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Professor Tony Debelak

Tony began his journey in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in November 1993 after watching Royce Gracie in UFC 1 defeat all opponents in various fighting disciplines using only Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Witnessing the results, Tony began training with his dad and fellow wrestlers in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. When he was not in wrestling season during high school and college, he was learning Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

His Story

After college he entered the US Army. Tony was eager to learn Army Combatives since it was derived from Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with a collaboration of the Gracie Academy and the US Army Rangers. As an enlisted Infantryman Tony learned Army Combatives and later showed his newly acquired skills while at Officer Candidate School during unit competition. After becoming a Commissioned Officer 2003, he continued pursuing the knowledge and became a US Army Combatives Instructor while stationed at FT Benning, GA. During his time in the US Army he pursued competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

During his time coming up through the ranks Tony had the opportunity to train directly with members of the Gracie family such as Rorion, Royce, Ralek and Rylan Gracie. After his military career he continued his study of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and took many trips to the Gracie Academy Headquarters in Torrance, California and eventually became a certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Instructor. Tony is now a Black Belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu under Master Ryron Gracie, and Master Rener Gracie, the grandsons of the Grandmaster and creator of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu – Helio Gracie.

He received his Black Belt December 2018. Tony completed the Gracie Academy Instructor Certification Program (ICP) 2014, Gracie Women Empowered ICP 2015, Gracie Survival Tactics (GST) Level I 2015 for military and law enforcement, GST Level II 2017, (Recertification GST I & II 2021) for military and law enforcement, Women Empowered 2.0 ICP January 2019, Women Empowered Pink Belt, BBS 1 – 4 Qualified, PBS 1 - 4 Qualified.

Tony holds a Bachelor of Science from Adams State University (class of 2001), Masters Certicate from New Mexico State University (2008) and a Master of Science from American Military University (class of 2010). Additionally, Tony earned a Black Belt in ITF Tae Kwon Do in 2011.

He is first and foremost dedicated to teaching GJJ as a complete self-defense system. Tony has competed in many sport BJJ tournaments under many organizations and has competed professionally under Metamoris and Fight 2 Win Pro. Here are some of Tony’s highest sport accomplishments in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.