Alberto Crane was born on July 14, 1976, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and began his martial arts journey in his teenage years. What started as a passion quickly became a lifelong pursuit, shaping a career that would take him from small-town training mats to the world’s biggest stages in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts.

A pioneer in the American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu scene, Alberto was one of the first Americans to earn a black belt from the legendary Gracie Family in Brazil. Training under his world-class professor like Draculino and Carlos Gracie Jr. he immersed himself in the art’s roots, living and competing in Brazil to sharpen his skills.

In competition, Alberto made his mark by becoming a World Jiu-Jitsu Champion, ADCC veteran, and King of the Cage Lightweight World Champion. He also competed in the UFC, bringing his relentless grappling style to the global MMA spotlight.

After years of traveling and competing at the highest levels, Alberto shifted his focus to teaching, founding Legacy Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu now in Burbank, California. His vision was clear: create a place where anyone — from kids to seasoned athletes — could grow in skill, confidence, and character. Today, Legacy has expanded to multiple locations, fostering a worldwide network that reflects his commitment to community and excellence.

As the current CEO and partner of TACFIT, Alberto is also spreading cutting-edge functional fitness to martial arts and everyday life, helping people recover, rebuild, and perform at their best.

Over the years, Alberto has trained, mentored, and promoted countless students to black belt, many of whom have gone on to succeed in both competition and coaching. His approach blends discipline with compassion, always focusing on helping the “everyday student” unlock extraordinary potential.

Holding the rank of 6th-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Alberto continues to travel, teach seminars, and grow his global community. His legacy is built not only on titles and achievements, but on the lives he’s touched and the next generation of martial artists he continues to inspire.

Most recently, Alberto has been expanding his influence through his rapidly growing YouTube channel and The Alberto Crane Show podcast, where he shares conversations with some of the most inspiring figures in martial arts, fitness, and life. His mission remains the same — to teach, inspire, and lead by example, one mat session and one conversation at a time.