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How did BJJ start in your country?
3 year(s) ago • 2132 views • 21 replies
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
A bit inspired by Johan’s post about the first European Championships, I was thinking of all the stories there must be about how BJJ got started in the different countries. It’s often the work of a few passionate trailblazers who can grow a brand new sport in an entire country.
I’ll write the story of Denmark once I’m near a keyboard but meanwhile, let’s hear your country’s!
I’ll write the story of Denmark once I’m near a keyboard but meanwhile, let’s hear your country’s!
JVBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Here in the states, it’s my understanding that Carley Gracie came first in the early 70s, followed by Rorian about six years later where he established an academy ( in a garage maybe?) in CA. Rorian told me a story once about how he and his brothers had so little money, that one of them stood on the corner asking for help, and another Gracie on the other side of the street would pretend not to know him but would tell people “that guys seems like a good guy, you should help him out.” Lol It was tough for them to convince people at first about the effectiveness of jiu Jitsu because at the time Bruce lee was popular, and people were enamored by the Hollywood hype surrounding that. Come 1993 the world saw UFC 1 and the rest is known history. Gracies purposely put Royce in there because he was the smallest and younger, and would make a better demonstration than if Rickson would have gone in there and wrecked motherfuckers. Haha
Edited 3 year(s) ago
JMBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
In the tiny country of Estonia:
In ca 2000-2001 a Wing Tsun teacher named Priit Mihkelson was interested in "real fighting".
He stumbled upon bootlegs of early UFCs, Gracies in Action etc.
He started dabbling in grappling with some of his students, notable of whom from that time...
...one was Martin Aedma who was the first ever person in Estonia to say "F this Wing Tsun crap, I'mma stick with grappling." Martin became the first Estonian BJJ BB in 2010.
...other was Indrek Reiland who moved to another town (Tartu) post high-school graduation together with his friend Jorgen who as an Aikido nerd was also interested in "real fighting". Together they officially founded the first BJJ & MMA club in Estonia in 2004. Which was followed in 2005 by 2nd club in Estonia (in Tallinn) founded by Priit.
In 2004 partly by happenstance partly by us also having found early SBG videos (public clips, Functional JKD etc) Indrek went to Matt Thornton seminar in UK where he was also awarded his bluebelt. Thus we were taken under the wing of SBGi (which lasted for more than 10 years, unfortunately growing cold in 2016 due organisational politics, but we owe Matt, John and Karl (RIP) a lot). SBGi was also where we first met Christian Graugart in late 2004 (?).
Also quickly we built good relationship with the Finns, who were about 10+ years ahead of us and one of the now blackbelts Robert Tomingas had started his career in Sweden / Finland (Hilti affiliation). Shoutouts to Juuso, Sammi, Janne, Joachim, Toni and many others who were very welcoming to us poor Estonians :)
By that time Priit, Indrek, Martin, myself and several others were for years and years young eager minds who lived an breathed not only jiu jitsu but also MMA. Spending countless hours not only on the mats but also in forums (UG, Sherdog), studying instructionals etc etc trying to think about not only the best ways to DO but also to TEACH combat sports.
I guess that's it. :)
In ca 2000-2001 a Wing Tsun teacher named Priit Mihkelson was interested in "real fighting".
He stumbled upon bootlegs of early UFCs, Gracies in Action etc.
He started dabbling in grappling with some of his students, notable of whom from that time...
...one was Martin Aedma who was the first ever person in Estonia to say "F this Wing Tsun crap, I'mma stick with grappling." Martin became the first Estonian BJJ BB in 2010.
...other was Indrek Reiland who moved to another town (Tartu) post high-school graduation together with his friend Jorgen who as an Aikido nerd was also interested in "real fighting". Together they officially founded the first BJJ & MMA club in Estonia in 2004. Which was followed in 2005 by 2nd club in Estonia (in Tallinn) founded by Priit.
In 2004 partly by happenstance partly by us also having found early SBG videos (public clips, Functional JKD etc) Indrek went to Matt Thornton seminar in UK where he was also awarded his bluebelt. Thus we were taken under the wing of SBGi (which lasted for more than 10 years, unfortunately growing cold in 2016 due organisational politics, but we owe Matt, John and Karl (RIP) a lot). SBGi was also where we first met Christian Graugart in late 2004 (?).
Also quickly we built good relationship with the Finns, who were about 10+ years ahead of us and one of the now blackbelts Robert Tomingas had started his career in Sweden / Finland (Hilti affiliation). Shoutouts to Juuso, Sammi, Janne, Joachim, Toni and many others who were very welcoming to us poor Estonians :)
By that time Priit, Indrek, Martin, myself and several others were for years and years young eager minds who lived an breathed not only jiu jitsu but also MMA. Spending countless hours not only on the mats but also in forums (UG, Sherdog), studying instructionals etc etc trying to think about not only the best ways to DO but also to TEACH combat sports.
I guess that's it. :)
Edited 3 year(s) ago
JABlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
That is so cool to actual talk to folks who were (or in Chris Hauter's case met) people who were in on the ground floor of this martial art.
In my case I've only studied what is considered "younger/young" traditional martial arts as in kenpo Karate, Judo and BJJ so it's possible to meet founders or people instrumental in spreading it .
Kudos to all of you
In my case I've only studied what is considered "younger/young" traditional martial arts as in kenpo Karate, Judo and BJJ so it's possible to meet founders or people instrumental in spreading it .
Kudos to all of you
DBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Canada is huge so regionally I think it was Marcus Soares in the West, Sylvio Behring central, and Wagney Fabiano in the East. I think there might have been a Royce Gracie seminar or two prior to that but I would credit those 3 for starting BJJ here. Also there were guys like Mark Bocek and Shane Rice who were the Canadian OGs but they didn't get most of their training in Canada.
Also, this topic might get "controversial" as people will have different opinions on roots ... so let the drama begin :) I kid I kid.
Also, this topic might get "controversial" as people will have different opinions on roots ... so let the drama begin :) I kid I kid.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
JVBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Part II:
It is also notable to add, that during the time the Gracies were establishing jiu Jitsu in CA, Pedro Sauer, a close friend of the Gracie family had achieved his black belt from Helio in 1985 and later moved to CA. In 1990 he relocated to Utah and established Gracie jiu Jitsu there. From there, some of his students spread out, one of them most notably was Allen Hopkins (currently the highest ranking black belt from Pedro), who now currently has over 30 affiliates (Team Hopkins) in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and a few other states. Both Allen and Pedro were ringside at UFC 1 and 2 to support Royce and the Gracie team.
It is also notable to add, that during the time the Gracies were establishing jiu Jitsu in CA, Pedro Sauer, a close friend of the Gracie family had achieved his black belt from Helio in 1985 and later moved to CA. In 1990 he relocated to Utah and established Gracie jiu Jitsu there. From there, some of his students spread out, one of them most notably was Allen Hopkins (currently the highest ranking black belt from Pedro), who now currently has over 30 affiliates (Team Hopkins) in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and a few other states. Both Allen and Pedro were ringside at UFC 1 and 2 to support Royce and the Gracie team.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
PBBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
First off, I want to say that history always has several sides and variations. This is based on stories I have heard from people I know. Sorry if I left something out - in a small country like Norway, it is possible that John Doe or "Ola Nordmann" that we call him, left to Los Angeles or Rio in 1992 and started with the sport, and maybe tried to continue back in his village. I will start this story from a Oslo (capitol city) perspective.
Norway:
I don`t know who was the first to introduce BJJ to Norway, but you can pretty much say that the scene started circa 1997 with the man Richard Bohlenius; https://www.sherdog.com/f[...]enius-3801
He is also considered to be one of the founding fathers for the MMA/BJJ Scene in Sweden. He moved to Norway and started a BJJ club. It was there that for example John Olav Einemo and Joachim Hansen started, among others of course.
https://en.wikipedia.org/[...]lav_Einemo
https://en.wikipedia.org/[...]_(fighter)
There was another post about it 25 years ago since the first European championships in Sweden. John Olav actually won some matches there. Edit: i have contacted John Olav that confirm this 🙃
The club attracted not only "normal people (law abiding)" and that was a little bit of shade on the sport for many years. Marcelo Yogui, a Brazilian black belt based in Sweden lived in Norway from time to time during the next few years. But Norway never had a Black Belt living here full time, or a self produced one until years later. After some years both Richard and Marcelo left Norway.
In the beginning, since the community was so small, there was collaboration with the Swedish and Finnish communities. Maybe also because Richard Bohlenius was swedish. I have Several pictures from back in the days with: Rikard Andersson, Marcus Widengren, Marco Leisten etc etc.
Several people from that gym started after a while the new club; Frontline Academy in 2004. A Brazilian black belt named Renato moved to norway and started there. Frontline academy had at that time several brown and purple belts. In circa 2006 Renatos friend Eduardo Teta Rios gave the first Black belt to a Norwegian Trond Saksenvik. Teta moved to Norway shortly after and now runs Norway's biggest team with several locations still called Frontline Academy. https://www.bjjheroes.com[...]uardo-rios
In the years after several Brasilians have moved to Norway and established several teams and we now have over 100 Black Belts:
Felipe Mota (Roger Gracie)
Jose Carlos (Kimura)
Bruno Carvalho (Team Carvalho)
** We also have team Checkmat, Team Yogui (active again), team Roy Harris, BJJ Globetrotters, GFTeam, Team Olavo Abreu among others. sorry if i forgot.
Norway:
I don`t know who was the first to introduce BJJ to Norway, but you can pretty much say that the scene started circa 1997 with the man Richard Bohlenius; https://www.sherdog.com/f[...]enius-3801
He is also considered to be one of the founding fathers for the MMA/BJJ Scene in Sweden. He moved to Norway and started a BJJ club. It was there that for example John Olav Einemo and Joachim Hansen started, among others of course.
https://en.wikipedia.org/[...]lav_Einemo
https://en.wikipedia.org/[...]_(fighter)
There was another post about it 25 years ago since the first European championships in Sweden. John Olav actually won some matches there. Edit: i have contacted John Olav that confirm this 🙃
The club attracted not only "normal people (law abiding)" and that was a little bit of shade on the sport for many years. Marcelo Yogui, a Brazilian black belt based in Sweden lived in Norway from time to time during the next few years. But Norway never had a Black Belt living here full time, or a self produced one until years later. After some years both Richard and Marcelo left Norway.
In the beginning, since the community was so small, there was collaboration with the Swedish and Finnish communities. Maybe also because Richard Bohlenius was swedish. I have Several pictures from back in the days with: Rikard Andersson, Marcus Widengren, Marco Leisten etc etc.
Several people from that gym started after a while the new club; Frontline Academy in 2004. A Brazilian black belt named Renato moved to norway and started there. Frontline academy had at that time several brown and purple belts. In circa 2006 Renatos friend Eduardo Teta Rios gave the first Black belt to a Norwegian Trond Saksenvik. Teta moved to Norway shortly after and now runs Norway's biggest team with several locations still called Frontline Academy. https://www.bjjheroes.com[...]uardo-rios
In the years after several Brasilians have moved to Norway and established several teams and we now have over 100 Black Belts:
Felipe Mota (Roger Gracie)
Jose Carlos (Kimura)
Bruno Carvalho (Team Carvalho)
** We also have team Checkmat, Team Yogui (active again), team Roy Harris, BJJ Globetrotters, GFTeam, Team Olavo Abreu among others. sorry if i forgot.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
![Slideyfoot [jun]](userimg/5e25cf311adfd.jpg){kind=small}
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
In the UK (not 'my' country, but the place I live), as far as I'm aware the first person to train in BJJ was Rick Young, who is Scottish. He headed over to the US to train in BJJ during 1989. Young later became one of the first three UK black belts, all of which were awarded by Mauricio Gomes in 2005 (to Young, Jude Samuel and Marc Walder).
The first guy to teach BJJ in the UK is generally accepted to be Chen Morales, in the late 1990s (though some people claim the first was Arlans Siqueira, a brown belt who started teaching in the UK in 1997). Morales has some odd methods (like his belt system), but was legit.
However, he was nowhere near as legit as the guy who has the most claim to be called the godfather of UK BJJ: Mauricio Gomes. He started off by founding Gracie Barra Birmingham in the late 1990s (Mauricio later passed GB Brum on to Braulio). Mauricio would then head down to London in 2000 to teach at several places, before founding the Roger Gracie Academy with his son in 2004.
If you want a much longer version of that, I babble over on http://www.slideyfoot.com[...]BJJintheUK
Almost certainly lots of broken links on there, as I haven't updated it in ages, but last time I checked it was still the most complete UK BJJ history I've seen. Buuuut I haven't bothered looking in ages, so it's entirely possible somebody else has since written a more comprehensive history for UK BJJ. ;)
The first guy to teach BJJ in the UK is generally accepted to be Chen Morales, in the late 1990s (though some people claim the first was Arlans Siqueira, a brown belt who started teaching in the UK in 1997). Morales has some odd methods (like his belt system), but was legit.
However, he was nowhere near as legit as the guy who has the most claim to be called the godfather of UK BJJ: Mauricio Gomes. He started off by founding Gracie Barra Birmingham in the late 1990s (Mauricio later passed GB Brum on to Braulio). Mauricio would then head down to London in 2000 to teach at several places, before founding the Roger Gracie Academy with his son in 2004.
If you want a much longer version of that, I babble over on http://www.slideyfoot.com[...]BJJintheUK
Almost certainly lots of broken links on there, as I haven't updated it in ages, but last time I checked it was still the most complete UK BJJ history I've seen. Buuuut I haven't bothered looking in ages, so it's entirely possible somebody else has since written a more comprehensive history for UK BJJ. ;)
JMBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
Pal, who did Einemo and Hansen actually TRAIN with there around them? Also they didn't have a "real" BJJ-influence as Einemo was a no-gi grappler only and Hansen an MMA fighter?
PBBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
@Jorgen
Well, they both trained in the gi in the beginning. I have several photos of them in the gi up to purple belt :), you can also fint some matches on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/w[...]44wWSVRREg
Here is some people:
The already mentioned Trond Saksenvik
Andreas Olsen - a real talented nogi grappler and ADCC veteran - not very known. https://www.youtube.com/w[...]7R3u3_hurk
a few famous "bouncers" ;)
Jacob Lovstad https://www.sherdog.com/f[...]vstad-4922
Nico Nasieri https://www.sherdog.com/f[...]sieri-3860
and a another bunch of old school dudes :)
Well, they both trained in the gi in the beginning. I have several photos of them in the gi up to purple belt :), you can also fint some matches on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/w[...]44wWSVRREg
Here is some people:
The already mentioned Trond Saksenvik
Andreas Olsen - a real talented nogi grappler and ADCC veteran - not very known. https://www.youtube.com/w[...]7R3u3_hurk
a few famous "bouncers" ;)
Jacob Lovstad https://www.sherdog.com/f[...]vstad-4922
Nico Nasieri https://www.sherdog.com/f[...]sieri-3860
and a another bunch of old school dudes :)
TPBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
Copypasta of what I wrote on the first European Championship discussion:
Finland has had a strong Hokutoryu jiu-jitsu scene (an "European" jiujitsu style developed here by Auvo Niiniketo; obviously very different from BJJ) and thus a "jiujitsu" club in Helsinki since the late 70s. People training there were interested in other martial arts and types of jiujitsu as well. The Hokotoryu instructors started inviting BJJ people over in the mid 90s: the first Brazilians were Alexandre “Gigi” Paiva and Francisco Canepa for a seminar on 7th-8th December 1996, and their visits became a regular thing, along with other Alliance bosses like Fabio Gurgel. This can be considered the birth of BJJ in a bigger way in Finland, since these seminars were attended by a decent sized groups of people, who then kept practicing & passed the knowledge forward. But at least Rikard Andersson of Sweden (Hilti BJJ founder) had visited the club before the Brazilians to show some ground stuff. For quite a long time, BJJ in Finland was practiced in an organized manner only in the Hokutoryu jiu-jitsu club premises (Helsingin Jujutsuklubi/Helsinki's Jiujitsu Club) at Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki, along with the main style. (The club still operates and teaches both jiujitsus.) So we had a club before the art arrived. :)
A bit earlier, around '93-'94, Markku Juntunen of Takado in Espoo (originally a karate gym founded in the '70s that later expanded to different styles of jiujitsu), who was a wrestler and Hokutoryu/"European" jiu-jitsu practioner, had started self-studying BJJ based on the Gracie vhs tapes after seeing the first UFCs, and teaching it. He also started traveling to the US to train and got his blue belt (as the first Finn) in May 1997 from Carlos Henrique Elias “Caique” at the Gracie Academy in L.A. The first Finnish purple belt was Tino Korpimäki in 1998, a bit before Juntunen. Korpimäki had spent an exchange study year in Brazil and earned a blue belt there in 1997 (a bit after Juntunen). Juntunen later became the first Finnish BJJ brown belt in May 2002 (under Alexandre Paiva) and the first Finnish BJJ black belt on June 17th 2004 (from Paiva); as far as I know as the second BJJ black belt in Scandinavia after Sweden's Peter Blackwell. (Rikard Andersson also got his black in 2004 but I believe after Juntunen.) Juntunen was also instrumental in founding the Finnish Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Federation in 2000.
Finland has had a strong Hokutoryu jiu-jitsu scene (an "European" jiujitsu style developed here by Auvo Niiniketo; obviously very different from BJJ) and thus a "jiujitsu" club in Helsinki since the late 70s. People training there were interested in other martial arts and types of jiujitsu as well. The Hokotoryu instructors started inviting BJJ people over in the mid 90s: the first Brazilians were Alexandre “Gigi” Paiva and Francisco Canepa for a seminar on 7th-8th December 1996, and their visits became a regular thing, along with other Alliance bosses like Fabio Gurgel. This can be considered the birth of BJJ in a bigger way in Finland, since these seminars were attended by a decent sized groups of people, who then kept practicing & passed the knowledge forward. But at least Rikard Andersson of Sweden (Hilti BJJ founder) had visited the club before the Brazilians to show some ground stuff. For quite a long time, BJJ in Finland was practiced in an organized manner only in the Hokutoryu jiu-jitsu club premises (Helsingin Jujutsuklubi/Helsinki's Jiujitsu Club) at Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki, along with the main style. (The club still operates and teaches both jiujitsus.) So we had a club before the art arrived. :)
A bit earlier, around '93-'94, Markku Juntunen of Takado in Espoo (originally a karate gym founded in the '70s that later expanded to different styles of jiujitsu), who was a wrestler and Hokutoryu/"European" jiu-jitsu practioner, had started self-studying BJJ based on the Gracie vhs tapes after seeing the first UFCs, and teaching it. He also started traveling to the US to train and got his blue belt (as the first Finn) in May 1997 from Carlos Henrique Elias “Caique” at the Gracie Academy in L.A. The first Finnish purple belt was Tino Korpimäki in 1998, a bit before Juntunen. Korpimäki had spent an exchange study year in Brazil and earned a blue belt there in 1997 (a bit after Juntunen). Juntunen later became the first Finnish BJJ brown belt in May 2002 (under Alexandre Paiva) and the first Finnish BJJ black belt on June 17th 2004 (from Paiva); as far as I know as the second BJJ black belt in Scandinavia after Sweden's Peter Blackwell. (Rikard Andersson also got his black in 2004 but I believe after Juntunen.) Juntunen was also instrumental in founding the Finnish Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Federation in 2000.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
TPBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
If you want a much longer version of that, I babble over on http://www.slideyfoot.com[...]BJJintheUK
It amazes me that UK got such a late start, and that a remote cold corner of the world like Finland was ahead of you (we got regular training first, a blue belt first, and a local black belt first, a federation way earlier).
UK has historically been ahead of us on pretty much everything.... oh well, of course we also gave women the right vote 22 years earlier.
UK has historically been ahead of us on pretty much everything.... oh well, of course we also gave women the right vote 22 years earlier.
DWBlue beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
last time I checked it was still the most complete UK BJJ history I've seen
Definitely the most complete written UK history I have seen. There are some more details on Dan Strauss' podcast (The Raspberry Ape Podcast), which has a large focus on UK BJJ history, and includes interviews with some of the early players (Mauricio Gomes, Arlans Siqueira, Marc Walder, Jude Samuel, Rick Young, Pedro Bessa, the list goes on...)
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
It amazes me that UK got such a late start, and that a remote cold corner of the world like Finland was ahead [...] UK has historically been ahead of us on pretty much everything.... oh well, of course we also gave women the right vote 22 years earlier.
Yeah, it's interesting. As an immigrant to the UK, I possibly have a different perspective than you'd get from somebody who'd happily call themselves British, but I think there are number of potential reasons for that.
A big one is the powerful hold that conservative thinking has on the UK, both with a little c (i.e., socially conservative people who don't like change and are suspicious of anything new) and a big C (the Conservative party, which has run the UK government for most of the last century).
That means that although the UK might be expected to adopt things sooner, it can lag behind more progressive, forward thinking societies, like Scandinavia. But that's me making up a theory, perhaps it's something else entirely.
A big one is the powerful hold that conservative thinking has on the UK, both with a little c (i.e., socially conservative people who don't like change and are suspicious of anything new) and a big C (the Conservative party, which has run the UK government for most of the last century).
That means that although the UK might be expected to adopt things sooner, it can lag behind more progressive, forward thinking societies, like Scandinavia. But that's me making up a theory, perhaps it's something else entirely.
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
I'm from the US, and I feel like our story's been told a few times, by more qualified people than myself.
I did, however, play a part in Moldova's BJJ history, so I could probably try and quickly tell that story:
I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer (US government volunteer organization) from 2005-2007, and during that time I served in a small village in the southern part of the country (Burlacu). There was no BJJ being practiced, to any degree, at least as far as I know, so I decided to start a team in the village. We trained for two years and then I went back to the US in 2007.
My wife and I moved to Romania in 2010, and we visited Moldova frequently. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the kids in Burlacu were still training, at least to some extent. I spent 3 months in 2010 in the capital (Chisinau) and I tried "converting" a traditional jujutsu gym to train BJJ, but they weren't having any of it. They were kind enough to let me train TJJ for free, and I got some occasional rolls in after class with some of the guys. Eventually, in 2011, they finally caved in and starting training BJJ full time. This was a big step for BJJ in Moldova, since nothing is important unless it happens in Chisinau, lol.
My wife (Amanda) and I helped set up and run some of the first tournaments out there, along with one of my original students from the Burlacu program. Amanda and I would take care of the logistics of the tournament while my student (Alex) was in charge of finding referees, advertising and securing a location. It worked out pretty well.
Alexandru Birlea wound up becoming the first (resident) BJJ black belt in the country (there were a handful of Moldovans who live abroad who earned black belt before Alex). He is the only one of my former students, as far as I know, who have made it to black belt.
Today Moldova has at least 4 (but there are probably more I'm not thinking of) RESIDENT black belts. There are probably at least 20 ethnic Moldovans worldwide who are BB's now.
If you're interested I have links to more articles/documentation/etc on the bottom of my beltchecker profile.
I did, however, play a part in Moldova's BJJ history, so I could probably try and quickly tell that story:
I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer (US government volunteer organization) from 2005-2007, and during that time I served in a small village in the southern part of the country (Burlacu). There was no BJJ being practiced, to any degree, at least as far as I know, so I decided to start a team in the village. We trained for two years and then I went back to the US in 2007.
My wife and I moved to Romania in 2010, and we visited Moldova frequently. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the kids in Burlacu were still training, at least to some extent. I spent 3 months in 2010 in the capital (Chisinau) and I tried "converting" a traditional jujutsu gym to train BJJ, but they weren't having any of it. They were kind enough to let me train TJJ for free, and I got some occasional rolls in after class with some of the guys. Eventually, in 2011, they finally caved in and starting training BJJ full time. This was a big step for BJJ in Moldova, since nothing is important unless it happens in Chisinau, lol.
My wife (Amanda) and I helped set up and run some of the first tournaments out there, along with one of my original students from the Burlacu program. Amanda and I would take care of the logistics of the tournament while my student (Alex) was in charge of finding referees, advertising and securing a location. It worked out pretty well.
Alexandru Birlea wound up becoming the first (resident) BJJ black belt in the country (there were a handful of Moldovans who live abroad who earned black belt before Alex). He is the only one of my former students, as far as I know, who have made it to black belt.
Today Moldova has at least 4 (but there are probably more I'm not thinking of) RESIDENT black belts. There are probably at least 20 ethnic Moldovans worldwide who are BB's now.
If you're interested I have links to more articles/documentation/etc on the bottom of my beltchecker profile.
JBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
There was another post about it 25 years ago since the first European championships in Sweden. John Olav actually won there.
I don't think he was in the 1998 European Championship at all.
The winners from that championship (listed in the Swedish Tidningen Kampsport magazine):
Ladies: Caren Pacull (Stockholm Jujutsu Dojo)
Ladies open division (non-Europeans allowed): Daniela Paiva Figuredo (Alliance team, Brazil)
Men -73kg: Anders Cardell (Rikards jiujitsu academy)
Men -73kg open division: Crosley Gracie (Carlson Gracie team, Brazil)
Men +73kg: Henrik Rådström (Rikards jiujitsu academy)
Men +73kg open division: Victor Vianna (Alliance team, Brazil)
The winners from that championship (listed in the Swedish Tidningen Kampsport magazine):
Ladies: Caren Pacull (Stockholm Jujutsu Dojo)
Ladies open division (non-Europeans allowed): Daniela Paiva Figuredo (Alliance team, Brazil)
Men -73kg: Anders Cardell (Rikards jiujitsu academy)
Men -73kg open division: Crosley Gracie (Carlson Gracie team, Brazil)
Men +73kg: Henrik Rådström (Rikards jiujitsu academy)
Men +73kg open division: Victor Vianna (Alliance team, Brazil)
JABlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
I'm from the US, and I feel like our story's been told a few times, by more qualified people than myself. I did, however, play a part in Moldova's BJJ history, so I could probably try and quickly tell that story: I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer (US government volunteer organization) from 2005-2007, and during that time I served in a small village in the southern part of the country (Burlacu). There was no BJJ being practiced, to any degree, at least as far as I know, so I decided to start a team in the village. We trained for two years and then I went back to the US in 2007. My wife and I moved to Romania in 2010, and we visited Moldova frequently. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the kids in Burlacu were still training, at least to some extent. I spent 3 months in 2010 in the capital (Chisinau) and I tried 'converting' a traditional jujutsu gym to train BJJ, but they weren't having any of it. They were kind enough to let me train TJJ for free, and I got some occasional rolls in after class with some of the guys. Eventually, in 2011, they finally caved in and starting training BJJ full time. This was a big step for BJJ in Moldova, since nothing is important unless it happens in Chisinau, lol. My wife (Amanda) and I helped set up and run some of the first tournaments out there, along with one of my original students from the Burlacu program. Amanda and I would take care of the logistics of the tournament while my student (Alex) was in charge of finding referees, advertising and securing a location. It worked out pretty well. Alexandru Birlea wound up becoming the first (resident) BJJ black belt in the country (there were a handful of Moldovans who live abroad who earned black belt before Alex). He is the only one of my former students, as far as I know, who have made it to black belt. Today Moldova has at least 4 (but there are probably more I'm not thinking of) RESIDENT black belts. There are probably at least 20 ethnic Moldovans worldwide who are BB's now. If you're interested I have links to more articles/documentation/etc on the bottom of my beltchecker profile.
This is the tourney you won the goat correct?
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
This is the tourney you won the goat correct?
No. Never won a goat, actually ;).
These were mostly just your standard, "boring" bjj tourneys, although I tried starting a team-based event, that resembled a collegiate wrestling duals format competition.
Like many of my ideas, it was a great concept that just didn't take off for whatever reason.
These were mostly just your standard, "boring" bjj tourneys, although I tried starting a team-based event, that resembled a collegiate wrestling duals format competition.
Like many of my ideas, it was a great concept that just didn't take off for whatever reason.
Edited 3 year(s) ago
TPBlack beltVerified
3 year(s) ago
No. Never won a goat, actually
This begs the question, which is more awesome, to win the GOAT in a competition or to win a goat in a competition 🤔
Edited 3 year(s) ago
BMBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
This begs the question, which is more awesome, to win the GOAT in a competition or to win a goat in a competition 🤔
I'm officially 0-2 on both of these. Probably the wrong guy to ask.
VCBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
In Malaysia, around 2001-2 there was a local guy (Dani) who bought the Gracie JJ VHS tapes and found a freshly minted blue belt (Samuel Wee) to train with. Samuel was a heavyweight from Malaysia but went to uni in Melbourne and was training with John B Will.
I had been looking for BJJ instruction also and found the same blue belt and we did a seminar for my karate group around Nov 2002. As I was in the middle of setting up a new gym we officially restarted around Feb/Mar of 2003 when the issue with the mats was solved.
As far as I'm aware we were the only BJJ in the country at the time and I operated the first full time academy offering classes 4-5 days a week. This was around 2003 onwards. Another Malaysian came back and also coached us called Adam Kayoom and was a purple belt at the time. Adam is currently the Head MMA Coach at Evolve MMA in Singapore. Adam had extensive training and just spent some time at BTT and trained with all the BJJ Royalty at the time and also competed there (Ze Mario, Bustamante, Liborio, etc. at Carlson Gracie).
From 2002- 2007 there were new blue belts being minted and more academies opened when other Malaysians who had trained elsewhere returned from their Uni stints and started their own groups. During 2010-2020, we saw an influx of Brazilians, a few Americans and some from UK, some came and left and a few stayed because they found a better life here or elsewhere in the S.E. Asian region.
I had been looking for BJJ instruction also and found the same blue belt and we did a seminar for my karate group around Nov 2002. As I was in the middle of setting up a new gym we officially restarted around Feb/Mar of 2003 when the issue with the mats was solved.
As far as I'm aware we were the only BJJ in the country at the time and I operated the first full time academy offering classes 4-5 days a week. This was around 2003 onwards. Another Malaysian came back and also coached us called Adam Kayoom and was a purple belt at the time. Adam is currently the Head MMA Coach at Evolve MMA in Singapore. Adam had extensive training and just spent some time at BTT and trained with all the BJJ Royalty at the time and also competed there (Ze Mario, Bustamante, Liborio, etc. at Carlson Gracie).
From 2002- 2007 there were new blue belts being minted and more academies opened when other Malaysians who had trained elsewhere returned from their Uni stints and started their own groups. During 2010-2020, we saw an influx of Brazilians, a few Americans and some from UK, some came and left and a few stayed because they found a better life here or elsewhere in the S.E. Asian region.
SJBlack belt 1st degreeVerified
3 year(s) ago
This reminds me how much I enjoyed visiting Malaysia (especially the food!) I need to find an excuse to get out there again. :D
