History of BJJ in Australia

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu arrived in Australia during the 1990s, brought by traveling black belts and early adopters influenced by the UFC. One of the earliest figures was John Will, who trained with the Gracies and became part of the “Dirty Dozen” — the first twelve non-Brazilians to earn black belts in BJJ. His efforts helped establish a foundation for Australian BJJ.

From those early academies, the sport spread quickly across major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. National competitions, visiting instructors, and later the rise of homegrown champions accelerated growth. Today, Australia has a thriving BJJ culture, with world-class athletes, large tournaments, and international recognition.