# Nathan Mendelsohn

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## Overview

**Name:** Nathan Mendelsohn


## Bio

Nathan Mendelsohn emerged from Santa Cruz, California, under the tutelage of Cláudio França, one of the first black belts to plant jiu-jitsu in Northern California. A childhood detour through karate and Korean self-defense gave way to water polo and BJJ at age ten, and by sixteen he was already teaching kids classes as a blue belt. His competitive development was fueled by repeated training trips to Brazil, where he rotated through Roberto Gordo’s academy and GF Team. Promoted to black belt by França in December 2012, Mendelsohn’s natural affiliation with Soul Fighters came through França’s direct lineage to Alvaro Mansor, a bond that shaped his preparation for major tournaments.

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**Last Updated:** September 05, 2026

**Data Source:** bjj.space (https://bjj.space/people/nathan-mendelsohn)