Bigger and Better - New Year, New Gyms, and New Instructors

​ROOTS BJJ Illawarra Opens Today

Instructor Michael Matlijovski

ROOTS BJJ Illawarra opened its doors today led by our brown belt instructor, Michael Matlijovski. ROOTS BJJ Illawarra provides Self Defence, Martial Arts, Combat Sports and Fitness classes for kids, teens and adults. Michael and his team offer classes, personal training and sport and corporate group training. They teach BJJ, Hapkido/Tukkong Moosool, Boxing, Thai Kickboxing, and Kali.

Michael has been training in the Martial Arts since 1992, and he holds various black belts and certifications in different styles of Hapkido, Taekwondo, Boxing, Filipino Martial Arts, Pressure Points and more. He has competed in various competitions over the years, placing in the top three in different categories such as grappling, board breaking, sparring, weaponry and more. Michael teaches all ages from three years and above teaching Hapkido, Boxing, Thai Kickboxing, BJJ and more. He regularly attends seminars, workshops and classes to progress in his knowledge as a student and instructor of the Martial Arts and Boxing. Michael was inducted in the Taekwondo Links Magazine Hall of Fame in 2014, for 'Martial Arts Outstanding Instructor of The Year'. 

We are all looking forward to training with you and your team, Michael! Happy Opening Day!

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​ROOTS BJJ Botany New Instructor and New Gym

Professor Ramon Carrico

ROOTS BJJ Botany has a big year ahead. We have a new instructor all the way from Brazil via the USA and Abu Dhabi and a new gym.

The ROOTS BJJ Botany team welcomes our new black belt instructor, Professor Ramon Carrico. Ramon is a highly accomplished 4th degree black belt with 20 years of experience teaching adults and kids. He started his BJJ journey in 1988 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  Ramon has been teaching Jiu-Jitsu since 1999 both in Brazil and around the world. Ramon was the UAE Army Coach for the UAE Army Abu Dhabi from 2016 to 2019. As part of this role, he was also the Head of UAE Navy Competition Team. He was a coach at Robson Moura Jiu Jitsu Tampa Flórida from 2014 to 2016. In this role, he was the head of the children's classes. He was the Head Coach at Head Coach Premier Martial Arts Knoxville from 2012 to 2014. He was the Head Coach at Nova União Vila Velha ES from 1999 to 2009. Ramon will be leading the ROOTS BJJ Botany team, and we look forward to seeing you on the new mats.

ROOTS BJJ Botany will be moving to a new purpose built gym in March. The gym with offer a range of services, such as BJJ, CrossFit, Krav Maga, power lifting, machine and free weights, and personal training. More details to follow soon!

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Ramon teaching at Botany

​ROOTS BJJ Matraville Opening March

Professor James Hampton

Continuing to grow our team in the Eastern Suburbs, Professor James Hampton will be opening a new ROOTS BJJ Gym in Matraville in March.

Black belt instructor, James, has been with the ROOTS BJJ for 15 years. He is one of our strongest competitors, and he won two bronze medals in the 2019 Pan Pacific BJJ Competition. James has also won gold and silver at the Australian championships and numerous NSW State titles.

James is a great instructor, and he built a strong team at ROOTS BJJ Botany. James has led his team on to great success at State and National competitions. We are all looking forward to seeing him grow an awesome team of kids and adults in Matraville. 

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James coaching at a NSW BJJ Federation competition

​ROOTS BJJ South Sydney is on the horizon

Professor Gustavo Guimaraes

We are also opening a new ROOTS BJJ in the Shire. The search is underway for the perfect location, and we can't wait to see our team growing South Sydney.

This gym will be led by 4th degree black belt instructor Professor, Gustavo Guimaraes. Gustavo is the 2019 Pan Pacific BJJ Champion, 2019 NSW State Champion, and 2019 NSW Winter and Summer Cup Champion. He has also won many titles in Brazil.

Coming from Espirito Santo in Brazil, he has be doing BJJ for nearly 30 years, and he has been teaching for 24 years. We welcome Gustavo to the ROOTS BJJ team, and we will let you all know when the new gym is opening.

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Gustavo and Paulo at the 2019 Pan Pacific IBJJF Championships