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.

Google 5-star reviews

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Building trust since 2016

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Featured story

Meet our
members.

Real interviews with real people. How they found
SJJA, what Jiu-Jitsu has changed, and why they keep
showing up.

Founder Story

Bruno Alves — Pressure makes diamonds.

The SJJA founder on his journey from the ZR Team in Brazil to building Australia’s flagship BJJ academy in Crows Nest — and why he believes everyone can transform through Jiu-Jitsu.

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Before: Shy, withdrawn, bullied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 214+ verified Google reviews.
Sorted by most recent.

    
 
 
      Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The best academy to train Brazillian Jiu Jitsu, for both kids & adults. Excellent instructors & management. Highly successful competition team.
  
  Posted on Google  
 
    
   DAVID HOFFMAN  
 May 7, 2026
 
 
 
     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The best place and amazing professors! Also, Rob is the best!
  
  Posted on Google  
 
    
   EKY PRATAMA  
 April 11, 2026
 
 
 
     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great place to train and grow. The Culture is great and Professor Raphael is an amazing teacher. If you want to learn from world class athletes then this is the place to be.
  
  Posted on Google  
 
    
   ALEX LAMBROS  
 February 19, 2026
 
 
 
     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Trained at SJJA Crows nest while visiting Sidney. Very familiar environment, great quality jiu jitsu. I felt like home. Thank you all the crew and students for being so friendly. Thank you a professor Bruno Alves  and Professor Raphael Rodrigues. BJJ family. Oooosssss !
  
  Posted on Google  
 
    
   SERGIO GUIMARAES  
 February 19, 2026
 
 
 
     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great experience at this gym.  Very detailed instruction, friendly welcoming instructor and classmates.  I highly recommend to check it out! Thanks Professor Rob and Simon for letting me come train.
  
  Posted on Google  
 
    
   MASTER STEVE  
 January 30, 2026
 
 
 
     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. really enjoyed Rapha’s teaching - world class and will be back for more!
  
  Posted on Google  
 
    
   JACK KERAMEA  
 January 26, 2026
 
 
 
     Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Rob and team have a special place here. Great coaches and community. Thanks for having me and see you soon. Jon x
  
  Posted on Google  
 
    
   JONATHAN HERON  
 December 18, 2025

01 / 01

Got a story to share?

We love hearing from our members. If you’d like to share your SJJA story — on camera or in writing — drop us a line.

Your first class is on us

Stories from the mats.

Meet our members.

Bruno Alves — Pressure makes diamonds.

BA

Bruno Alves

Transformation stories.

"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.

Pressure makes diamonds.

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

What everyone else is saying.

Got a story to share?

Meet our
members.

Transformation
stories.

Pressure makes
diamonds.

What
everyone else
is saying.