Start trainingjiu jitsu. And let itmake your wholelife better.
I'm Luis. A 1st degree black belt with 15 years on the mats, and a civil engineer who's spent the last 14 years inside corporate. I know exactly what it takes to fit jiu jitsu into a full week of work, family, and life. This is coaching built for adults doing the same.
1st Degree Black BeltAuckland + Online15 Years Training
Now Taking Students
Luis & familyWellbeing on & off the mats
The Big Idea
BJJ isn't really about fighting.
It's about everything else.
1st Degree · Black Belt
In Their Words
Real people. Real progress.
Adults, teens, kids, and parents. From the mats in Auckland. Lightly edited for clarity, full words on request.
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I came back to martial arts after a shoulder injury, not wanting to get smashed in a full class and injured again. What I've found is a new level of confidence on and off the mats, a new passion for learning, and the motivation to make lifestyle changes for the better. Who would I tell to give it a try? Anyone and everyone.
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I was too focused on chasing submissions instead of understanding the concepts behind jiu jitsu. Since I started, there's been a massive improvement in my technique and in my confidence. I stopped focusing on everything I still need to learn and started improving one step at a time. Who would I recommend it to? Every woman on this planet, especially women around my age. It's empowering, mentally and physically.
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In group classes it's easy to only superficially learn techniques. You look like you know what you're doing but you're really missing the key details that make the move work. Training one on one means even small mistakes are quickly picked up on and corrected.
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Nothing was holding me back, because the moment I started training with you I loved jiu jitsu even more. You made me better at my own game. Who would I recommend it to? My brother, because it'll be cool to have the whole family on the mats.
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Both boys were very shy, and group BJJ felt too overwhelming for them. Since training with you, we've seen a huge change in their confidence. They're more comfortable stepping into unfamiliar environments, interacting with others, and backing themselves. They genuinely look forward to training each week. I'd recommend it to any parent, especially kids who are a little shy. The growth goes far beyond the mats.
Auckland
On The Mats
This is what it actually looks like.
Luis with James, one of his blue belts, on the mats in Auckland. No egos, no grind. Just real training between people who respect each other's time, goals, and bodies.
In-person if you're in Auckland. Online if you're anywhere else. Both run on the same principles, the same curriculum, and the same belief: concepts beat techniques, every time.
Auckland · In Person
Private Lessons in Auckland.
One-on-one and semi-private mat time on your schedule. Built for adults who want to progress faster than a group class allows, without the chaos of open mat.
From NZ$80 / session · 60 to 90 minutes
Tailored to your body, age, and goals. No one-size-fits-all.
Concept-first teaching that sticks long after the lesson ends.
Drill, spar, and review at a pace that builds skill, not just sweat.
Flexible scheduling: early mornings, lunch slots, evenings.
Anywhere · Remote
Online Coaching from anywhere.
For hobbyists who train at a local gym but want a black belt in their corner. Video review, structured feedback, and 1-to-1 calls that turn your training into real progress.
From NZ$50 / session · cancel any time
Submit rolls and drills. Get frame-by-frame video analysis.
Monthly 1:1 coaching call to plan what to focus on next.
Personalised study material based on your game and gaps.
Direct line to ask the questions your instructor doesn't have time for.
1st Degree · Black Belt
The Coach
A black belt who built a method for adults like himself.
I'm Luis. Civil engineer, 1st degree black belt, 15 years on the mats, and 14 years inside corporate balancing a full career with training. I earned my black belt the hard way. My students are corporate professionals, parents, people in their 40s who thought it was too late. It isn't. You just need the right approach.
15
Years on the mats
1st
Degree black belt
14
Years in corporate
The Method
Three things that make adults progress.
01 / Principle
Sustainable over intense.
Training built around your real week. Work, family, sleep, recovery. The goal isn't to crush you. It's to keep you on the mat for the next twenty years, not the next twenty days.
02 / Principle
Concepts over techniques.
You can't memorise your way to a black belt. We teach the underlying principles: frames, angles, pressure, leverage. So every position you've never seen still makes sense.
03 / Principle
Built for busy adults.
No one's grinding here. We optimise for the 2 to 4-day-a-week practitioner with a job and a body that needs care. You'll progress steadily, and stay healthy doing it.
The Lifestyle
Jiu jitsu, alongside your life. Not against it.
You don't need to choose between being good at jiu jitsu and being present at home. The right training schedule, the right intensity, and the right teacher means you can have both, and the benefits spill into the rest of your life. Better sleep. Better focus. More patience. A clearer head.
Brain & focus
Confidence at work
Injury prevention
Kids' classes welcome
A family practiceWellbeing beyond the mat
Common Questions
Honest answers to the real objections.
If you've talked yourself out of starting before, it's probably one of these. Most of them aren't the problem you think they are.
I'm in my 40s. Is it too late to start?
No. Most of my students started in their 30s, 40s, even 50s. What matters isn't age. It's the training approach. With the right intensity and recovery, adults make consistent progress without breaking themselves.
I'm not flexible, fit, or athletic. Will I struggle?
Everyone starts un-flexible and un-fit. Jiu jitsu builds those qualities. It doesn't require them upfront. The first few months are about learning to move and breathe. Strength and conditioning take care of themselves.
How often do I actually need to train?
Two to three quality sessions a week is plenty for steady progress. The students who quit are usually the ones who tried to train six days, burnt out, and disappeared. Consistency beats volume.
What about injuries? I can't afford to be out of work.
Most BJJ injuries come from training partners with bad control or ego, not from the art itself. Private and small-group settings let me match you with the right people and the right intensity. We train hard enough to learn, not so hard you can't show up to work Monday.
Do I need to compete to get good?
No. Competition is one path. It's not the only one. Most of my students will never compete, and they still earn their belts, get genuinely skilled, and use jiu jitsu as a lifelong practice. Your goals decide your training, not the other way around.
I live overseas. Can online coaching really help?
Yes. And often more than people expect. Most adults at a local gym aren't getting personalised feedback. Send me your rolls, your drilling, your questions, and you'll get the kind of structured analysis that turns a year of training into actual progress.
The Next Step
Pick the path. Start now.
A first conversation is free. Tell me where you are, what you want, and we'll work out whether private lessons in Auckland or online coaching is the right fit.