Southern Cross Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Cronulla

Hey everyone,

Since it’s raining in Sydney today, grab a coffee and take an hour to watch/listen to this Roll or Die episode with Bernie Jenkins. It’s a good one and might be exactly what you need to get motivated for the mat this week.

Quick links:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6M2SUR4E9g103OKxSxEnuN?si=e0fcc6c3927b41b3

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hS3HG8b0fC4

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/roll-or-die-episode-321-bernie-jenkins/id1519037518?i=1000769413997

If you’re short on time, just skip straight to the 21-minute mark. That bit really stuck with me.

That’s because I was actually on the mat the day Bernie (plus three others, including my old coach Larry Papadopoulos) got his black belt. Those early 2000s sessions at John Donehue’s place were seriously brutal — “brutal” doesn’t even cover it. The fact that Bernie demoted himself a belt rank earlier on says everything about the standard they trained to.

I still remember JD publicly challenging a long-time purple belt who was pushing for brown: “If you want it, you need to tap out every purple and below on the mat right now.” That was about a dozen people.

A week ago I had a chat with one of our long-time brown belts and laid out what I want to see from him to get to black.

At the end of the day, it’s exactly what Bernie says in that clip — I want every one of you to reach the best level you’re capable of. No more, no less.

Use this rainy day for some jiu-jitsu study, as the mat will be expecting you tomorrow.

Let’s keep grinding.

Oss,

"Thursday Night Grading — Two purple belts and a blue belt — three stories worth telling"

Let's start with Keith. Because Keith deserves to go first.

Keith is 60 years old. Last Thursday night he earned his purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — one of the most physically demanding martial arts on the planet. But what Coach Rodney mentioned on the night wasn't Keith's age or even his belt. It was this: Keith almost never misses the warm-up. In fact he often leads it.

In a room full of people in their 20s and 30s who are still figuring out how to be consistent, Keith is the one setting the standard. His purple belt isn't just a rank — it's proof that showing up, every week, no excuses, compounds into something extraordinary over time.

If you're reading this thinking you're too old to start — Keith started his BJJ journey well into adulthood and just earned his purple belt at 60. What's your excuse?

Shane received his purple belt with his father watching from the side of the mat — having flown over from Ireland just a few days earlier. If you've trained BJJ you know how long the road from blue to purple is. Years of showing up, getting tapped, getting back up. To have your dad in the room when that belt gets tied around your waist — that's a moment that doesn't need any commentary.

Nick's path to blue was a little different. He'd missed the blue belt checkpoint due to being away for work, so instead of a single grading night, Rodney worked through it with him quietly over several consecutive Thursday sessions, filling in the gaps properly.

That's how it works at SCJJA. There's no schedule, no grading fees, no ceremony for its own sake. When you're ready, Coach Rodney will let you know. Nick was ready.

Congratulations on your blue belt Nick — the journey to purple starts now. 🤙

Two purple belts and a blue. One dad watching wondering what was going on. One 60-year-old leading the warm-up. One guy who got there his own way, on his own timeline.

This is why we train. Congratulations Shane, Keith, and Nick. 🥋

Hi all.

Congrats once again to all who graded this morning. And thanks to Steve, Jonathan and all the "ukis" who were there too.

Every time we run this I make the point that jiu-jitsu is more than just rolling around on the floor. It's first and foremost a martial art. That's why to be graded you must train gi, no gi, and learn the self-defence positions.

There is always one position that most people fail. And I get why, because it's more a theory than anything else. If we taught it every class, eyes would close as you think "not this again"!

So I pretty much only teach it in the grading.

How do you stand when someone is in your face intimidating you?

Do you want to escalate the situation, and have a fight? Not knowing if they have AIDs or another disease etc?

Google the story of David Hooks who copped one punch from a bouncer, hit his head on the cement and died.

The best thing to do is de-escalate it, but stay safe.

In this short video below Master Relson Gracie demonstrates it.

Notice where his chin is. Where his arteries are. And how even though he's appearing weak, he is also proving he's old tough SOB you don't wanna mess with.

Hi all.

Congrats once again to all who graded this morning. And thanks to Steve, Jonathan and all the "ukis" who were there too.

Every time we run this I make the point that jiu-jitsu is more than just rolling around on the floor. It's first and foremost a martial art. That's why to be graded you must train gi, no gi, and learn the self-defence positions.

There is always one position that most people fail. And I get why, because it's more a theory than anything else. If we taught it every class, eyes would close as you think "not this again"!

So I pretty much only teach it in the grading.

How do you stand when someone is in your face intimidating you?

Do you want to escalate the situation, and have a fight? Not knowing if they have AIDs or another disease etc?

Google the story of David Hooks who copped one punch from a bouncer, hit his head on the cement and died.

The best thing to do is de-escalate it, but stay safe.

In this short video below Master Relson Gracie demonstrates it.

Notice where his chin is. Where his arteries are. And how even though he's appearing weak, he is also proving he's old tough SOB you don't wanna mess with.

As many members here have used the suspended membership, I just want to alert everyone to a change in the conditions for 2026.

But before I explain this, I just want to remind everyone that SCJJA is probably the most affordable jiu-jitsu in Sydney. It’s hard to be sure, as most gyms don’t list their prices, but this one does and is (from what I know, close to the average): https://alavanca.com.au/pricing 

Most people reading this have passed their 12 month probation, and so you’re rate is probably 50% of that ^ 

The reason I do this is that I don’t want to deal with members asking for a month off for a holiday, or to get over the sniffles. Honestly, it frustrates me when I know people wouldn’t ask for time off from a large corporate gym for less than a month, but do it to me. 

The whole point of the “reward rate” is to reward you for not stuffing me around for a short-term absence! 

Believe it or not, I have had members in the past use it for a week on the Gold Coast! Yes, I have had a member email me saying: 

“Hey Hodge, I’m off to the Gold Coast tomorrow, can you put me on the suspended rate just for this week. Thanks mate”. 

Therefore, as of now … 

A suspended membership is limited to 10 months. Ie, that means: 

Minimum length of time is 2 months 

Maximum time is 12 months 

As I only do 3 month contracts (unlike our Gracie friends who do 12 to 24), you’re free to come and go as you please. But if you want a week of to go to Fiji, then I ask that you respect the fact we have 12 months of bills, and I can’t ask for a week off from them for a holiday. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Gathering post 4/4

With James' grading, that makes a dozen home grown black belts that have trained on the SCJJA mats in 2025 (plus head coach Rodney).

And it was a pleasure to have all of them available at once for a rare photo!

Gathering post 3/4

Congratulations to @jamesmishevski who last Thursday became just the 15th person to go from white belt to black belt at SCJJA.

12 years of toil, capped of by winning his brown belt division at the Pan Pacs 2 months ago.

Gathering post 1/4

Last Thursday we held our Annual Gathering.

I am super proud to say that I was awarded the 5th degree on my black belt from Master Andre Pederneiras this week.

Incredible to believe that I've been a black belt for 20 years (August 2025)!

It's been an amazing journey and one that will continue for a least a few more years yet!

In this video, our head coach Rodney Ellis demonstrates a simple, yet very effective half-guard sweep to counter when your opponent does a back-step. Plus, in additional footage, you can see (grainy) footage of Rodney hitting this sweep in training ... just 20 minutes after teaching it! If you like this video, please like and subscribe! https://youtu.be/iPd8_bqPz_0

It was freezing cold last night on the big blue mat, so coach Rodney decided to heat it up a little bit!

Mark, who has been training with us since 2009, and Peter who joined in 2011 were both awarded their black belts.

Both gents have put in well over 1100 classes and regardless of their age and size, continue to amaze as they roll with anyone and everyone. Not to mention that this past year they've both averaged over 3 classes per week!

Congrats also to Diefy who levelled up to 🟫, and Justin, another who shows perseverance by turning up week in, week out regardless of the weather or personal injury, who hit 🟪!

Another ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review, this time from Emma who visited us this week from Victoria.

https://scjja.com/FAQs/faq_will_i_get_hurt_training_bj

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