Marcos Torregrosa

Born on October 17, 1980, in Puerto Rico, Marcos Torregrosa relocated to California in pursuit of professional opportunity, securing a position at Providian Financial in the banking sector. Alongside his corporate career, he cultivated a deep fascination with ultimate fighting and the emerging MMA culture of the era — a passion that would ultimately reshape the trajectory of his life.

Searching for a gym where he could explore grappling firsthand, Torregrosa found his way to a Cassio Werneck affiliate academy and stepped onto the mats as a white belt. His first instructor was Raven Seyman, a Werneck purple belt whose technical foundation left a lasting impression on the newcomer. What began as curiosity hardened into genuine dedication, and Torregrosa committed himself fully to the discipline of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Torregrosa's early development unfolded under Raven Seyman at the Cassio Werneck affiliate, where he earned his blue belt. His technical aptitude and competitive drive soon pushed him beyond domestic training — he traveled to Brazil to receive his purple belt directly from Cassio Werneck, a journey that also produced an early international milestone when he medaled at the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.

The bond with Werneck proved to be a defining constant throughout Torregrosa's BJJ journey. Competing across multiple belt levels, he steadily built a record of achievement that culminated in his black belt promotion under Werneck, formalizing a long-standing student-instructor relationship. A standout result during his developmental years came in 2004, when he claimed gold at the IBJJF Pan American Championship in the purple belt absolute division — a performance that announced his arrival as a serious competitor on the national and international stage.

Even before reaching black belt, Marcos Torregrosa demonstrated a natural inclination toward teaching. When Raven Seyman departed from the affiliate academy, Torregrosa stepped into the role of head instructor, assuming full teaching responsibilities and continuing to develop students within the Cassio Werneck system. His work across multiple Werneck affiliate locations established his reputation not only as a competitor but as a capable and committed coach.

In 2011, Torregrosa opened his own academy, laying the groundwork for what would become Team Yemaso — a brand identity built around his nickname "Yemaso," which grew synonymous with his personal approach to the art. That same year, he briefly affiliated with Team Lloyd Irvin, one of the more prominent competition teams of the period. Following the team's widely reported public scandal, Torregrosa departed in 2013 and returned to operating independently under the Yemaso banner. The experience reinforced his commitment to building a community and identity entirely his own.

Torregrosa's competitive record spans more than a decade of consistent performance across gi and no-gi formats, placing him among the more decorated Masters division competitors in US-based BJJ. His earliest major title came in 2004 with the IBJJF Pan American Championship at purple belt absolute, followed by a USBJJF/IBJJF American National title that same year. By 2006, competing at brown belt, he captured the US Open and added a Grapplers Quest Advanced No-Gi title to his record — a combination that demonstrated real versatility across formats and rulesets.

As he transitioned to black belt and into the Masters divisions, Torregrosa's competitive output remained prolific. He repeated at the Grapplers Quest Advanced No-Gi level in both 2009 and 2010, and claimed another USBJJF/IBJJF American National title in 2007. The year 2011 brought the IBJJF International Masters & Seniors Championship and a second US Open gold. In 2012, he reached perhaps his most internationally significant stretch — winning the IBJJF World No-Gi Championship in the Masters division while also capturing USBJJF/IBJJF American National titles in both gi and no-gi at the Master level.

Competing in the Peso Leve division at 76kg/167lbs throughout his career, Torregrosa maintained his weight class discipline across a lengthy competitive lifespan. His final major title on record came in 2017, when he claimed the IBJJF Masters World Championship in the Master 2 division — a result that underscored the durability and consistency of his approach to competition well into the later stages of his career.