Sensei Diaz started practicing Goju Ryu and Zen Kenpo Do Karate in which he holds the rank of 1st Dan at the age of 12 (1974) and began training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2004 and currently holds the rank of purple belt. Sensei Diaz has participated in many state and national tournaments and has won awards that include the 1978 International Shoto Kan Championship, the 2009 Pan American Senior Heavy Weight and Open (Absolute) Jiu Jitsu Gold medals (2), and Gold medals at the 2007 and 2008 US Jiu Jitsu Nationals. He studies Jiu Jitsu under 3rd Degree Black Belt Gustavo Dantas, and Karate under 10th Degree Black Belt and Master Ruben Font.