UFC Veteran Anthony Birchak Is Now A 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt

June 7, 2019

UFC, Bellator, and Rizin veteran Anthony Birchak has officially earned the rank of BJJ black belt.

Birchak (14-6, with six wins coming via submission) has been training jiu-jitsu since 2009 and has been a passionate member of the 10th Planet association. His promotion took place a day ago at 10th Planet Las Vegas under Casey Halstead.

Birchak shared an emotional post on social media to commemorate the milestone:

View this post on Instagram

In 2009 I ventured into a new sport and felt like a giant greenhorn, newbie, freshman in this thing called jiu jitsu. It was hard to find a style of BJJ that fit my funk wrestling style and at first disheartened me until I met coach @coachcasey10 at #UFC177 in Sacramento at my supposed UFC debut. He brought me to @10plasvegas for a seminar and at that time I was the only purple belt showing my style of wrestling and jiu jitsu to already established and famous Blackbelts. After the seminar Casey pulled me aside and told me all the “funk wrestling” things I was doing had 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu names and that if I became 10P fluent I could be a great moonhead some day! On the drive home I contemplated my future in combat sports and realized this was the new path for me, @eddiebravo10p 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu was what I was missing. Under the tutelage of this man Coach Casey has fostered my growth from a raw brash fighter to a businessman and conscious Martial Artist, his words of “Theres something to be said about the 10yr Blackbelt, and the lessons you learn along the way.” Will always stick with me and his teachings To give back to my community and those who have given to me, to foster the growth of hungry students like myself, and to continue to represent myself and the 10th Planet Association to the fullest at the highest levels of competition. I look up to this man and respect him to the utmost because he’s provided me and my family with a quality of life through the lifestyle of jiu jitsu, and has given me something beyond a gym he’s given me direction and ambition to continue to rise and do more. This is just the beginning. Thank you all for your support #10thplanetforlife . #bjj #jiujitsu #blackbelt #10thplanetblackbelt #anthonybirchak #caseyhalstead #eddiebravo #10thplanettucson #10ptucson #torotech #torotechmma #torotechwrestling #torotechjiujitsu #10thplanetlasvegas #10plasvegas #10pLV

A post shared by Anthony Birchak (@abirchakmma) on Jun 5, 2019 at 11:16pm PDT

“In 2009 I ventured into a new sport and felt like a giant greenhorn, newbie, freshman in this thing called jiu jitsu. It was hard to find a style of BJJ that fit my funk wrestling style and at first disheartened me until I met coach @coachcasey10 at #UFC177 in Sacramento at my supposed UFC debut. He brought me to @10plasvegas for a seminar and at that time I was the only purple belt showing my style of wrestling and jiu jitsu to already established and famous Blackbelts. After the seminar Casey pulled me aside and told me all the “funk wrestling” things I was doing had 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu names and that if I became 10P fluent I could be a great moonhead some day! On the drive home I contemplated my future in combat sports and realized this was the new path for me, @eddiebravo10p10th Planet Jiu Jitsu was what I was missing. Under the tutelage of this man Coach Casey has fostered my growth from a raw brash fighter to a businessman and conscious Martial Artist, his words of “Theres something to be said about the 10yr Blackbelt, and the lessons you learn along the way.” Will always stick with me and his teachings To give back to my community and those who have given to me, to foster the growth of hungry students like myself, and to continue to represent myself and the 10th Planet Association to the fullest at the highest levels of competition. I look up to this man and respect him to the utmost because he’s provided me and my family with a quality of life through the lifestyle of jiu jitsu, and has given me something beyond a gym he’s given me direction and ambition to continue to rise and do more. This is just the beginning. Thank you all for your support “