In October 2014, Troy Sorensen received his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in a ceremony held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The promotion was conducted by three instructors — Mike Yackulic, Sylvio Behring, and Alvaro Barreto — bringing together multiple generations of one of BJJ's most historically significant lineages for the occasion.
The participation of Grand Master Alvaro Barreto alongside Master Sylvio Behring and Mike Yackulic speaks to the depth and continuity of the Behring family line, which traces its roots directly to the foundational figures of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Having Grand Master Barreto present lent considerable weight and tradition to the ceremony, underscoring the historical significance of the lineage represented. For Sorensen, earning the black belt under this combination of instructors marks a meaningful milestone within one of the art's most storied lines of succession.
