Gunner Tillema has been competing his entire life. Before the mat, there was the BMX track. He started racing around age 8 or 9, traveling across the country with his dad to compete in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, and California. In 2022 he was selected to represent the United States at the UCI World Championships in Scotland as an amateur — and turned it down to earn his Hawaiian Kempo black belt instead. That choice says everything about where his priorities are.
He has been training at The Pit since he was a kid, earning his Hawaiian Kempo black belt and Jiu-Jitsu purple belt inside one of the most demanding fight gyms in California. He hopes to compete in the first UFC BJJ Open, August 22, 2026, Las Vegas.
BMX is still part of his life — he races when he wants to, on his own terms.
He is 21 years old. The story is just getting started.
Psalm 118:11
"They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down."
He has been training at The Pit since he was a kid, earning his Hawaiian Kempo black belt and Jiu-Jitsu purple belt inside one of the most demanding fight gyms in California. He hopes to compete in the first UFC BJJ Open, August 22, 2026, Las Vegas.
BMX is still part of his life — he races when he wants to, on his own terms.
He is 21 years old. The story is just getting started.
Psalm 118:11
"They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down."
Gunner Tillema
Hawaiian Kempo black belt and BJJ purple belt THE PIT MARTIAL ARTS
What you have seen here is only the beginning.
Gunner Tillema is 20 years old, already a Hawaiian Kempo black belt and Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, and competing at the highest level he has been pointed at so far. He is not finished. He is not even close.
Whether you want to follow where this goes, connect with him directly, or just see what happens next — the place to do that is through his own channels. Links below.
The story is still being written.
https://www.instagram.com/gunner_tillema/
Email: Gunnertillema34@gmail.com
Gunner Tillema is 20 years old, already a Hawaiian Kempo black belt and Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, and competing at the highest level he has been pointed at so far. He is not finished. He is not even close.
Whether you want to follow where this goes, connect with him directly, or just see what happens next — the place to do that is through his own channels. Links below.
The story is still being written.
https://www.instagram.com/gunner_tillema/
Email: Gunnertillema34@gmail.com
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Among Fighters is an independent series, not affiliated with, produced by, or officially endorsed by The Pit Martial Arts. Subjects participate voluntarily.
© 2026 Fischer Studios. Among Fighters is a Fischer Studios property. All rights reserved.
© 2026 Fischer Studios. Among Fighters is a Fischer Studios property. All rights reserved.