Will / Machado BJJ Australasia

This year’s Gathering is going to be awesome!

Schools are putting together good teams already.
So here’s early notification to give everyone time to make preparations.
Dates are set – 2nd weekend in September (8th September) – as usual.
Rigan Machado – set to come over.
We are hooking up sponsorship to provide competitors with prizes.
Lock it into your calendar now.

Best wishes: JBW

Offering congratulations doesn’t seem to do justice to your achievement Andrew.
Geoff Aitken, Vincent Perry and I are all so proud of what you have earned for yourself over these many years. You are a tremendous ambassador for the art we all love and exactly the kind of person who should be sporting that rank – a role model for others, someone who embodies the concept of excellence at every turn – a great training partner for all who spend time with you – my deepest respect:
John Will 2012

Our very own Lorna Lock won the Award for Outstanding Sporting Achievement at the Victorian schools sports awards at the MCG last week. Lorna has been very active on the BJJ competitive scene for a long while now – and we are pretty sure this is the first time anyone has won the award for participation in martial arts competition – let alone for BJJ! Well done Lorna – you are not only an excellent competitor – but a wonderful ambassador for BJJ women – the world over. Great job,
Respectfully
John Will

Congratulations to Anthony on his win over Nick Penner at the Allphones Arena in Sydney on Saturday

Photo courtesy of Elvis Sinosic on Facebook

We’d also like to mention one of our other Black Belts, Steve Perceval, doing a great job as referee for the event – also, setting a strong example of how things should, be done!

Congratulations to Jason Branks who was presented with his Black Belt on my February visit to new Zealand. Jason has been as solid as a rock in his training, ever since I first began visiting Geoff Aitken’s Academy of Combat in Christchurch on the South island.

Jason is what a call a ‘grinder’ – he just ‘chips away’ at his training, week in, week out – until over time, he has gathered his skills and honed them into something extra-ordinary. Jason’s approach goes right to the heart of what it means to achieve excellence – it isn’t about natural talent, it isn’t about being athletically gifted – it is really about ‘heart’, ‘desire’ and ‘persistence’ … a huge congratulations to him on his singular achievement.

John Will – February 2012

Our good friend Marc Hebert, from Johannesburg in South Africa, received his Black Belt on a training trip to Geelong just before Christmas. Marc runs a top gym in South Africa, training some of the countries best fighters. In fact, he bought three of them with him this time around for their two weeks training stint.

Marc is an exceptionally good martial artist, who also brings excellent ’stand up’ skills to the table (read: cage); but his real passion, like the majority of our Black Belts, is in teaching others and creating new paradigms in their lives.

It has been real pleasure for me to be able to guide Marc on his BJJ journey these years past – and I look forward to seeing him develop an even better gym in the years ahead.
- John Will 2012

If you are reading this – you are lucky and fortunate in the extreme. You no doubt have plenty of food on the table and a nice bed to sleep in. Let’s keep a look out for ways to help those less fortunate than ourselves during our Christmas break and celebrations. As far as new years resolutions are concerned – make them and stick to them; but also remember that every waking moment provides each of us with an opportunity for re-invention. The calendar is just that – a numerical reminder that yesterday is gone and tomorrow is about to arrive. But it’s the now that ultimately counts the most.
I wish everyone a wonderful holidays.
Best wishes
John Will

Limited Edition: 80 only!!

GOT YOUR BACK – T–shirts

Sizes: (Slightly larger than normal)
M – L – XL – XXL

price: $35 – $9 postage in Australia
$15 postage for International

Australian orders click here >>

International orders click here >>

“Anthony Perosh won his second fight at light heavyweight, finishing Cyrille Diabate in their main card bout at UFC 138.

The grappler bested the striker by taking his back and sinking in the submission choke in the second round.

Perosh kept his distance early, backing up to stay away from his opponent’s long reach. Diabate kept on the offensive and controlled the pace past the first minute of the bout. Perosh had little chance to shoot in for takedowns because he kept such a distance, and the one attempt he had was stuffed easily.

Finally, Perosh ate a kick and was able to get his opponent to the ground. Diabate kept the half guard while Perosh attempted to pass. The round ended with Perosh doing little for ground and pound while in top position.

Round two began and Perosh had a cut under his right eye. Diabate attacked and landed a couple punches, but Perosh was able to drag him to the ground as the distance closed.

On the ground, Perosh was able to get full mount and transitioned onto Diabate’s back. Perosh sunk the rear-naked choke and the fight ended at 3:09 of the second frame.

“It was like there was a bit of extra pressure on me because I didn’t want the first [win] just to be a fluke,” Perosh told Joe Rogan after the win. “I won two in a row and I’m here to stay [at] light heavyweight.”
- From MMAWEEKLY.COM

It was with bitter sweet feeling that I shipped Rigan Machado off to Perth this last weekend. Sad because I knew that he was going to be teaching at the Submission Factory – and that our fallen brother Troy would not be there – but also pleased that I was able to task him with presenting a Black Belt to Brendan Edwards, long-time dedicated student of Troy and Stacey.
I would like to congratulate you Brendan, on your special achievement; made even more significant because you now embody the kind of legacy that troy would have been proud to have left with us. I know you will represent him, and all of us, well. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to have been able to contribute to your martial arts journey thusfar. Well done and much love: John B Will – 2011