Heartwarming: Johnatha Alves Promoted To Black Belt Following Worlds Win
In what may be the first BJJ promotion delivered via three-point shot, AOJ brown belt Johnatha Alves was tossed a black belt by his coach Guiherme Mendes immediately after winning the 2019 IBJJF Worlds.
Standing after winning his last match on points, a celebrating Alves looked over to find his coach in the stands waving a black bundle in his right hand. Moments later the bundle flew through the air and unfurled at Alves’ feet. The emotional realization from the champion elicited a loud chanting from the crowd, and a new black belt was born.
Alves first made waves in the BJJ world by defeating 2018 IBJJF black belt champion Jamil Hill-Taylor in a super fight this past July.
Alves ended up finishing the first five of his six opponents via submission and had zero points scored against him.