At FloGrappling, we’re always searching for the athletes who represent the future of jiu-jitsu, people that fans should get excited about as the next vanguard of greatness in this martial art & sport. That’s the goal of our “Prospect of the Month” series, where we highlight one rising star you should know before the rest of the world catches on.

This month, that spotlight lands on one of the most technically refined young competitors in the game today; AOJ's JP Tran. Just sixteen years old and already one of the most impressive colored belts in jiu-jitsu, Tran is quickly building a reputation as one of the sharpest prospects training out of Art of Jiu-Jitsu, a room known for producing some of the most technically advanced athletes in modern grappling. He first really got on my radar with a double gold run at the 2025 IBJJF World Championships in juvenile 1 blue belt, then followed that up with a no-gi world championship to close out the year. JP has also excelled in ADCC competition, winning gold at the inaugural Youth Worlds in the U17 category in a crazy one where he had to escape several deep submission attempts early.

Despite his age, Tran’s game is defined by a level of precision and control that feels well beyond his years. His guard is methodical, his positional decision-making is disciplined and strategic, and his ability to chain techniques together reflects the AOJ systems very well. Nothing in his game feels rushed or forced - each movement is deliberate, efficient, and grounded in strong fundamentals. He uses a very nuanced X guard to enter the legs often and he's got a tricky straight ankle lock that he uses. What's especially impressive is how well JP can already used advanced positions like the saddle for control, even though he can't legally attack heel hooks and other leg locks yet.

Don't just take my word for it when it comes to JP and his potential, we reached out to JP's professor Gui Mendes, one of the heads of AOJ, for his thoughts on what makes his student such a great example of this upcoming class of stars. He had this to say;

"JP is one of those kids who you can tell have something special. he got my attention by showing incredible work ethic in the daily basis - he is very coachable and is one of those students that makes you motivated to spend time teaching him. He will dominate juvenile and grow strong in the color belts to become a black belt world champion in the future. He is also an incredible young instructor, very smart and technical - I am sure he will become someone that can create a very positive impact in his generation."

Training at AOJ for the last 3 years has helped guide JP and transform him into the prospect that he is. He arrived there as a yellow belt without the best results, but with a strong motivation to improve. Surrounded by world-class coaches and elite competitors who expect technical excellence, Tran is being sharpened in one of the most successful environments in the sport. We've been saying for years that the AOJ kids program is producing an army of future champions - and JP is one of the standouts.

Still early in his competitive journey, JP Tran is far from a finished product. But the foundation for excellence is there. His technical maturity, attention to detail, and steady competitive ascent all point toward a ceiling that’s exceptionally high. We look forward to watching JP in 2026 and beyond as he continues his journey to the top.