Markku Juntunen
Finland's first BJJ black belt, Markku Juntunen paired 2011 IBJJF Master International gold with a documented Takado teaching line.
Biography
Sources for this profile
BJJEE, “European Dirty Dozen, The First European BJJ Black Belts,” 2004 listing.(opens in a new tab)
Markku Juntunen is identified as Finland's first Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and as a student of Alexandre Paiva.
Where in the source: 2004 entries — Markku Juntunen listing; the article misspells both his given name and surname.
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The existing BJJEE source associates Juntunen with Alliance Finland.
Where in the source: 2004 entries — Markku Juntunen listing.
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Finnish Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, highest-ranks register, Markku Juntunen entry.(opens in a new tab)
The Finnish Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation's rank register records Juntunen at Takado under Alexandre Paiva, with an original black-belt date of June 17, 2004.
Where in the source: Highest ranks register — fourth-degree black belts, 2017 section, Markku Juntunen row.
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The same federation register dates Juntunen's third degree to September 6, 2014 and his fourth degree to April 14, 2017.
Where in the source: Highest ranks register — fourth-degree black belts, 2017 section, Markku Juntunen row.
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The Finnish federation lists Juntunen among its honorary presidents.
Where in the source: Federation introduction — SBJJL honorary presidents.
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The federation register identifies Jesse Urholin as a black belt promoted by Markku Juntunen on June 12, 2016, with later degrees dated through 2022.
Where in the source: Highest ranks register — second-degree black belts, Jesse Urholin row.
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The federation register records a sustained Takado teaching footprint under Juntunen, including later black-belt promotions and degree updates for multiple students through 2026.
Where in the source: Highest ranks register — Juntunen-linked entries including Tuukka Saranpää, Jarkko Raja-aho, Greger Lönnberg, and the 2026 Takado promotions.
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The federation's historical board panel names Markku Juntunen of Takado as its chair in 2004.
Where in the source: Federation introduction — previous boards, JavaScript case 2004 / Hallitus 2004 panel.
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BJJ Heroes, “Jesse Urholin,” biography and lineage sections.(opens in a new tab)
Jesse Urholin's profile identifies Juntunen as the coach who guided him through the belt system and awarded his black belt in 2016.
Where in the source: Jesse Urholin Biography — paragraph after the military-service paragraph, beginning “Upon his return”.
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Urholin's profile places Juntunen in the Alliance association and calls him one of Finland's Brazilian jiu-jitsu pioneers.
Where in the source: Jesse Urholin Biography — post-military-service paragraph describing Juntunen's Alliance membership.
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Urholin's published lineage places Alexandre Paiva immediately before Markku Juntunen and Juntunen immediately before Jesse Urholin.
Where in the source: Profile facts — lineage field.
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Jesse Urholin's record includes ADCC European Trials titles in 2014 and 2016 as well as Finnish national titles.
Where in the source: Main achievements list — ADCC Trials and Finnish national-title entries.
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International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, Master International Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2011, official results.(opens in a new tab)
The IBJJF's official results list Markku Juntunen of Alliance in first place in the 2011 Master International black-belt Master 5 men's middleweight division.
Where in the source: Athletes results by category — Master 5 / Black / Male / Middle, first-place entry; the result misspells his surname as Juntuen.
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