Mark Vives
Mark Vives should be considered one of the main pioneers as far as Filipino BJJ’ers go. He began training Muay Thai in 1997 then started BJJ in 1998, where his focus still remains. Mark received his black belt in 2011 from John Ramirez and John Ouano. He is currently the the head instructor of New Breed Training Center in Chicago, IL and is also part of TAC Team. He is one of three BJJ Black Belt siblings along with his brothers Mike (2003) and Myles (2004).
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
6X FIGHT 2 WIN Superfight Winner
2X IBJJF Pan American Silver Medalist (2018 – Black Belt, 2010 – Brown Belt)
2015 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2nd Place)
10x IBJJF Chicago Open Champion (Black Belt Masters 1-3)
4X IBJJF Asian Open Champion
3X Grappling Games Black Belt Champion
2X Grappling Industries Black Belt Champion
3X IBJJF American National Champion
Kristina Barlaan
As a BJJ black belt under Caio Terra, Kristina Barlaan has established herself as one of the top light-featherweight BJJ competitors of this generation. In addition to competing, she is also one of the instructors at CTA in San Jose, CA while also being an active referee on the IBJJF circuit. As a competitor she’s earned wins in some of the top tournaments globally, including wins in the Asian, European and Pan Ams.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
IBJJF European Open Champion (2016)
IBJJF Asian Open Champion (2018)
IBJJF American National No-Gi Champion (2015)
IBJJF Pan American Championship 2nd Place (2016/2017)
IBJJF American National Championship 3rd Place (2015)
IBJJF Pan American Champion (2010 blue, 2013/2014/2015 brown)
IBJJF American National Champion (2012 purple, 2014 brown)
IBJJF American National No-Gi Champion (2009/2010 blue)
IBJJF World Championship 2nd Place (2012)
IBJJF World No-Gi Championship 2nd Place (2014 brown)
IBJJF Pan American Championship 2nd Place (2012 purple)
IBJJF American National Championship 2nd Place (2011 purple)
IBJJF American National No-Gi Championship 2nd Place (2011 purple)
IBJJF World Championship 3rd Place (2010 blue, 2012 purple, 2013/2014/2015 brown)
IBJJF World No-Gi Championship 3rd Place (2013 brown)
IBJJF Pan American Championship 3rd Place (2010* blue, 2011 purple, 2013* brown)
IBJJF American National Championship 3rd Place (2011* purple)
IBJJF American National No-Gi Championship 3rd Place (2011* purple)
Giancarlo Bodoni
A Brown belt Instructor/Competitor under 9x World Champion Lucas Lepri, Giancarlo Bodoni has really come into his own since joining the Alliance team in 2018. He achieved the #1 ranking as a brown belt medium heavyweight for Flograppling and also won won No-Gi Worlds while achieving 2nd place in a loaded weight class at the IBJJF World Championship this year as well. He has further honed his craft by teaching for most of the year at Bernardo Faria’s academy in Boston, MA, also home to BJJ Fanatics.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Former World #1 Ranked Brown Belt Medium Heavyweight by Flograppling
Former World #7 Ranked Brown Belt Pound-for-pound by Flograppling
Current World #2 Ranked Pound-for-pound Adult Male Brown belt by IBJJF
Current World #7 Ranked Pound-for-pound Nogi Adult male brown belt by IBJJF
2019 IBJJF NoGi World Champion
2019 IBJJF NoGi World Championship Absolute Bronze medal
2019 IBJJF World Championship Silver Medal
2019 European championship – 3rd place
2019 Chicago open – Double Gold
2019 Boston open – Double Gold
2019 Chicago Summer open – Double Gold
2019 Atlanta open – Gold
2019 Washington DC open – Gold
2019 Las Vegas Open – 3rd Place Weight, 1st place absolute
2019 Las Vegas Open Nogi – Double 3rd Place
2018 Pan American Nogi – 3rd place
2018 Chicago open – 1st Place, 3rd place absolute
2018 New York open – Double gold
2018 Atlanta open – 1st place, 2nd place absolute
2017 BJJ Pro NY – Double gold
2017 Miami open – Double gold
2017 Charlotte open – 1st place, 3rd place absolute
2017 Houston Open – 1st place
2017 Austin open – 2nd place
2017 Austin open Nogi – 1st place, 2nd place absolute
2017 Atlanta open – 1st place, 3rd place absolute
2016 Dallas open – 3rd place
2015 Boca Raton open – 3rd place
2014 Houston open – 1st place
2012 Miami open – 3rd place, 3rd place absolute
