The Los Angeles FitExpo

Javier “Showtime” Vazquez
Head Instructor, Showtime Jiu-Jitus
www.showtimejiujitsu.com

Making It in MMA
Former King of the Cage lightweight champion Javier recently announced his retirement from the sport he made his own with an explosive talent, attention getting showmanship and a MMA career record of 12-2. Now turning his attention to teaching and coaching, "Showtime" offers up a how-to class for YOU at The Los Angeles FitExpo!

Born in Santiago, Cuba on April 27, 1976 Javier Vazquez came to the US at the age of four. He grew up in El Monte, California and started wrestling as a sophomore at Arroyo High School at the age of 15. In 1994 he placed 3rd at the CIF wrestling tournament and continued his stellar high school career by placing 4th in the Southern Section Masters tournament. He was just one match away from placing in the high school state wrestling championships, ending up in the top 12 in the state at 130 lbs. He was voted team captain in both his junior and senior years. He continued his wrestling career at Mt. San Antonio College where he again proved himself to be one of “the best of the best” by finishing 7th in the state and being voted team caption for his leadership on and off the mat.

In 1997 Javier was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and submission wrestling when he met Betiss Mansouri, a BJJ purple belt, at Mt. Sac College. He trained with Mansouri and then started learning jiu-jitsu with the Carlson Gracie Team in 1997. He competed in every jiu-jitsu and submission tournament he could and eventually found himself in the fight game. His first no-holds-barred match was at Neutral Grounds in 1998 which resulted in a controversial decision. Several more fights in smaller venues followed and he then took time off from fighting to train and compete in jiu-jitsu. After only 5 years of training he earned his black belt from the Carlson Gracie Team.

His jiu-jitsu and submission tournament wins include: 2004 ADCC North American Trials champion, Grappling Games Advanced Division champion (voted Most Technical Fighter) 2x Copa Pacifica champion, Gracie Worlds champion, Black Belt Challenge champion, 3x California State jiu-jitsu champion, 4x U.S. Open jiu-jitsu champion, 3rd place Grapplers Quest Open Weight Invitational Tournament.

In his mixed martial arts (MMA) career he has compiled a 10-2 record and was at one time considered by many to be the world’s top fighter at 155 lbs. Competing in his trademark pink shorts and earning the nickname of “Showtime” for his spectacular finishing moves, Javier was the first ever King of the Cage world lightweight champion, a title he held for two years, and was also the Gladiator Challenge world champion. With 17 pro and amateur fights, Javier is still considered one of the most technical MMA fighters in the world.

A consummate competitor, Javier has over 40 combined wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and submission wrestling titles to his credit, but like any champion he still wants more. The one tournament he still craves to compete in and win is the ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championships. Javier was named the “Best Grappler in the United States” as voted on by the prestigious OntheMat.com website.

Javier’s love of the sport has led him to train and teach others for nearly his entire life. He started coaching high school and kids wrestling in 1995 and to this day still visits Arroyo High School and Mt. Sac College to volunteer as a wrestling coach. From 1999-2003 he was the one of the Head Instructors at Millennia Jiu-Jitsu academy and was one of its original founders along with Romie Aram and John Jensen. In addition to Javier himself, Millennia was home to many world champions including Romie Aram, John Allesio, Gabe Rudiger, Manny Tapia, and Mac Danzig. Millennia was one of the elite MMA schools in California, hosting visits from fighters such as Dan Henderson, Matt Lindland, Shungo Oyama, and Renato “Babalu” Sobral.

In 2004 Javier opened his own academy, Showtime Jiu-Jitsu, and was also hired as the Head Jiu-Jitsu Instructor at Mt. San Antonio College. Javier is currently teaching at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California and at the Showtime Jiu Jitsu Academy in La Habra where he is currently developing future world champions.