Tainan Dalpra has become the second product of the famous Art of Jiu Jitsu kid’s team to reach the highest levels of the sport after being promoted to black belt on the podium of the IBJJF Pan-Ams 2020. The nineteen year-old earned his final gold medal of his ride through the colored belt ranks in a tough division, albeit one that had a few notable absences with Brazilian athletes unable to attend the event. Regardless, Dalpra put on an impressive display in a clear signal of his intention for the next decade of his competitive career against the biggest names of the sport, most likely starting with the no gi version of the Pan-Ams that lies just around the corner.
Tainan Dalpra was only days behind his fellow AOJ phenom, Jessa Khan, who was also promoted to black belt in the same week. The pair of elite grapplers have received their promotions during what appears to be a surge of hot prospects getting the final upgrade in competition as all three of Dream Art’s Munis brothers also received their black belts, along with 10th Planet’s Keith Krikorian. When all six of them compete next time around, they’ll no doubt slot in perfectly with the highest levels of competition. Dalpra for one, has already been competing on the submission only circuit against his fellow brown belts and putting in a slew of flawless performances.
The IBJJF Pan-Ams 2020 are still underway of course with the final two days of competition belonging to the people who’ve already received that final belt promotion, with every weight-class still yet to be decided at the time of writing.
For live results updates from the IBJJF Pan-Ams 2020 from white to black belt, click here for more.
