Rodolfo (Rudy) Jimenez began training in martial arts in 199
4, shortly after watching UFC 1 in 1993. He wanted to study martial arts while growing up in Chicago, but instead played sports like football, baseball, and basketball.Rudy tried a variety of martial arts and while he liked them, none fully caught his attention.Then in 1996, after the Carlson Gracie Team opened the first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) school in the Chicago area, Rudy finally found what he was looking for.
Prior to and upon joining the team, Rudy competed in a few MMA matches. Due to injuries as well as balancing his academic studies and career, he decided to dedicate his training to BJJ. Rudy went on to compete, place, and win, local, national, and international BJJ tournaments, including taking 1st place in the prestigious IBJJF Pan American Tournament in 2004 and 2005.
Rudy has trained with the Carlson Gracie Team under Carlson Gracie Sr. Jr. and Jeff Neal as well as numerous Carlson Gracie black belts.Carlson Gracie Jr. has promoted Rudy for each of his belts culminating with Carlson awarding Rudy a black belt on December 8, 2012.
