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Gunnar Nelson Black Belt

  • 30-09-2009 10:55pm
    #1
    Perfect fit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 609 ✭✭✭


    I know i posted this in the absolute thread but thought it deserved one of its own. He just receieved his Black belt from Renzo Gracie! (pic robbed off facebook)

    eeq0h.jpg


Comments

  • #2
    MaeveD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,001 ✭✭✭MaeveD


    Now there's a surprise (not!) More fantastic news!
    He's just turned 21 hasn't he?
    JK you must be proud :)


  • #3
    Killme00
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,441 ✭✭✭Killme00


    The guys a phenom, how long has he been training?


  • #4
    Jason Mc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 564 ✭✭✭Jason Mc


    what weight is he?

    Doesn't look much bigger than renzo. Which makes his win over monson even more impressive


  • #5
    Tim_Murphy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,995 ✭✭✭Tim_Murphy


    Jason Mc wrote: »
    what weight is he?

    Doesn't look much bigger than renzo. Which makes his win over monson even more impressive
    I'd be surprised if Gunni weighted any more than 80 kilos.


  • #6
    dunkamania
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,803 ✭✭✭dunkamania


    Still a little confused by the weight category he was in for ADCC


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  • #7
    Tim_Murphy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,995 ✭✭✭Tim_Murphy


    dunkamania wrote: »
    Still a little confused by the weight category he was in for ADCC

    AFAIK the 77 division was already full so he competed in the next division up.


  • #8
    Kevin Moran
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 396 ✭✭Kevin Moran


    Looks like it was John Danaher who gave him the black belt in Renzo's academy, the thought of a prodigy like Gunnar under the tutelage of one of the most sought after instructors in Danaher must be quite scary for the rest of the BJJ world.
    A smart bet would be Gunnar to be LW UFC champ in the next three years....


  • #9
    Nothingcompares
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,923 ✭✭✭Nothingcompares


    I think if Gunnar develops in wrestling and striking the way he has at grappling, the natural progression is GSP level so it will be interesting to see where he'll be in 2012 etc. I wouldn't be surprised if he hits the UFC before then though.


  • #10
    Maldini2706
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 375 ✭✭Maldini2706


    He's only been training for 4/5 years hasn't he? He must be one of the youngest and quickest black belts of all time.

    What chance of him making his UFC debut at the next Irish show?


  • #11
    Halli Nelson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭Halli Nelson


    Thanks all for the kind words towards Gunnar. There has been some speculations if Gunnar is a black belt under Renzo or John Danaher because both are on the picture. Not that it matters, because both are great instructors but Gunnar got his black belt under Renzo. However he has been training a lot under the instruction of John Danaher also and many others at the Renzo Gracie Academy. That is why John is also on the picture.

    As for how long he has been training Gunnar started training karate at the age of 13 (autumn 2001). Before that he did ice hockey and some football (soccer). He won the Icelandic Juvenile Kumite Championship title in 2003. He never gave that title away in the years he competed in karate, winning it again in 2004 and 2005. Gunnar also took home medals in every karate tournament he participated in over the years 2003-2005. In 2005, he was chosen as Iceland’s most up-and-coming karate talent of the year at only 16 years of age. Shortly after that he stopped Karate to work for a career within MMA and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instead. In 2006 Gunnar decided to drop his karate training and concentrate on his MMA and BJJ training. He got his BJJ blue belt in April 25, 2006, and purple belt in June 3, 2007, both under Matt Thornton president of the Straight Blast Gym (with some great help by John Kavanagh and Karl Tanswell). Gunnar got his BJJ brown belt under John Kavanagh (SBG Ireland) in June 28, 2008.

    Shortly after he went to New York to train at the Renzo Gracie Academy. Gunnar has been training there for a year now and got his black belt under Renzo a week ago (September 30, 2009) as you know.


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  • #12
    Jason Mc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 564 ✭✭✭Jason Mc


    I take it he trains full time?


  • #13
    Halli Nelson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭Halli Nelson


    Jason Mc wrote: »
    I take it he trains full time?
    Yes, now he does. He been training full time for about a year now. Along with teaching when he's in Iceland. Doesn't teach in the USA (doesn't have a work permit yet). Only trains there.


  • #14
    Halli Nelson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭Halli Nelson


    Maldini2706 wrote: »
    He's only been training for 4/5 years hasn't he? He must be one of the youngest and quickest black belts of all time.

    What chance of him making his UFC debut at the next Irish show?

    He's been traing BJJ/MMA for little less then 4 years. Before that he did karate (see above). About the UFC debut. I don't know. We are in no hurry. Some shows have given us a call but we will not rush into anything. Dana hasn't called though ;)


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