Kadu Sousa

In 2015, while running a fitness gym, I was lucky to meet John, a BJJ black belt with a background in Gracie Barra and Carlson Gracie Club in Cape Town. He'd moved to Jeffreys Bay for the surf and was seeking a space to teach. My gym wasn’t much, but it was enough to begin one-on-one sessions. Two months later, we joined a local club, but the environment was chaotic. While everyone there claimed a role, few wanted to coach, leaving it to feel disorganized and divided. I continued my private training with John, also joining in at the club. Eventually, they asked me to lead calisthenics sessions for kids, focusing on body movement that aligned with jiu jitsu. A year in, I started teaching my fiancée at the gym, and she embraced it with passion. Then, a friend asked me to train his 8-year-old son, who quickly excelled, winning gold in his first competition. My fiancée also found success, medaling in ADCC. My first competition landed me a silver under intermediate, just before earning my blue belt. When the club eventually folded, I felt adrift without a home for my jiu jitsu journey. But two months later, with John’s support, I established JBay Jiu Jitsu, and my fiancée and I both took on assistant coaching roles, determined to foster a structured and supportive environment for others.