Johnny Tama

Johnny Tama is an Equatorian grappler and a jiu-jitsu black belt under Juan Miguel Iturralde of the Alliance Academy. Tama earned his reputation as one of the top athletes of his generation after conquering medals at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Pan American Championship (gi and no-gi) and World Championships (also gi and no-gi) in both the purple and brown belt categories. Later, in December 2019, Johnny Tama became the first Hispanic athlete to conquer an IBJJF world title in the adult black belt division of this sport.

Johnny Tama Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Johnny Joachin Tama Apolinario

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie >Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Fábio Gurgel > Fernando Di Piero > Juan Miguel Iturralde > Johnny Tama

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2019)
• 1st Place SJJIF World Championship No-Gi (2018)
• 1st Place SJJIF World Championship (2018)
• Fight 2 Win 170 lbs Champion (2021)
• 1st Place IBJJF Charleston Summer Open (2021)
• 1st Place IBJJF NY Spring Open No-Gi (2019)
• 1st Place IBJJF NY Spring Open (2018)
• 1st Place Orange County Open (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF Houston Open (2017)
• 1st Place IBJJF Austin Open (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF Charlotte Open (2017)
• 1st Place IBJJF Boston Spring Open (2017)
• 1st Place AJP Ecuador National Pro (2017)
• 1st Place AJP NY National Pro (2017)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi (2019 / 2021)
• 2nd Place IBJJF NY Spring Open (2019)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Dallas Open (2021)
• 2nd Place Marianas Open (2017)
• 3rd Place IBJJF American Nats No-Gi (2019**)
• FIVE Grappling Superfight Winner (2018)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2014 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi (2016 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Dallas International Open (2016 brown)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Grand Slam, Los Angeles (2015 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Miami Open (2013** / 2014 ** purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF NY Spring Open (2015 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Boston Spring Open (2015 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2014 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2014 purple, 2015 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2015 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Good overall game

Weight Division: Peso Leve (76,00 kg / 168.0 lbs)

Team/Association: Alliance

Johnny Tama Biography

Johnny Tama was born on October 20, 1992, in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Growing up Johnny was not a fan of martial arts, with a short time spent doing taekwondo at the age of 12 being his only contact with any form of combat. That lack of interest would change after a street altercation in 2009, which saw Tama at the wrong end of a beating.

Following his stepfather’s advice, Johnny started paying attention to Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He finally decided to start taking grappling classes after witnessing Fernando Di Piero (also known as Soluço) defeat an opponent with ease inside the cage, using solely grappling.

In June of 2009 Tama joined the class of Juan Miguel Iturralde Aguirre, brother of Leonardo Iturralde, Francisco “Sinistro” Iturralde and a black belt under the aforementioned Di Piero. Juan Miguel would remain by Johnny’s side throughout his development as a grappler, though Tama was also assisted by other coaches throughout his many travels in search of high-level coaching and competition. One of his bigger influences was Rubens Charles, a legend of the sport with whom Johnny trained on many occasions while climbing the belt ranks of jiu-jitsu.

The growth of BJJ in Chile was also heavily influenced by Johnny Tama who visited the South American country on several occasions, both coaching and competing.

After many years competing in the world’s top jiu-jitsu tournaments in the lower belt divisions, Tama received his black belt from the hands of Juan Miguel Iturralde. The ceremony taking place on December 15 of 2016.

Johnny Tama 2017 Highlight