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Introduce yourself - PART 3
6 year(s) ago • 180025 views • 532 replies
DSPurple beltVerifiedSerbia
5 year(s) ago
Welcome! My coach is actually Serbian American (Tony Lainovic). You don't see a ton of Serbian guys in BJJ. Glad you are here!
Well, we are steady growing...
To bad not a lot of guys from Serbia here, but Serbia has a strong scene, after 20 years, some teams are finally having more black belts in gyms. For example, my team, in small town in Serbia has 4 black belts training regularly...
More to come I guess!
Thanks for the warm welcome!
To bad not a lot of guys from Serbia here, but Serbia has a strong scene, after 20 years, some teams are finally having more black belts in gyms. For example, my team, in small town in Serbia has 4 black belts training regularly...
More to come I guess!
Thanks for the warm welcome!
DBrown beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi Everyone,
I've been fan of martial arts for over 20 years and dabbled in various different styles during that time. I've been most consistent since joining Fighting Fit Manchester and training under Martyn Cahill. I'm not an active competitor although I try to compete once in awhile but my main reason for training is to have confidence in self defence, keep fit and because I enjoy the sport.
I've been lucky enough to have been able to share the mats with some of my idols and also travel to some great gyms around the world. I hope to train and travel more once we're out of this pandemic :)
I've been fan of martial arts for over 20 years and dabbled in various different styles during that time. I've been most consistent since joining Fighting Fit Manchester and training under Martyn Cahill. I'm not an active competitor although I try to compete once in awhile but my main reason for training is to have confidence in self defence, keep fit and because I enjoy the sport.
I've been lucky enough to have been able to share the mats with some of my idols and also travel to some great gyms around the world. I hope to train and travel more once we're out of this pandemic :)
Edited 5 year(s) ago
DSPurple beltVerifiedSerbia
5 year(s) ago
Hi Everyone, I've been fan of martial arts for over 20 years and dabbled in various different styles during that time. I've been my consistent since joining Fighting Fit Manchester and training under Martyn Cahill. I'm not an active competitor although I am trying to compete more but my main reason for training is to grow my confidence for self defence, keep fit and because I enjoy the sport. I've been lucky enough to have been able to share the mats with some of my heroes and also travel to some great gyms around the world. I hope to train and travel more once we're out of this pandemic :)
Welcome fellow friend!
ILBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hello all, I'm Ian. I have been training BJJ formally since 2008, prior to which I grew up wrestling in Michigan and learned Army combatives. I moved and traveled alot during my younger years, so I had the oppurtunity to learn from some really awesome BJJ talent. Currently a brown belt, I am training under Mac Danzig in Bend, Oregon and teaching BJJ in the kimono at his academy. I am also training / teaching full time for the first time in my BJJ career, so I am super excited for 2021 and to get back to normal routines. Thanks to all who put this awesome platform together for BJJ practicioners. Peace!
CCBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hey guys. Chris Civello, Marcelo Garcia Black Belt, Judo Brown belt. Nice to meet you all. Please follow my instagram account https://www.instagram.com[...]sakurabjj/
for a bunch of free content. Come train with me if you are around Atlanta
for a bunch of free content. Come train with me if you are around Atlanta
Edited 5 year(s) ago
JABlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hey guys. Chris Civello, Marcelo Garcia Black Belt, Judo Brown belt. Nice to meet you all. Please follow my instagram account https://www.instagram.com[...]sakurabjj/ for a bunch of free content. Come train with me if you are around Atlanta
I'll be moving down in June for work after my son graduates HS. What school are you at sir?
MTA: clicked on the Instagram link and it's the school one, not a personal. Awesome, I look forward to visiting the school after I move down!
MTA: clicked on the Instagram link and it's the school one, not a personal. Awesome, I look forward to visiting the school after I move down!
Edited 5 year(s) ago
CCBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Sounds great! Come by anytime
RFPurple beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hello all,
I'm from Hamina, Finland. I might have some kind of world record or (at least) finnish record for losing 20 consecutive BJJ/ADCC/No-Gi competiton matches before first win. There were couple of walkovers but I didn´t count them as matches(victories). ;D There is also funny "coincidence" that there is only one competitor (Greger Forsell) in BJJ who has the same surname as I have and he is one of the best grapplers in Finland. :)
I trained first couple years Kimura Shukokai Karate before I decided want to train BJJ. I started my BJJ journey 2009, got my blue belt 2011 and purple 2015. Still enjoying training although last couple of years haven´t trained so much.
I'm from Hamina, Finland. I might have some kind of world record or (at least) finnish record for losing 20 consecutive BJJ/ADCC/No-Gi competiton matches before first win. There were couple of walkovers but I didn´t count them as matches(victories). ;D There is also funny "coincidence" that there is only one competitor (Greger Forsell) in BJJ who has the same surname as I have and he is one of the best grapplers in Finland. :)
I trained first couple years Kimura Shukokai Karate before I decided want to train BJJ. I started my BJJ journey 2009, got my blue belt 2011 and purple 2015. Still enjoying training although last couple of years haven´t trained so much.
CCBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Sounds great! Come by anytime
JMPurple beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
What’s sup people. Glad to be here! My name is Jesus but everyone calls me Zeus. I’m on my black belt journey as so many other people lol..I’m a white belt but not for long lol.
MKBlue beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi @all,
Back in the day (in my Prime) i´ve mostly had to travel all around Europe to get some basic jits. It definitely got much easier, when i visited one of the first BJJ Globetrotter Camps in Copenhagen/DK and met some of the kindest guys around. Unfortunately after a major neck injury i´d lost my focus on my BJJ journey, so it took a while to get my a** back in the game.
i´m currently training in a small town in eastern Germany together with a loose bunch of maniacs.
Back in the day (in my Prime) i´ve mostly had to travel all around Europe to get some basic jits. It definitely got much easier, when i visited one of the first BJJ Globetrotter Camps in Copenhagen/DK and met some of the kindest guys around. Unfortunately after a major neck injury i´d lost my focus on my BJJ journey, so it took a while to get my a** back in the game.
i´m currently training in a small town in eastern Germany together with a loose bunch of maniacs.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
PCBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Awesome hearing everyone's stories , we really belong to an amazing martial art.
My Name is Paul Cunningham, I'm 43, from Durban South Africa and a Brown Belt under Nic Gregoriades of the Jiu Jitsu Brotherhood.
I started this journey way back in 2008 and I have to say Jiu Jitsu saved my life.
In the early days of South African jiu jitsu there weren't a lot of guys that could grade you, neither were there many competitions. That is largely what lead me to MMA, a place to go and test my Jiu Jitsu. As am amateur I was 7 and 0 with 6 submission wins and 1 KO. As a Pro I went 5 and 2 with 5 submission wins. Here is my Pro MMA record on Tapology - https://www.tapology.com/[...]am-ice-man
Right now my focus is not so much on competing, but rather teaching and growing the next generation. I do this as the head coach and owner of War Fork Jiu Jitsu Academy in Durban. We small, but we are growing.
My Name is Paul Cunningham, I'm 43, from Durban South Africa and a Brown Belt under Nic Gregoriades of the Jiu Jitsu Brotherhood.
I started this journey way back in 2008 and I have to say Jiu Jitsu saved my life.
In the early days of South African jiu jitsu there weren't a lot of guys that could grade you, neither were there many competitions. That is largely what lead me to MMA, a place to go and test my Jiu Jitsu. As am amateur I was 7 and 0 with 6 submission wins and 1 KO. As a Pro I went 5 and 2 with 5 submission wins. Here is my Pro MMA record on Tapology - https://www.tapology.com/[...]am-ice-man
Right now my focus is not so much on competing, but rather teaching and growing the next generation. I do this as the head coach and owner of War Fork Jiu Jitsu Academy in Durban. We small, but we are growing.
JMPurple beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hey guys. Chris Civello, Marcelo Garcia Black Belt, Judo Brown belt. Nice to meet you all. Please follow my instagram account https://www.instagram.com[...]sakurabjj/ for a bunch of free content. Come train with me if you are around Atlanta
What’s sup brother Osu just followed the Instagram
BSBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi everybody my name is Ben Smith and I started training 9 years ago at 303 training center in Westminster Colorado under professor Tony Basile. I quickly fell in love with the art and once I earned my blue belt I was given the honor of teaching intro classes to new prospective students. I really loved this as it gave me the opportunity to meet people right as they were beginning their journey and I got to see them grow. Eventually I started teaching regular classes and I loved how that forced me to really analyze the techniques we were working on.
I competed several times between white and brown belt but it was never really my thing, but I did really enjoy coaching our students.
In November I was awarded my black belt from professor Basile and soon thereafter I moved to Bend Oregon where and started training with Mac Danzig at Danzig MMA. I'm really happy and grateful to have the opportunity to continue learning under such a great teacher and with an awesome team!
I competed several times between white and brown belt but it was never really my thing, but I did really enjoy coaching our students.
In November I was awarded my black belt from professor Basile and soon thereafter I moved to Bend Oregon where and started training with Mac Danzig at Danzig MMA. I'm really happy and grateful to have the opportunity to continue learning under such a great teacher and with an awesome team!
Edited 5 year(s) ago
JJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hello friends,
First, a Thank you is in order to everyone on here that is building the BJJ Community. BJJ has impacted my life in such a fantastic way I couldn't imagine a life without its lessons.
I started training at an MMA gym run by former UFC competitor Dave Stasser in 2000. I had a break of about 4 years and then found it again with the Godfather of BJJ in Milwaukee Henry Matamoros. After about a year and a half I had another small break and Joined with a guy named Jon "white trach" Friedland who was starting his own school.
His culture of training, his craziness, and what I soon found to be wisdom has got me to stay with him since. While I just trained no-gi because I was an idiot my first few years, I began to learn the language of Jiu Jitsu. Once I started to learn the language I wanted every opportunity to practice it. I started training in the gi, coaching in 2012 and the addiction has kept on growing. I earned my BJJ black belt from Jon on February 11th, 2021.
As I read these stories, I am reminded of a phrase that I share in my classes. Everybody's journey is different. If you have started and stopped, got injured or stayed healthy, or are in good shape or not. Your narrative as a practitioner isn't over until you say it is or death. Enjoy that journey. I hope to run across any one of you on the mats, to be a positive beacon on your journey.
~Josh
First, a Thank you is in order to everyone on here that is building the BJJ Community. BJJ has impacted my life in such a fantastic way I couldn't imagine a life without its lessons.
I started training at an MMA gym run by former UFC competitor Dave Stasser in 2000. I had a break of about 4 years and then found it again with the Godfather of BJJ in Milwaukee Henry Matamoros. After about a year and a half I had another small break and Joined with a guy named Jon "white trach" Friedland who was starting his own school.
His culture of training, his craziness, and what I soon found to be wisdom has got me to stay with him since. While I just trained no-gi because I was an idiot my first few years, I began to learn the language of Jiu Jitsu. Once I started to learn the language I wanted every opportunity to practice it. I started training in the gi, coaching in 2012 and the addiction has kept on growing. I earned my BJJ black belt from Jon on February 11th, 2021.
As I read these stories, I am reminded of a phrase that I share in my classes. Everybody's journey is different. If you have started and stopped, got injured or stayed healthy, or are in good shape or not. Your narrative as a practitioner isn't over until you say it is or death. Enjoy that journey. I hope to run across any one of you on the mats, to be a positive beacon on your journey.
~Josh
SPBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hey guys, my name is Sandro Pasagic. I first began training judo in 2009 at my local college club. Some of the guys were also cross training BJJ and so my journey began. 10+ years later I am currently a black belt under Israel Gomes and Adam Gomez. I teach 3 classes per week at Georgetown MMA. I have competed extensively in BJJ (including Fight to Win Pro, Submission Hunter, Sapateiro). I have also trained and competed in several other grappling arts such as judo, folk wrestling, and sport sambo. I am currently in medical school so hardcore training has taken a backseat but I still make it out to the gym consistently (somehow).
Edit: Forgot to attach a picture, but there are several on my profile.
Edit: Forgot to attach a picture, but there are several on my profile.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
LMBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hi Guys,
My name is Luke McCarron, I run a small Dojo in Broken Hill, NSW, Australia. I started BJJ with a friend back in about 1996 on and off with a few matts in a back shed. We eventually patched with a club about 4 Hours down the road Mildura Martial Arts under the guidance of Mick Moloney . I was upgraded to Brown Belt a couple of weeks ago wich is a massive step for our little club and more importantly our students progression. I have trained in other styles including Karate (Shodan), Kali, Boxing (Ammateur Only), Kudo/Jisen Budo (Sempai), Kinetic Fighting Integrated Combat (Grey). I'm a bit of a jack of all master of none.
Looking forward to networking and engaging in the forums and learning as much as I can from the experience gathered here to continue to devolop as a Martial Artist.
My name is Luke McCarron, I run a small Dojo in Broken Hill, NSW, Australia. I started BJJ with a friend back in about 1996 on and off with a few matts in a back shed. We eventually patched with a club about 4 Hours down the road Mildura Martial Arts under the guidance of Mick Moloney . I was upgraded to Brown Belt a couple of weeks ago wich is a massive step for our little club and more importantly our students progression. I have trained in other styles including Karate (Shodan), Kali, Boxing (Ammateur Only), Kudo/Jisen Budo (Sempai), Kinetic Fighting Integrated Combat (Grey). I'm a bit of a jack of all master of none.
Looking forward to networking and engaging in the forums and learning as much as I can from the experience gathered here to continue to devolop as a Martial Artist.
IBBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hey guys, my name is Sandro Pasagic. I first began training judo in 2009 at my local college club. Some of the guys were also cross training BJJ and so my journey began. 10+ years later I am currently a black belt under Israel Gomes and Adam Gomez. I teach 3 classes per week at Georgetown MMA. I have competed extensively in BJJ (including Fight to Win Pro, Submission Hunter, Sapateiro). I have also trained and competed in several other grappling arts such as judo, folk wrestling, and sport sambo. I am currently in medical school so hardcore training has taken a backseat but I still make it out to the gym consistently (somehow). Edit: Forgot to attach a picture, but there are several on my profile.
I was on submission hunter pro 1, 3 and 52. Great times!
IBBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Howdy y’all! Training down here in Houston (Hockley/Cypress) Texas (we just got 4 inches of snow and the entire infrastructure collapsed, but we survive hurricanes) and just got over the Rona. Cardio is being challenged after lots of fever, coughing, aches and pains and generally bad flu like conditions. But I started training at Houston Grappling Academy under Art Alvarado (Caique black belt), and when that closed headed over to my current gym with my original brown belt coach that was now a black belt. He promoted me purple-black. We are an affiliate of BTT through our black belt black belt Darren McCall out in Humble. He is under Diego out in San Antonio. I started with a dream of being the cage fighting champion, and thought I would knock this jitsu crap out of the way in a few months. My original coach said he would never bring someone to a fight without a blue belt so I hunkered down and started to train. Our gym was dying so many times it was just a few of us 4-6 times a week. By the time I got my blue belt I started to train in the cage. I broke my orbital and my nose and suffered like 3 concussions and decided that was enough. I loved jitsu too much to stop training all the time for a broken brain or a face. We started Big Jitsu here in Houston. It is a (pre covid) quarterly open mat at gyms around town for only 200 lbs and up. That started my gypsy jitsu ways and opened so many doors to cross train at. I just got done training right now at a GB gym. Heading to a Carlos Machado gym tomorrow morning while my gym is waiting for all the pipes to thaw and get it’s plumbing back up and working.
I love this jitsu stuff!!!
I love this jitsu stuff!!!
MMBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hello everyone, my name is Marco, I'm Portuguese. I started training jiu jitsu in 2012 at Gracie Barra.
I had a stint in Karate as a child, later I went to Muai Thay. Today I am a purple belt by professor Alexandre Machado and I am a co-owner of AMA JIU JITSU TEAM SINTRA.
In my journey I had some stops due to injury and professional issues. In 2016 I received the blue belt I was practically 2 years without training, in 2018 I started training 4 times a week and in January 2021 I received the purple belt. I increasingly see my path in jiu jitsu as a process of learning and overcoming. thank you all.
I had a stint in Karate as a child, later I went to Muai Thay. Today I am a purple belt by professor Alexandre Machado and I am a co-owner of AMA JIU JITSU TEAM SINTRA.
In my journey I had some stops due to injury and professional issues. In 2016 I received the blue belt I was practically 2 years without training, in 2018 I started training 4 times a week and in January 2021 I received the purple belt. I increasingly see my path in jiu jitsu as a process of learning and overcoming. thank you all.
VCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hello everyone, my name is Marco, I'm Portuguese. I started training jiu jitsu in 2012 at Gracie Barra. I had a stint in Karate as a child, later I went to Muai Thay. Today I am a purple belt by professor Alexandre Machado and I am a co-owner of AMA JIU JITSU TEAM SINTRA. In my journey I had some stops due to injury and professional issues. In 2016 I received the blue belt I was practically 2 years without training, in 2018 I started training 4 times a week and in January 2021 I received the purple belt. I increasingly see my path in jiu jitsu as a process of learning and overcoming. thank you all.
Bem-vindo!
AGBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Greetings everyone! I am Tony a US Navy veteran and BTT Brown Belt under Marcello Bergo Salazar in Jacksonville, FL. I started training in 2008 after a back surgery. I was going through physical therapy and having little breakthrough and a friend invited me to come out and watch him and some buddies train out in one guys garage. After watching for a while my friend invited me on the mat to try and he carefully went double unders from my guard and started to lightly stack all that muscle and scar tissue finally released and I felt amazing I was addicted and have been training ever since. Due to injuries , military deployments and having 2 little ones over the last few years i have been away from competing , later this month I will be competing in Gi in the Orlando Open for the first time since December 2013. It should be a lot of fun. If you ever in the Jacksonville, FL area and need a place a train come join us at BTT JAX. Nice to meet everyone and have a great day! OSS!
Edited 5 year(s) ago
DKBrown beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hey guys,
Danny here. I'm a 10th Planet purple belt under Jeremy Fields from 10th Planet Corona.
I'm training at 10th Planet Dublin in Ireland.
I started in martial arts in 2001, in the Bujinkan. Trained for about 3 years, and stopped due to relocation.
In 2012, a friend of mine persuaded me to come to his jiujitsu class. Thought I was gonna be hot shit, but I got smashed. Did about 2 years in the gi, then transitioned to 10th Planet when I met my coach Jeremy.
We're closed in Ireland for the next while, can't wait to get back to it
Danny here. I'm a 10th Planet purple belt under Jeremy Fields from 10th Planet Corona.
I'm training at 10th Planet Dublin in Ireland.
I started in martial arts in 2001, in the Bujinkan. Trained for about 3 years, and stopped due to relocation.
In 2012, a friend of mine persuaded me to come to his jiujitsu class. Thought I was gonna be hot shit, but I got smashed. Did about 2 years in the gi, then transitioned to 10th Planet when I met my coach Jeremy.
We're closed in Ireland for the next while, can't wait to get back to it
NTBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Hello all!
I’m Nick and I dig the mission of this site. I was exposed to the early UFCs where Royce dominated, but I was intent on training Kung fu at the time. It wasn’t until college when I was sparring with a tae kwon do friend (who didn’t even study grappling) and he put me in a RNC. I immediately knew I needed to change course. To this day I don’t regret my 15 years of TMA training since it taught me how to regulate my breathing and all that horse stance gave me a decent base.
I started under Joe Guido (Caique Elias black belt) in 2006 in Philadelphia http://graciephila.com/4_[...]ctors.html who promoted me to blue belt (2008).
Due to my graduate studies I moved around a bit. I ended up in Washington DC and studied for three years (2010-2013) under Master Leo Dalla https://www.bjjheroes.com[...]leo-dalla#
Then I moved to New York and found my current Professor Ailson “Jucao” Brites https://www.bjjheroes.com[...]on-brites# who promoted me to purple belt (2014), then brown belt (2016), and then black belt (2018)
My teaching chops are still pretty fresh. Prior to the pandemic, I would teach occasionally when my professor was absent. I like mixing up my classes with scenario based training like having someone throw in gloves and try to lightly hit the other person from a position.
Being in NYC, COVID hit us hard in 2020. I got covid and then after I recovered, I worked in a hospital through the first surge in the Bronx as a healthcare provider. It’s been a year since I’ve trained. I’ve been watching instructionals, doing virtual classes with my kids and teaching them little bits.
Looking forward to training again when covid is under control
I’m Nick and I dig the mission of this site. I was exposed to the early UFCs where Royce dominated, but I was intent on training Kung fu at the time. It wasn’t until college when I was sparring with a tae kwon do friend (who didn’t even study grappling) and he put me in a RNC. I immediately knew I needed to change course. To this day I don’t regret my 15 years of TMA training since it taught me how to regulate my breathing and all that horse stance gave me a decent base.
I started under Joe Guido (Caique Elias black belt) in 2006 in Philadelphia http://graciephila.com/4_[...]ctors.html who promoted me to blue belt (2008).
Due to my graduate studies I moved around a bit. I ended up in Washington DC and studied for three years (2010-2013) under Master Leo Dalla https://www.bjjheroes.com[...]leo-dalla#
Then I moved to New York and found my current Professor Ailson “Jucao” Brites https://www.bjjheroes.com[...]on-brites# who promoted me to purple belt (2014), then brown belt (2016), and then black belt (2018)
My teaching chops are still pretty fresh. Prior to the pandemic, I would teach occasionally when my professor was absent. I like mixing up my classes with scenario based training like having someone throw in gloves and try to lightly hit the other person from a position.
Being in NYC, COVID hit us hard in 2020. I got covid and then after I recovered, I worked in a hospital through the first surge in the Bronx as a healthcare provider. It’s been a year since I’ve trained. I’ve been watching instructionals, doing virtual classes with my kids and teaching them little bits.
Looking forward to training again when covid is under control
MCBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Good morning,
I am new to the site. I have an elite level background in judo on the world level as well as in Sambo. Currently a pro MMA fighter and may be heading to the next Commonwealth Games for freestyle wrestling.
I split my training between a number of clubs and styles.
Looking forward to attending some camps.
My history and credentials are in my profile.
I am new to the site. I have an elite level background in judo on the world level as well as in Sambo. Currently a pro MMA fighter and may be heading to the next Commonwealth Games for freestyle wrestling.
I split my training between a number of clubs and styles.
Looking forward to attending some camps.
My history and credentials are in my profile.
MCBlack beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Another two of my fights that I was unable to upload to my profile.
https://www.youtube.com/w[...]amp;t=230s
https://www.youtube.com/w[...]amp;t=295s
https://www.youtube.com/w[...]amp;t=230s
https://www.youtube.com/w[...]amp;t=295s
JCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Morning everyone!
I started training BJJ in 2000, eventually getting my black belt in 2013, and am now a 2nd degree BB. Got into grappling when training JKD at Bob Breen's school in London in 1998 (using my student grant money to pay for membership rather that it going on my degree!), and when I graduated in 2000 I decided to go all in with the grappling and do BJJ. And of course I had been watching early MMA and seeing Royce, Renzo, Ralph etc smash everyone with grappling. I had realised during my JKD training that while I liked the stand-up, I much preferred the groundwork and it didn't need the same athleticism - takedown, get on top, submit!
Started my BJJ at the Tokei Gym near London Bridge with Eder Chagas (brown belt at the time), it was under the Anaconda umbrella headed up by Chen Moraes (Chen is now based in Barcelona). Eder then moved to France (where he now runs Triangulo BJJ) and handed the classes over to Ronaldo Campos (brown belt). Ronaldo was joined by Eduardo Carriello, and the two ran the club under the Brazilian Top Team banner (their instructor Ze Marcelo was a BTT member). I got my blue belt in spring 2003. Ronaldo then left to move to the US (where he now runs Fenix BJJ) and Eduardo then took over the school. Eduardo eventually got his black belt from Ze Marcelo, and then as things tend to happen, the school split to stand under Eduardo alone.
I left the club in 2008 (still as a blue belt)and joined the newly founded BJJ School in South London under Felipe Souza (BB under Leao Teixeira from Gavea JJ). Felipe had been one of the main instructors at Roger Gracie's school, but had left in early 2008 to start his own place. I joined in mid 2008, and within a few months was helping teach the kids classes. Got my purple in summer 2009 (Felipe had wanted to give it to me in Dec 2008, but thought I had registered to fight at blue at the IBJJF Euros - I hadn't and then he felt bad that he hadn't promoted me!), then my brown in Nov 2011, and finally black belt in July 2013.
Due to back injuries and life in general I was training less and less at BJJ School (now known as New School BJJ after Felipe's departure in 2015) and more with Michael Russell (Odyssey BJJ/MMA Clinic) as it was closer to home. I had met Mike years before when he was part of the early days of BJJ School, and had always enjoyed training with him. He had left BJJ School in 2009 and I would occasionally pop up and train at his place, and when in 2015 he opened up a new location near me, I started training there more and less at New School. So that where I am now!
Oh, and some might recognise my screen name from the UG, or for UK peeps EFN and before that SFUK - Sir Tapsalot (or Sir Taps on the UG)
I started training BJJ in 2000, eventually getting my black belt in 2013, and am now a 2nd degree BB. Got into grappling when training JKD at Bob Breen's school in London in 1998 (using my student grant money to pay for membership rather that it going on my degree!), and when I graduated in 2000 I decided to go all in with the grappling and do BJJ. And of course I had been watching early MMA and seeing Royce, Renzo, Ralph etc smash everyone with grappling. I had realised during my JKD training that while I liked the stand-up, I much preferred the groundwork and it didn't need the same athleticism - takedown, get on top, submit!
Started my BJJ at the Tokei Gym near London Bridge with Eder Chagas (brown belt at the time), it was under the Anaconda umbrella headed up by Chen Moraes (Chen is now based in Barcelona). Eder then moved to France (where he now runs Triangulo BJJ) and handed the classes over to Ronaldo Campos (brown belt). Ronaldo was joined by Eduardo Carriello, and the two ran the club under the Brazilian Top Team banner (their instructor Ze Marcelo was a BTT member). I got my blue belt in spring 2003. Ronaldo then left to move to the US (where he now runs Fenix BJJ) and Eduardo then took over the school. Eduardo eventually got his black belt from Ze Marcelo, and then as things tend to happen, the school split to stand under Eduardo alone.
I left the club in 2008 (still as a blue belt)and joined the newly founded BJJ School in South London under Felipe Souza (BB under Leao Teixeira from Gavea JJ). Felipe had been one of the main instructors at Roger Gracie's school, but had left in early 2008 to start his own place. I joined in mid 2008, and within a few months was helping teach the kids classes. Got my purple in summer 2009 (Felipe had wanted to give it to me in Dec 2008, but thought I had registered to fight at blue at the IBJJF Euros - I hadn't and then he felt bad that he hadn't promoted me!), then my brown in Nov 2011, and finally black belt in July 2013.
Due to back injuries and life in general I was training less and less at BJJ School (now known as New School BJJ after Felipe's departure in 2015) and more with Michael Russell (Odyssey BJJ/MMA Clinic) as it was closer to home. I had met Mike years before when he was part of the early days of BJJ School, and had always enjoyed training with him. He had left BJJ School in 2009 and I would occasionally pop up and train at his place, and when in 2015 he opened up a new location near me, I started training there more and less at New School. So that where I am now!
Oh, and some might recognise my screen name from the UG, or for UK peeps EFN and before that SFUK - Sir Tapsalot (or Sir Taps on the UG)
Edited 5 year(s) ago
![Slideyfoot [jun]](userimg/5e25cf311adfd.jpg){kind=small}
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Morning everyone! I started training BJJ in 2000, eventually getting my black belt in 2013, and am now a 2nd degree BB. Got into grappling when training JKD at Bob Breen's school in London in 1998 (using my student grant money to pay for membership rather that it going on my degree!), and when I graduated in 2000 I decided to go all in with the grappling and do BJJ. And of course I had been watching early MMA and seeing Royce, Renzo, Ralph etc smash everyone with grappling. I had realised during my JKD training that while I liked the stand-up, I much preferred the groundwork and it didn't need the same athleticism - takedown, get on top, submit! Started my BJJ at the Tokei Gym near London Bridge with Eder Chagas (brown belt at the time), it was under the Anaconda umbrella headed up by Chen Moraes (Chen is now based in Barcelona). Eder then moved to France (where he now runs Triangulo BJJ) and handed the classes over to Ronaldo Campos (brown belt). Ronaldo was joined by Eduardo Carriello, and the two ran the club under the Brazilian Top Team banner (their instructor Ze Marcelo was a BTT member). I got my blue belt in spring 2003. Ronaldo then left to move to the US (where he now runs Fenix BJJ) and Eduardo then took over the school. Eduardo eventually got his black belt from Ze Marcelo, and then as things tend to happen, the school split to stand under Eduardo alone. I left the club in 2008 (still as a blue belt)and joined the newly founded BJJ School in South London under Felipe Souza (BB under Leao Teixeira from Gavea JJ). Felipe had been one of the main instructors at Roger Gracie's school, but had left in early 2008 to start his own place. I joined in mid 2008, and within a few months was helping teach the kids classes. Got my purple in summer 2009 (Felipe had wanted to give it to me in Dec 2008, but thought I had registered to fight at blue at the IBJJF Euros - I hadn't and then he felt bad that he hadn't promoted me!), then my brown in Nov 2011, and finally black belt in July 2013. Due to back injuries and life in general I was training less and less at BJJ School (now known as New School BJJ after Felipe's departure in 2015) and more with Michael Russell (Odyssey BJJ/MMA Clinic) as it was closer to home. I had met Mike years before when he was part of the early days of BJJ School, and had always enjoyed training with him. He had left BJJ School in 2009 and I would occasionally pop up and train at his place, and when in 2015 he opened up a new location near me, I started training there more and less at New School. So that where I am now! Oh, and some might recognise my screen name from the UG, or for UK peeps EFN and before that SFUK - Sir Tapsalot (or Sir Taps on the UG)
Nice to see you finally filled out your profile, James! :D
JCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Nice to see you finally filled out your profile, James! :D
Ha, only took what, 18 months or so? Hopefully in another 18 months I'll be verified!
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
It would be helpful if you added some photos to your profile. It will make it easier for folks to vote for you. Cheers
Ha, only took what, 18 months or so? Hopefully in another 18 months I'll be verified!
It would be helpful if you added some photos to your profile. It will make it easier for folks to vote for you. Cheers
