Jared Weiner

Born on April 6, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jared Weiner came of age in a city with a fierce sporting culture built largely around ice hockey. That competitive environment instilled in him an early orientation toward physical challenge and athletic development — a foundation that would serve him well when, at age 17, a group of friends introduced him to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The discipline resonated immediately, offering a structured, practical framework for developing real fighting ability.

Weiner wasted no time converting that interest into action. He enrolled at Maxercise, the first BJJ-focused academy in the Philadelphia area, co-founded by DC Maxwell and Steve Maxwell. That decision set in motion a career spanning decades of competition, coaching, and community building across the US East Coast.

Steve Maxwell served as Weiner's primary instructor from his very first class at Maxercise, guiding him through every stage of his colored belt progression. Maxwell awarded Weiner his blue, purple, and brown belts, shaping the technical foundation and competitive edge that would distinguish him as one of the most formidable competitors the East Coast produced during that era.

Seeking to sharpen his tournament career, Weiner transitioned to Team Lloyd Irvin (TLI), an academy renowned for its relentless competition focus. The move proved transformative — his results on the mat began drawing attention well beyond the East Coast, with his performance record building on an international scale. That trajectory culminated on September 6, 2003, when Lloyd Irvin and Leo Dalla jointly promoted Weiner to black belt in a ceremony that made him the first black belt ever awarded by Lloyd Irvin.

Early Open Circuit Results

Competing at lightweight (76kg/168lbs) across both gi and no-gi formats, Weiner established himself as one of the most dangerous competitors the US East Coast produced in the 2000s. His early open tournament results set the tone: a runner-up finish at Copa Atlantica, a third-place finish at the Pan American Championship in 2004, and a gold medal at the Grapplers Quest No-Gi Nationals that same year signaled his arrival as a serious force in American competition.

Master Division Dominance

As Weiner moved into the Master divisions, his competitive output remained prolific and consistent. He captured gold at the IBJJF Asian Open Championship in the Master division in both 2010 and 2011 — a level of international engagement uncommon for athletes of his experience. He followed that with IBJJF No-Gi Pan Championship titles in the Master division in 2011 and 2012, and added a Pan Championship gold in the Master 2 division in 2014, one of the most competitive brackets of that period.

Throughout the 2010s, Weiner collected multiple regional IBJJF Open titles across New York, Boston, and Chicago, reflecting a sustained commitment to competition well into his later career years. In 2016, he added superfight victories at the Respect 3 event and the PABJJF Superfight, capping a competitive arc that spanned more than fifteen years of high-level jiu-jitsu.

Founding BJJ United

Even as his tournament career gained momentum, Weiner opened his own academy, BJJ United, in 2002 — launching his parallel identity as a team builder and instructor. For over a decade, he maintained his competitive affiliation with Team Lloyd Irvin while simultaneously developing BJJ United into a legitimate force on the US East Coast, producing champions and reinforcing his reputation as a high-level coach.

The Tac Team BJJ Association

In 2013, following a period of turbulence within Lloyd Irvin's organization, Weiner stepped away from TLI and founded the Tac Team BJJ Association. Under the Tac Team banner, he continued developing competitors and coaches, cementing a legacy as one of the more consequential institution builders in East Coast BJJ.

His reach extended further through a competitive affiliation with the Purebred Association, a Guam-based academy led by Stephen Roberto, with whom Weiner built a close working relationship. The dual affiliation highlighted his ability to forge connections across diverse corners of the BJJ community.

July 2014 brought one of the most serious challenges of Weiner's life. Within a single week, he sustained two concussions — one in training, one in competition — a scenario carrying significant medical risk and, in some cases, fatal consequences. The injury was not merely an athletic setback but a genuine health crisis.

The aftermath was prolonged and severe. Weiner endured constant headaches, depression, an inability to concentrate, and serious disruption to the professional life he had built over years. Recovery stretched across several months and depended heavily on the sustained support of his students, family, and close friends. His return to both training and coaching stood as a testament to personal resilience and the strength of the community he had cultivated. The experience gave him a lasting perspective on physical vulnerability and the essential role of support networks — one that continued to inform his work both inside and outside the gym.

Jared Weiner serves as an ambassador for Mission 22, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about and ending veteran suicide in America. The organization functions as both a domestic support initiative and a global advocacy platform, mobilizing awareness campaigns and community resources in service of US military veterans.

Weiner was introduced to Mission 22 through fellow BJJ black belts Piet Wilhelm and Alan Shebaro, both military veterans whose personal commitment to the cause made a direct impression on him. His involvement reflects a deliberate effort to extend the reach of his platform beyond the gym — connecting the values of discipline and resilience inherent in martial arts with the real-world challenges faced by veterans returning from service.