Oliver MMA Browns Bay

Last Thursday, we concluded our morning class—aka the “morning savages”—for the time being. Ever since starting it just after the “pandemic”, we struggled to build good, consistent numbers.

Choong took over the classes a few years ago and has been doing an incredible job. He added his own flavour and unique perspective to the sessions, and everyone who attended them knows exactly what I’m talking about. Unfortunately, the 5:30 AM early birds are a dying breed, so we felt it was best to put the class on hold for now.

Thank you, Choong, for your amazing contribution to the team. We will be looking to implement Choong’s coaching skills into our evening classes in the near future. Stay tuned!

A massive congratulations to Alex, who was awarded his blue belt last night! Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this milestone.

Alex started training with us in July 2022, not long after beginning his PhD. Even with a busy study schedule, he remained dedicated to his training. Looking at his attendance, he hasn’t missed a single month—that’s true consistency.

To all our members: remember that belts and stripes are earned through a combination of attendance, consistency, and skill development. Make sure you’re signing into class so your attendance is tracked!

BJJ is a long, difficult road, but there’s no better feeling than knowing you earned your rank through pure dedication, so stay on the path!

Another big comp added in July! Let’s Go Team!

We don’t usually add tournaments to the calendar ... but you asked for it, and we listened!

The SJJFNZ Open will take place on July 18 at the prestigious Eventfinda Stadium.

This will be our only 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ tournament this year, and the only internationally sanctioned OPEN in New Zealand.
This is part of a wider push to provide more opportunities for athletes across the country, with plans to expand further next year.

Registrations are now open.
Comment OPEN, and we’ll send you the link 🔗

Big congratulations to all our adult white belts who received their stripes last night!

Your commitment, consistency, and skill development have earned you those stripes. Stay on the path and keep going!

Apologies to Hayden—our receptionist, Ruby, couldn’t get there in time for the photo 🙏🥲

Our first Youth BJJ Grading of the year is in the books!

Well done to everyone who passed their grading today. I was especially impressed with our Youth 1 group—they really stepped it up in the last few weeks leading into the grading, and it definitely showed.

For our Youth 2, it was more of a learning experience. Overall it was good, but also a reminder that as they transition closer to the adult level, we must focus on the details and understand why we are doing what we are doing.

Stay focused, learn from the experience, and continue to grow.

Earned, Not Given!

Calling all colour belts who attend our evening classes!

You are invited to a Consultation Meeting to discuss a possible timetable change for our evening classes.

Why are we having this meeting?
• To provide a better training environment for our current members and maximise time on the mats
• To encourage more rolling/sparring
• To prioritise family time

When: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM, Saturday, 7th March 2026
Who: Any colour belts who attend the evening classes
What: We will be discussing ideas for a possible timetable change. Please bring your own ideas.
Where: Brothers Bar & Eatery, Clyde Road

You will receive a free coffee of your choice!
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Yesterday HQ, we had the privilege of learning from a true living legend of our art — Royce Gracie, the original UFC Champion from the early no-holds-barred, style-vs-style tournaments with no time limits. Through those early UFCs, he proved that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the most effective martial art for self-defence, and that technique can overcome size and strength.

It’s easy to get caught up in the fun and exciting sport side of Jiu-Jitsu, but yesterday reminded us of the core fundamentals that make the art so effective for self defence. We all had a great time, and as an instructor, I especially enjoyed watching the kids’ seminar — it opened my eyes to a different way of teaching our art.

Thank you, , for your time and knowledge, and a big thank you to for organising the seminar.

Happy New Year everyone!

2025 was our best year yet and we couldn’t be more proud of what we achieved together. Some highlights from the year:

- We got our own black belts — three in total!
- We promoted 2 brown belts, 2 purple belts, and 5 blue belts
- We celebrated our first-ever female blue belt
- We finished Top 6 in the SJJFNZ 2024/2025 season 🏆

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our members and parents for trusting us, supporting our mission and allowing us to do what we love every day.

Let’s set new goals, push to new heights and keep growing together.

Bring on 2026! 🔥💪

What a team. What a community!

A huge thank you to everyone who came out today to celebrate another great year at Oliver MMA Browns Bay. As I’ve said countless times, nothing can be done without our community. This applies not only to training, but to events like this as well.

A massive thanks to everyone who brought food, lent equipment, helped with setup, or offered to pick things up—we truly couldn’t have made today happen without you. Our community continues to grow every year, and this year was no different. We hit some new milestones, and I’m already looking forward to what 2026 will bring.

Congratulations to everyone who received awards at Prizegiving, and a special thank you to those who supported our event:

for providing sparkling water

for allowing us to provide Gold Class tickets for our coaches

Bays Storage for providing us use of their truck

Grateful, proud, and excited for what’s ahead. 💪🔥