Edwin Najmi

Edwin Najmi is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Rômulo Barral of the Gracie Barra academy (Northridge branch), a gym that produced many talented grapplers including Beneil Dariush, Pedro Araújo, Gabriel Larges to name a few. One of the most talented grappling lightweights of his generation, with a crowd-pleasing submission orientated jiu-jitsu style, Edwin Najmi climbed the belt ranks, stacking wins at the sport’s most revered tournaments, such as the World Championship, European Open, and Pan American Championship.

Edwin Najmi Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Edwin Najmi

Nickname: n/a

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr > Draculino > R. Barral > Edwin Najmi

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place ACBJJ LW Grand Prix (2017)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2016)
• 1st Place FIVE Super League (2016)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2016)
• 2nd Place ACBJJ 7 Grand Prix No-Gi (2017)
• 2nd Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro (2017)
• 3rd Place IBJJF European Open (2018)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2015 brown, 2014* purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2015 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2015 brown, 2014 purple, 2012 blue)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2014 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2011 blue)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Triangle

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

Team/Association: Gracie Barra

Edwin Najmi Biography

Edwin Najmi was born on the 22nd of January, 1992 in Tarzana, California – United States of America. Edwin’s curiosity for combat sports came at a young age, being driven towards wrestling/judo by his cousin’s playful “beat downs” at the family house.

In looking for a place to learn some groundwork, Najmi found a judo dojo. The judo academy’s coach was of a Gokor Chivichyan (Gene Lebell) lineage and consequentially gave some emphasis to groundwork, especially on the Friday sessions, where the students would often remove the gi and train their submission game.

The Friday’s class became Edwin Najmi’s favorite session, and after one year of training judo/submission wrestling, Edwin opted to find a Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym, where the focus was the ground. Not far from his house was Romulo Barral‘s academy, one of the most acclaimed athletes in the sport. Najmi signed up to Barral’s Gracie Barra affiliate gym in 2009.

Romulo Barral soon understood he had a fantastic talent in his hands, and applied his vast experience in helping the young prodigy. Trusting that the spider guard would be Najmi’s “weapon of choice” for the future, Barral often applied some unconventional methods to perfect Edwin’s game. In an interview to the “The Jiu-Jitsu” website, Edwin mentioned that:

… When I just got my blue belt, Romulo made me play spider guard defense for 2-3 months in every single sparring session. He wouldn’t let me submit or sweep, just defend and hold the grips. This improved my guard tremendously …

Climbing up through jiu-jitsu’s belt system at full pelt, Edwin proved his worth on the competition scene with repeated wins at the top tournaments in the US. His fast climb in the sport earned him an invitation for the Copa Pódio professional event (2015), when he was a brown belt, defeating a well known black belt in Alex Cabanes at the country’s challenge by submission (RNC).

After the win at CP, Edwing continued in great form, winning the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship for the 3rd time, earning his black belt on the podium, on the 30th of May 2015, from the hands of Romulo Barral.

Banner picture was taken by “Guardeiros BJJ”.

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Edwin Najmi vs Nicholas Meregali

Edwin Najmi vs Mansher Khera

Edwin Najmi vs Guttenberg Pereira

Edwin Najmi Hightlight – World Championship 2015