Keenan Cornelius of Atos. Photo: Ivan Trindade

Entering the black belt division hasn’t phased Keenan Cornelius. Between the Copa Podio Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi WPJJC Trials as a brown belt competing against elite black belts, the transition was seamless once he was promoted to the prestigious rank.

Keenan’s courage drove him to the podium at the 2013 ADCC in Beijing last month and also the submission finish in his superfight against Lucas Leite at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo.

Having started training Jiu-Jitsu as a means to look cool at school, his motivations have since changed. He now looks to be the best Jiu-Jitsu athlete in the world. Today he trains under Andre Galvao in San Diego, CA after finding great success at Team Lloyd Irvin from 2011-2013. It was during that time, however, that Keenan got on the fast track to success– and has stayed there.

Since winning double gold grand slam at all four major IBJJF tournaments as a purple belt–the only one to do so at any belt so far– doors have opened for him. And rarely does he turn down a challenge meaning the 2013 BJJ Pro League is no different.

Check out his submission finish at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo from Nov. 10:

Learn more about the 2013 BJJ Pro League on Dec. 8 at the Long Beach Walter Pyramid at www.bjjproleague.com