Just this past weekend, the World Jiu Jitsu Championship took place down in Long Beach. My nephew, Michael Liera Jr. just took first place in his division, Adult Blue Belt Light Weight. I couldn’t be any more proud. This kid has been makin’ noise all over the world in the BJJ scene. I believe he’s only been training for 5 years, but he lives and breathes BJJ. My cousins (his parents) tell me they have to force him to go out on a Friday night with his friends because all he wants to do is train. Straight up dedication. That’s wussup. Oh, and after winning gold, he was finally given his purple belt. Congrats, Michael Rey!
He is currently training under Saulo and Xande Ribeiro. Here’s a quick description of him taken from Grappling X:
“At the tender age of 16, Michael Liera Jr. has won 5 Adult Blue Belt Absolute titles, including American Nationals ’10, Grappling X ’09, ’10, and Ribeiro Jiu Jitsu ’09, ’10, not to mention placing high in his own weight classes in numerous events including; the Worlds (2nd Weight),… New York Open (1st Weight/2nd Open), and the Rio Open (1st Weight/2nd Open) and the list goes on. Mike is now 17 years old and just won the Europeans at his weight and took 3rd in the absolute.
Mike’s future is definitely bright and one to keep an eye on.”
Oh yeah, did I forget to mention he’s only 17? Dude takes out full grown men. Not only in his weight division, but even in absolute. Beast is an understatement. When I see him doing his thing, he’s so passionate and intense. It’s a trip. I still look at him as the kid that’s very soft spoken, shy, and simple.
Here’s the most recent video of him. This was taken last weekend at Worlds from one of his many sponsors, Jiu Jitsu Factory.
