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Go Back  Sherdog Mixed Martial Arts Forums > Training Discussion > Grappling Technique > The first American BJJ black belt???

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Old 08-03-2006, 04:25 PM   #1 (permalink)

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The first American BJJ black belt???
In 1997, I trained at a Gracie JJ training chapter for about a year. I took about 8 years off, and started back up at a small club about a year ago. During this time, I didn't stay updated on the MMA/BJJ scene much. In '97, I remember someone saying that there were "no American black belts." Would that have meant no black belts in BJJ in general, or GJJ in particular?

It was a slight surprise to me when I started following MMA again, and I found out quite a few fighters had attained the level of black belt in BJJ. 8 years goes by very fast...

Anyway, I've been recently wondering who the first American was to attain a BJJ black belt. I assume it would have been a pretty big milestone, so some sort of record was kept, right?
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Old 08-03-2006, 04:31 PM   #2 (permalink)

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I'm guessing Craig Kukkuk since he was a brown belt in the early 1990s, but that's just a guess.
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Old 08-03-2006, 04:51 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Found this on the internet:

* Craig Kukuk (Renzo Gracie) - 1992
* Ken Gabrielson (Reylson Gracie) - 1992
* Rick Lucero (Rickson Gracie) - ?
* David Kama (Rickson Gracie) - 1995
* Chris Saunders (Rickson Gracie) - 1995
* Bob Bass (Rigan Machado) - 1996
* Rick Williams (Rigan Machado) - 1996
* Chris Haueter (Rigan Machado) - 1996
* David Meyer (Rigan Machado) - 1997
* Rick Minter (Rigan Machado) - 1997
* John Will (Rigan Machado) - 1998
* Roy Harris (Joe Moreira) - 1998
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Old 08-03-2006, 06:14 PM   #4 (permalink)

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Nick Serra got his in 1991
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Old 08-03-2006, 06:29 PM   #5 (permalink)
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http://www.extremejjg.com/history.php

My instructor got his late 90s and he was training under Rigan at the time. He was an Aussie living in the States but he got his belt a lot sooner than some of the guys listed there.

I also trained with a guy called Fre Taylor in LA who also was one of the first Americans (not sure he was one of the dirty dozen but he got it pretty early on IIRC).

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Old 08-03-2006, 06:30 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pyr0
Found this on the internet:

* Craig Kukuk (Renzo Gracie) - 1992
* Ken Gabrielson (Reylson Gracie) - 1992
* Rick Lucero (Rickson Gracie) - ?
* David Kama (Rickson Gracie) - 1995
* Chris Saunders (Rickson Gracie) - 1995
* Bob Bass (Rigan Machado) - 1996
* Rick Williams (Rigan Machado) - 1996
* Chris Haueter (Rigan Machado) - 1996
* David Meyer (Rigan Machado) - 1997
* Rick Minter (Rigan Machado) - 1997
* John Will (Rigan Machado) - 1998
* Roy Harris (Joe Moreira) - 1998
Thats the "Dirty Dozen" list, the first 12 American BJJ BBs. I know the list is on the OTM site, possibly sites as well.


*EDIT* Actually its the first 12 non-Brazilian BJJ BBs
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Last edited by daigoro : 08-04-2006 at 07:35 PM.
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Old 08-03-2006, 07:01 PM   #7 (permalink)
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John Will is Australian btw.

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Old 08-03-2006, 10:59 PM   #8 (permalink)

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Quote:
Originally Posted by gary555
Nick Serra got his in 1991

i thought that nick got his after matt?
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Old 08-03-2006, 11:47 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Matt Serra was before Nick
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Old 08-06-2006, 01:15 AM   #10 (permalink)

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possenti, too bad you didnt keep training, you woudlve had your bb by now. at least brown!
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