Abraham Marte

Abraham Marte Messina was born on June 27, 1980, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Raised in a family deeply connected to athletics—his father served as a former sports minister—Marte developed an early affinity for sports. Leveraging his father's connections, he began training Judo at a young age, establishing a solid foundation for his future martial arts journey.

In the late 1990s, Marte became captivated by Royce Gracie's revolutionary performances in the early UFC events. However, limited access to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the Dominican Republic delayed his formal introduction to the art. In late 2001, encouraged by his friend Samuel, Marte attended his first BJJ class under Abraham Tabar, a Judo black belt who regularly traveled to the United States to train with renowned instructors such as Romero Cavalcanti, Royce Gracie, and Fernando Yamasaki.

In 2002, Marte sustained a severe back injury, forcing him to pause his martial arts training. During this hiatus, he pursued a career as a DJ and adopted a lifestyle he later described as excessive. Determined to reclaim his athletic potential, Marte made significant lifestyle adjustments and returned to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training in 2006. Quickly showcasing his natural athleticism and technical aptitude, he began competing internationally as a blue belt, notably winning both his weight class and the absolute division at a major tournament in Puerto Rico.

Abraham Marte is widely recognized as a trailblazer for high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the Dominican Republic. He became the first Dominican athlete to medal at the IBJJF World Championships at the black belt level, securing bronze medals in 2013 and 2015. Marte's groundbreaking achievements inspired a new generation of Dominican grapplers and significantly elevated the profile of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in his home country. He founded the Basico BJJ academy, where he continues to nurture local talent and actively promotes the growth of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu throughout the Caribbean.

Despite his relatively late start in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Marte maintained an active competitive presence beyond the adult divisions, achieving notable success in Master 1 Black Belt events. He notably secured double gold at the 2014 IBJJF World Masters Championship. In 2019, Marte stood out as a leading competitor in the Master 1 ultra-heavyweight division, representing GF Team in international competitions.

Marte is renowned for his dynamic closed-guard approach, commonly referred to as the "Marte Guard." Around 2016, he released an instructional DVD titled "The Aggressive Closed Guard," detailing his innovative system of guard attacks, sweeps, and submissions. Marte's method emphasizes precise off-balancing techniques and relentless submission threats, earning respect and influencing modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guard strategies.

Known for his candid and outspoken personality, Marte openly addresses negative trends within the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community, such as arrogance and unsportsmanlike conduct among younger competitors. He frequently shares personal insights on overcoming adversity, including his own experiences with injury and balancing family responsibilities—he welcomed a baby daughter during his competitive career. Marte actively promotes humility, respect, and introspection, advocating for a positive and inclusive culture within the sport.

Marte actively leverages his influence to support community initiatives. He notably organized a charity Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu camp in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, featuring elite athletes such as Rodolfo Vieira and Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu. This four-day event combined world-class training with fundraising efforts, donating proceeds to support underprivileged Dominican youth. Marte continues to participate in seminars and charitable activities aimed at expanding Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's reach and positively impacting local communities.