Adam Benayoun

Adam Benayoun is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Ryan Hall and a representative of the Fifty/50 Martial Arts Academy in the sport’s international circuit, having also worked extensively with Marcelo Garcia, Fábio Clemente, Lucas Lepri, and Babs Olusanmokun. Benayoun became known by BJJ mainstream media and fans while competing in the lower belt divisions where he conquered IBJJF Pan American and European titles.

Adam Benayoun Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Adam Benayoun

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Rodrigo “Comprido” Medeiros > Felipe Costa > Ryan Hall > Adam Benayoun

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF New York Spring Open (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF Oklahoma Open (2020)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Canada Pro (2018/2019)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship (2018)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2016 brown, 2014 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2016 brown)
• 2nd Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro (2015 brown)

Favorite Position/Technique: Triangle Choke

Weight Division: Peso Pena (70,00 kg / 154.5 lbs)

Team/Association: Fifty/50 Martial Arts Academy

Adam Benayoun Biography

Adam Benayoun was born on July 19, 1990, in New York City, state of New York – United States of America.

Although he was introduced to martial arts at the age of 7, this was at an after school karate kids class and the activity kept Adam’s attention to a minimum. He would later become invested in track and field during middle school, becoming a regional level athlete before finding his true calling in 2008 – jiu jitsu.

At the time (2008) Adam Benayoun was a big mixed martial arts (MMA) fan, with the grappling aspect of the sport raising his curiosity in particular. As the interest grew Benayoun decided to join a jiu-jitsu academy and learn the trade, choosing Fábio Clemente‘s Alliance NYC for that effect.

Benayoun’s first instructors were big names of the sport such as Fábio Clemente and Lucas Lepri, as well as Clemente’s team associate Babs Olusanmokun. It was with this group that Adam progressed up to purple belt, a time when he joined the neighboring Alliance Academy of Marcelo Garcia – who had also spent time coaching at Clemente’s. It was Marcelinho who promoted Adam Benayoung to brown belt, and it was also at MGA that the young New Yorker started making his mark in the sport through his wins at the IBJJF European Open and Pans.

Adam’s relationship with Ryan Hall started back at Clemente’s academy when Benayoun was a blue belt. Much of the young competitor’s guard was based on Hall’s well-known style – a submission oriented open guard with strong elements of inverted guard. As a brown belt, Adam visited Ryan’s academy (50/50 Jiu-Jitsu) and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, revisiting the gym many times from then on. He was eventually invited to become part of the team staff as a coach, an offer accepted by Benayoun.

On December 20, 2017 Ryan Hall promoted Adam Benayoun to black belt, a ceremony that took place in Virginia, USA.

Adam Benayoun Loop Chokes Highlight