BJ Penn started BJJ in 1997
- May, 1997 Enters first tournament in Bakersfield, CA and wins both his weight and the open weight class.
- 1997 Receives blue belt from Ralph Gracie
- 1998 Silver medal at Brazilian Mundials competition in his weight division; receives purple belt upon return
-1999 Bronze medal at Brazilian Mundials in heavier weight class as a newly promoted Nova Uniao brown belt.
- 1999 Receives Black belt from Andre Pederneiras just 3 weeks before the 2000 Mundials
-2000 First non-Brazilian to win gold medal in black belt division of the Mundial World Championships held in Rio
Grappling