Will / Machado BJJ Australasia

Just over a week until our 2010 GATHERING kicks off at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Center in Albert Park, Melbourne.

COMPETITION START TIME:
Kids start at 9am
Adults start at 10am

SUNDAY SEMINARS AT DOMINANCE IN RICHMOND:
Coloured Belts 10am – White Belts 12:30pm

COMPETITION VENUE:
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SEMINAR VENUE:
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When looking for accommodation – take note that the venue (MSAC) is located in Albert Park. Any accommodation in South Melbourne or Albert Park would suit perfectly. Rigan Machado’s Game-Killer seminars will be held next day in Richmond (about 5 kms away) – so accommodation in Richmond or East Melbourne would also be an option.

Best of luck everyone

See you all there

John Will

DOWNLOAD THE COMP RULES >>

A week after my recent knee surgery, I still had a mild limp but all thoughts of it were extinguished upon making my trip to Coffs Harbour, Ballina, the Gold Coast and Caboolture. One of the highlights of this weekends seminar trip was catching up with my good friend and BJJ Black Belt Vincent Perry. Vincent is just a great coach – he is a thoughtful and caring man and a very talented coach and martial artist.

As usual, we had a great crowd turn up for the session; and I very much enjoyed the time I spent there. I will be heading back for another go on the last weekend in October. To answer an oft asked question – every seminar I teach is different and unique. If some of the Caboolture or Ballina crew want to attend Vincent’s session – I can guarantee we will be covering different material. Set it in your calendar now.

On another note – get ready for our September Gathering! Get your airfares squared away. It’s only six weeks off and is shaping up to be the best event ever. I was speaking to Rigan Machado a few days ago and he has some very special seminars planned for this year. If any of my readers have never attended one of our Gathering’s – make plans to do so this year! You can register online from this site.

Best wishes all – Roll on!
JBW

Australia has reached a milestone in its development of top Brazilian jiu-jitsu talent this month, as Sophia McDermott became the first
Australian woman to receive her black belt. McDermott’s road to become an elite BJJ practitioner began in 2002 in Melbourne at Dominance MMA.
Today McDermott trains in Las Vegas, where she was awarded her black belt by Robert Drysdale.

In competition McDermott has some noteworthy accomplishments in both gi and no-gi, winning her weight division at the 2009 no-gi worlds as a brown belt,
and medaling twice at the Pan-Ams as a brown belt among competitors like Alliance’s Luanna Alzuguir and Gracie Elite’s Kyra Gracie.

Like Penny Thomas who was the first female black belt from the continent of Africa, McDermott’s early athletic years were spent as a gymnast. McDermott’s identical twin trained in gymnastics alongside her but now “we’re so alike but we’ve gone opposite [career] directions,” says Sophia.

Today Sophia dedicates her time to helping run the Drysdale academy in Las Vegas and is looking forward to the Las Vegas International Open IBJJF Championship on August 14th. Big congratulations to her for being a trailblazer for women in Australia and abroad who also aspire to such an important accomplishment.

Photo courtesy Sophia McDermott

Our new online registration facility for this years Will-Machado Asia Pacific Championships – known to many as The GATHERING – is up and running. We are already receiving registrations.
CLICK HERE or on the ONLINE REGISTRATION LOGO on the right sidebar to be directed to the registration page. To view your options as far as divisions and weights go, please note: As you make a choice on one, the next becomes available to you. Start with Age then Gender, then Weight Class and finally Belt Divisions.

So, in breaking up divisions in 6 kg increments and adding an Over 35yrs category – there are many more divisions than were available in previous years, making for a fairer and more equitable competition. Also, we will have six mats running, ensuring the event will not run overtime.

Information packets have been sent out to all Associates and Branch schools – but feel free to register for the event right away.

I am very much looking forward to this years Gathering … This year we are taking it to another level.
Warmest wishes
John Will

We are now beginning to organize this years Will-Machado Asia Pacific Championships – to be held in Melbourne on September 11th & 12th.

I just got off the phone, after chatting with Rigan Machado and he has some unbelievable seminars planned for us this year – they are entitled: The GAME-KILLER series.

He will be delivering these ground-breaking sessions on the Sunday after the Championships – at both white belt level – and advanced level – reason alone to make the trip to Melbourne this year. We are also planning to run six mats – which will speed up and already very streamlined event.

The other news is that for the first time, we are bringing all of our weight divisions in-line with the rules as set by the International BJJ Federation. This will mean a maximum of 6 kg’s difference between contestants – more divisions – a more evenly contested event. So mark your calendars now. Soon we will make final preparations with regard to our new online registrations – making it easier for contestants and organizers both.

Best wishes

John Will

We all know that our Will-Machado family is spread strongly throughout Australia and New Zealand but we should also remember that we have spread beyond our shores and into other countries as well – so when you are holidays or traveling for work, remember, there may just be a Will-Machado Associate right around the corner – and they would love you to drop in for a visit.

Here are a couple of pics of some of our friends in Singapore. Kon Quek runs Kreation Jiu Jitsu and Jason Quek (no relation to Kon) runs Will-Machado BJJ Singapore. Both are nice guys and welcome visitors with open arms. For details for both these schools, as well as others in the UK, Malaysia and in Norway – check the international section of our clubs page >>

John B Will

Dear Instructors,

Events BJJ are holding their next BJJ tournament on 9th May 2010 at the Five Dock Leisure Centre. Events BJJ is run by Anthony Lange, Steve Perceval, Elvis Sinosic and myself. This is our 5th tournament. We would love to see you and your students there to compete.

All entries are online at www.eventsbjj.com

Kindest Regards,

Anthony Perosh
Director
Events BJJ
www.eventsbjj.com

Download the Event poster

The general consensus among everybody was that John’s seminar was Awesome.

There was great excitement and enthusiasm among the students to be able to watch and learn from a BJJ black belt holder. John is more than a black belt
he is the highest rank in all of Australia (4 Dans), rare to see in Ozzy land. let alone at Newport. It was an amazing experience to see some techniques demonstrated by Master John Will. Apart from the techniques, he imparted knowledge that could help us achieve more on the mat and perhaps in our lives.

In the words of Master John Will “Instead of trying to justify the gifts of talented and successful people, watch and learn from the best by figuring out what they are doing differently that makes them so successful. Then do the same or improve on that”.

And with those words I would like to take you back to the beginning of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Do you remember Master Helio Gracie? Well that little undersized and unwell kid stood beside the mat for years and JUST by watching his brother teach was able to learn Jiu Jitsu. Then later, not only did he master the art but also went ahead with the help of his brother Master Carlos Gracie to create BJJ which revolutionized the world as the most effective martial art ever.

So as said by Master John Will “Having skills to learn by just watching is a gift. But to learn from the best in the field and understanding the little details that make them so successful is more than skill, it is wisdom”.

Many thanks to Master John Will. Our academy welcomes you at any time. Also thanks to all students who attended this event.

Edson Ortiz
Ortiz Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Martial Arts
www.bjjnewport.com.au

A highlight of the trip that Dave Meyer and I took to Sydney this weekend was the presentation of the Black Belt to Richard Sargeant. Richard trains with Steve Perceval, and has been an asset to the school from the first day he walked in the door. Not only a superb athlete, Richard is a dedicated and thoughtful instructor; a man whose words and actions are in total congruence.

It was a real pleasure and an honour to be able to present him with his Black Belt, after ten years of dedicated practice.

Congratulations Richard.
John Will 2010

John has released the date for this years nationals.

The 2010 Will-Machado Asia Pacific Championships
Location: Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre
Date: Saturday September 11th 2010
Start: Kids – Teens 9am
Adult Divisions 10am

Special Guest Rigan Machado!
Register online from 30th June 2010