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Aaron Lapointe

Aaron Lapointe is a Carlson Gracie black belt whose teaching covers jiu-jitsu techniques adapted to one functioning arm.

Biography

Aaron Lapointe is an American jiu-jitsu competitor and teacher who earned his black belt under Carlson Gracie. His teaching sets out an approach to the sport using one functioning arm, from takedowns and positional control to submissions and escapes. Lapointe trained under Carlson in the United States. Speaking to Graciemag in 2015, he said he had held his black belt since 2001. Carlson Gracie Team's graduate register also includes him among the black belts awarded by Carlson. His right arm was paralyzed following an accident in childhood. In the same Graciemag account, he described securing it inside his belt to train and compete. He adapted techniques including the omoplata, a shoulder lock applied with the legs, and ways to take an opponent's back. He also began practising judo in 2010. At the 2003 IBJJF Pan Championship, Lapointe placed second in the adult men's black-belt light-featherweight division, representing Carlson Gracie Revolution. By April 2015, he was based in Richmond, Virginia, and regularly competed against athletes without disabilities. In a Sherdog interview, he explained that unfamiliar grips could create problems for opponents: an expected second arm was unavailable to hold. He also observed that particular skills in other areas could compensate for limitations. His account focused on the practical consequences of those differences during a match. That month, the inaugural Grappler's Heart in Brooklyn brought athletes with disabilities together for grappling and shared learning. Its official results record Lapointe second in his gi category, using the traditional training uniform, and first in his no-gi category. The organizer grouped several types of disability in each division. Lapointe's instructional work develops those technical adaptations across a broad curriculum. His BJJ Fanatics course covers control and passing from both the left and right sides, as well as judo throws and single-leg attacks. It includes sweeps that turn a bottom position into a top position, leg-based submissions, attacks against a kneeling opponent and escapes from difficult positions. These topics appear in the publicly listed course chapters, which extend beyond a single grip or submission. He has also taught as a visiting instructor: Absolute Jiu-Jitsu Academy includes Lapointe in its record of past seminar teachers.

Sources for this profile

  • Graciemag, 2015-10-01.(opens in a new tab)

    • Aaron Lapointe is an American jiu-jitsu practitioner.

      Where in the source: Opening.

      Accessed:

    • Lapointe told Graciemag that he had held a black belt since 2001 and trained under Carlson Gracie in the United States.

      Where in the source: Closing statement.

      Accessed:

    • After losing movement in his right arm in a childhood accident, Lapointe secured it inside his belt to train and compete. He adapted omoplatas and back takes, and began practising judo in 2010.

      Where in the source: Body and closing.

      Accessed:

  • Carlson Gracie Team, graduate list.(opens in a new tab)

    • Carlson Gracie Team includes Aaron Lapointe, spelled Aaron Laponte, in its list of black belts awarded by Carlson Gracie.

      Where in the source: Alphabetical list, Aaron entry.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, Pan 2003.(opens in a new tab)

    • Lapointe took second place in adult male black-belt light featherweight at the 2003 IBJJF Pan Championship, representing Carlson Gracie Revolution.

      Where in the source: Adult / Black / Male / Light Feather; complete two-row table.

      Accessed:

  • A.J. Perez, Sherdog, 2015-04-24.(opens in a new tab)

    • In April 2015 Lapointe was based in Richmond, Virginia, and regularly competed against athletes without disabilities.

      Where in the source: Lapointe paragraphs.

      Accessed:

    • Lapointe explained that unfamiliar grips and adaptations could challenge opponents: his missing second usable arm removed an expected grip, while particular skills in other areas could compensate for limitations.

      Where in the source: Lapointe interview.

      Accessed:

    • The inaugural Grappler's Heart event in Brooklyn in April 2015 brought together athletes with disabilities for grappling and shared learning.

      Where in the source: Opening and organizer interview.

      Accessed:

  • Grappler's Heart, 2015 results.(opens in a new tab)

    • At Grappler's Heart 2015, Lapointe placed second in Gi Amputee/Hearing impairment/Other and first in No Gi Amputee/Spinal Cord Injury/Other.

      Where in the source: Page 1, both complete named divisions.

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Fanatics, Lapointe course.(opens in a new tab)

    • Lapointe teaches a one-arm approach in a BJJ Fanatics instructional spanning pins, sweeps, takedowns, passing, submissions, turtle attacks and escapes.

      Where in the source: Public course curriculum.

      Accessed:

    • The course includes left- and right-side control and passing, judo throws and single-leg attacks, plus leg-based submissions and defenses from bad positions.

      Where in the source: Curriculum parts 1–9.

      Accessed:

  • Absolute Jiu-Jitsu, Seminars.(opens in a new tab)

    • Absolute Jiu-Jitsu Academy lists Lapointe among its past visiting seminar instructors.

      Where in the source: Past Instructors at AJJ.

      Accessed:

Lineage

No teaching connections are shown on this page.

Open lineage