In 2003, after winning the under 145 lbs/66 kg North American trials as a brown belt, Bravo competed at the Abu-Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Submission Wrestling World Championship, a professional no-gi grappling competition. In 1999, Bravo earned a purple belt and began establishing his signature guard, the rubber guard.

Shortly after, he received a blue belt and developed ways to finish opponents with a 'Twister', a specific spinal lock submission hold. In 1998, Bravo decided to abandon practicing all other forms of martial arts and focus on jiu-jitsu. Bravo also attended a Jeet Kune Do academy from 1996 to 1998. Watching Royce Gracie win multiple Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events in the mid-1990s then inspired Bravo to become a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner which he began under the tutelage of Jean Jacques Machado.

After moving to Hollywood, California in 1991 to pursue a music career, Bravo took an interest in martial arts and began taking karate classes. Bravo first partook in grappling when he joined his high school's wrestling team. Born in Santa Ana, California, on May 15, 1970, to the birth name Edgar Cano, his last name was later legally changed to Bravo, the same as his stepfather.

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