Otis & Reeve Win Their Shoot Box Matches
Congratualtions to our Fight Team Members Otis & Reeve who won their Shoot Boxing matches at the Coastal Combat challenge this weekend. Both guys put on dominant displays of striking & controlled their matches to win unanimous decisions. Great work boys & onto the next challenge. Get started at DKMMA this week & train alongside our team of experienced fighters & coaches. Sign up via this link:
Jono & Al get Gold in Australian BJJ Championships
Congratulations to Jono & Alastair for stepping up to represent the team at the AUS BJJ Championship this weekend & also both taking home the gold medals in their divisions. It shows that the hard work we’ve been putting in every week is paying off. I believe Competition Keeps Our Gym Strong Many gyms follow the same path. They start out strong, but over time, people stop competing. When no one tests their skills against real pressure, things change. Training gets soft, feedback becomes too polite, and techniques stop working against someone who is actually trying to stop you. Before you know it, standards drop and the gym turns into a McDojo. I don’t think competing is the only thing that matters. Winning or losing a medal doesn’t define who you are as a person or a grappler. But I do believe competing is necessary to keep our training standards high. Competition shows us the truth about our training. When our team competes, we find out right away what works, what needs work, and what is changing in the sport. We bring those lessons right back to our mats so everyone learns faster. When you train with people getting ready for a tournament, it keeps everyone sharp. It makes sure our sparring stays real, our fitness stays high, and our moves work because they are good (not because your partner let you have it) Hard work is contagious. When a lot of people in the gym are working toward a goal, it lifts the energy for the whole room. It stops us from getting lazy or settling for “good enough.” A great bjj gym needs a healthy balance of active competitors. If you never want to compete, that is 100% fine. Your training matters just as much, and we fully support your goals. But the reason you get a tough, skilled training partner every time you come to class is because our gym tests itself under real pressure. We compete to keep our standards high, our moves real, and our gym a place where everyone can get better. Get started on your BJJ Journey with our 5 Week BJJ Intro Program whcih starts on Monday 31st August. Sign up via this link BJJ 5 Week Intro Program (includes Free Uniform)
Quillan Salkilld wins on UFC Fight Night
Quillan’s victory over Gamrot isn’t just another win on the board, it’s a masterclass in what truly matters in mma. Gamrot trains out of American Top Team in Florida, a massive 50,000-square-foot, two-story mega-facility. ATT has over 6,500 square feet of mat space, a full-size 32-foot UFC octagon, strength and conditioning zones, on-site fighter dorms, and over 100 active pros(including dozens of UFC champions and top contenders) & more than 20 specialized coaches. Quillan trains out of LCA, a small local gym in Perth. MMA proves that state-of-the-art facilities and elite infrastructure don’t guarantee victory. What makes the ultimate difference isn’t the size of the gym or the number of coaches on the payroll; it’s having a coach who is genuinely committed to helping a fighter reach his full potential. Greatness comes from a coach who cares about your success as a human being. Alex Volkanovski had Joe Lopez. Conor McGregor had John Kavanagh. Khabib Nurmagomedov had his father, Abdulmanap. Georges St-Pierre had Firas Zahabi. And Quillan has my good friend Romel. Stepping into that cage is one of the single loneliest experiences a person can go through. When you’re standing in the dark waiting for the door to lock, fancy equipment or representing a famous gym doesn’t give you courage, the people standing with you do. It changes everything to know that the team in your corner is completely invested in you, standing beside you, and wanting that victory just as much as you do.
Martial Arts Family
Tracking numbers like active members, class attendance, and competition win rates is essential for measuring our gym’s growth over the last two years. But there is one statistic that means more than any other: around 50 of our members have at least one other family member who also trains at DKMMA. Whether it is parents and kids, siblings, or partners stepping onto the mats together, seeing families share this space is the ultimate indicator of what we are building at DKMMA. In martial arts, people might occasionally tolerate a tough, unwelcoming, or unsafe environment if they are strictly chasing a belt promotion or a trophy. But nobody exposes the people they love to an environment like that. You only bring your children, parents, or siblings to a place where you feel genuinely safe, respected, and supported. When you trust us with your family, it tells us everything we need to know. It proves that DKMMA is more than just a place to learn high-quality martial art, it’s a safe, encouraging community where people thrive together. That trust is what makes everything we do here truly worthwhile. To celebrate this we will be running a special bring your Dad to BJJ session for our kids classes on Fathers Day Weekend.
Great Results for DKMMA at Savage Grappling
Today was a good day for the DKMMA Team. We had 6 competitors, 13 Wins. 5 medals Nik had 1 win & 1 Loss – silver medal. Looked much improved in his matches than in his last competition a few weeks ago. Aidan had 3 wins & only 1 loss (to Otis) & took home the bronze medal Joe had 3 Wins & 1 loss (his only loss came by opponent getting an advantage for a submission attempt in the final seconds of the match) – he took the silver medal Ramze was put in the adult division despite being only 15 years old. He has some great matches & will learn a lot from today. Otis had 3 Wins & only 1 loss. Took the Silver medal in his division & also looked hugely improved on his last competition. Jed had 2 wins & 1 loss, got some great takedowns & looked calm & composed & got the silver medal Looks like what we’re doing is working so let’s keep doing it
Team Work
Teamwork is one of our gym’s major focuses. There is more importance placed on teamwork than individual fighters. All of us win when one of our team mates wins. This is not meant in the vague sense of feeling attached to someone else’s accomplishments just because we have the same logo on our shirts. Every member of the team has contributed in some way to the preparation of our fighters as they step into the ring or cage. We all feel the same sense of pride when they win. As shown in this video. The training partners and the team are focused on helping each other improve. We’ve had fighters in the past enquire about training at our gym, but they stipulate that they already have their own schedule such as doing boxing at another gym or BJJ at another place, so they basically just want to come down and spar when it’s convenient for them. That’s not the way we do things. You must train with us every day if you want to be a part of our team. Not only will this give you the best chance of winning your own fights, but it will also means you are there for your teammates who are also preparing for fights. Members of the team strive to improve each other’s skills, especially during sparring. As a result, each fighter will have access to better and more skilled training partners in the long run. What you put in is what you get out. By consistently showing up and training hard with a helpful attitude, you’ll have good training partners who’ll help you become even better. No one will want to train with you if you come to the gym sporadically, train with the wrong attitude, and injure your training partners. As a fighter, this will make success very difficult. Fighters step into the ring or cage on their own, but what happens and how they perform after the bell rings is determined by the team they have been surrounded by up until that point. Trends in techniques and training methods come and go. What’s popular and relevant this week soon becomes considered old fashioned and of no use. Gym culture is something that persists much longer. Your gym’s culture and atmosphere are the most important assets. What the students and fighters do, how they behave and how they treat each other in the gym. Training environment in terms of safe and effective training, as well as the reputation and values of the team are more important than short term success. Get Started at DKMMA Today https://bjjmelbourne.com.au/mma-2-week-trial
Real BJJ Training
Tough Training One thing I’ve recently realized is that all the best places I’ve trained at over the years have one thing in common: a strong emphasis on tough training. I’ve trained at some of the best mma, bjj, Muay Thai & kickboxing gyms all over the world, including the USA, Brazil, Thailand & Japan. There’s a temptation in martial arts to look for secrets or shortcuts to success. In reality, that just doesn’t work. While you’re searching for an easier way, someone else is in the gym putting in the hard work. When I say “tough training,” I don’t mean reckless or dangerous training where people are getting injured or knocked out. I also don’t mean endless, mindless cardio sessions that leave you exhausted but don’t actually improve your fighting ability. My definition of hard, effective training is how you would train if you had an MMA fight or BJJ competition exactly one week from today. Would you show up late, skip the warm-up, chat with your mates during drills and sparring? Would you waste time trying out flashy moves you saw on Instagram, or would you focus on high-percentage techniques that could actually help you win? At the best gyms, that’s how most people train. Sure, there are plenty of gyms with a more relaxed vibe where people just come to have fun. And that’s fine—but those gyms will never get the same results as the ones where people train seriously and consistently. As a coach, I feel it’s my responsibility to highlight this difference. If you’re not training hard and consistently, you won’t reach your full potential. There are no secrets. The only “secret” is consistent, focused hard work in a room full of like-minded people doing the same. Get started with our 5 week BJJ Intro program via this link: https://bjjmelbourne.com.au
Combat Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Session
I believe everything we learn in a BJJ Class should be applicable in a Sports BJJ Match, an MMA fight or also a self defence situation. That’s way that I was taught at Carlson Gracie London and that’s the way my coaches were taught in Rio De Janeiro and that’s the way that I intend to continue to teach. Of course there is a benefit to any type of martial arts training in terms of getting exercise, learning cool new moves & making friends. However, there are plenty of other martial arts styles where people could do that. What made BJJ stand out from the rest when it first emerged internationally in the 1990s was the emphasis on realism. It wasn’t about learning tricks or secret moves or finding ways to avoid hard training. It was about embracing the challenge & pushing yourself & your teammates to be the best they could be. This was what was missing from many other martial arts styles & was the reason their skills all fell apart when put under pressure. I intend to keep this spirit alive of pushing ourselves & testing ourselves in bjj & mma competition & focus on what works in a real fight.
MMA Intro Course – Starts Tues 28th July
Ready to Step Into the World of MMA? DKMMA Fairfield Melbourne is excited to launch a 4-Week MMA Intro Program—perfect for beginners who want to train like a fighter and build real skills in a fun, safe, and supportive environment! 4 Weeks of MMA Fundamentals Up to 4 Classes Per Week All for just $199! Whether you’re looking to boost your fitness, learn practical self-defence, or challenge yourself with something new, this is your chance to dive into the world of Mixed Martial Arts—no experience needed! Beginner-friendly and inclusive Located in Fairfield, Melbourne Limited spots available! Comment below, message us, or visit our page to secure your spot! https://bjjmelbourne.com.au/mma-intro-program Train smart. Train hard. Let’s go!
BJJ Introduction Program Starts Mon 20th July!
🛑 READY TO START YOUR BJJ JOURNEY? Join our Beginners BJJ Classes 🗓 Class Schedule: 💥 What’s Included: ✔️ 5 weeks of expert instruction ✔️ FREE BJJ uniform (Gi) ✔️ Classes taught by experienced black belt coaches ✔️ Build confidence, strength, and skills in a supportive environment 💲 Only $219 for 5 weeks! Whether you’re looking to try something new or get into better shape, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is for EVERYONE – no experience required. Come roll with us! Limited spots available, sign up today! What to expect: ✅ Structured lessons taught by our experienced coaches ✅ Perfect for all fitness levels – no prior experience required! ✅ A supportive and motivating environment to help you reach your goals But hurry! Spots are limited, so don’t miss out on this chance to train at DKMMA and start your BJJ journey. 🏅