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)
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
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.
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. 🏅
Goal Setting for Martial Arts : DKMMA Melbourne
We’re already three months into the year, and this is around the time when many people start to lose sight of their goals or find excuses for why they can’t follow through with their plans. At the start of January, it’s easy to set big ambitions, but as the weeks pass, motivation tends to fade, and only those who are truly dedicated remain committed and put in the necessary effort. Setting goals is important, but what’s even more crucial is taking consistent action to achieve them. Rather than fixating solely on a broad goal like earning your blue belt or winning an MMA title, shift your focus to the smaller, daily tasks that will get you there—and make sure you’re following through. For instance, you could track things like: “I attended five classes this week,” or “I completed 25 rounds of sparring this week,” or “I finished eight triangle chokes from closed guard.” These concrete actions add up over time and are what ultimately lead to success. You may not see immediate results, and that’s okay. The key is to continue putting in the work, because results are the natural outcome of consistent effort. I’ve seen this first-hand over the last 30 years of martial arts training, where persistence always leads to progress, even if it’s gradual at first. In today’s world, it’s easy to get sidetracked and look for shortcuts, but remember: while you’re taking breaks or seeking easier paths, your training partners are still putting in the work. They will continue improving and eventually surpass you, which can be discouraging. So, stay focused, stay consistent, and keep doing the work—success is built over time. Get Started this week, Book your Trial here: https://buy.stripe.com/9AQ4j5feS4L2cgMfZ1
First Grading Day of 2026 at DKMMA, Fairfield
Congratulations to everyone who took part in our first graduation day of 2026. We had almost 40 kids take part in our Kids BJJ Grading at 9 am, then we had our Mixed Martial Arts Program Grading at 10 am, & then we had 40 students take part in our Adults BJJ Grading at 11 am, including a few visitors from our Affiliate school, Coastal Combat. Well done to everyone who took part & got a new stripe or a blet upgrade. Especially Nicholas & Joe, who were awarded their next grade in our MMA program. Joe & Leon, who were awarded their BJJ Blue Belts & Matthew, who was awarded his BJJ Purple Belt. Great work everyone, keep training hard & the next Grading Day will be on Saturday 14th June. https://maps.app.goo.gl/8moHeESqHyTWR6LA8
Teen BJJ & MMA Classes at DKMMA, Fairfield, Melbourne
Teen BJJ & MMA Classes Are Back for 2026! Our Teens Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Mixed Martial Arts program kicks off again on Monday 2nd Feb at 5:00 PM at DKMMA (324 Darebin Road, Fairfield). Class Schedule: Monday 5pm – Brazilian JiuJitsu Tuesday 5pm – Mixed Martial Arts Wednesday 5pm – Brazilian JiuJitsu Thursday 5pm – Mixed Martial Arts Special Offer: 2-Week Trial for Just $47 – Uniform Included! Learn self-defence & discipline Build confidence & fitness Make new friends in a fun, supportive environment Perfect for teens aged 12–16. No experience needed! Spots are limited You can book your spot here: https://buy.stripe.com/9AQbLxaYC1yQ1C8fYZ
KICKBOXING INTRO COURSE STARTS SOON!
4-WEEK BEGINNER KICKBOXING INTRO COURSE STARTS TUESDAY 10th FEBRUARY! Ready to kickstart your fitness journey and learn real kickboxing skills? Whether you’re brand new to training or looking for a fresh challenge, this 4-week Kickboxing Intro Course at DKMMAis the perfect way to get started! What’s included: * 4 weeks of structured beginner-friendly kickboxing training * Learn all the essential techniques — strikes, footwork, defense & combinations * Bag work + padwork every session * Supportive, welcoming environment * FREE boxing gloves included! Location: DKMMA Start Date: Tuesday, 10th February Class Times: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:15pm–9:00pm Cost: $179 per person (includes gloves) Spaces are limited — claim your spot now and take your first step into kickboxing! Book here: https://bjjmelbourne.com.au/kickboxing-intro-program