After being out of the arena for six years, Joe discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after witnessing Royce Gracie win the 1994 UFC championship. He studied under Royce’s cousin Carlson Gracie. 

In case you don't know, the Gracie family is one of the most, if not the most, prominent families in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The first Gracie emigrated from Scotland to Brazil in 1801, but it wasn’t until the third generation that Carlos Gracie was taught Judo by Mitsuyo Maeda. 

Carlos then went on to adapt the Judo style to incorporate more floor work as opposed to throws. In 1925, Carlos and his brother Oswaldo founded the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy. 

To be trained by a Gracie is to learn BJJ straight from the brain. It took Joe quite a while to receive his black belt in jiu-jitsu, remaining at a brown belt for eight years. 

In 2012, he finally received his black belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu. His first black belt was given to him by Eddie Bravo and then subsequently with a Gi (a martial arts uniform) by Jean Jacques-Machado.