Damion Oranday

Damion Oranday was born on October 30, 1997, in Port Arthur, Texas, and spent his formative years in Houston, TX. Growing up during the early rise of mixed martial arts — a period when the Ultimate Fighting Championship was capturing mainstream American attention — Oranday developed a deep fascination with combat sports from a young age. By the time he was 11, that passion had translated into action: he enrolled simultaneously in both karate and jiu-jitsu schools alongside his brother Austin Oranday, demonstrating an early aptitude and appetite for martial arts training that set the tone for his career.

Oranday's first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors were Coaches Jorden Rivas and Robert Yamashita, with Yamashita awarding him his blue belt as his skills developed on the mat. In parallel, Oranday pursued karate with equal dedication, ultimately earning a black belt in Goju-Ryu — a discipline whose emphasis on structure, timing, and body mechanics would inform his approach to grappling throughout his competitive life.

The trajectory of Damion Oranday's BJJ career shifted decisively in 2015, when he and his family attended a seminar hosted by Lucas Lepri in Houston. That encounter proved pivotal. Galvanized by the experience, Oranday reached out to Lepri and requested an opportunity to train at his Alliance academy in Charlotte, North Carolina, ahead of the 2016 Pan American Championships. The request was accepted, and what began as a training camp evolved into a long-standing relationship between the Oranday family and one of the sport's most decorated lightweights.

Over the five years that followed, Oranday developed steadily under Lepri's guidance, translating consistent coaching into strong results on the competition circuit. A standout moment came at the IBJJF American Nationals in 2016, where he claimed first-place finishes in both the Gi and No-Gi divisions as a purple belt — a clear signal of the competitor he was becoming. On April 17, 2021, that journey culminated when Lucas Lepri promoted Damion Oranday to black belt at the Alliance academy in Charlotte, NC, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his competitive life.

Oranday's debut year as a black belt announced his arrival on the international stage with considerable force. Competing in the Pena (Featherweight) division at 70 kg / 154.5 lbs and representing the United States under the Alliance / Oranday Bros Jiu-Jitsu Academy banner, he registered notable victories over respected competitors including Keven Carrasco, Daniel Maira, and Rodrigo Gortari, establishing his credibility at the highest level of the sport.

His 2021 campaign on the IBJJF circuit delivered consistent podium finishes across both Gi and No-Gi formats. He captured gold at the IBJJF Oklahoma Open in both disciplines and added further titles at the IBJJF Atlanta Summer Open No-Gi and the IBJJF Atlanta Open No-Gi. As the year progressed, Oranday stepped onto larger stages: a silver medal at the IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi and a bronze medal at the IBJJF World Championship No-Gi confirmed his standing among the elite in his division and brought him recognition on the global competitive scene.

Alongside his competitive pursuits, Damion Oranday has built a lasting institutional presence in the martial arts landscape of Southeast Texas. In April 2016, he and his family launched the Oranday Bros Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Port Neches, TX. The academy is a genuinely family-driven endeavor, co-founded with brother Austin Oranday, sister Camryn Oranday, mother Bambi Renee Oranday Martin, and stepfather Aaron Martin — a collective commitment that reflects the close-knit nature of the Oranday family's involvement in the sport.

The gym's founding coincided with the family's deepening affiliation with Lucas Lepri and Alliance, providing both a competitive framework and a strong instructional philosophy to anchor the school. Serving the Port Neches community, the Oranday Bros Jiu-Jitsu Academy functions as both a competitive training hub for aspiring athletes and a community-based martial arts school rooted in the values that have defined the Oranday family's journey through the sport.