Lineage:
Mitsuyo Maeda –> Carlos Gracie Sr. –> Helio Gracie –> Carlos Gracie Junior –> Renzo Gracie –> Alex Henley
Alex Henley – Head BJJ/Judo Instructor
- 2nd° BJJ Black Belt – Highest ranked in Bastrop County
- Judo Black Belt / Shodan
- Modern Army Combatives Trainer (Level 1) (civilian)
- IBJJF Nogi Pans Bronze Medalist (black)
- IBJJF Masters World Silver Medalist (purple)
- 13X IBJJF Champion
- 5X NAGA Champion
- Fight2Win Referee
- Fight2Win Commentator
- Who’s Number One (WNO) Commentator
- NCSI Criminal Background Check
- SafeSport Trained
- Heads Up Concussion Certified
- American Red Cross CPR Certified
- IBJJF Rules Certified
Along with being a seasoned instructor, referee, and commentator, Alex has traveled to and trained and/or competed in numerous other states and countries, including: (states) Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, New York, Texas, (countries) Canada, Colombia, England, France, Holland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and of course the United States.
Although BJJ competition doesn’t rank as high as everyday training or teaching for Alex, it’s a close second, so he competes often to keep his skills sharp and break out of his routine. Alex is a veteran of numerous IBJJF Opens, IBJJF Masters Worlds, Pans, Euros, F2W Pro, and many other smaller events.
Competition isn’t for everyone, but it does take you out of your comfort zone and gives you some real life experience in using your knowledge when under pressure – Invaluable if you’re ever in a real self-defense situation.
Competition Record:
2022
- 1st place – IBJJF Austin Open (Black Belt – Medium-Heavy)
2021
- 3rd place – IBJJF Nogi Pans (Black Belt – Medium-Heavy)
2020
- 1st place – IBJJF Austin Open (Black Belt – Medium-Heavy)
- 1st place – IBJJF Austin Nogi Open (Black Belt – Medium-Heavy)
2019
- Winner (triangle) – Fight 2 Win 121 – (Black Belt – 185 lbs) Pro
- 1st place – IBJJF Austin Nogi Open (Black Belt – Medium-Heavy)
- 2nd place – IBJJF Austin Open (Black Belt – Medium-Heavy)
- 1st place – Fuji BJJ Championship – Austin (Black Belt – 185 lbs)
- 1st place – NAGA – San Antonio (Black Belt – 189 lbs)
- Loss (split decision) – Fight 2 Win 103 – (Black Belt – 180 lbs) Pro
2018
- 3rd place – IBJJF Austin Open (Black Belt – Medium-Heavy)
- 2nd place – IBJJF Dallas Nogi Open – (Black Belt – Medium-Heavy)
- 3rd place – IBJJF Dallas Open (Black Belt – Medium-Heavy)
- 1st place – NAGA – San Antonio (Black Belt – 189 lbs)
- 1st place – Fuji BJJ Championship – San Antonio (Black Belt – 185 lbs)
2017
- 1st place – IBJJF Austin Nogi Open (Brown Belt, Absolute)
- 1st place – IBJJF Austin Nogi Open (Brown Belt, Heavyweight 208 lbs)
- 1st place – IBJJF Austin Open (Brown Belt, Heavyweight 208 lbs)
- 1st place – Fuji BJJ Championship – Austin (Brown Belt – 195 lbs)
- Winner (bow & arrow choke) – Fight 2 Win Pro 27 – (Brown Belt – 175 lbs) Pro
- 1st place – IBJJF Houston Open (Brown Belt, Absolute)
- 1st place – IBJJF Houston Open (Brown Belt, Middle)
- Winner (triangle) – Sub Hunter 6 – (Brown Belt – 175) Pro
2016
- Loss (split decision) – Fight 2 Win Pro 15 Pro
- 1st place – NAGA Championship (Brown Belt, Middle)
- 1st place – IBJJF Austin Nogi Open (Brown Belt (no gi), Middle)
- 2nd place – IBJJF Austin Open (Brown Belt, Middle)
- 1st place – Fuji BJJ Championship – Austin (Brown Belt, Middle)
- 1st place – Fuji BJJ Championship – Dallas (Brown Belt, Middle)
- Loss (decision) – Fight 2 Win Pro 3 Pro
- 3rd place – IBJJF Houston Open (Brown Belt, Middle)
- 2nd place – Texas Grappling Challenge (Brown Belt)
2015
- 3rd place – IBJJF San Antonio Open (Brown Belt, Middle)
- 2nd place – IBJJF World Masters (Purple Belt, Light)
- 1st place – NAGA Championship (Purple Belt, Middle)
- 1st place – IBJJF Austin Open (Purple Belt, Middle)
- 1st place – BJJ Classic, Dallas (Purple Belt, Light)
- 3rd place – BJJ Classic, Dallas (Purple Belt, Absolute)
- 1st place – IBJJF Houston Open (Purple Belt, Middle)
2014
- 3rd place – NAGA Worlds (Purple Belt, Middle)
- 1st place – NAGA Championship (Purple Belt, Middle)
- 1st place – Newbreed Ultimate Challenge (Purple Belt, Middle)
- 2nd place – Newbreed Ultimate Challenge (Purple Belt, Middle)
- 1st place – Gracie Grappling Cup (Purple Belt, Middle)
2012
- 3rd place – Fight to Win (Blue Belt)
- 3rd place – Fight to Win (Blue Belt – Nogi)
2011
- 3rd place – Fight to Win (White Belt)
Alex’s BJJ Beginings
Early on in my BJJ journey, I did not feel particularly gifted and I kept injuring myself (I was kind of a spaz). I was beginning to question if I was even cut out for BJJ… Was I tough enough? Could my body hold up? I may have even quit at that point had it not been for two factors.
- I signed up for a year contract and didn’t want the hassle of getting out of it, and
- I was lucky enough to have started my journey with my good friend, Eric, who pushed me to stick with it.
Shortly after, I was feeling like I belonged again and SO happy I stayed. And I highly recommend starting with a partner so you can learn together and keep each other excited. (PS. Eric and I have continued to come up through the ranks together and he also owns a gym in Taylor, TX.)
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