David Garmo

David Garmo is a professional grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Danny Agemy, who is regarded as one of the top no-gi BJJ competitors of his generation as well as one of Michigan – USA’s most accomplished athletes in this sport. Garmo gained recognition for his exciting and crowd-pleasing style while competing in popular promotions such as Quintet Team Survival Match as well as the Onnit Invitational, and has represented well-respected teams during his career such as Carpe Diem and Detroit Jiu-Jitsu.

David Garmo Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: David Garmo

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: C. Gracie > Helio Gracie > Royler Gracie > Saulo Ribeiro > Danny Agemy > David Garmo

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place Quintet Fight Night 1 (2018)
• 1st Place Quintet Fight Night 2 (2019)
• 1st Place IBJJF Indianapolis Open NOGI (2021)
• 2nd Place IBJJF American Nationals NOGI (2020)
• 2nd Place IBJJF Dallas Open NOGI (2021**)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Chicago Spring Open (2018)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Chicago Summer NOGI (2018**)
• 3rd Place Onnit Invitational 9 (2018)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• IBJJF Japan National Champion (2017 brown)
• IBJJF Chicago Spring Open Champion (2014* brown)
• IBJJF World NoGi Championship 2nd Place (2013 purple)
• IBJJF Pan NoGi Championship 2nd Place (2013 purple, 2015/2017 brown)

Favorite Position/Technique: Kneebar

Weight Division: Peso Médio (82,30 kg / 181.5 lbs)

Team/Association: Assembly Jiu-Jitsu/Detroit Jiu-Jitsu

David Garmo Biography

David Garmo was born on February 19th, 1990, in West Bloomfield, Michigan, United States of America.

David started practicing combat sports in 1995 at the Michigan Martial Arts, he was 5 years old at the time. It was at this facility that Garmo was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by then blue belt, Lee Miles.

His introduction to martial arts at Michigan MA continued on a somewhat intermittent rhythm, until Garmo’s 10th anniversary when he quit altogether. This attitude towards sports would change during high school when David picked up wrestling at the Brother Rice High School, an activity he practiced and competed until his graduation.

After he left high school David looked for another sport to follow, finding it by returning to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the MASH Gym in October 2008.

As soon as he left secondary school, Garmo knew he did not want to pursue academic life and believed his future was in cage-fighting, an idea that started dissipating as he got more involved with jiu-jitsu. Within 1.5 years David was fully in pursuit of a career in grappling, living as a full-time BJJ athlete.

In search of his goals, David received plenty of help from his coaches, namely Don Richard, Brandon Fracassi, John Toth, Angelo Popofski and Harvy Berman, with the celebrated Master, Mr. Caique Elias in charge of Garmo’s belt promotions from white to brown.

As a brown belt, David started making regular visits to Tokyo, Japan, spending extended periods of time there, training and coaching at the famous Carpe Diem Academy. On one of his returns to the US, Garmo was promoted to black belt by his friend and mentor, Danny Agemy. A promotion that took place in October 2017.

Cover photo by Rintaro Ishige.

David Garmo vs Kyle Wempe

David Garmo @Japanese Nationals 2017