Klay Pittman
Klay Pittman opened his own martial arts academy at seventeen and in 2002 became one of Texas's first four BJJ black belts, promoted by Carlos Machado.
Biography
Sources for this profile
Pittman's Academy of Martial Arts, "Professor Klay Pittman" bio page, teampittmanbjj.wordpress.com(opens in a new tab)
The same bio explicitly describes him as American ("the only American to attain the rank of 6th degree black belt").
Where in the source: the only American to attain the rank of 6th degree black belt
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Academy bio states he holds a black belt under Carlos Machado.
Where in the source: under the watchful eye of Master Carlos Machado ... 6th degree black belt
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The bio, which says he began his jiu-jitsu training under Carlos Machado, states his current rank is sixth-degree black belt and calls him the only American to attain that rank; it also says Machado considers him among the best instructors in the world.
Where in the source: the only American to attain the rank of 6th degree black belt ... considered by Master Machado to be one of the best instructors in the world
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Same source's description of him as American places him, at the continent level the site's region field uses, in North America.
Where in the source: the only American to attain the rank of 6th degree black belt
Accessed:
Pittman's Academy of Martial Arts, "Klay Pittman" trainer bio page, teampittmanbjj.com/Trainers/Klay-Pittman (Wayback Machine capture dated 2025-02-12)(opens in a new tab)
Pittman began martial arts training as a young boy, starting with Karate and Tae Kwon Do; he reached a third-degree black belt in those arts and opened his own academy at age seventeen.
Where in the source: started his martial arts training at the age of 6 ... achieved a 3rd degree black belt and started his own Academy at age 17
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He was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Royler Gracie at a seminar on the art, then became a dedicated BJJ student training directly under Carlos Machado.
Where in the source: introduced to the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Royler Gracie ... started training directly under world renowned Professor Carlos Machado
Accessed:
William Vandry, "Mother Texas Is Raising Her BJJ Boys And Girls Very Well," reposted on TXMMA.com, 13 August 2002(opens in a new tab)
Fellow BJJ black belt William Vandry's contemporaneous article names Pittman as one of four students Carlos Machado promoted to black belt on 1 June 2002, alongside Vandry himself, Travis Lutter and Tim Burrill -- reported as the first four BJJ black belts promoted in Texas.
Where in the source: on June 1st when Carlos Machado promoted myself, Travis Lutter, Klay Pittman and Tim Burrill to BJJ black belts
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At the 2002 Mundial (World Championship) in Rio de Janeiro, Pittman faced Fabio Leopoldo, whom Vandry called the division champion, in his first-round match and lost by choke.
Where in the source: Klay Pittman unfortunately had division champ and awesome red-hot Fabio Leopoldo his first round... Klay did well for a while but lost by choke
Accessed:
El Moreno, "Rolling With a Master in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu" (interview feature on Klay Pittman), The Longhairs blog, 18 December 2016(opens in a new tab)
A December 2016 profile describes him as master professor at Pittman's Academy of Martial Arts in Lubbock, Texas, running the academy for over 20 years with an estimated 10,000+ students trained.
Where in the source: master professor at Pittman’s Academy of Martial Arts in Lubbock, TX ... operating his martial arts academy for over 20 years ... trained an estimated 10,000+ students
Accessed:
Carlos Machado, public Facebook post, 30 March 2013(opens in a new tab)
Carlos Machado publicly thanked "Professor Klay Pittman, his wife Debrah, and the entire crew of Pittman's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy" for hosting his instructional seminar in Lubbock, Texas, shortly before Easter 2013.
Where in the source: I want to thank Professor Klay Pittman, his wife Debrah, and the entire crew of Pittman's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy out in Lubbock, Texas
Accessed:
Carlos Machado, Facebook statement, quoted in BJJEE, "Carlos Machado Supports his Affiliate: 'Junior Black Belt' Equals To Purple Belt," bjjee.com, 26 February 2015(opens in a new tab)
In a Facebook statement quoted by BJJEE, Carlos Machado described the junior black belt program Pittman set up for his young students: a child earns each stripe after 200 hours on the mat, and the academy's belt system sets benchmarks along a written curriculum that Pittman follows in every program, for children and adults alike.
Where in the source: implement a Junior Black Program ... A stripe at Mr. Pittman’s academy is earned after a kid spends 200 hrs on the mat ... followed to the letter for every program he teaches ... create bench marks
Accessed:
Carlos Machado, Facebook statement, quoted in BJJEE, "Renzo Gracie Shares His Opinion on Junior BJJ Black Belts," bjjee.com, 21 February 2017(opens in a new tab)
The same Machado statement clarifies that junior black belts do not compete as black belts at IBJJF events, that the labeling reflects Pittman having a written curriculum for every program (kids to adults), and states Pittman's academy is the largest BJJ school in the Southwest and likely one of the largest in the country.
Where in the source: That does not mean they compete as Black Belts at an IBJJF event ... Pittman’s Academy is the largest BJJ school in the entire Southwest, and likely one of the largest in the Country
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