meet the team
We are a family owned and operated martial arts academy in cairns, australia.
Garrett Maunder
Head Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Coach / Owner - Black Belt
What year did you start BJJ? 2007.
What year did you start teaching? Around 2013
How long have you been training consistently?
Probably consistently since 2009, so around 14 years.
What’s kept you doing it for so long?
The challenge it provides for your mind. There’s so much to learn and that I want to be good at. I always go into it with a beginners mindset so I keep learning all the time and I guess I just don’t want to suck at it! Also the fact that you get to “exercise” as a by-product of something that is by nature fun and enjoyable is a plus too.
What does BJJ do for you/to you?
What I learn by doing jiu-jitsu translates into all other areas of my life and I think makes me a better person. It teaches me about myself a lot and my attitude towards things.
Anything you want people to know who are looking to start or might have just started BJJ?
It’s a long journey that is infinitely more rewarding than what you think just learning a martial art could be. You will always regret not having started sooner or the time you took off when you get on (or back on) the mats and you will definitely learn a lot about yourself.
Jeska Maunder
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Coach / Owner - Purple Belt / Qualified and Registered School Teacher
What year did you start learning BJJ?
I had my first class in 2011 I think, but I didn’t start training until around 2015, after my second child was around 12 months old. I took breaks for 2 more pregnancies and breastfeeding so it’s been 8 years in total.
What year did you start teaching BJJ?
I started teaching adults in 2020, but have helped with the kids classes since around 2013.
What’s kept you doing it / coming back for more until now?
Well it’s a lot of fun and it attracts some really positive and down to earth people. It constantly challenges you and is never dull. You’re always learning something new and it doesn’t feel like exercise when you’re doing it because you’re so focused on problem solving the human chess game. It’s only once you finish you realise you’ve worked really hard and had a great workout. I can’t handle exercising for the sake of exercising. This way, I’m learning an effective martial art (being forced to defend yourself on the ground is the best training as a female for self-defense), challenging my mind and body, staying strong and surrounding myself with others who want to be the best they can be.
What does BJJ do for you/to you?
I love the challenge. The longer you do BJJ the more interesting and exciting it becomes. It keeps everything in life in perspective and stops me getting caught up in unimportant things. I feel like it teaches me a lot about myself, about not giving up, focusing on the small improvements and to keep turning up when things are hard because that is where you see the most growth and in hindsight is the most rewarding.
Anything you want people to know who might start / have just started BJJ?
Everyone started exactly where you are. Stick with it even if you feel like your progress is slow and don’t be too hard on yourself. Most of all … that old cliché “Enjoy the Journey”.
Vivian Lawler
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Coach - Black Belt
What year did you start learning BJJ?
2002
What year did you start teaching BJJ?
2004/2005
What’s kept you doing it / coming back for more for so long?
For me its a healthy addiction.
What does BJJ do for you/to you?
It’s a stress relief and is constantly changing so always provides new challenges.
Anything you want people to know who might start / have just started BJJ?
For those who have just started, enjoy it, don’t put pressure on yourself and do not compare yourself to others, it’s your journey. You will make lots of solid friends on the way.
Adrian Pancirov
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Coach - Purple Belt
What year did you start learning BJJ?
It was sometime in 2012, I’ve had a couple long layoffs due to injury
What year did you start teaching BJJ?
2018
What’s kept you doing it / coming back for more for so long?
I’d say the constant learning and constant challenge Jiu Jitsu provides and also requires. I also love seeing the kids improve over time and watching their perseverance pay off!
What does BJJ do for you/to you?
That could be a long list but in a nutshell it keeps me happy and healthy both physically and mentally.
Anything you want people to know who might start / have just started BJJ?
Just have fun with it and don’t measure yourself with others, just keep showing up and the results will show in time!
Pete Robinson
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Coach - Black Belt
What year did you start learning BJJ?
2003
What year did you start teaching BJJ?
2010
How long have you been training BJJ?
20 years with some breaks over the last few years
What’s kept you doing it / coming back for more for so long?
You can keep developing and learning almost infinitely. You could live 5 lifetimes and not be able to master everything that you’d want to.
What does BJJ do for you/to you?
Jiujitsu gives me something to focus on away from life’s commitments, work, family etc.
I’ve also met so many good people through jujitsu and they’re often the ones that I seem to keep in touch with whether I met them training while travelling in another country or here in Cairns.
Jiujitsu is also great as it gives us a nice dose of discomfort each day in a safe environment, something that a lot of people could really use!
Anything you want people to know who might start / have just started BJJ?
Enjoy the training as much as possible. As far as I know there is no day that arrives where you get bored with jiujitsu and there is definitely no day that you feel you have mastered it, no matter what colour belt you wear. Every day that you are able to train or compete, make the most of it even if it doesn’t go well because it’s better than a day that you couldn’t train.
Dean Collie
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Coach - Black Belt
What year did you start learning BJJ?
2011
What year did you start teaching BJJ?
2014
What’s kept you doing it / coming back for more for so long?
BJJ kept me coming back because I just wanted to get better and I can see that if you put in the time you will get better.
What does BJJ do for you/to you?
BJJ keeps me fit and strong I really appreciate the life long friendships I have made with so many people all striving and training hard with you to be better, and to have a good time while doing it.
Anything you want people to know who might start / have just started BJJ?
For new people I would say that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can be a great part of your life. There is so much to learn and practice it can be overwhelming but just keep coming to class…that is part of the fun, you are always learning.
Todd Gill
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Coach - Black Belt
What year did you start learning BJJ?
2008
What year did you start teaching BJJ?
I started teaching BJJ in 2018. Some of my most notable students include Dan Johnson, Paul Bolton and Dominic Fisher.
What’s kept you doing it / coming back for more for so long?
I enjoy the competitiveness of the sport and the complex problem solving.
What does BJJ do for you/to you?
BJJ is both physically challenging and mentally challenging, but also extremely fun. I feel like it helps me in most other aspects of life, because it teaches you resilience, tenacity and problem solving.
Anything you want people to know who might start / have just started BJJ?
When you start BJJ you will be terrible, but everyone is. Keep showing up, don’t quit and you will get better.
Chris Pratt
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Coach - Black Belt
What year did you start learning BJJ?
1998
What year did you start teaching BJJ?
2012
What’s kept you doing it / coming back for more for so long? Jiujitsu helps me to clear my mind and is a great de-stressor. You get better by focusing on your own game and not trying to beat other people.
What does BJJ do for you/to you? It’s a great exercise. It’s a very social martial arts and really helps with stress and anxiety. It allows for technicality, individual flare and creativity but is effective because of timely and simple principles.
Anything you want people to know who might start / have just started BJJ? If you haven’t trained BJJ, just give it a chance! Once you’ve gotten past the initial awkwardness in the first few weeks. Remember to work on improving the things that aren’t working and not to worry about who wins or loses.
Dan Hannagan
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Konrad Borowiecki
Boxing Coach