Tye Ruotolo fights under the banner of Andre Galvao‘s Atos Academy and is a twin brother of another high-level BJJ expert, Kade Ruotolo. Of course, the two brothers train in the same dojo and are some of the most famous twins in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The two have been pretty much in the public eye since the age of 10.
This rising grappler is well-known for excellent scrambles, top control, and unorthodox finishes. Some BJJ fighters like playing while lying on their back. But believe me, you don’t want Tye Ruotolo on top of you. He has better control than some UFC stars!
This essay will inform you about some BJJ facts about Tye Ruotolo that you may not be aware of. As a result, it will emphasize Tye’s tournament accomplishments, his most extraordinary grappling techniques, and other remarkable things.
Tye Ruotolo’s Incredible Jiu-Jitsu Journey
A Jiu-Jitsu World Champion in 2022 and Who’s Number One Champion in 2021, Tye Ruotolo is a true inspiration in the world of Jiu-Jitsu. He came to this world in the special month of January 2003 in the beautiful land of Hawaii.
Early Jiu-Jitsu Training
Tye’s family, being of Italian and Puerto Rican heritage, decided to move to Huntington Beach, California, when Tye and his twin brother Kade were just infants. Little did they know that this move would greatly shape Tye’s destiny.
In their new home, Tye’s parents discovered the growing jiu-jitsu scene in California. They recognized the potential in their young sons and wasted no time in enrolling them in Cleber Luciano’s jiu-jitsu school.
Tye and Kade were only three years old when they had their first taste of competition, showcasing their natural talent and passion for the sport.
Their father, who was a dedicated grappler himself, fully supported his son’s journey in the world of jiu-jitsu. The Ruotolo Twins lived and breathed the jiu-jitsu lifestyle, dedicating themselves to training and honing their skills.
First Sponsorship
Their hard work soon paid off when they made waves as the first child grappling stars, capturing the attention of the entire jiu-jitsu community.
Tye’s incredible talent caught the eye of RVCA, one of the top lifestyle brands in the nation. At the age of ten, Tye Ruotolo and his brother Kade secured a sponsorship, marking a significant milestone in their young careers.
The Art Of Jiu-Jitsu Academy Training
The family’s connection with RVCA led them to the prestigious Art Of Jiu-Jitsu Academy (AOJ) in 2013.
There, Tye trained alongside his father, brother Kade and younger sister Nya, under the guidance of IBJJF world champions Guilherme and Rafael Mendes.
The state-of-the-art facilities and the expertise of their coaches pushed Tye and Kade to new heights.
Moving to the Atos Jiu-Jitsu Academy
In 2017, a new chapter began for the Ruotolos as they joined the Atos Headquarters Academy in San Diego. Under the tutelage of André Galvão, a highly respected figure in the jiu-jitsu community, Tye continued to flourish.
Galvão oversaw their progress, guiding them from green belt onwards, and nurturing their skills with care and precision.
Early Competitions
As Tye Ruotolo entered his teenage years, they felt a hunger for new challenges.
In November of the same, the fifteen-year-old blue belt decided to test his mettle in pro-level competition at the East Coast ADCC Trials in New Jersey.
Despite his young age and belt rank, Tye amazed everyone by reaching the semi-finals of the tournament, defeating adult pro athletes along the way. The world took notice of this rising star.
Buoyed by his initial success, Tye sets his sights on the West Coast trials a few months later.
Although he didn’t bring home medals, his performances turned heads and left a lasting impression on the event’s match-makers.
Then, he was invited to showcase his skills at the main ADCC event in Anaheim in September 2019.
Tye, at just 16 years and 9 months old, became the youngest athlete ever to reach the prestigious tournament’s semi-finals.
His resilience, technique, and indomitable spirit captivated the audience and cemented his status as a force to be reckoned with.
Tye Ruotolo Belt Rank Progression
Tye Ruotolo began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of three in 2006. Years passed, and on April 5, 2018, at the age of 15, Tye attained the blue belt rank.
One year later, on December 27, 2019, at the age of 16 Tye received his Purple Belt. Then, in October 2020, at the age of 17 years, Tye André Galvao promoted him and his twin Kade to brown belt.
The crowning moment in Tye’s jiu-jitsu journey came on a momentous day, December 14, 2021. André Galvão, recognizing Tye’s incredible talent and dedication, awarded him and his brother the highly coveted black belt in jiu-jitsu.
It was a testament to their years of hard work, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to their craft.
Tye Ruotolo’s belt promotions:
- April 5, 2018, blue belt (15 years old);
- December 27, 2019, purple belt (16 years old);
- October 19, 2020, brown belt (17 years old);
- December 14, 2021, black belt (18 years old).
Tye Ruotolo’s Level of Experience
Ruotolo is young, but his level of experience rocks!
Many fighters and analysts judge the book by its cover, but calling Tye Ruotolo “an inexperienced kid” could be the worst mistake of your life.
This guy has trained actively for 16 years; BJJ is all he knows in his life.
Ruotolo participated in high-level combats, and I have never seen him gassing. His cardio is on point, while his transition from defense to offense is one of the best.
He is powerful in every position but keeps the top position better than heavyweight mat warriors.
Tye Ruotolo Weight Class
Ruotolo Competes in the -76 Kg weight class. He is a lightweight competitor, but he’s brave enough to test his skills against some of the greatest names in all weight classes. This is not just an act of an insane kid.
He’s very powerful, skillful, and faster than the rest of the opposition. Plus, there’s something more on Tye’s end – an unbelievable fight IQ.
This guy reminds the grappling family of Dagestani wrestlers on the top. When he gets a hold of you or ends up in a dominant position, it is hard to slip out of it.
Sometimes I wonder whether this guy has Sambo or maybe submission wrestling background!
Tye Ruotolo Game
Tye Ruotolo has severe top control. When a BJJ guy gets on top of you, he mostly goes for a submission attempt or tries to improve to side control or some better BJJ positions.
Yet, Ruotolo mauls his opponents on the top, stays in the dominant position, and doesn’t hurry with submission attempts.
He fights like a master of many martial arts, as most BJJ athletes don’t like spending much time on the top. In BJJ, being on your back means more excellent chances to win the fight.
But watch this young Californian gun, and you’ll see how easy it looks when he destroys all kinds of opponents via domination of the top. He put this game aspect to the next level despite never having Greco-Roman wrestling experience!
This has a historical meaning for BJJ, mainly thanks to Ruotolo’s age!
Ruotolo’s Family Effect
Ruotolo’s father was an avid grappler himself. It is easier to succeed when you have the support of your family.
In martial arts, most athletes deal with misunderstandings, dramas, arguments, and non-approval from their parents, who are scared for their children.
Yet, the Ruotolo brothers got their father’s support from day one because their Dad is an avid, diehard grappling fan who enjoys spending time on the mat and watching competitions!
Tye Ruotolo’s Favorite Guard and Position
Tye Ruotolo likes to pull guard and change positions!
Did you think Ruotolo only tries to stay on the top? Well, you’re mistaken… He will see how the fight develops; some of his opponents are simply too good off the back; there is no way Ruotolo will risk that much.
He is also very good at dragging the bout to the canvas, changing positions, and finishing the opponent via D’Arce choke (his favorite submission). He also masters all kinds of sweeps, scrambles, and transitions.
This guy simply adjusts in a split second, sometimes you have a feeling he simply knows what you are gonna do!
Tye Ruotolo Loses Via Submission
This young gun lost 5 times throughout his career. It happened against Kennedy Maciel in 2019. He was also losing via decision to high-level opponents.
For example, Craig Jones struggled with superb transition defenses and not letting Tye stay on the Although top.
Although Jones came well-prepared for this bout, it looked like he was able to anticipate every single move!
Tye Ruotolo IBJJF World Championships
Tye Ruotolo won the IBJJF World Championship as a brown belt in 2019 and 2021. Furthermore, in 2022, he was nominated as the IBJJF World Champion after Mica Galvão was disqualified by USADA for using the forbidden chemical Clomifene.
It is never easy to outsmart all the great belts all around the globe. Even at 16, Tye Ruotolo showed his superb skills against some of the best guys on the mats.
Tye Ruotolo ADCC World Championship
Tye won a bronze medal at the ADCC World Championship 2022 and advanced to the ADCC 2019 semi-finals.
The ADCC World Championship is a prestigious grappling tournament for a reason. Every two years, it brings together the best of the best grapplers. As a result, many tough wrestlers, such as Tye, try to demonstrate their abilities and defeat the best competitors.
For example, in his first successful ADCC run in 2019, this guy defeated Bruno Frazatto and Pablo Mantovani; what a great success by an elite-level Californian BJJ young gun!
Moreover, Tye Ruotolo has proven his dominance in the ADCC World Championship 2022 by winning the bronze medal in the absolute division by defeating Roberto Cyborg Abreu.
Conclusion
Tye Ruotolo is a revolutionary name in the world of BJJ, alongside his brother Kade. He is one of the rare BJJ specialists with brutal top control and a real example of the syntax “practice and persistence make perfect.”
Here is the list of his most outstanding achievements:
Main Black Belt Achievements:
- World Champion (2022)
- WNO Champion (2021)
- 2nd Place 3QG Kumite 5 GP (2020)
- 3rd Place ADCC World Championship (2022*)
- 4th Place ADCC World Championship (2019)
Main Colored Belt Achievements (Kids + Juvenile):
- World Champion (2019, 2021 brown belt)
- European Open Champion (2019)
- Pan Kids Champion (2011 / 2013 / 2015 / 2017)
- Kids International Champion (2014 / 2016)
- Kids American Nationals Champion (2015)
- 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2019*)
- 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Kids Championship (2018)
- 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Kids Championship (2010)
* Absolute
** Weight and Absolute
Tye Ruotolo’s story continues to unfold. With each passing day, he inspires others with his remarkable skills, his passion for jiu-jitsu, and his unyielding determination to chase his dreams. The world eagerly awaits what the future holds for this young prodigy.
Related: Discover some little-known BJJ facts about Kade Ruotolo. This article emphasizes Kade’s tournament accomplishments, his most extraordinary grappling techniques, and other remarkable things. Click here to read more!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Did Tye Ruotolo Born?
Tye Ruotolo came to this world in January 2003. He is of Italian and Puerto Rican descent, and his family moved to California as an infant, which significantly affected the development of his BJJ career.
Ruotolo’s bros have been on the mats since the age of 3. They made their first grappling steps in Cleber Luciano school in 2006.
Is Tye Ruotolo an Outlier in the BJJ World?
Tye has competed in BJJ tournaments since his mid-teenage and holds victories over some legends of the sport, making him a unique jiu-jitsu competitor.
You rarely see fighters step to compete against the better and older fighters in such an early stage of their career. Yet, here are some shocking facts about this young but arguably, legendary name in BJJ.
You must know something about Tye Ruotolo’s belt promotions:
– April 5, 2018, blue belt (15 years old);
– December 27, 2019, purple belt (16 years old);
– October 19, 2020, brown belt (17 years old);
– December 14, 2021, black belt (18 years old).
How about this? The guy was getting a promotion every year! Do you even know how many fighters change belts so quickly? This guy is a brutal talent and has some of the greatest fight IQs on the mats!
Let me ask you a question – do you know how hard it is to defeat Vagner Rocha? Ruotolo controlled him on the mats; this bout looked like a game of cat and mouse.
Do you remember his victory over another young gun and superb grappling phenom, Nicky Ryan? Yes, it was a decisive victory, but do you even know Ryan’s skillset? It is almost impossible to hold this guy in control, but Tye’s top control was simply out of this world!
Is Tye Ruotolo a Black Belt?
Tye Ruotolo is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under André Galvão. He achieved this significant BJJ milestone on December 14, 2021.
Who Trains Tye Ruotolo?
Tye Ruotolo has been representing the Atos squad since 2017. He trains out of San Diego, CA under coach Andre Galvao.
Prior to that, Tye practiced BJJ at Cleber Luciano’s jiu-jitsu school and the famed Art Of Jiu-Jitsu Academy (AOJ) under Guilherme and Rafael Mendes.
