Kevin Mahecha

Kevin Mahecha is a respected jiu-jitsu black belt under Jonatas Gurgel, who is well known for his technical grappling style, one heavily reliant on modern techniques such as the berimbolo and crab-ride – a style he shares with his twin brother, the equally successful, Brian Mahecha. Although born in New York, Kevin is mostly known as one of Florida’s foremost grapplers, the state he adopted during his adulthood. Kevin has defeated many of jiu-jitsu’s top athletes, including Tim Spriggs, Michael Liera Jr, Rodrigo Freitas.

Kevin Mahecha Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Kevin Javier Mahecha

Nickname: n/a

Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlson Gracie > André Pederneiras > João Roque > Jonatas Gurgel > Kevin Mahecha

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF Nashville Summer Open (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF Atlanta Open (2021)
• 1st Place IBJJF Miami Winter Open (2022)
• 1st Place IBJJF Atlanta Summer Open (2022)
• 1st Place IBJJF New Orleans Summer Open (2022)
• 1st Place IBJJF Tampa Winter Open (2023)
• 1st Place IBJJF New Orleans Summer Open (2023)
• 1st Place Atlanta Fall Open (2023)
• 1st Place Atlanta Fall Open NOGI (2023)
• 1st Place IBJJF Miami Open (2014*/2015)
• 1st Place IBJJF Miami Fall Open (2016)
• 1st Place IBJJF Miami Summer Open (2016)
• 1st Place Guatemala Open (2016)
• 1st Place IBJJF Boston Spring Open (2015)
• 1st Place IBJJF Atlanta Winter Open(2016)
• 2nd Place IBJJF American Nationals (2015)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Atlanta Spring Open (2017)
• 2nd Place IBJJF New York Summer Open (2013*)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Miami Summer Open (2017)
• 3rd Place American Nationals (2018)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Dallas Open (2021)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Atlanta Winter Open (2016)
• 3rd Place IBJJF New York Pro Championship (2015)
• 3rd Place IBJJF New York Spring Open (2015)
• 3rd Place IBJJF New York Summer Open (2013)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 2nd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2014 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Miami Open (2013 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2010** blue)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pans No-Gi Championship (2012 purple, 2013 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF American National No-Gi Championship (2012 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Miami Open (2012 brown)

* Weight
** Weight and absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Open Guard/Blitz Style Guard Passing

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

Team/Association: American Top Team

Kevin Mahecha Biography

Kevin Mahecha was born on October 3rd, 1988 in Manhattan – New York, USA.

Growing up, both Kevin and his twin brother Brian felt strongly connected with martial arts/combat sports. This connection led Kevin Kevin to join a Kung Fu and Kickboxing club at the age of 15. His brother following his footsteps shortly after.

Over the next couple of years, the Mahecha brothers gravitated towards Kickboxing. With strong work ethics and a great mentor/role model by their side, coach Jarett “JP” Perelmutter, the two New Yorkers started making a name in the sport. Their strongest achievements being a silver medal at the prestigious IFK World Championship – 2008 (Kevin under muay Thai rules, Brian under international rules).

Mr. Perelmutter instilled in both athletes the drive to compete, pushing the Mahecha’s to their limits from their formative years, onwards. This developed the revered work ethics that would characterize the brothers in their jiu-jitsu careers.

Jiu-jitsu was gradually implemented in the Mahecha’s lives. The brothers first started playing with grappling concepts through Bas Rutten’s DVDs, attempting to implement the techniques watched between themselves and often with their striking coach, Mr. Perelmutter. That curiosity eventually led the Brian and Kevin to the American Top Team academy (ATT) on November 2007, where both introduced to a jiu-jitsu curriculum by the illustrious Ricardo Libório.

The initial contact with Libório helped cement the two brothers’ interest for jiu-jitsu. Another source of inspiration for the Mahechas was coach Emyr “Shark” Bussade who also led many of Brian and Kevin’s early classes.

July 2008 brought a defining moment in the Mahecha bros lives when Kevin and Brian were awarded their respective blue belts by Master Ricardo Libório. It was after this proud moment that the brothers decided to make the decisive switch from striking to grappling, committing 100% to Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Early in 2009, when coach Bussade opened his own academy in Wellington (still under the ATT umbrella) both of the Mahecha’s followed the instructor, who promoted them to purple belt later that year. It was at ATT Wellington that the two brothers would start being a part of the coaching staff, developing a style of teaching heavily influenced by their coach.

In 2012 Kevin and his brother straightened their bond with another ATT coach, Jonatas “Tagarela” Gurgel who ran two team affiliates in the nearby area: Coconut Creek and Aventura. Tagarela and Shark both awarded the brothers their brown belts in a combined effort back in 2012. Two years later, on June 2014 it would be Gurgel who promoted the Mahecha clan to black belt.

Visit the Mahecha Brothers techniques website: mahechabjj.com

Kevin Mahecha vs Tim Spriggs (2013)

Kevin Mahecha vs Marcel Goncalves (2015)