BJJ News — masters

Mario Lopez earned his brown belt the way most serious grapplers do: by showing up, putting in years of work, and winning a major tournament. The IBJJF Master North American Championship doesn't hand out medals for showing up early.

When you picture someone walking into the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach for the IBJJF Master International North American Championship, submitting their opponent in the lightweight division, and then getting promoted to brown belt on the podium — you probably don't picture A.C. Mario Lopez, 52, did e