Stories from the mats.

Video interviews, written reviews and before/after transformations from SJJA Crows Nest members. 1708+ five-star reviews. Every one of them earned.

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Featured story

The proof is on the mats.

The best way to understand SJJA is to hear from the people who train here.

Founder Story

Why members start, and why they stay

People come to Floreat for all kinds of reasons. A parent wants their child to have more confidence. Someone wants to get fit without a boring gym. Another wants to learn real self-defence. A few want to compete.
What keeps them is the room. The coaching, the training partners and the steady sense of getting better at something that matters

BA

Bruno Alves

Founder · Black Belt 4th Degree

Transformation
stories

Adult beginner · 8 months

"I walked in at 38, no fitness, never fought anyone. I came out different."

Before: Sedentary, 8kg overweight

After: 3×/week, leaner, confident

JM

Jack M.

Adult Fundamentals

Women’s program · 14 months

"Jiu-Jitsu gave me the kind of confidence I didn't know was missing."

Before: Anxious in public, no martial arts

After: Blue belt, self-defence ready

SP

Sarah P.

Women’s Program

Parent · 2 years

"My daughter used to cry at school. Now she's the one helping the shy kids."

Before: Shy, withdrawn, bullied

After: Confident, engaged, a leader

AB

Amanda B.

Parent — Kids Program

Blue belt · Competitor

"I came here for fitness. I stayed for the competition team."

Before: Casual gym-goer

After: Pan Pacific silver medallist

AC

Ankit C.

Advanced · Competition Team

Visiting black belt

"The coaches and community here are something special."

Role: Visiting from overseas

Takeaway: Made Sydney feel like home

ST

Jonathan H.

Visiting Black Belt

Parent + student · 3 years

"Started for my son. Joined the adult class six months later."

Before: Watching from the sidelines

After: Father-son training partners

JM

Steve T.

Adults + Kids program

Adult beginner · 8 months

"I walked in at 38, no fitness, never fought anyone. I came out different."

Before: Sedentary, 8kg overweight

After: 3×/week, leaner, confident

JM

Jack M.

Adult Fundamentals

Visiting black belt

"The coaches and community here are something special."

Role: Visiting from overseas

Takeaway: Made Sydney feel like home

ST

Jonathan H.

Visiting Black Belt

Women’s program · 14 months

"Jiu-Jitsu gave me the kind of confidence I didn't know was missing."

Before: Anxious in public, no martial arts

After: Blue belt, self-defence ready

SP

Sarah P.

Women’s Program

Parent · 2 years

"My daughter used to cry at school. Now she's the one helping the shy kids."

Before: Shy, withdrawn, bullied

After: Confident, engaged, a leader

AB

Amanda B.

Parent — Kids Program

Parent + student · 3 years

"Started for my son. Joined the adult class six months later."

Before: Watching from the sidelines

After: Father-son training partners

JM

Steve T.

Adults + Kids program

Blue belt · Competitor

"I came here for fitness. I stayed for the competition team."

Before: Casual gym-goer

After: Pan Pacific silver medallist

AC

Ankit C.

Advanced · Competition Team

Transformations

Pressure makes
diamonds.

What 6, 12, or 24 months of consistent training really
looks like — mind, body and character.

Fitness transformation

Tom — 12 months, white to blue belt

Tom arrived out of shape and out of practice. A year of consistent Fundamentals classes, three times a week, changed his fitness, his posture, and — in his words — “the way I show up at work.”

+140%

Cardio capacity

−9 kg

Body weight

Blue belt

Earned in 14 months

Confidence transformation

Riley — 24 months, shy kid to leader

Riley’s mum enrolled her at six. She hid behind legs for the first month. Two years on she leads the warmups, partners with new kids first, and earned her orange belt at the NSW state championships.

4 belts

White to orange

State

Medal winner

Class leader

Helping new kids

Mental transformation

Priya — 18 months, anxiety to advocate

Priya joined the women’s program after a difficult year. The community, the structure, and the physical practice rewrote her relationship with stress. She now runs introductory sessions for new women at the gym.

3×/week

Consistent attendance

Blue belt

Earned in 16 months

Mentor

For new students

Google reviews

What everyone else
is saying.

A selection of our 1708+ verified Google reviews.
Sorted by most recent.

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Stories from the mats.

Why members start, and why they stay

BA

Bruno Alves

"I walked in at 38, no fitness, never fought anyone. I came out different."

JM

Jack M.

"Jiu-Jitsu gave me the kind of confidence I didn't know was missing."

SP

Sarah P.

"My daughter used to cry at school. Now she's the one helping the shy kids."

AB

Amanda B.

"I came here for fitness. I stayed for the competition team."

AC

Ankit C.

"The coaches and community here are something special."

ST

Jonathan H.

"Started for my son. Joined the adult class six months later."

JM

Steve T.

"I walked in at 38, no fitness, never fought anyone. I came out different."

JM

Jack M.

"The coaches and community here are something special."

ST

Jonathan H.

"Jiu-Jitsu gave me the kind of confidence I didn't know was missing."

SP

Sarah P.

"My daughter used to cry at school. Now she's the one helping the shy kids."

AB

Amanda B.

"Started for my son. Joined the adult class six months later."

JM

Steve T.

"I came here for fitness. I stayed for the competition team."

AC

Ankit C.

Tom — 12 months, white to blue belt

+140%

−9 kg

Blue belt

Riley — 24 months, shy kid to leader

4 belts

State

Class leader

Priya — 18 months, anxiety to advocate

3×/week

Blue belt

Mentor

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