Lloyd Irvin Explained

Lloyd Irvin
Birth Date:17 May 1969[1]
Nationality:American
Weight Class:Heavyweight
Style:Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Team:Lloyd Irvin Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2]
Rank:4th deg. BJJblack belt
Students:Dominick Cruz, Phil Davis, Brandon Vera, Mike Easton, Jonathan Torres, Marcos Torregrosa, Keenan Cornelius, Sodiq Yusuff, De'Alonzio Jackson
Sherdog:30343
Mma Subwin:1

Lloyd Irvin Jr. is a mixed martial arts (MMA) and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt practitioner and coach. 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.[3]

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. In 2008 and 2012 Irvin won the Master 2 World No-Gi Championship Super Heavy. 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.

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.[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

|-| Win| align="center" | 1–0| Arthur Gant| Submission (heel hook)| USVTO – US Vale Tudo Open 1996| | align="center" | 1| align="center" | 1:48| United States|

Notes and References

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