AJ Agazarm

AJ Agazarm is a leading figure of an amazing generation of black belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitors to have come from the United States of America. Being a former D1 wrestler, AJ Agazarm became known in the lower belt divisions of jiu jitsu for his fast paced game, his scrambles and his takedown ability, which earned him numerous titles and his black belt, awarded in 2013 by Eduardo de Lima and Carlos Gracie Junior.

AJ Agazarm Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: AJ Agazarm

Nickname: “Leão” (lion), a name that started being mentioned when AJ began his BJJ training due to his attitude on the mat. “Açaí” is also a name, often associated with Agazarm, this is due to his love for the famous Brazilian berry. He has several recipes for the fruit, and even some tutorials on youtube.

Lineage:  Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie Sr. > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Junior (> Eduardo de Lima) > AJ Agazarm

Main Achievements:

• IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2014)
• IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Champion (2013)
• IBJJF Brazilian National No-Gi Champion (2013)
• IBJJF European No-Gi Open Champion (2017/2014**/2013)
• ADCC 2nd Place (2017)
• ADCC US West Coast Trials 2nd Place (2017)
• IBJJF World No-Gi 2nd Place (2017)
• IBJJF Pan American No-Gi 2nd Place (2018/2014*)
• IBJJF Pan American 2nd Place (2015)
• CBJJ Brazilian National No-Gi 2nd Place (2013*)
• IBJJF American Nationals 2nd Place (2013**)
• IBJJF Rome International Open 2nd Place (2017)
• IBJJF European No Gi Open 2nd Place (2017*)
• IBJJF Pan American No-Gi 3rd Place (2014/2013*)
• IBJJF World No-Gi 3rd Place (2016/2013)
• IBJJF European Open 3rd Place (2014)
• IBJJF European No-Gi Open 3rd Place (2013*)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• IBJJF World Champion (2007 blue)
• IBJJF Pan American Champion (2012 brown)
• IBJJF American National Champion (2012 brown)
• IBJJF Pan American 2nd Place (2013 brown)
• IBJJF Pan American No-Gi 2nd Place (2012* brown)
• IBJJF Brazilian National 2nd Place (2013* brown)
• IBJJF Pan American No-Gi 3rd Place (2012 brown)
• IBJJF World Championship 3rd Place (2012 brown)
• IBJJF European Open 3rd Place (2013 brown)
• CBJJ Brazilian National 3rd Place (2013 brown)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Sweep Single Leg Takedown, Lasso Guard

Weight Division: Peso Leve (76kg/168lbs)

Team/Association: Gracie Barra

AJ Agazarm Biography

AJ Agazarm was born in Hollywood, Florida – US.

AJ competed in a wide variety of sports when growing up, becoming acquainted with wrestling in his teens, through a friend and fellow football teammate who believed Agazarm would do well if he applied for the wrestling team. At the time (9th grade) AJ participated in a class but chose to not follow through.

The following year AJ’s parents placed him in the public school system ahead of his 10th grade. Agazarm immediately signed up to the swimming and the cross country running team. Shorty after the start of the year AJ noticed a flyer on the school hall, advertising the wrestling team’s trials. He decided to participate and made the team, this would represent the beginning of a major shift in AJ’s sporting career, as he went on to win important championships during his high school career, these earned him a scholarship to a NAIA school in Williamsburg, KY.

During AJ Agazarm’s first year in college, one of his teammates had become involved with mixed martial arts (MMA) and was preparing for a fight. AJ traveled with him to the fight venue on the day of the bout. After one of the competitors failed to show up, and knowing of Agazarm’s success in wrestling, the promoter asked AJ if I would be willing to enter the ring. Agazarm accepted, and was successful, winning his fight by way of first round rear naked choke, although by his own admission: “I didn’t even know what that was at the time”.

Telling his father of his MMA achievement, Agazarm’s patriarch asked AJ to start training jiu jitsu, believing it would be more suited for a career in the sport. When AJ returned from college for his summer vacation (2006), his dad took him to a neighbouring Gracie Barra school, led by Eduardo de Lima. During that summer, AJ attended every single one of Eduardo’s classes, twice a day for 6 days a week. It was also during that period that Agazarm met Master Carlos Gracie Jr. who was in town for a seminar at Eduardo’s school.

The atmosphere of Gracie Barra Clearwater, made AJ feel like he was part of a family, more than ‘just’ a team of competitors. the coach and the students genuinely cared for one another, which helped Agazarm train harder and move forward in the sport, as he felt he was not only doing it for himself, but for his Master and his comrades.

Carlinhos Gracie was so impressed with AJ’s drive and ability to learn, he asked Agazarm if he wanted to move to Brazil with him where he could turn him into a champion. At that time, AJ had his own goals, which included a transfer to the Ohio State University where he could wrestle in Division 1 and earn a degree in finance. For those reasons, he declined the offer

AJ continued training under Eduardo’s guidance, being awarded his blue belt after 3 months. He participated in many local tournaments as well as the Pan American Championships in 2007, achieving a gold medal in his first year of Jiu Jitsu.

When he arrived in Ohio to follow his dream, on the summer of 2007, he started training at a Relson Gracie‘s Academy affiliate there, led by Robin Gieseler. He spent the following two months training with Gieseler in preparation for the World Championship that year, doing his strength and conditioning with Aaron Fry of Team Edge in New Albany, OH. With solid guidance from all coaches AJ won his first world title.

After the 2007 title, Agazarm was approached by Relson Gracie who explained that if he wanted to continue to train at Gieseler’s academy, he would have to switch teams. AJ felt very closely bonded with Gracie Barra and professor de Lima, so he chose to to put BJJ on hold for a while.

AJ showed up at the World Championship in 2008 still bearing his blue belt. Upon his arrival, AJ’s coach Eduardo was contacted by the federation which informed him that people had written letters complaining, they mentioned that it was unfair for AJ to compete at blue belt again as he had won the division the previous year. As a result, coach de Lima promoted Agazarm to purple belt on the event.

Agazarm continued to compete and train as a purple belt, getting promoted to brown belt in 2011 by Master Carlos and Eduardo de Lima. AJ finished his career at Ohio State, earning his degree in finance, after which Kayron Gracie offered him a job in California at his academy, meaning a second chance to teach and train full time. This time, AJ fully embraced the offer. The opportunity gave him a chance to travel all over the world competing and training in jiu jitsu, establishing himself as one of the top American prospects in the sport, which earned him his black belt in 2013, 7 years after he started Jiu Jitsu. He hit the ground running, winning the Brazilian National No Gi Championship that year, becoming the first foreigner to achieve the title.

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AJ Agazarm vs Daniel Mendonca

AJ Agazarm vs Eduardo Telles

AJ Agazarm Highlight

AJ Agazarm Highlight