In a surprising honor for one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s most accomplished competitors, Garry “The Lion Killer” Tonon has received a judo black belt from none other than Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii.
Ishii, who captured Olympic gold in judo before transitioning to mixed martial arts, shared the news on social media. The Japanese grappling legend noted that while official judo black belts can only be issued by two organizations—the Kodokan and the International Judo Federation—he felt confident asserting that Tonon “deserves it.”
The promotion came after Ishii spent time demonstrating judo techniques to the New Jersey native, who has built an illustrious career primarily through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling before making the leap to professional MMA.
For Tonon, the recognition adds another dimension to a martial arts journey that began far from the prestigious mats of international competition. Born in a small Jersey Shore community, Tonon discovered grappling through wrestling during his grade school years.
His mother, who worked as a recreation specialist at a non-profit organization serving children with special needs, had identified symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in her son early in his childhood. Martial arts would become instrumental in helping him manage those challenges.
Around age 14, a friend introduced Tonon to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the teenager found his calling. Training under legendary instructor Tom DeBlass at Ocean County BJJ, Tonon demonstrated immediate aptitude and dedication. By 16, he had already captured his first BJJ World Title in the juvenile blue belt division.
The accolades continued to accumulate throughout Tonon’s grappling career. After receiving his BJJ black belt in 2013, he established himself as one of the sport’s elite competitors, earning titles including IBJJF BJJ World Champion, two-time IBJJF World No-Gi Champion, and an unprecedented five Eddie Bravo Invitational Championships.
Tonon’s wrestling background has informed his unique approach to standup grappling throughout his career. Unlike many elite BJJ practitioners who meticulously develop their takedown games, Tonon has adopted a more pragmatic philosophy. He views establishing body-to-body contact as the primary objective, whether achieved through his own takedown offense or by allowing opponents to initiate exchanges he can counter.
In 2018, Tonon redirected his competitive focus toward mixed martial arts, joining ONE Championship’s featherweight division. His devastating submission skills translated seamlessly to MMA, where he rattled off six consecutive victories to begin his career. Though he fell short in a 2022 title challenge against then-champion Thanh Le, Tonon has since rebounded with three consecutive submission victories as he pursues another opportunity at championship gold.
The judo black belt from Ishii represents an interesting part of Tonon’s evolving martial arts story. While the promotion may not carry the same official weight as credentials issued through traditional judo channels, the recognition from an Olympic champion speaks to Tonon’s well-rounded grappling foundation and the respect he commands across multiple disciplines.
