Tustin, which was too far for me to drive regularly. Eventually, I found Magno Almeida, a 3rd-degree black belt under Marco Barbosa, and I’ve been training under him ever since.

I received my black belt in 2021 and coached for two years at my gym, Pledge Fitness, in Downey, CA. I closed the BJJ program after my youngest son was born, as life got a bit hectic, but I still run Pledge Fitness. I referred all of my students to Gustavo Carpio’s gym, which is affiliated with Checkmat.

I continue to train 2–3 times per week, either at Magno’s or by dropping in at Tillis Academy in Whittier, CA.

I hope this information helps with the verification process!