Early Belts and the Move to California
With the encouragement of training partner Brett Garlock, Asche relocated to California — a move that proved pivotal in accelerating his development. Training under Marcelo Alonso, he earned his blue belt, establishing the technical groundwork for what would follow. His purple belt came from John Machado, one of the most respected figures in American BJJ, whose mentorship further refined Asche's technical game and competitive outlook.
Training Under Gordo in Rio
The defining chapter of Asche's progression began in 2003, when he traveled to Rio de Janeiro to train under Roberto 'Gordo' Correa — the black belt widely credited with developing the half guard as a systematic position in BJJ. Under Gordo's direct mentorship, Asche earned both his brown and black belts. The black belt was awarded on July 4, 2009, a milestone representing more than two decades of martial arts dedication and the culmination of an intentional, lineage-driven journey through the ranks.