Featured affiliated academy: Legion BJJ Georgia
Where is the gym located?
Legion BJJ Georgia is located in Tbilisi, Georgia. Currently we’re located in a judo academy in the Dighomi area, but our location will most likely change soon.
How many people train there?
Currently we have around 45 people actively training in the academy. We are a growing team with many BJJ practitioners visiting from around the world, all year long.
Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
We’ve had over 200 members since opening last year in May. The vast majority of them really enjoy it and wish to become part of our team; however, contrary to popular belief Jiu Jitsu is not for everyone after a certain period. Therefore the core team is growing at a relatively slower pace than the total numbers would suggest. Currently we have 5-6 new people signing up every month.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
The highest ranked student I have is a purple belt, and of course lowest belt training is a white belt. Currently most of our team is comprised of white belts, but I expect a lot of them to be blue belts by the end of next year.
When did the gym open?
May of 2017.
Some facts about you:
Name: Alexander Umantsev
Academy: Legion BJJ Georgia
Age: 37
Belt: Black
Profession: Information Security Specialist / Entrepreneur
Years in BJJ: 11
Other martial arts: Boxing, Kali
Currently living in: Tbilisi, Georgia
Originally from: Israel
Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
Last year, me and my friend, partner, and student Temo Mamatsashvili were introduced to each other by an American purple belt, Kevin Meyers. Temo had been training BJJ In London at the Roger Gracie Academy, and had been looking to start a BJJ program in Tbilisi since returning, since there was no real Brazilian Jiu Jitsu team in Georgia at the time. For those reasons it was pretty much a no-brainer for us and we decided to open an academy and try our hand at developing the sport.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
Legion BJJ Georgia have team members from all walks of life, as you often see in BJJ gyms around the world. We have everyone from 14-year kids with achievements in mind to 40-year-old businessmen who want to train martial arts and get in shape.
Why do they train?
They came for a combat sport, but stayed for Jiu Jitsu and its unique trait of uniting everyone; all while being a legitimate martial art.
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
Besides the challenges that come with running every business, in Georgia the hardest part of running a BJJ gym is the fact that it’s a completely new and unfamiliar sport/martial art in the country. Furthermore, in Georgia martial arts are usually considered as being relatively cheap sports, because sports like judo and wrestling are usually funded by the government. Therefore, given the fact that BJJ is obviously not funded by the government, we have to run it like a business and it does require some adjustment in the public opinion.
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
We have done a lot of ground work so far, and I wish to proudly say that there is and there will be Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Georgia. We have a lot of talented guys training with us, and more are joining everyday. Georgia has an amazing pedigree and history in wrestling/grappling sports, and there’s absolutely no reason why BJJ will be any different. I predict that in the years to come Georgia will have very formidable competitors at various belt levels internationally.
What’s the best thing about your gym?
In our gym you can get a high level of coaching and a beautiful atmosphere to which all of our members contribute. All our experienced visitors truly enjoy the atmosphere in our academy and the level of skill present on the mat.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
Georgia has amazing food, nature and history. I recommend that people see different landmarks around the city, but the Old Town is a must. Visitors can also travel from Tbilisi to the mountains for sports in the winter and to the seaside in the summer.
