American Black Belts Set Record At No Gi Worlds!

By Fanatics Authors, December 31, 2018

IBJJF No Gi World Championships: American Men Set New Record

Earlier this month, at the IBJJF No Gi World Championships in Anaheim, California, the American Black Belt Male competitors set a new record winning five gold medals in the Finals. This beat the previous record set in 2013, when Justin Rader, JT Torres, and Rafael Lovato Jr won Gold Medals.

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Gold Medalists:

At the 2018 event, Gianni Grippo won the Lightweight title with a choke over Marcio Andre, Josh Hinger won the Medium Heavy division with a North South choke over Marcos Tinoco, Tim Spriggs won the Heavyweight division with a close decision over Jackson Sousa, and Gordon Ryan achieved double gold by winning his weight class, the Ultra Heavy, over Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu by DQ, and by advantage versus Yuri Simoes in the absolute finals.

Gianni Grippo’s Lightweight Title

In the lightweight division, Marcelo Garcia black belt, Gianni Grippo had a dramatic last minute submission victory over previous No- Gi World champion Marcio Andre (who also placed 2nd in the IBJJF World Gi Championships in 2016) to capture his first World Title as a black belt.

Gianni was down by 2 points going into the last minute, but was able to secure a pass that exposed Andre’s back. From there, he was able to secure the rear naked choke for the victory.

In getting to the finals, Gianni had to a difficult road- defeating tough veterans Masahiro Iwasaki (IBJJF European Open 2nd Place- 2018) by Advantage, Daniel Seth 10 to 2, and Checkmat athlete Rodrigo Freitas (No-Gi World Championship runner up in 2014 and 2016), 11 to 0.

Gianni Grippo Biography

Gianni Grippo was born on March 21, 1992, in New Jersey. As a child, he was an accomplished swimmer, making the Junior Olympics, as well as his team’s varsity roster as a freshman in high school. Gianni began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at 12 years old at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City (Manhattan), taking private lessons with Magno Gama.

After a family trip to Brazil in 2004, where they witnessed Ronaldo Souza beating Roger Gracie (who won on points, even after Roger had broken his arm in an armlock), Gianni decided to focus entirely on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. At the Renzo Gracie academy, Gianni developed into a great competitor, winning IBJJF Gi World Championships as a blue belt in 2009 and as a purple belt in 2011. However, Gianni sought more gi specific competitors/training partners to train with, and switched academies in March 2012 to Marcelo Garcia’s.

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After the switch, he won the IBJJF Brown Belt World Championships, and received his black belt on October 1st, 2013 from Marcelo Garcia. As a black belt, he has won the following:

IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2018)

IBJJF Pan American Champion (2018/2015/2014)

IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Champion (2018/2017)

Kasai Pro 4 Champion (2018)

FIVE Super-League Champion (2017)

UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (2017/2015)

UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro 2nd Place (2018)

IBJJF European Open 2nd Place (2017)

IBJJF World 3rd Place (2017)

IBJJF World No-Gi 3rd Place (2015)

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