Bishop Chronicles: Alan Sanchez - 10th Planet Black Belt Champion
Welcome to Bishop Chronicles. Today I’m sitting down with Alan Sanchez, a 10th Planet black belt, decorated champion, and the man behind 10th Planet San Jose. If you know anything about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you know that San Jose isn’t just any place to open a gym—it’s arguably one of the most competitive regions on Earth for training BJJ or any martial arts style honestly. We’re talking about the Bay Area, where world-class black belts are practically on every block and the level of competition is absolutely savage. So when Alan tells us why he chose San Jose of all places to plant his flag, you know there’s a story worth hearing.
10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Founder, Eddie Bravo with Alan Sanchez. Image from FloGrappling.
Alan is a Black Belt under Adam “Big Red” Sachnoff. Alan has competed around the globe and his technique is competition proven against the best in the world. He has been ranked in the top 10 for two different weight classes (2022 Flograppling) and has won major titles such as the Eddie Bravo Invitational and the IBJJF Nogi World Championships (2019 Brown Belt).
Alan first started training Jiu Jitsu in 2014 after having an interest in martial arts from watching the UFC. He quickly caught the Jiu Jitsu bug and started learning and training as much as possible. After becoming the first blue belt at 10th Planet San Mateo he began teaching a morning program in 2016 and found out he enjoyed teaching, as much as learning, the art of Jiu Jitsu.
In this conversation, Alan walks us through his journey into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—how he fell in love with the art, how he worked his way up through the ranks, and what it took to earn his black belt in the 10th Planet system under Eddie Bravo. More importantly, he shares how he went from student to competitor to champion, stepping onto some of the biggest stages jiu-jitsu has to offer. We talk about what it takes mentally and physically to compete at that level, the sacrifices required, and the moments that defined his competitive career. This isn’t just a success story—it’s a masterclass in perseverance, strategic thinking, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in one of the most humbling sports on the planet.
But what makes this conversation especially valuable is the deep dive into Alan’s coaching methodology. Running a 10th Planet academy means teaching the system’s ever innovative, no-gi techniques while also developing each student’s individual game. Alan breaks down how he approaches teaching various practitioners, how he helps students break through plateaus, and books that helped him level up. Whether you train, coach, or you’re just fascinated by what it takes to excel in combat sports, this conversation delivers. Let’s get into it with Alan Sanchez.
Follow Alan Sanchez:
Instagram: @alansanchezbjj
10th Planet San Jose: @10thplanetsanjose
