JT Torres

Jonathan Torres, commonly known as JT Torres is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Lloyd Irvin, who worked extensively with André Galvão before opening his own academy, Essential BJJ. One of the most accomplished lightweight grapplers of his generation, Torres made waves as a competitor with a crowd-pleasing style and a wealth of accomplishments at the highest level, including titles in the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) and International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) circuits.

JT Torres Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Jonathan Torres

Nickname: JT is short for Jonathan, while ‘Spiderman’ was a name awarded to him because of his grip strength. His grips are so strong that his teammates said it resembles a spider as it ‘webbed up’ it’s victims.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie (Senior) > Helio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Jorge Pereira > Leonardo Dalla > Lloyd Irvin > JT Torres

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place ADCC World Championship (2017 / 2019)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2015 / 2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championship NoGi (2013)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pans Championship NoGi (2010)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2015)
• 1st Place IBJJF New York Open (2010)
• 1st Place IBJJF Miami Open (2010)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2014)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship NoGi (2009/2012)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2010)
• 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2012)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2009)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2011)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2016)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship NoGi (2010)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 2nd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2007 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2006 blue, 2009 brown)

Weight Division: Peso Leve (76kg-167lbs)

Favorite Position/Technique: Well Rounded

Team/Association: Atos

JT Torres Biography

JT Torres was born on the 2nd of September, 1989 in New York – United States of America. He began training martial arts early in life, achieving a black belt in Karate even before he started High School. Though as he reached a more mature age (early teens) he decided to quit Karate to dedicate himself to other more traditional sports.

He became part of his High school Basketball team, but when he got cut-off he found himself without physical activity. His father proposed he should go back to Karate, but Jonathan was not keen to return. Instead, he heard his old martial arts school was offering a small Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program. JT had heard of this sport and decided to sign up. It was love at first sight, JT was a “natural” and felt very comfortable grappling, having almost immediately signed up to a jiu-jitsu school. His talent was clear from the get-go, managing to achieve his blue belt in only 6 months.

Torres would later join coach Louis Vintaloro at Performance BJJ in New Jersey, with whom he received his purple and brown belts in less than 3 years. He was very successful under Vintaloro winning the Pan American Championship on 2 occasions but decided to switch to a more professional team after those, then joining Lloyd Irvin in Maryland. He achieved his black belt from Lloyd Irvin in 2009.

In 2013, after a series of scandals at Team Lloyd Irvin regarding the rape of a female teammate by two male TLI competitors as well as allegations that Lloyd Irvin himself had molested one or more female team members, JT Torres, and a few other teammates left the TLI camp and moved to Andre Galvao‘s Atos Academy in San Diego, California.

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JT Torres vs Dustin “McLovin” Hazelett