John’s grappling started in High School with wrestling, where he wrestled for two years and attended a Dan Gable wrestling camp in the summer of 1991. After High School, John enlisted into the Army where he attended some hand to hand combat and highly intense physical conditioning. As of December 2008, John initially started training at MMACTC where he began his obsession with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In April 2009, He started training specifically Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and self defense with Professor Rubens Rodrigues. Professor Rubens awarded John his blue belt in BJJ in October 2009. John has since become an assistant instructor at Professor Rubens’ Gracie Barra academy located in Mebane, NC. Not only has he been teaching new students and intermediate students but is still competing at a very high intermediate level. Listed below are some of the tournaments that John has competed and placed in.

Pendergrass No Gi Classic May 2009

NAGA NC Grappling Championship July 2009

US Grappling NC State Championship Mar 2010

The Good Fight NC BJJ Championships Mar 2010

NAGA NC Grappling Championship May 2010

NAGA VA Beach Grappling Championship June 2010

NAGA GA Grappling Championship July 2010