It's just me. David. I am the current Black Belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu No Gi World Champion in my division, but really I'm just a guy trying to share something that makes sense to me and might help you, and the world. That's it. Share the videos if you agree.
My Martial Arts Bio:
I began training Jiu Jitsu as a young child in 1968 in Los Angeles under the late Sensei Jack Seki which continued through my high school years. I was also fortunate enough to be introduced by my parents to Yoga and meditation in the mid 1970’s.
I trained White Lotus Kung Fu under Sifu Douglas Wong from 1977-1982 and taught Jiu Jitsu at Steven Seagal’s Tenshin Dojo from 1984-1987 when he first returned from Japan to teach Aikido. I was head instructor of Jiu Jitsu at UCLA from 1980-1985. I received my 3rd Dan in Jiu Jitsu under Sensei Jack Seki and Burrell “Skip” Koepke and hold an honorary 4th Dan in Danzan Ryu/Small Circle Jiu Jitsu under the late Prof. Wally Jay. I also both attended and taught alongside Prof. Jay and many other masters of various styles at Camp Danzan Ryu in California throughout the 1980’s, and learned at that time Seifukujutsu (restorative arts) in the tradition of Professor Henry Okazaki Long Life Massage.
I began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1991, and was one of the first Americans to reach black belt (referred to as “the Dirty Dozen”), receiving my rank in 1996 from Rigan Machado. I'm is a 6th degree black belt in BJJ and was trained by Rigan, Jean Jacques, Carlos, John and Roger Machado.
I was the first American to win a medal at the black belt level at a BJJ World Championship, earning the Bronze Medal in Black Belt Open Weight Class division in Brazil in 1998. I also won the first ever BJJ competition held in the United States (a cross-school competition between the Tarzana and Redondo Beach Machado Brothers schools in 1994). Over the years I've been a coach and training partner for numerous MMA fighters in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and I still actively compete in BJJ and have won many world championship titles in my age division over the years. I currently train mostly out of Black Sheep BJJ in Fairfax CA under Professor Woolf Barnato.
At the urging and with support of Fariborz Azhakh and filmed by Ron Balicki, I partnered in 1999 with John Will (who is the first Australian to earn a black belt in BJJ) to create grappling and MMA curriculums in manuals/videos/DVDs sold to nearly 1,000 martial arts schools around the world across all styles, including a customized version for Chuck Norris and his UFAF association. That curriculum is still in use in many schools today.
In over half a century of martial arts training, I have taught seminars around the world to martial arts instructors, law enforcement and military of all types, and general practitioners. I have trained with, taught along side, been a training partner, or am just friends with people as diverse as Jack Seki, Doug Wong, George Kirby, Wally Jay, Willy Cahill, Ron Ogi, Sig Kufferath, James DeMile, Steven Seagal, John Will, Mike Swain, the Machado brothers, Bob Wall, Howard Jackson, Bas Rutten, Eric Paulson, Dan Inosanto, “Judo” Gene Lebell, Cesar Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Carlos Gracie Jr., Chuck Norris, Richard Norton, Benny “the Jet” Urquidez, Fariboz Azhakh, Ron Balicki, Rico Rodriguez, Egan Inoue, Eddie Bravo, Ernie Reyes Sr., Mario Sperry, Nino Schembri, Frank Shamrock, Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez, Jake Shields, Nick and Nate Diaz and many others. I currently train in the San Francisco Bay Area primarily out of Black Sheep BJJ with professor Woolf Barnato.
I authored the book “Training for Competition: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Grappling,” and co-authored “The Triangle” with Rigan Machado.
I'm also a passionate advocate for animal welfare. I co-led the pet rescue efforts post-Katrina in New Orleans, cofounded the Adopt-a-Pet.com website, and cofounded and am CEO of Humane America Animal Foundation and Food System Innovations. I have been a vegetarian since 1985 and vegan (fully plant-based diet) since 1993. I launched www.FuelForTheFighter.com to show how MMA and BJJ fighters can consume less (or no) animal products and have increases in their strength and endurance.
My competition achievements include:
2024 Gold Medal – IBJJF Sacramento International Open, Black Belt Master 7 Heavy Weight Class
2024 Gold Medal – IBJJF Sacramento International Open, Black Belt Master 7 Open Weight Class
2024 Gold Medal – IBJJF San Jose International Open, Black Belt Master 7 Medium-Heavy Weight Class
2024 Silver Medal – IBJJF San Jose International Open, Black Belt Master 7 Open Weight Class
2023 Gold Medal World Champion – IBJJF No Gi World Championship, Black Belt Master 7 Medium-Heavy Weight Class
2019 Gold Medal World Champion – IBJJF No Gi World Championship, Black Belt Master 6 Open Weight Class
2019 Bronze Medal – IBJJF No Gi World Championship, Black Belt Master 6 Middle Weight Class
2019 Gold Medal - American Cup, Black Belt Master 3 Medium Heavy Weight Class
2019 Gold Medal - American Cup, Black Belt Master 3 Open Weight Class (unopposed)
2018 Gold Medal World Champion – IBJJF No Gi World Championship, Black Belt Master 6 Medium Heavy (unopposed)
2018 Bronze Medal – IBJJF No Gi World Championship, Black Belt Master 6 Open Weight Class
2018 Gold Medal - US Open, Black Belt Master 5 Medium Heavy Weight Class
2018 Silver Medal - Jiu Jitsu World League Gi World Championship, Black Belt Master 3 Middle Weight Class
2018 Silver Medal – American Cup, Black Belt Master 2 Open Weight Class
2018 Silver Medal – American Cup, Black Belt Master 2 Medium Heavy Weight Class
2017 Gold Medal World Champion – IBJJF No Gi World Championship, Black Belt Master 5 Middle Weight Class
2017 Gold Medal – American Cup, Black Belt Master 5 Medium Heavy Class
2016 Gold Medal World Champion – IBJJF No Gi World Championship, Black Belt Master 5 Middle Weight Class
2016 Gold Medal – US Open, Black Belt Master 4 Middle Weight Class (unopposed)
2015 Gold Medal - JiuJitsu World League, Black Belt Master 4 Middle Weight Class
2015 Silver Medal – American Cup, Black Belt
2014 Gold Medal – American Cup, Black Belt Master 4 Middle Weight Class
2013 Gold Medal – American Cup, Black Belt Senior 3 Middle Weight Class
2012 Silver Medal – IBJJF Masters and Seniors World Championships, Black Belt Master 4 Middle Weight Class
2012 Gold Medal – American Cup, Black Belt Senior 3 Middle Weight Class
2011 Gold Medal World Champion – IBJJF No Gi BJJ World Championship, Black Belt Master 4 Middle Weight Class
2011 Gold Medal – IBJJF Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championship, Black Belt Master 4 Middle Weight Class
2011 Silver Medal – US Open, BJJ Black Belt Senior 3 Medium Weight Class
2010 Gold Medal World Champion – IBJJF No Gi World Championship, Black Belt Master 4 Middle Weight Class
2010 Gold Medal World Champion – IBJJF No Gi BJJ World Championship, Black Belt Master 4 Open Weight Class
2010 Gold Medal – US Open, Black Belt Senior 2 Open Weight Class
2009 Gold Medal – US Open, Black Belt
2009 Gold Medal – American National Championship, Black Belt Senior 3 Medium Weight Class
2009 Gold Medal World Champion – IBJJF No Gi BJJ World Championship, Black Belt Master 4 Medium Heavy Weight Class
2009 Gold Medal World Champion – IBJJF No Gi BJJ World Championship, Black Belt Master 4 Open Weight Class
2007 Gold Medal – International Master Senior Championship, Black Belt
2005 Bronze Medal – IBJJF Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championship, Master 3 Black Belt Open Weight Class
2005 Silver Medal – IBJJF Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championship, Master 3 Black Belt Medium Heavy Class
2004 Gold Medal – American National BJJ Championship, Black Belt
2004 Gold Medal – American National BJJ Championship, Black Belt Open Weight Class
2004 Silver Medal – American National BJJ Championship, Black Belt
2004 Gold Medal – IBJJF Pan Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championship, Black Belt Master 3 Medium Heavy Weight Class
2004 Gold Medal – California Open BJJ Championship, Black Belt
2001 Gold Medal – American International Championship, Black Belt
2000 Gold Medal – US Copa Pacifica, Black Belt
2000 Gold Medal – American International Championship, Black Belt
1998 Bronze Medal – IBJJF World Championship, Black Belt Absolute Division
1998 Korean Air Black Belt Challenge. Super-fight Winner
1997 Silver Medal – Joe Moreira 5th Annual International Championship, Black Belt
1996 Silver Medal – American Federation of BJJ Spring Tournament, Black Belt