Erin K. Harpe
Erin Harpe took childhood jiu-jitsu into MMA, coloured-belt world titles and a Florida academy she opened with Luis Mata in 2018.
Biography
Sources for this profile
BJJ Heroes, Erin Harpe profile.(opens in a new tab)
Erin K. Harpe was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1994.
Where in the source: Full-name field and biography opening
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A knee injury in 2016 interrupted her competition career before her 2018 return.
Where in the source: Biography, paragraph before black-belt promotion
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She opened Gracie Apollo Beach with Luis Mata in February 2018.
Where in the source: Biography, school-opening sentence
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Matt Arroyo awarded her black belt on 14 December 2019.
Where in the source: Biography final sentence before grappling record
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Gracie Apollo Beach, Erin Harpe instructor biography.(opens in a new tab)
She began jiu-jitsu as a young child with her father, James Harpe, and says she started competing at nine.
Where in the source: First-person biography opening
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In 2013 she moved from Connecticut to Tampa to train in Rob Kahn’s Gracie Tampa network and pursue professional MMA.
Where in the source: First-person biography, move to Florida
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Harpe is a black belt under Matt Arroyo and Rob Kahn.
Where in the source: Certifications and first sentence of biography
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She is a co-owner and head instructor at Gracie Apollo Beach.
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She describes teaching as a passion that developed alongside competition, with particular interest in sharing self-defence with women and children and making newcomers feel welcome.
Where in the source: Final part of first-person biography
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Moai Martial Arts, Ryan Bradbury interview, 26 August 2014.(opens in a new tab)
After her first amateur MMA win in August 2014, she said preparation helped her stay composed despite nerves and feel comfortable striking.
Where in the source: Opening question and answer
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She intended to prioritise MMA while continuing major jiu-jitsu tournaments when the schedules allowed.
Where in the source: Answer about concentrating on MMA versus grappling
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Her 2014 training under Arroyo combined Muay Thai, boxing, wrestling, BJJ, sparring and conditioning on a six-day schedule.
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She valued Rob Kahn’s ability to simplify techniques and described Arroyo’s commitment to helping his fighters pursue their goals.
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In 2014 she already wanted to teach and open an academy, though she then imagined it as a longer-term ambition behind her fighting career.
Where in the source: Answer to the question about following her father into coaching
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Gracie Apollo Beach, Luis Mata instructor biography.(opens in a new tab)
The school’s co-owner Luis Mata dates Gracie Apollo Beach’s opening to February 2018.
Where in the source: Last paragraph of first-person biography
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IBJJF, World Championship 2014, official results.(opens in a new tab)
She won adult blue-belt medium heavyweight and took open-class silver at the 2014 IBJJF World Championship.
Where in the source: Female / Adult / Blue: Medium Heavy (158 lb), first; Open Class, second
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IBJJF, World Championship 2015, official results.(opens in a new tab)
She won adult purple-belt medium heavyweight at the 2015 IBJJF World Championship.
Where in the source: Female / Adult / Purple / Medium Heavy (158 lb), first
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IBJJF, World Championship 2018, official results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2018 IBJJF World Championship she took adult brown-belt medium-heavyweight bronze.
Where in the source: Female / Adult / Brown / Medium Heavy (163.6 lb), third
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IBJJF, Pan No-Gi Championship 2018, official results.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2018 IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship she won adult brown-belt medium heavyweight and took open-class silver.
Where in the source: Female / Adult / Brown: Medium Heavy (158 lb), first; Open Class, second
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IBJJF, Pan No-Gi Championship 2025, official results.(opens in a new tab)
She took adult black-belt heavyweight silver at the 2025 IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship.
Where in the source: Female / Adult / Black / Heavy (169 lb), second
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MyMMANews, Edward Carbajal, interview report after Invicta FC 36.(opens in a new tab)
She won her Invicta FC debut against Auttumn Norton by split decision at Invicta FC 36.
Where in the source: Article opening paragraph
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BJJ Heroes, WNO Championship results report, September 2021.(opens in a new tab)
At the 2021 WNO Championship she beat Amanda Loewen and Amanda Leve in the repechage, then lost the third-place match to Elisabeth Clay.
Where in the source: Women’s heavyweight results: repechage and third-place sections
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FloGrappling, WNO arm-lock statistics.(opens in a new tab)
FloGrappling records her submission of Amanda Loewen by kimura at 6:24 in women’s heavyweight on 26 September 2021.
Where in the source: Arm-lock results table, Erin Harpe row with time, opponent, date and division columns
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