Jonathan Satava

Jonathan Satava is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under the legendary Marcelo Garcia, being part of the golden generation of grapplers produced inside Garcia’s New York Academy, a team which includes Satava, Dillon Danis, Matheus Diniz, Mansher Khera, Marcos Tinoco and Dominyka Obelenyte. Regarded as one of the top prospects in the 82kg (181lbs) weight class after his wins at the World (No-Gi) and Pan American Championships (Gi + No-Gi) in the lower belt divisions of the sport, Jonathan Satava solidified this claim in his 1st year competing as a black belt, with victories over established names of the grappling world such as Kayron Gracie, Marcelo Mafra and Marcos de Souza to name a few.

Jonathan Satava Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Jonathan T. Satava

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Fabio Gurgel >Marcelo Garcia > Jonathan Satava

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place ADCC US East Coast Trials (2018)
• 1st Place UAEJJF New York Pro (2017)
• 1st Place UAEJJF Canada National Pro (2017**)
• 1st Place IBJJF New York Spring Open (2015)
• 1st Place IBJJF New York Summer Open (2015**)
• 1st Place IBJJF New York Summer Open No-Gi (2015)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2016/2015)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi (2015)
• 3rd Place IBJJF New York Summer Open No-Gi (2015*)
• 3rd Place ADCC US West Coast Trials (2017)

Main Achievements (Main Achievements):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2012 purple, 2014 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi (2014 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2012 purple, 2013/2014 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF New York Spring Open (2014** brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF New York Summer Open (2014 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF New York Open (2013 purple)
• 2nd Place IBJJF New York Summer Open (2013 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2012 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2014* brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi (2012 purple)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: North-South Choke

Weight Division: Peso Médio (82kg/181lbs)

Team/Association: Alliance

Jonathan Satava Biography

Jonathan Satava was born in East Patchogue, New York (USA) on September 2, 1989.

While growing up Jonathan became an avid sports fan, gearing particularly towards skateboarding. He also tried to enter the freestyle wrestling world on two occasions, though those would abruptly be put to a stop: On his first attempt, Satava made his middle school team, competing on 3 occasions. His run that year would end due to an injury to the shoulder that forced him out for the remainder of the season. In high school, Jon returned to practice but broke his collarbone training before the start of the season. After such unfortunate injuries, his family convinced him to end his wrestling aspirations.

Satava returned to grappling at the age of 18, in his freshman year at college for the Stonybrook University – October 2007. The university ran an MMA class in the basement of it’s the racquetball courts, which caught the interest of Jonathan. When he first stepped into the room, he was informed that it was in fact a jiu-jitsu club and not a mixed martial arts one. Even though this was not Satava’s first choice, he did the class and enjoyed it, deciding to join the team.

Krishna Mirjah ran the jiu-jitsu class, becoming Jonathan’s instructor for a period of 3 years, with his coaching talent becoming a tremendous influence in shaping Jonathan’s own grappling style.

The group ran by Mr. Mirjah worked predominantly in a no-gi environment, where Jonathan together with his training partner Eddie Cummings developed their interest for this aspect of jiu-jitsu. Cummings, like Satava, would later become a revered figure in the sport.

As a blue belt, Jonathan switched camps and started working under Marcelo Garcia‘s supervision, a 5x IBJJF World Champion and 4x ADCC champion. With a similar body type and mobility to that of his instructor and plenty of success on the competitive scene, Satava quickly raised the interest of the general grappling audience as “Marcelo’s jiu-jitsu doppelganger”.

5 years into his training under Marcelo Garcia and after one of his best competitive years (2014) when Jonathan conquered important titles such as World No-Gi Champion, Pan American Champion, and Pan American No-Gi Champion, Satava was promoted to black belt (Jan. 2015).

His first year as black belt cemented Jonathan Satava as one of the top middleweights in jiu-jitsu with strong performances and medals at some of the world’s toughest tournaments such as a 2nd Place at the World No-Gi Championship, 3rd Place at the Pan American No-Gi Champion as well as important gold medals in the IBJJF New York Opens.

Banner photo was taken by John Ricard.