Josh Griffiths

Josh Griffiths' introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu began not on the mats, but in a lecture hall. While studying Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, he attended UFC 32 live in 2001 — an experience that ignited a deep fascination with mixed martial arts and grappling. That single night set him on a path toward the sport, and he wasted little time pursuing martial arts training alongside his academic studies.

Griffiths found his footing in BJJ under Fabio Clemente of Alliance, quickly establishing himself as a technically capable and driven student. His progression through the ranks was rapid; by purple belt, he had already stepped into a coaching role at a gym in Hoboken, New Jersey. He later expanded those responsibilities by teaching early morning classes at Studio-X in New York City — a dual identity as both competitor and emerging coach that would define the next phase of his career.

The arrival of Marcelo Garcia in New York in 2006 proved to be a turning point in Griffiths' competitive development. Training extensively alongside one of the sport's most celebrated grapplers sharpened his technical game and raised his competitive ceiling considerably. The results spoke for themselves: in 2007, Griffiths claimed his most significant title to that point, winning the Pan American Championship at brown belt — a performance widely attributed in part to the elite training environment Garcia helped cultivate at Studio-X.

The harmony at Studio-X, however, came to an abrupt end later that year. When Garcia's contract came up for renewal in October 2007, the academy's ownership and Garcia failed to reach a mutually agreeable arrangement. Fabio Clemente chose to maintain his alliance with Garcia, and both departed the gym. Griffiths, a close friend of the Studio-X co-owner, elected to remain with the academy in the wake of the split.

The situation escalated sharply on November 19, 2007, when Studio-X's ownership filed a lawsuit at the New York Civil Supreme Court against Clemente in the form of a restraining order. The move drew widespread condemnation across BJJ internet forums of the era, with many in the community alleging it was a calculated effort to threaten Garcia's U.S. work visa status — a concern that carried genuine weight given his immigration standing. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed as frivolous, but the controversy left a lasting impression on the broader BJJ community's memory of that period.

Amid the fallout, Griffiths received his black belt from Kenny Florian in December 2007 — just weeks after the dispute reached its peak — marking a significant milestone even as the reverberations from the Studio-X affair continued to be felt across the sport.

Throughout his competitive career, Josh Griffiths established himself as one of the most formidable grapplers in the New York regional scene. Competing in the Meio Pesado division (88kg/194lbs), he built a record that demonstrated consistent technical excellence across multiple belt levels and tournament formats.

His 2007 Pan American Championship brown belt title stands as the centerpiece of his competitive legacy — a result achieved at the height of his training partnership with Marcelo Garcia and a clear reflection of the elite level he had reached as a competitor. His resume, however, extended well beyond that landmark result. In 2010 and 2011, he captured multiple Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials victories, affirming his continued relevance on the competitive circuit at the black belt level. Earlier in his career, he earned multiple Copa Atlantica titles, including both weight and absolute category victories in 2006, signaling his dominance within the New York and Northeast grappling scene well before his most prominent wins.

Following his black belt promotion under Kenny Florian in December 2007, Griffiths channeled his competitive experience and coaching background into building a team of his own. He founded Clockwork Jiu-Jitsu, which grew into one of New York City's premier grappling academies and a respected institution within the broader BJJ community.

As head coach and main instructor, Griffiths built a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable and well-regarded BJJ instructors in the New York region. His technical lineage traces through Kenny Florian, with foundational roots in Alliance through Fabio Clemente — a pedigree that reflects both the sport's Brazilian heritage and its evolution within the American competitive grappling scene. Through Clockwork Jiu-Jitsu, Griffiths translates the high-level competitive exposure of his formative years into a lasting contribution to the sport, continuing to shape the development of grapplers in New York City.