Lloyd Irvin Jr. is a mixed martial arts (MMA) and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt practitioner and coach.[a] The founder of Team Lloyd Irvin, the first non-Brazilian team to take a world team title, he is the head coach to several champion grapplers.[2][3]

Lloyd Irvin
Born (1969-05-17) May 17, 1969 (age 55)[1]
NationalityAmerican
DivisionHeavyweight
StyleBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
TeamLloyd Irvin Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2]
Rank4th deg. BJJ black belt[a]
Mixed martial arts record
Total1
Wins1
By submission1
Losses0
Notable studentsDominick Cruz, Phil Davis, Brandon Vera, Mike Easton, Jonathan Torres, Marcos Torregrosa, Keenan Cornelius, Sodiq Yusuff, De'Alonzio Jackson
Websitewww.lloydirvin.com
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Biography

Lloyd Emory Irvin, Jr. was born May 17, 1969, training from a young age in boxing and wrestling in 1983. After watching Royce Gracie UFC fights, Irvin started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu at a gym in Rockville, Maryland under Mario Yamasaki and Leo Dalla. Receiving his blue belt after a month Irvin continued training and opened his own academy using aggressive advertising campaigns.[2] In 2008 and 2012 Irvin won the Master 2 World No-Gi Championship Super Heavy.[2] In 2008, Lloyd Irvin, his family, and former student Brandon Vera were the victims of a home invasion robbery. Reportedly, Irvin was able to disarm one of the robbers and send both men fleeing the residence shortly thereafter. There were no reports of injuries.[4][5]

Team Lloyd Irvin

Irvin became the head coach of the eponymous Team Lloyd Irvin, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts organization operating in the Mid-Atlantic States of the U.S.[6][7][8] A number of prominent grapplers and MMA fighters have attended his academy at one time, such as Mike Fowler, JT Torres, and Ryan Hall.[9] Irvin's team grew to be one of the best, earning medals in some of the most prestigious Brazilian jiu-jitsu championships.[2]

Sexual misconduct allegations

In January 2013, two of Lloyd Irvin's students (Nicholas Schultz and Matthew Maldonado) were arrested and charged for the violent rape of a female teammate on New Years Eve.[10][11][12] Irvin came under scrutiny after it was revealed that he had been involved in a 1989 gang rape case, for which he was acquitted while his fellow defendants were all convicted.[1][2][13] In the wake of the controversy, reports of abuse, including allegations of sexual misconduct, came up from former students of Irvin.[14][15][16] As a result, most of the team's senior competitors, including Keenan Cornelius, JT Torres, Marcos Yemaso and Jordon Shultz left the team.[17][18] A December 2013 article on the controversy in the Miami New Times, including accounts from former Irvin associates and students, claimed that students were training in a cult like environment.[19] In March 2013 Irvin disbanded his affiliate program, citing the "lynch mob" mentality of his attackers.[20][21]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
1 match 1 win 0 losses
By submission 1 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 1–0 Arthur Gant Submission (heel hook) USVTO – US Vale Tudo Open 1996 November 6, 1996 1 1:48 United States

Notes

  1. ^ a b under Leo Dalla

References

  1. ^ a b Brookhouse, Brent (2013-01-10). "NYE rape raises old questions for Lloyd Irvin". Bloody Elbow.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Lloyd Irvin". BJJ Heroes. 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  3. ^ Palmquist, Chris (2012-11-26). "Lloyd Irvin: I am Rosa Parks on the IBJJF bus". MMA Underground. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  4. ^ "BloodyElbow.com Exclusive: Lloyd Irvin, Family and Brandon Vera Attacked by Two Gunman [sic] in Irvin's Home Saturday Morning". October 6, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  5. ^ "Vera Held at Gunpoint". October 23, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  6. ^ Cimins, Brian. "Team Results from 2012 Grapplers Quest Beast of the East – Wayne, NJ – March 24-25, 2012". Grapplers Quest. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  7. ^ Cimins, Brian. "Overall Team Results from 2012 Grapplers Quest U.S. National Championships – Morristown, New Jersey – July 21-22, 2012". Grapplers Quest. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  8. ^ "Holly Morris – UFC Fighters". FOX 5 News. Retrieved February 20, 2013. FOX 5's Holly Morris visited Team Lloyd Irvin Martial Arts and Fitness in Arlington, Virginia where they train athletes of any skill level...including professional UFC fighters!
  9. ^ "Lloyd Irvin". BJJ Heroes. June 14, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  10. ^ Donelan, Jennifer (2013-01-08). "Matthew Maldonado, Nicholas Schultz accused in New Year's Eve rape". WJLA.
  11. ^ Myers, Thomas (2013-01-09). "Video: Two Lloyd Irvin Brazilian jiu-jitsu students charged with gang rape in Fairfax". MMAmania.com.
  12. ^ Doyle, Jennifer (2013-11-07). "What Happens When Teammates Rape A Teammate?". Deadspin.
  13. ^ "What Happens When Teammates Rape A Teammate?". Deadspin. 2013-11-07. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  14. ^ Stumberg, Patrick L. (2013-03-02). "Lloyd Irvin Team Member Makes Bold Accusation". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  15. ^ Stumberg, Patrick L. (2013-03-02). "Lloyd Irvin Team Member Makes Bold Accusation". MMAmania.com.
  16. ^ Symes, Kyle (2013-03-11). "Lloyd Irvin Saga Takes Another Turn Amid Scandals and Depature [sic] of Top Students". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  17. ^ "Keenan Cornelius – BJJ Athlete". LowKickMMA.com. 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  18. ^ "Jiu-Jitsu: Keenan Cornelius Makes Statement on Departure from Team Lloyd Irvin". Graciemag. 2013-02-28.
  19. ^ Rossen, Jake (2013-12-05). "The Cult of Lloyd Irvin – News – Miami – The Leading Independent News Source in Miami, Florida". Miami New Times.
  20. ^ Brookhouse, Brent (2013-03-10). "Team Lloyd Irvin affiliate program ended". Bloody Elbow.
  21. ^ Holland, Jesse (2013-03-11). "'Lynch mobs' force Irvin to terminate affiliates". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2022-07-29.