Claire North is a jiu-jitsu black belt under John Gutta who represents both Tipping Point BJJ and TAC Team in the sport’s global circuit, where she earned an array of impressive competitive achievements despite working full-time in the pharmacy industry. Among the most important moments in North’s grappling career are the medals she conquered at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s (IBJJF) World Championships, Pan Championships, and the American Nationals.
Claire North Jiu-Jitsu
Full Name: Claire North
Nickname: N/A
Lineage: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Rodrigo Medeiros > Johnny Ramirez > Mark Vives > John Gutta > Claire North
Main Achievements:
- 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2020)
- 2nd Place IBJJF American Nationals (2021)
- 2nd Place IBJJF American Nationals NOGI (2021)
- 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2021)
- 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2021)
Main Achievements (Colored Belts):
- 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals NOGI (2019* brown)
- 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2018 brown)
- 2nd Place IBJJF American Nationals (2019* brown)
- 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2016 purple)
* Absolute
** Weight and Absolute
Favorite Position/Technique: Spider Guard
Weight Division: Peso Médio (69kg / 152.5lbs)
Team/Association: Tipping Point BJJ / TAC Team
Claire North Biography
Claire North was born on February 1, 1993, in Des Moines, Iowa, where she grew up.
Drawn to sports from a young age, Claire started practicing soccer competitively during kindergarten, an activity she maintained all the way through to her senior year of high school. While in HS, North also gained an interest in grappling – a curiosity that fueled a desire to apply for the school’s wrestling team. That project, however, would fall flat due to social pressure which, at the time, deemed wrestling as not befitting of a young lady.
At the age of 18, Claire moved to Iowa City, Iowa, to further develop her academic studies at the University of Iowa. While in IC, North started working as a beer cart girl at a local country club where she had a troubling interaction with an intoxicated customer who physically intimidated Claire. The experience led her to research self-defense and martial arts.
During her research of martial arts, Claire discovered jiu-jitsu. A combat sport with a solid self-defense foundation and a strong competitive outlet – something highly valued by North. BJJ was also heavily reliant on grappling, a style of combat Claire had sought to pursue since her high school days. Given how many of North’s preferences were ticked by BJJ, she decided to join her college’s jiu-jitsu club.
Claire worked on her jiu-jitsu skills with coach John Gutta from day 1 with their relationship gradually developing also outside the mats, leading to North and Gutta’s marriage. North also earned her black belt from Gutta on December 19, 2019, then becoming the first female black belt from the State of Iowa.
After Claire finished her university degree in Pharmacy, she moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with her husband to open a jiu-jitsu academy – Tipping Point BJJ. A project started while North worked a full-time job in her chosen profession, and – at a later stage – while further advancing her academic studies with an engineering degree in her field of work. Despite her busy work schedule, North was able to produce very solid results in the sporting world.
Claire North Grappling Record
-
BY POINTS
4 (21%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
3 (16%) -
BY SUBMISSION
12 (63%) -
BY DECISION
0 (0%) -
BY PENALTIES
0 (0%) - BY DQ
0 (0%)
12 SUBMISSIONS WINS
-
BY POINTS
2 (14%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
3 (21%) -
BY SUBMISSION
8 (57%) -
BY DECISION
1 (7%) -
BY PENALTIES
0 (0%) - BY DQ
0 (0%)
8 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES
Claire North Fight History
ID | Opponent | W/L | Method | Competition | Weight | Stage | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24257 | Rafaela GuedesRafaela Guedes | L | Pts: 0x0, Adv | Pan American | 69KG | F | 2020 |
26740 | Danielle AlvarezDanielle Alvarez | L | Pts: 4x4, Adv | American Nats | 69KG | F | 2021 |
26745 | Janaina LebreJanaina Lebre | L | Straight ankle lock | American Nats | ABS | SF | 2021 |
27694 | Luiza MonteiroLuiza Monteiro | L | Pts: 8x0 | Pan American | 69KG | SF | 2021 |
29136 | Chloe McNallyChloe McNally | L | Armbar | JJ CON | ABS | 4F | 2021 |
29140 | Vannessa GriffinVannessa Griffin | L | Pts: 2x2, Adv | JJ CON | 69KG | F | 2021 |
29672 | Andresa Cintra | L | Botinha | World Champ. | 69KG | SF | 2021 |
29872 | Sheliah LindseySheliah Lindsey | L | RNC | M. Finishers 5 | 65KG | F | 2022 |
30878 | Vedha Toscano | L | Yoko Sankaku | Dallas NGO | ABS | F | 2022 |
33120 | Janine Mutton | L | Referee Decision | World Champ. | 64KG | 8F | 2022 |
35707 | Anna RodriguesAnna Rodrigues | L | Pts: 4x0 | NoGi Pan | 61KG | F | 2022 |
37013 | Brianna Ste-MarieBrianna Ste-Marie | L | Guillotine | NoGi Worlds | 61KG | SF | 2022 |
37761 | Peyton Letcher | L | Inside heel hook | M. Finishers 12 | ABS | SF | 2023 |
45931 | Lunna Tallen | L | Inside heel hook | NoGi World | 67KG | R1 | 2023 |
24253 | Melissa Cueto | W | Americana | Pan American | 69KG | 4F | 2020 |
24256 | Brenda Palheta | W | Pts: 0x0, Adv | Pan American | 69KG | SF | 2020 |
26739 | Mayra Mazza | W | Pts: 10x2 | American Nats | 69KG | SF | 2021 |
27688 | Victoria Montrezor | W | Toe Hold | Pan American | 69KG | 8F | 2021 |
27691 | Brenda Palheta | W | Americana | Pan American | 69KG | 4F | 2021 |
29139 | Hannah Rauch | W | Americana | JJ CON | 69KG | SF | 2021 |
29668 | Yuki Kaneko | W | Pts: 2x0 | World Champ. | 69KG | 4F | 2021 |
29867 | Alivia Bierly | W | Kimura | M. Finishers 5 | 65KG | 4F | 2022 |
29870 | Delia Kowanolski | W | Kneebar | M. Finishers 5 | 65KG | SF | 2022 |
30848 | Thamires Monteiro | W | Pts: 6x0 | Dallas Open | 64KG | SF | 2022 |
30849 | Tracey Goodell | W | Pts: 4x4, Adv | Dallas Open | 64KG | F | 2022 |
30877 | Thamires Monteiro | W | Pts: 2x0 | Dallas NGO | ABS | SF | 2022 |
34879 | Talita NogueiraTalita Nogueira | W | Inside heel hook | JJ Con NG | ABS | SF | 2022 |
34881 | Mayara Custodio | W | Inside heel hook | JJ Con NG | ABS | F | 2022 |
35704 | Yasmim Pinheiro | W | Inside heel hook | NoGi Pan | 61KG | 4F | 2022 |
35706 | Thamires Monteiro | W | Pts: 0x0, Adv | NoGi Pan | 61KG | SF | 2022 |
37010 | Margot CiccarelliMargot Ciccarelli | W | Inside heel hook | NoGi Worlds | 61KG | 4F | 2022 |
37759 | Rais Radford | W | Americana | M. Finishers 12 | ABS | SF | 2023 |
37760 | Ally Wolski | W | Inside heel hook | M. Finishers 12 | ABS | SF | 2023 |
37768 | Nabila Martínez | D | --- | M. Finishers 12 | ABS | F | 2023 |