# Donald Achnick

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## Overview

**Name:** Donald Achnick

**Date of Birth:** April 18, 1974 (age 52)


## Bio

A cornerstone of the Team Lloyd Irvin (TLI) youth program for over a decade, Donald Achnick is the rare black belt whose legacy is built more on developing competitors than on his own podium finishes. A late starter who discovered Jiu-Jitsu after watching Royce Gracie at UFC 1 and 2, Achnick signed up under Lloyd Irvin in April 1998, quickly becoming an assistant instructor and later Program Director of youth activities, earning his black belt from Irvin in February 2008. Though never officially ranked in judo, he became TLI's resident authority on grip fighting and takedowns, a skillset honed alongside Olympic judoka Rhadi Ferguson.
## Specialties

- N/A
## Achievements

- Capital Classic Champion (2005 purple)
- Yamasaki Cup Champion (2005 purple)
- East Coast Judo Champion (2002)
- National Qualifier – Maryland Open Judo 3rd Place (2002)

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**Last Updated:** September 24, 2026

**Data Source:** bjj.space (https://bjj.space/people/donald-achnick)