Tim Spriggs - BJJ World Champion and Guillotine Expert

Timothy Michael Spriggs, also known as Trim Spriggs is a BJJ Black Belt who made his name in the heavyweight division. He was born in Maryland USA on 10 October 1991. He won various major competitions in his colored belt and Black Belt career. He represented Crazy 88 academy which is affiliated with Lloyd Irvin’s academy.

Tim Spriggs was fond of sports from his childhood. He started his sports career with football. But he could not continue this sport as a career and focused on Martial Arts. 

At the age of 16, Tim Spriggs was interested in martial arts. His interest in martial arts increased after watching the reality show “The Ultimate Fighter (TUF)”. In this show, various types of martial arts fighters participated.

Among various martial arts, Tim joined Karate. After 1 year of Karate practice, Tim changed his interests, he wanted to learn some type of martial arts that also ensures defense in real-life situations like street fights.  

After one year of Karate practice, Tim decided to leave Karate and joined BJJ. He had a BJJ school near his house. He decided to give it a try. When he joined BJJ school, he was the only teenager in the academy. 

Tim’s academy was named Crazy 88 and the first coach was named Julius Park. Crazy 88 academy is affiliated with Lloyd Irvin academy. This academy became the first and last academy of Tim’s BJJ career. Tim received all his belts from his first coach, Julius Park. 

Tim Spriggs was very dedicated to BJJ. He passed school and joined college and university, but he never left BJJ. After graduating from university, Tim again started 4 sessions a day to become the best grappler. In his college life, he was a Blue Belt who competed in international competitions. He visited various countries to compete.    

Tim Spriggs became a prominent name among the BJJ fighters of America after winning a tough championship of World Expo GP in 2013 in the Brown Belt division. He faced the top Brown Belts in this championship.

In the final, he showcased a great performance against a tough competitor, Thiago Sá Fortes. This was the time, Tim became one of the top grapplers in America. 

In 2014, Tim Spriggs won the Pan American Championship in both weight and absolute divisions. After his fabulous victory as a Brown Belt, Tim Spriggs was promoted to Black Belt by his coach, Julius Park.

Tim Spriggs received his Black Belt in August 2014. This ceremony was hosted by the leader of Crazy 88 academy, Lloyd Irvin. 

Lloyd Irvin Jr. granted Tim Spriggs his second strip on his Black Belt on 23 December 2022. Lloyd Irvin Jr. and Tim Spriggs himself announced the promotion through his social media account.

Tim Spriggs who is multiple times world champion in Gi and NoGi championships was associated with Lloyd Irvin’s affiliated gym since his teenage. He was also promoted to Black Belt in the ceremony organized by Lloyd Irvin.  

Tim became champion in various major championships in his colored belt division. He became World No-Gi champion, Pan American Champion, and European Open Champion in his Purple Belt division. While in the Brown Belt division, he won the World Championship and Pan Championship.

In the Black Belt division, he became champion in World No-Gi, ADCC East Coast Trials Five Super League, WNO Championship, and IBJJF NY Spring Open. He is also a Bronze winner in the World Championship of 2014 and 2016 and the Pan American Championship in 2015 and 2016.  

In the 2021 WNO final, Tim Spriggs faced Kaynan Duarte. Both fighters started the match with high energy. At the start of the match, both competitors executed some BJJ moves.

After a few minutes, Kaynan Duarte applied a pulling guard and that was changed into a single leg lock. Spriggs did his best to escape his strangled legs but Kaynan was very persistent with his position.

Duarte took Tim into danger with his Heel Hook and Calf Slicer. But finally, Spriggs escaped excellently, and again stood up and was ready for another try. Duarte again applied a pulling guard. Tim tried a Knee cut pass and then stepped back.

At the end of the match, Tim tried for Leg Lock. Kaynan also countered with Leg Lock. Tim strangled Kanan with a Heel Hook. Kaynan Duarte could not tolerate that heel hook and gave a submission. 

Tim Spriggs faced Matheus Diniz in IBJJF Summer Open 2013. Tim Spriggs took down Matheus Diniz at the start of the match and scored two points for his fantastic takedown. He mounted Diniz and strangled him strongly.

Diniz did his best to escape but Spriggs again took him down and scored four points. Diniz tried to push away Tim but Tim resisted. And again mounted him completely. Tim scored another four points for full mount.

After great efforts, Diniz stood up and tried to escape from full guard. Tim rapidly applied the arm bar. Diniz resisted this armbar. After a few minutes. Diniz found a loose grip around his arm and rapidly went for a takedown.

At the end of the match, Tim applied a triangle and then full guard. Tim Spriggs won the match with Points.  

Tim Spriggs and Inacio Neto faced each other in a match of the IBJJF New York Open 2013. Both fighters are tough competitors of their weight class. Tim is various times a champion in major tournaments while Neto was runner-up in Pan American the same year.

Tim Spriggs started the match with an excellent takedown. He completely mounted Neto and scored four points. Neto tried to escape but Tim again mounted him and scored four points. Inacio abruptly changed the situation and took the top position and scored points.

Tim applied full guard. To escape from the full guard, Neto stood up and escaped from the grip of Tim’s legs. Inacio again applied a pulling guard. But he did not persist in his guard and Tim swept his guard. Tim actively tried to take Inacio’s back.

Inacio also moved actively and did not let him strangle him from the back. At the end of the match, Tim Spriggs won the match by points. 

Kaynan Duarte vs Tim Spriggs WNO Finals

IBJJF Summer Open 2013 Tim Spriggs vs Matheus Diniz brownbelt Absolute NY BJJ

IBJJF NY Summer Open 2013 Brownbelt Absolute Tim Spriggs vs Inacio Neto

Photo Credit: @timspriggsbjj