FloGrappling’s “Prospect of the Month” series is dedicated to spotlighting rising athletes who embody the next wave of jiu-jitsu talent, the competitors fans should start following before they become household names. Each installment focuses on a single standout whose skill, mindset, and results signal a big future in the sport.
Spotlight on JP Tran
For this edition, the focus is on AOJ phenom JP Tran, a sixteen-year-old technician who has quickly emerged as one of the most polished colored belts in modern grappling. Training out of Art of Jiu-Jitsu, a team renowned for its precise, detail-oriented style, Tran has already built an impressive résumé, including double gold at the 2025 IBJJF Worlds in juvenile blue belt, a no-gi world title, and ADCC Youth Worlds gold in the U17 division after battling through deep submission scares.
Style and technical game
Tran’s jiu-jitsu is marked by calm control and an unusually mature sense of timing for his age. His guard work is structured and methodical, his positional choices are deliberate, and his transitions flow seamlessly in a way that mirrors the highly systemized AOJ approach. He frequently uses a sophisticated X-guard to access leg entries, has a dangerous straight ankle lock, and already understands how to use positions like the saddle for control, even within rule sets that limit certain leg attacks.
Mentor’s perspective
AOJ co-leader and professor Gui Mendes describes JP as a special talent whose daily work ethic and coachability make him a joy to teach. Mendes believes Tran is on track to dominate the juvenile ranks, climb through the colored belts, and eventually become a black belt world champion, praising not only his technical level but also his ability as a young instructor and role model for his generation.
Development at AOJ and future
Over the last three years at AOJ, Tran has evolved from a motivated but not yet highly decorated yellow belt into one of the academy’s standout prospects, molded by world-class coaches and surrounded by elite training partners. Although still early in his competitive journey, his strong fundamentals, attention to detail, and consistent results suggest a very high ceiling, and many are eager to see how his story unfolds heading into 2026 and beyond.
