Paul Jacob Barch, commonly known as PJ Barch, is a jiu-jitsu black belt under Richie Martinez and Eddie Bravo, being one of the main representatives of the 10th Planet Team in this sport. A former All-American wrestling standout, Barch made the transition to grappling, gaining recognition, particularly in the submission-only circuit after important wins at events such as the Onnit Invitational, Quintet Grappling Team Survival Match, and Sapateiro invitational.
PJ Barch Jiu-Jitsu
Full Name: Paul Jacob Barch
Nickname: “PJ”.
Lineage: Carlos Gracie (Senior) > Hélio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr > JJ Machado > Eddie Bravo > Richie Martinez > PJ Barch
Main Achievements:
- 1st Place Polaris 170 lb Grand Prix (2024)
- 1st Place Emerald City Invitational (2021)
- 1st Place Quintet 2 Team Tournament (2018)
- 1st Place Onnit Invitational 3 – 170lbs (2016)
- 1st Place Onnit Invitational 9 – 170lbs (2018)
- 1st Place Sapateiro Invit. 10 – 160 lbs (2018)
- 1st Place Finishers ‘Show The Art’ (2016)
- 1st Place Subversiv Team Tournament (2018)
- 3rd Place ADCC (2024)
Favorite Position/Technique: Armbar
Weight Division: Peso Leve (76,00 kg / 168.0 lbs)
Team/Association: 10th Planet
PJ Barch Biography
PJ Barch was born on October 9, 1989, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America, growing up in Delaware.
Raised in a family with strong wrestling roots it was easy to assume that young Barch would one day be interested in grappling. With that in mind, PJ’s father had him training in a series of obstacle courses and challenges from a very young age, something he did with the intent of improving Barch’s body awareness, for a possible wrestling career at a later stage.
Although eager for PJ to practice the sport they loved, Barch’s parents wanted their son to choose wrestling by his own accord and didn’t force him on to the mats. Barch tried soccer and gymnastics before he asked his family to sign him to a wrestling program, something that happened in 5th grade (pewee division).
Although he thoroughly enjoyed wrestling, Barch shared his passion with other activities, namely surfing and American football. As he grew PJ realized he wasn’t big enough to make it in professional football, and his focus started leaning towards wrestling. By his freshman year, Barch was fully committed to the mats, placing 5th statewide in his sophomore year.
Competing for the Sussex Central Highschool during his senior year, PJ Barch received All-American status at multiple events, including Beast of the East. He would go on to wrestle at a Division 1 university (the Bloomberg University of Pennsylvania [2009]) and although he could not break the starting line up, Barch traveled throughout the year competing.
Struggling with a few personal issues, Barch decided to drop university two years in, later (2011) moving to Hawaii to finish college and pick up surfing again. It was while stationed in Hawaii that PJ found jiu-jitsu after a few local friends convinced Barch to visit BJ Penn’s gym in Hilo. In less than one year, PJ started competing in mixed martial arts (MMA), amassing a 2-0 record.
While in Hawaii Barch trained under the tutelage of JD Penn, later spending time in Portland, where he discovered Nathan Orchard and the local 10th Planet Academy. His relationship with the 10P team grew strong and when PJ moved to Stockholm – Sweden he sought Magnus Hansson, the team’s representative in the region. It was Magnus who awarded Barch his blue belt.
In 2015 PJ moved to San Diego. Coincidentally this happened to be the year when Richie Martinez opened his own 10th Planet affiliate in the region. Barch signed on to the “Boogeyman” gym and quickly became one of Richie’s most respected students, earning his purple, brown and black belts from Boogey, the latter in a ceremony led by the team’s leader, Eddie Bravo, on November 2016.
PJ Barch Grappling Record
-
BY POINTS
12 (17%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
0 (0%) -
BY SUBMISSION
48 (67%) -
BY DECISION
7 (10%) -
BY PENALTIES
0 (0%) - BY EBI/OT
5 (7%)
48 SUBMISSIONS WINS
-
BY POINTS
4 (17%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
1 (4%) -
BY SUBMISSION
7 (30%) -
BY DECISION
7 (30%) -
BY PENALTIES
0 (0%) - BY EBI/OT
4 (17%)
7 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES
PJ Barch Fight History
ID | Opponent | W/L | Method | Competition | Weight | Stage | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9130 | Gordon RyanGordon Ryan | L | Kneebar | Sapateiro Inv. | ABS | SF | 2016 |
14231 | Vagner RochaVagner Rocha | L | EBI/OT | EBI 13 | 70KG | 4F | 2017 |
17241 | Renato CanutoRenato Canuto | L | Pts: 1x0 | Kasai Pro 3 | 77KG | RR | 2018 |
17248 | Jason RauJason Rau | L | Pts: 10x3 | Kasai Pro 3 | 77KG | RR | 2018 |
17737 | Gregor GracieGregor Gracie | L | Kneebar | Quintet 3 | ABS | SF | 2018 |
21779 | Sergio RiosSergio Rios | L | Armbar | F2W 126 | 79KG | SPF | 2019 |
23544 | Oliver TazaOliver Taza | L | Inside heel hook | BJJ Fanatics GP | 77KG | 4F | 2020 |
23944 | Ethan CrelinstenEthan Crelinsten | L | EBI/OT | SUG 17 | ABS | SPF | 2020 |
25203 | Andrew WiltseAndrew Wiltse | L | Referee Decision | WNO 6 | 84KG | SPF | 2021 |
25997 | Nicky RyanNicky Ryan | L | Referee Decision | WNO 8 | 83KG | SPF | 2021 |
26161 | Josh Bacallao | L | Pts: 2x0 | NoGi Pan Am. | 79KG | 8F | 2021 |
28320 | Dante LeonDante Leon | L | Pts: 2x2, Adv | NoGi Worlds | 79KG | 4F | 2021 |
28904 | Kade RuotoloKade Ruotolo | L | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | SF | 2021 |
28907 | Kody SteeleKody Steele | L | Referee Decision | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | 3RD | 2021 |
31505 | Andy VarelaAndy Varela | L | Referee Decision | ADCC WC Trials | 77KG | SF | 2022 |
33576 | Giancarlo BodoniGiancarlo Bodoni | D | --- | UFC Inv. 2 | ABS | RR | 2022 |
35085 | Kade RuotoloKade Ruotolo | L | Armbar | ADCC | 77KG | SF | 2022 |
35087 | Dante LeonDante Leon | L | Armbar | ADCC | 77KG | 3RD | 2022 |
41535 | Dante LeonDante Leon | L | Referee Decision | 247 Fighting | NA | SPF | 2023 |
42744 | Nick RodriguezNick Rodriguez | D | --- | Quintet 4 | ABS | NA | 2023 |
43392 | Andrew TackettAndrew Tackett | L | Referee Decision | WNO 20 | 77KG | SF | 2023 |
43393 | Mica GalvaoMica Galvao | L | Armbar | WNO 20 | 77KG | F | 2023 |
45419 | Ryan AitkenRyan Aitken | L | EBI/OT | Main Character | 83KG | F | 2023 |
49239 | Andy VarelaAndy Varela | L | EBI/OT | PGF 6 | 79KG | SF | 2024 |
52500 | Mica GalvaoMica Galvao | L | Referee Decision | ADCC | 77KG | SF | 2024 |
9127 | Tony Barr | W | Outside heel hook | Sapateiro Inv. | ABS | 4F | 2016 |
11288 | Robert Ezel | W | Inside heel hook | Onnit Inv. 3 | 77KG | 4F | 2016 |
11289 | Bill Watts | W | Armbar | Onnit Inv. 3 | 77KG | SF | 2016 |
11290 | L. Valente | W | RNC | Onnit Inv. 3 | 77KG | F | 2016 |
11371 | Mike Main | W | EBI/OT | Show the Art | N/A | N/A | 2016 |
11372 | Mike Davilla | W | EBI/OT | Show the Art | N/A | N/A | 2016 |
11373 | Jason RauJason Rau | W | Armbar | Show the Art | N/A | N/A | 2016 |
11407 | Marcel GoncalvesMarcel Goncalves | W | Points | Gracie Worlds | ABS | SPF | 2017 |
11722 | Corey Brokaw | W | Armbar | Sapateiro 10 | 72KG | R1 | 2017 |
11724 | Werther Marciales | W | Armbar | Sapateiro 10 | 72KG | 4F | 2017 |
11725 | Jason RauJason Rau | W | Inside heel hook | Sapateiro 10 | 72KG | SF | 2017 |
11726 | Pierre Leclerc | W | RNC | Sapateiro 10 | 72KG | F | 2017 |
14226 | Jason Soares | W | EBI/OT | EBI 13 | 70KG | R1 | 2017 |
16918 | Krysiek Schorabski | D | --- | Quintet II | ABS | N/A | 2018 |
16924 | Daisuke NakamuraDaisuke Nakamura | D | --- | Quintet II | ABS | N/A | 2018 |
17238 | Victor SilverioVictor Silverio | W | Pts: 2x0 | Kasai Pro 3 | 77KG | RR | 2018 |
17623 | Jason Youseph | W | Neck crank | Subversiv | ABS | SF | 2018 |
17627 | A. Claiborne | W | Heel hook | Subversiv | ABS | F | 2018 |
17736 | Vitor ShaolinVitor Shaolin | W | Armbar | Quintet 3 | ABS | SF | 2018 |
18005 | Jordan Peitzman | W | Reverse triangle | Onnit Inv. 9 | 77KG | 4F | 2018 |
18006 | David GarmoDavid Garmo | W | EBI/OT | Onnit Inv. 9 | 77KG | SF | 2018 |
18007 | Will Tacket | W | Kimura | Onnit Inv. 9 | 77KG | F | 2018 |
18130 | K. Fadlallah | W | Armbar | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | R1 | 2018 |
18139 | Peter Shoemaker | W | Inside heel hook | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | R2 | 2018 |
18145 | Josh Bacallao | W | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | 8F | 2018 |
18147 | W. Tackett | W | Referee Decision | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | 4F | 2018 |
22749 | Marcin Held | W | Referee Decision | Polaris 12 | 77KG | SPF | 2019 |
24266 | Jaron Pagduan | W | Inside heel hook | Sin City Series | 77KG | 4F | 2020 |
24268 | Mikey Rolls | W | Inside heel hook | Sin City Series | 77KG | SF | 2020 |
24269 | Alan SanchezAlan Sanchez | W | Inside heel hook | Sin City Series | 77KG | F | 2020 |
25799 | Andrew Solano | W | RNC | Emerald City | 84KG | R1 | 2021 |
25805 | W. Marciales | W | Armbar | Emerald City | 84KG | 4F | 2021 |
25808 | John CombsJohn Combs | W | Inside heel hook | Emerald City | 84KG | SF | 2021 |
25810 | Alan SanchezAlan Sanchez | W | Kimura | Emerald City | 84KG | F | 2021 |
26155 | Eduardo AvelarEduardo Avelar | W | RNC | NoGi Pan Am. | 79KG | R1 | 2021 |
28023 | Caleb McCallister | W | Submission | BJJ Fanatics | ABS | R1 | 2021 |
28029 | Pierre Leclerc | W | Referee Decision | BJJ Fanatics | ABS | SF | 2021 |
28307 | Italo MouraItalo Moura | W | Referee Decision | NoGi Worlds | 79KG | R2 | 2021 |
28316 | Oliver TazaOliver Taza | W | Referee Decision | NoGi Worlds | 79KG | 8F | 2021 |
28856 | Dante Muschamp | W | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | R2 | 2021 |
28867 | Daniel Lyons | W | Armbar | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | R3 | 2021 |
28883 | Kyle Perkins | W | Inside heel hook | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | R4 | 2021 |
28894 | Steven Ramos | W | Pts: 4x0 | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | R5 | 2021 |
28901 | Alan SanchezAlan Sanchez | W | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC EC Trials | 77KG | 4F | 2021 |
31444 | Javier Bejarano | W | Kimura | ADCC WC Trials | 77KG | R1 | 2022 |
31461 | Joshua Dawson | W | RNC | ADCC WC Trials | 77KG | R2 | 2022 |
31487 | Victor Medina | W | RNC | ADCC WC Trials | 77KG | R4 | 2022 |
31495 | Placido Santos | W | RNC | ADCC WC Trials | 77KG | 8F | 2022 |
31503 | AJ AgazarmAJ Agazarm | W | RNC | ADCC WC Trials | 77KG | 4F | 2022 |
31508 | Chris Wojcik | W | Pts: 4x0 | ADCC WC Trials | 77KG | 3RD | 2022 |
32859 | Dante LeonDante Leon | W | Referee Decision | GrappleFest 12 | NA | SPF | 2022 |
33575 | Christos Papadelos | W | RNC | UFC Inv. 2 | ABS | RR | 2022 |
33890 | Jeremy Pere | W | RNC | SO Series VII | 77KG | R1 | 2022 |
33897 | Brady Wicklund | W | Inside heel hook | SO Series VII | 77KG | 4F | 2022 |
33900 | John CombsJohn Combs | W | Cross face | SO Series VII | 77KG | SF | 2022 |
33901 | Chris Wojcik | W | Inside heel hook | SO Series VII | 77KG | F | 2022 |
35074 | Tommy LangakerTommy Langaker | W | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC | 77KG | R1 | 2022 |
35080 | JT TorresJT Torres | W | Pts: 4x0 | ADCC | 77KG | 4F | 2022 |
42733 | Tomoshige Sera | W | RNC | Quintet 4 | ABS | NA | 2023 |
42734 | Kazushi Sakuraba | D | --- | Quintet 4 | ABS | NA | 2023 |
45405 | Matheus Chedid | W | Kneebar | Main Character | 83KG | R1 | 2023 |
45413 | D. Asare | W | Inside heel hook | Main Character | 83KG | 4F | 2023 |
45417 | Hunter Colvin | W | EBI/OT | Main Character | 83KG | SF | 2023 |
48173 | Luiz PauloLuiz Paulo | W | Referee Decision | Polaris 27 | 77KG | 4F | 2024 |
48177 | Espen MathiesenEspen Mathiesen | W | Inside heel hook | Polaris 27 | 77KG | SF | 2024 |
48179 | Levi JonesLevi Jones | W | Pts: 2x0 | Polaris 27 | 77KG | F | 2024 |
49098 | Nathan Haddad | D | --- | PGF 6 | 79KG | R1 | 2024 |
49108 | J. Thompson | D | --- | PGF 6 | 79KG | R2 | 2024 |
49118 | John CombsJohn Combs | D | --- | PGF 6 | 79KG | R3 | 2024 |
49139 | Ben Eddy | D | --- | PGF 6 | 79KG | R4 | 2024 |
49148 | Andy VarelaAndy Varela | D | --- | PGF 6 | 79KG | R5 | 2024 |
49158 | Cam Hurd | W | Inside heel hook | PGF 6 | 79KG | R6 | 2024 |
49179 | K. Beuhring | W | Inside heel hook | PGF 6 | 79KG | R7 | 2024 |
49193 | AJ AgazarmAJ Agazarm | D | --- | PGF 6 | 79KG | R8 | 2024 |
49195 | Elijah Carlton | W | Inside heel hook | PGF 6 | 79KG | R8 | 2024 |
49211 | Dane Leak | W | Inside heel hook | PGF 6 | 79KG | R10 | 2024 |
49223 | Renato CanutoRenato Canuto | W | Inside heel hook | PGF 6 | 79KG | R11 | 2024 |
49228 | K. Sherrill | D | --- | PGF 6 | 79KG | R12 | 2024 |
49235 | Davis Asare | W | Inside heel hook | PGF 6 | 79KG | 4F | 2024 |
52490 | Fabio CaloiFabio Caloi | W | Pts: 3x0 | ADCC | 77KG | R1 | 2024 |
52497 | M. SzczecinskiM. Szczecinski | W | Pts: 2x0 | ADCC | 77KG | 4F | 2024 |
52502 | Elijah DorseyElijah Dorsey | W | Inside heel hook | ADCC | 77KG | 3RD | 2024 |
PJ Barch vs Pat Sabatini Highlights
PJ’s match against Marcel Gonçalves at Gracie Worlds ended with an armbar