Professional qualified instructors, ready to provide you with the best training experience.
- Yearly Instructor Certification Program (ICP)
- First Aid & CPR
- Blue Card/Children Check
2019 IBJJF Pan Pacific NoGi Champion - Weight & Open Weight
2019 IBJJF Pan Pacific Silver & Bronze - Weight & Open Weight
2019 IBJJF Sydney Open GI & NoGi Champion Weight and Open weight
2019 NSW State Championship Gi - Open Weight Champion
2019 NSW State Championship NoGi Champion
2018 IBJJF Pan Pacific Silver Medallist
2018 NSW State Champion
UAEJJF Australia National Pro Champion
2017 IBJJF Pan Pacific Champion
Now I can say Jiu-Jitsu is the centre of my life. I refer to all situations through the lessons I learned through Jiu-Jitsu. It is my sport, my therapy and where I made my best friends. I couldn't live without Jiu-Jitsu in my life!
"Reality is created by the mind. We can change our reality by changing our mind."
- Plato
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, sports, camping and self-education through podcasts and books.
I had an early start with sports in my life, starting with swimming when I was 1 year old, and Judo when I was 6 years old, but I had to stop as I moved suburbs.
When I was 20, a friend invited me to try Jiu-Jitsu and fell in love with it.
After a long break, and moving to Australia, I realised there was a Gracie Barra near where I lived.
10 years later, and I'm training under Prof. Marcelo Rezende and following his path to become the guidance and Jiu-Jitsu teacher he has been for me. This is my dream, and my purpose is to help people through Jiu-Jitsu.
Here at Gracie Barra Wollongong, we have strong camaraderie and a welcoming environment. For me, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is an inclusive martial art. It helps individuals reach their goals, whether improving their fitness, learning effective self-defence techniques, or competing. It is also an activity where lifelong friendships are formed.
“Creativity takes courage”
- Henri Matisse
Brazilian jiu-jitsu, visual arts, high school teaching and philosophy.
I started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the beginning of 2013 at the age of 15. In 2017, I started coaching jiu-jitsu primarily by assisting and leading the three children programs. Since 2018, I have also been actively involved in helping teach the adult classes. Outside of this martial art, I am an artist and a visual arts high school teacher.
Coming from a background of different combat sports, BJJ for me is a truly accessible and effective martial art available to people of all shapes and sizes, interests and imperatives. One of the most rewarding things about stepping into a Gracie Barra school is the broad spectrum of people you encounter on the mats. Young and old, female and male, tall and short, blue collar white collar, veteran and beginner. In many ways BJJ facilitates a tribal like environment seldom seen in today’s age of skyscrapers and isolated apartment blocks. Personal ego is left at the door and an aspiration for collective improvement takes its place. The mats are an incubator for human potential, BJJ is a vehicle for self-improvement and a circuit breaker for limiting beliefs. A swiss army knife that ticks physical, social, emotional and mental boxes. The tool you want in your pocket on the path towards integrated human well-being.
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm”
- Winston Churchill
Reading, Freediving, Poetry, Language learning, Meditation
I’ve been training at Gracie Barra for the previous two years and competed under the Gracie Red Shield at 4 different jiujitsu tournaments during this time. I’ve trained at Gracie HQ in Sydney, Gracie Barra Blacktown, and Gracie Barra Shellharbour.
BJJ has taught me to be strong and independent. Before joining GB I had never done any sport and I would be too afraid to go and try anything new on my own. I now love coming to class and exercising whilst spending time with my friends in the gym. BJJ has allowed me to challenge myself mentally and physically by competing and pushing myself to be a better person.
“I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you”
- Samwise Gamgee
BJJ, spending time with my dog and going to trivia nights.
I have always loved watching martial arts but never had the guts to go and try it. My partner moved away for work and I was stressed during the university exam period so I thought it was the perfect time to procrastinate. I went in for a trial and became BJJ obsessed and the rest is history!