The Ruotolo Brothers: Grappling's Young Superstars Kade and Tye

Quick answer: Kade and Tye Ruotolo are American twin brothers, born in 2003, who became two of grappling's biggest young stars. Black belts under André Galvão, they are known for an exciting, submission-hunting style. Kade became the youngest-ever ADCC World Champion in 2022 at age 19, is a ONE Championship submission grappling world champion, and won the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational.

Few stories in modern grappling are as compelling as that of the Ruotolo brothers. Twin prodigies who have been competing since early childhood, Kade and Tye Ruotolo have become the faces of a new, exciting era of jiu-jitsu — fast-paced, finish-oriented, and unafraid of anyone. Here's a factual look at their rise.

Twin prodigies

Kade and Tye Ruotolo were born on January 22, 2003, in Maui, Hawaii, and raised in Huntington Beach, California. They began competing in jiu-jitsu at around age 3 and grew up so visible in the competition scene that they've been called "grappling's first child-stars." They trained for years at the Art of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ) academy under Guilherme and Rafael Mendes before moving to Atos Jiu-Jitsu under André Galvão, who promoted both brothers to black belt on December 14, 2021. Their lineage runs through Romero "Jacaré" Cavalcanti, Alexandre Paiva, Fernando "Tererê" Augusto, and André Galvão.

As colored belts, the brothers were dominant, racking up IBJJF World, Pan, and European titles. But it's their black-belt run that turned them into stars.

Kade Ruotolo's breakout

Kade Ruotolo's achievements read like a highlight reel:

• At the 2022 ADCC World Championship, he won the under-77 kg division and, at age 19, became the youngest-ever ADCC champion — winning all of his matches by submission, including a finish of Micael Galvão in the final, per ONE Championship and ADCC coverage.

• He became the inaugural ONE Championship Lightweight Submission Grappling World Champion in 2022 and defended the title multiple times.

• In 2024 he won the under-80 kg division of the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational, taking the event's $1 million top prize.

• He also moved into mixed martial arts, winning his first professional MMA bouts by submission in ONE Championship, and was named a ONE Championship Fighter of the Year for 2024.

Tye Ruotolo

Tye Ruotolo, Kade's twin, is likewise a decorated black belt and a major draw in his own right. He competes for ONE Championship as a submission grappler, has fought at the sport's biggest events, and — like his brother — left the 2024 ADCC World Championship to compete in the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational. The brothers are famous for their constant pursuit of submissions and their willingness to take on much larger opponents.

A new style of jiu-jitsu

What makes the Ruotolos special isn't just their results — it's how they compete. In an era when some grappling matches can become cautious, the brothers built their reputation on relentless pace, scrambling, and a refusal to play it safe in pursuit of the finish. That exciting, fan-friendly approach has helped them build large followings and draw new audiences to the sport, much as their team's promotion and events like the Craig Jones Invitational have done. Profiles on BJJ Heroes document their competitive records in detail.

Why they matter

The Ruotolo brothers represent the future of competitive grappling: home-grown American talent, raised in the sport, who reached the very top young and helped make submission grappling more exciting and visible. Their crossover into MMA suggests their story is still in its early chapters.

The takeaway

Kade and Tye Ruotolo are twin American grappling stars and black belts under André Galvão. Kade became the youngest-ever ADCC World Champion in 2022, a ONE Championship submission grappling world champion, and a Craig Jones Invitational winner, while both brothers have helped usher in a faster, more finish-oriented era of jiu-jitsu — with their MMA careers now adding a new chapter.

More than competitors

The Ruotolos have also become ambassadors for the sport off the mat. With large social-media followings and a charismatic, fan-friendly style, they've introduced jiu-jitsu to audiences who might never have found it otherwise. They run seminars worldwide, produce instructional content, and remain visibly humble and approachable despite their success — a combination that has made them role models for the sport's youngest practitioners.

Want to train the modern, dynamic style?

Find a BJJ gym near you on Let's Roll → — many gyms teach the fast-paced no-gi game the Ruotolos helped popularize. New to it all? Start with what BJJ is.

FAQ

Who are the Ruotolo brothers? Kade and Tye Ruotolo are American twin brothers, born in 2003, and black belts under André Galvão. They are among the most successful young competitors in modern submission grappling.

What has Kade Ruotolo won? Kade won the 2022 ADCC World Championship (becoming the youngest-ever ADCC champion at 19), is a ONE Championship submission grappling world champion, and won the 2024 Craig Jones Invitational's $1 million prize.

Who is the Ruotolo brothers' coach? They were promoted to black belt by André Galvão of Atos Jiu-Jitsu in December 2021, after earlier training at the Art of Jiu-Jitsu academy.

Do the Ruotolo brothers fight MMA? Yes — both have moved into mixed martial arts with ONE Championship, with Kade winning his early professional bouts by submission.