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Jean Jacques Machado Jiu-Jitsu Melbourne


What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, self-defence system and combat sport which uses grappling and positional control to gain a dominant position over the opponent which leads to a submission hold.

It is founded on the concept that a smaller, weaker person can control and defend themselves against a stronger, heavier opponent. Developing these principles in practice, the practitioner aims to develop a core understanding of the positional hierarchy and how to control their own movement as well as their opponents which leads to a submission hold.

Live training or “rolling” plays a major role in developing the practitioners effectiveness and their own game, which makes it a highly effective method for promoting physical fitness, self-confidence and character.

brazilian jiu-jitsu side control class

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brazilian jiu-jitsu training

How can it help you?

Everyone is unique in their stature, learning ability and physical characteristics and BJJ provides a broad scope of techniques, concepts and movements that each individual adopts only that which is effective for them. We have a structured training schedule that allows for individual development supported by a strong fundamentals program.

Common benefits of training include:

  • Increased cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength

  • Increased flexibility, balance and coordination

  • Confidence, weight loss and self-defence

  • Social connection and community engagement


Who is Jean Jacques Machado?

One of the pioneers of the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and one of its greatest champions, Jean Jacques Machado is one of five brothers of the world-renown Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu family.

Jean Jacque began his BJJ training over 40 years ago, dominating the competitive BJJ circuit capturing every major title from 1982 to 1992 in his native country Brazil. Upon arriving in the United States he gained worldwide recognition after his performance at the 1999 Abu Dhabi Combat Club World Submission Wrestling Championships. Today, he teaches full time at both his Tarzana (H.Q.) & Malibu academies in Los Angeles, CA.

To learn more about Jean Jacque and our affiliation, click here.

 
 

What is the Jean Jacques Machado Association?

Jean Jacques Machado BJJ Melbourne is part of a network of affiliate academies which extend throughout the world, namely USA, AUS and CAN. United in sharing not only technique, but the philosophy and mat culture that the organisation is known for we strive to represent our organisation, Jean Jacques Machado and our art to the highest of standards.


Our Coaching and leadership team

Jean Jacques Machado BJJ Melbourne offers professional instruction in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and self-defence. The club is owned and operated by BJJ Black Belt Ben Butler-Bonnice with the assistance of coach and BJJ First degree Black Belt David Curnow and the coaching and leadership team. The club is one of a number of affiliates within Australia and benefits from the close support of coaches Jean Jacques Machado and Jay Zeballos.

 
Head jiu-jitsu coach Ben

Ben Butler-Bonnice

BJJ Black Belt - director and senior coach

Ben began his BJJ training in 2009 and currently holds the rank of black belt under coach Stewart Moulden and Jean Jacques Machado. During this time Ben has also developed freestyle wrestling and submission grappling experience with numerous trips overseas to the US, Canada and Thailand.

Ben coaches all classes during the week including the kids program. His aim is to continue to build a strong and increasingly technical Jiu-Jitsu program over the foundations of a welcoming and enjoyable team culture.
Ben is also a physiotherapist and is the owner and managing director of Evolution Physiotherapy and Performance in Ivanhoe.

Experience:
• 15 years BJJ
• Freestyle wrestling and submission grappling
• Amateur boxing, KyoKushin Karate, Muay Thai
• Competition experience freestyle wrestling Australia Cup, Australian nationals.
• BJJ Pan Pacific, Melbourne Open and Australian national competitor.

Costa Hagi

BJJ purple Belt - assistant coach - kids coach

Costa has been heavily invested in the martial arts since 2016, initially beginning with Aikido, he soon discovered a passion for all the grappling arts and especially the ground game of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

With the addition of Judo, he continues to study and train intensely in an effort to blend the arts and become a well rounded martial artist and grappler.

Costa takes Tuesday and Thursdays 12pm all levels Gi class, is well respected in the club and has a passion for sharing his Jiu-Jitsu knowledge.

Professionally, Costa is a musician and teaches bass guitar.

Experience:

  • 6 years BJJ

  • Aikido Black Belt

  • Local and state Jiu-Jitsu competition

Hrishi Pendse Jiu-Jitsu, Rugby, Judo

Hrishi Pendse

BJJ Blue Belt - assistant coach - competition coach - Judo coach

Hrishi has always been fascinated by the martial arts, for its strong emphasis on mind, body and soul. Hrishi is a blue belt in Jiu Jitsu and a black belt in Judo.

Hrishi took a “short” detour in his martial arts journey and became a professional rugby union player for over a decade in India, NZ and Japan. Hrishi is formerly the captain of India’s national rugby union team and played for the Mitsubishi Dynaboars and Suntory Sungoliath in the Japan Top League.

Hrishi has maintained a strong commitment to the martial arts throughout his playing career and following his retirement now focuses on his continued progression in Jiu Jitsu and Judo. He brings a wealth of high performance sport experience to JJM Melbourne’s competition team and his fun loving nature lifts the energy in the training room.

Hrishi now works as a Consultant in the CBD and teaches Judo to kids and adults.

Experience:

  • 20 years Martial arts

  • Blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu

  • Local and state Jiu-Jitsu competition

  • Black belt in Judo – 1st Dan

  • 10 years Professional Rugby Union Player

Assistant bjj coach Dave

David Curnow

BJJ Black Belt 1st degree - senior assistant coach

David has been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over 20 years and within the martial arts for over 30 years. He received his black belt from coach Stewart Moulden on behalf of Jean Jacques Machado in December 2014 at Stewies House of BJJ, Bendigo. David is a Forensic Psychologist and works within the criminal justice system.

Experience
• 30+ years Martial arts
• 20+ years BJJ
• 3rd degree black belt Tae Kwon Do
• Category 1 Floro fighting systems instructor
• 25 years experience in the criminal justice system.

 

Greg Hagi

BJJ purple Belt - assistant coach - competition coach

Greg has been passionately training and competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2018 after being introduced to the art by his brother, Costa. When he first started training, he had no aspirations to take part in competitions but it wasn’t long before he tried his first competition and quickly fell in love with that aspect of the art.

Greg has now also been studying and training Judo to complement his grappling and he has a passion for helping others find the joy in competition and the vast amount of knowledge that can be gained from putting your skills to the test in that environment.

Professionally, Greg works as an Osteopath in Bundoora and Whittlesea.

 Experience:

  • 5 Years BJJ

  • Local and state Jiu-Jitsu competition

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Jade Tran

BJJ purple Belt - assistant coacH

After years of Muay Thai training, Jade took a keen interest in BJJ in 2019 and hasn’t looked back! Professionally Jade spends her days assisting 10+ professors at a world-leading comprehensive cancer centre.

Personally, she is big advocate of living a lifestyle of health and wellness; incorporating daily functional movement, optimum nutrition and has a thirst of knowledge for all things that may optimise our longevity.

If you don’t find Jade at the gym, sauna, hiking a mountain, or cooking a gut nutritious meal, then you’ll most likely find her on the mat. The physical and mental struggle of jiu-jitsu is what inspires Jade to keep training.

Jade integrates her passions into purpose by motivating those around her to be the best version of themselves, mind body and soul.

Experience:

  • 4 Years BJJ experience

  • Martial arts background

  • Health, fitness & Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast

 
Lucas Ashley Jiu-Jitsu

Lucas Ashley

BJJ Blue Belt - assistant coach - kids coach

Lucas began learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2021 after being introduced to the martial art by his close friends. He quickly developed a love for BJJ; studying and training most days of the week and is a regular day to day practitioner.  

His favourite aspect of Jiu-Jitsu is its community and the profoundly positive impact it has on the lives of those who train it.

Lucas has a passion for teaching & coaching - and has experience working with youth at his graduate high school as an alumni mentor.

Currently, he takes the Saturday kids class at 9.15am and is enthusiastic about introducing others to the world of Jiu-Jitsu.

Lucas works within the financial-tech industry and studies psychology & counselling.

Experience:

  • 1 year BJJ

  • Local and state Jiu-Jitsu competition