After less than a year at purple belt, Tye and Kade Ruotolo have been promoted.

Andre Galvao moved the teenagers to brown belt earlier this week, as they'll soon qualify for adult competition.

The Atos prodigies have demonstrated impressive talent against adult competitors for the last few years, but have not been able to showcase that talent in adult IBJJF divisions. At purple belt, they were still considered juveniles by the IBJJF. That won't change until January, when they are officially recognized as adults by the IBJJF. They turn 18 in 2021.

On other stages, Tye and Kade have faced some of the top adult competitors following the 2019 ADCC West Coast Trials. Tye was invited as a last-minute fill-in for the ADCC World Championships in 2019, where he became the youngest competitor in history to make it to the semi-finals of the tournament.

Just this year, Tye has victories over Renato Canuto, Oliver Taza, and Nicky Ryan, while Kade has victories over Ethan Crelinsten, Vitor Oliveira, and Ash Williams.

As no-gi competitors, they’re already ranked among the best. Tye is ranked no. 4 at 77 kg and Kade is the no. 7-ranked athlete at 66 kg.

While much of their success has been in no-gi competition, the Ruotolos are also talented gi competitors. And now that they can finally participate in adult divisions beginning in January, they’re likely to storm the brown belt divisions and climb to the top of the rankings.

Even at just 17 years old, they have been practicing jiu-jitsu longer than most of their opponents. Tye and Kade said in an Instagram post that they have been training for more than 14 years.

Watch: Tye Ruotolo vs Oliver Taza at Third Coast Grappling: Kumite V

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Watch: Kade Ruotolo vs Ash Williams at Grapplefest 8

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In