We marked Tanner Rice as one of the top up-and-coming black belts under 25 years of age. The Californian grappler received his ‘faixa preta’ at a mere 19 years old, as young as you can possibly be to get the top rank in the sport. 

Now 22, in the last three years Rice has shown himself to be a dangerous competitor that you should never overlook. He’s taken soem big scalps, including the likes of Gregor Gracie and Lucas ‘Hulk’. Right now he’s days away from competing in the U.S. National Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship in California. We caught up with him as he aims to secure a ticket to Abu Dhabi for the World Pro in April. 

FloGrappling: You're signed up to compete at the U.S. National Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship tournament in Long Beach, California. Why did you choose that tournament over the IBJJF Europeans in Portugal? 

Tanner Rice: I chose the trials because I've never been to Abu Dhabi to compete in the World Pro, and there is a cash prize in Abu Dhabi. 

FG: You would compete in the 85kg category for the Abu Dhabi World Pro, how do you find competing at that weight? 

TR: I like the 85kg category, I find I'm a little bit taller for that division and I can use my length and flexibility to my advantage. I walk around at that weight, I don't have to cut. I don't lift, I only do bodyweight workouts. If I do lift, it’s lighter weights with a lot of reps. I think people just think I'm lighter than I am because of my chicken legs. My shin is my calf! Haha!

FG: You received your black belt at 19 from Cobrinha, and were his youngest black belt. You're now 22, and running your own gym in Redding, California, alongside your dad – also a black belt – and your brothers. How's that been going? 

TR: My gym is going great! I have a great group of kids and adults that both my brothers and myself teach full-time. The teaching definitely distracts from my competition mindset sometimes, but over the years I've learned to balance it out. 

It's rewarding to see [my brothers] develop and to see how far they have come. But when it comes to listening to one another it gets difficult at times. I'm the middle child but my older brothers live far away so we don't see each other too often.

When it comes to rolling with my brothers [Sam, 18 and Matthew, 16] it's going to be a battle every time because we're brothers and we don't want to lose to one another. But I love having a school with my brothers and father. I wouldn't have it any other way. It's pretty great to always have someone to rely on.


FG: I think by now most people have seen your infamous coaching video. Tell us, is that how you coach day-to-day or were you playing it up for the camera? 

TR: Haha! The crap talk was definitely hyped up by my cameraman, but I do like to push the students as hard as I can. It so happens that the two guys I was coaching are affected more by a negative push instead of a positive, so it was more on the real side, yes.

FG: With your sights set on Abu Dhabi World Pro, will we also see you in events like the Pans and the Worlds in California?

TR: Yes for sure! I always compete at the Pans and Worlds. I always want the gold, not just to place on the podium – ever! The gold medal is always on my mind. I just plan on fighting my best with anyone I go with. 

Tanner Rice will compete in the U.S. National Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Long Beach, California on January 24. Watch it live or on replay here on FloGrappling.