Dave Meyer Earns Coral Belt at Historic South Bay Ceremony

HAPPENING TODAY — January 17, 2026 at South Bay Jiu Jitsu

Dave Meyer, one of the original Dirty Dozen under Rigan Machado, is receiving his coral belt today in a ceremony that brings together the legends of American BJJ.

A Lifetime of Dedication

Dave Meyer's journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu spans over three decades. As one of Rigan Machado's earliest American students, he was there when BJJ was still an underground art known only to a dedicated few.

His path to coral belt includes:

• Training alongside Bob Bass, John Will, and the other Dirty Dozen
• Decades of teaching and developing students
• Maintaining the highest standards of technical excellence
• Contributing to the growth of BJJ across Southern California

Today's Ceremony

The ceremony at South Bay Jiu Jitsu brings together:

• Rigan Machado — Officiating the promotion
• Bob Bass — Hosting at his academy
• The Dirty Dozen — Brothers reunited on the mat
• Generations of students — Witnessing history

This isn't just a promotion—it's a family reunion. The men who built American BJJ, together again, celebrating one of their own.

What Coral Belt Means

For Dave Meyer, the coral belt represents:

"It's not about me. It's about everyone who trained with me, everyone I trained, and everyone they'll train. The belt is just a symbol of the lineage continuing."

Today, we celebrate Dave Meyer. Tomorrow, the work continues.