AJ Scales

Born on April 1, 1976, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, Anthony "AJ" Scales arrived at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through a deliberate search for the right martial art. At 15, he began with Kickboxing, showing natural aptitude but quickly recognizing it was not his long-term path. Judo followed, where he earned a green belt in short order — yet that discipline, too, left him searching for something more.

The answer came in 1999, when a televised UFC event introduced him to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The art resonated with him immediately, setting the course for the rest of his athletic life. Scales wasted no time. He joined a Regina-based Brazilian martial arts school, earned his blue belt, and entered provincial-level competition — experiences that sharpened his focus and confirmed his commitment to pursuing BJJ at the highest level.

Driven by the desire for elite training, Scales made the pivotal decision to join Nova Uniao, one of the most respected BJJ and MMA organizations in the world. Under the guidance of Wagnney Fabiano — a former WEC competitor and brother of accomplished grappler Leonardo Santos — Scales progressed through the purple and brown belt stages with steady, measurable growth.

Training at the Source

Central to his development were multiple training trips to Rio de Janeiro, where Scales worked on the mats at Nova Uniao headquarters alongside some of the sport's most accomplished practitioners: André Pederneiras, Shaolin Ribeiro, Thales Leites, André Marola, Marcelino Freitas, Danilo Cherman, and Marcelo Meleiro. Those sessions accelerated his technical evolution and exposed him to the highest standard of BJJ practice.

From Brazilian Mats to Black Belt

To pressure-test his growth, Scales entered Brazilian tournaments including the World Cup and the Internacional de Seniors e Masters, earning invaluable experience against elite competition on Brazilian soil. That combination of world-class training partners, dedicated coaching, and international competition built the foundation for his black belt recognition. On February 4, 2009, Wagnney Fabiano awarded Scales his black belt — with Leonardo Santos placing it around his waist — a moment that reflected the deep bonds forged within the Nova Uniao family.

At the black belt level, AJ Scales established himself as one of the most consistent competitors on the North American masters circuit across more than a decade of active competition. Competing in the Peso Pesado division (94 kg / 207 lbs), he built a résumé defined by championship titles and repeated podium finishes at major IBJJF and submission grappling events.

Colored Belt Foundations

His trajectory at the colored belt level foreshadowed his black belt success. As a purple belt, he captured the CBJJO Copa do Mundo title in 2006 and the Copa Rip Dorey Super Fight Championship in 2005. As a brown belt, he reached the podium at the IBJJF Master & Senior Championship in 2008 and took gold at the Arena Buzios tournament that same year.

Black Belt Championship Run

After receiving his black belt, Scales continued accumulating results at international events. He placed third at the IBJJF Master & Senior Jiu Jitsu Championships in 2009 and added UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Trials podium finishes in Montreal in both 2009 and 2010. Third-place finishes at the IBJJF Pan Ams followed in both 2012 and 2013, before a landmark performance at the 2015 IBJJF New York Open — where he claimed gold in both his weight division and the absolute category, a double-gold result that underscored his elite standing among masters competitors.

In 2016, Scales reached the podium at the IBJJF World Master Championship, then returned the following year to claim the ultimate prize: the IBJJF World Master Champion title in 2017. He punctuated that remarkable run in 2018 by capturing both the IBJJF Chicago Open Championship and the Fight to Win Pro Super Fight Championship — proof that his competitive drive and technical sharpness remained at the highest level well into his black belt career.