Dave Harris Bio

David Deleon-Harris was born July 23rd 1985. He was introduced to the martial arts at the age of six in a Japanese jujitsu dojo in the Bronx. David's passion for the martial arts came from his father Vito Harris and his uncle Vic who trained in Southern mantis kung-fu for over 30 years. In 1996 David went to a ymca sleep away judo camp and immediately fell in love with the grappling martial art. He trained at La verta judo club in Queens under sensi Wisler for a few years before going to high school. After graduating high school he trained at Westchester judo club where he earned a black belt in 2006 at the age of 20. David found jungle gym brazilian jujitsu and mma club in 2010 where he trained for a year exposing him to bjj. In 2011 David moved to Albany to train under 4x Olympian and 1992 silver medalist Jason Morris at Jason Morris national training center. David developed his judo skill set for 4 years under Jason Morris rising up the national ranks to #2 in the country in the 66kg elite division after placing a silver medal in the 2015 US national competition and stopped competing on a national and international level. David entered the new york city fire department after that in 2015 and upon graduation was assigned to Engine 75 in the Bronx.  After battling with personal trauma and dealing with the passing of his father in 2018 David got back into pursuing his passion for judo and got back into bjj as a blue belt. In 2019 David formed @fdnygrappling team with @aviles_b4_train4life and @coachmanjarrez.  In 2019 he won the us national veterans title at 73kg, won gold at US open 73kg veterans and placed 3rd in China in the 2019 world police fire games 73kg division. David is currently a nidan (second degree black belt) in judo and a purple belt in bjj.  Aside from training and fellowshiping with over 100 members of the fdny grappling team David helps out as a sensi @totalformfitnessjudoclub with his good friend Leonardo Lopes and is currently assigned to the FDNY fitness unit where he trains probationary fire fighters to reach and maintain the physical standards to graduate the new york city fire department.