Featured affiliated academy: Te Manawa Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ New Zealand
Where is the gym located?
Queenstown, New Zealand.
How many people train there?
Around 90 currently and growing.
Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
We opened recently, and are organically growing numbers to keep the good vibes we want to have on the mats.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
We have brand new white belts to a 5th degree black belt.
When did the gym open?
February 2021.
Te Manawa Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ New Zealand
Some facts about you:
Name: Brent & Paula Te Kawa
Age: 51 & 50
Belt: Black and Brown
Profession: Jiu-Jitsu Academy Owners
Years in BJJ: 12 & 8
Other martial arts: Kickboxing
Currently living in: Queenstown, New Zealand
Originally from: Wellington, New Zealand
Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence
We travelled extensively to train and compete prior to Covid, being lucky enough to train with some of the best in the world. Covid halted our travelling, so we had an idea we could bring a high-level instructor to our small town so that the community could get a chance to learn high-level, technique-based BJJ in a world-class environment if they wanted to. Turned out Rodrigo Teixeira was in a small country town in NZ, so we flew him down for some lunch and some rolls. Once we felt his technique and found that his values aligned with ours (and was such a nice guy) we knew we had the right person for the position.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
We are around 50% kids and 50% adults currently, from 5 years old through to 56 years old, and all types of professions. One of the best stories we heard was from one of our older members that said when he was a farmer, a cow fell on him and while being trapped he thought to himself if only he knew Jiu-Jitsu he could have used leverage to get out from under this cow. He is no longer a farmer, but started his journey around 3 weeks ago. Lots of kids due to our coaches’ great demenaour with them – lots of play and fun while learning.
Why do they train in Te Manawa Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ New Zealand?
Some kids train because their parents want them to, while some definitely want to be there. We have a few that have already done their first competition, which has triggered an interest from a few more members to compete. Although competition is not our sole focus, our instructors have competed in most countries and done well in some of the larger tournaments. Some members are trying something completely new and out of their comfort zone, while some have been training for a few years and are liking our relaxed, concept-based approach to learning, and the opportunity to learn under a 5th-degree Black Belt with legitimate competition and training history.
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
In our area specifically, Covid cleared a large number of our population out due to jobs being lost. There’s also the “new kid on the block” sentiment that holds a few people back back from coming through the door. We’re just focusing on what we can control and ensuring everyone is aware of our open door – no politics policy. Time will show that, first and foremost, we are here for the long haul to benefit the community through Jiu-Jitsu, and not here to purely run a money-making entity.
Te Manawa Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ New Zealand
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
We are a tourist destination (or at least we were prior to Covid) so specifically in our area it will be a challenge until the world gets back to normal, but it also benefits us in that it gives us time to build a solid foundation on which the club can grow. Queenstown has an international airport with flights coming in from Australia, which is only a 2.5 – 3 hr flight depending on the tail wind, so we plan to eventually host camps with guest instructors (many of whom we met while traveling and kept in touch with) As a small town we are at the bottom of the world and so far away from the Jiu-Jitsu scene, so there will always be a sense of “big fish, little pond” going on here unless practitioners take it upon themselves to explore what the big pond has to offer. We will be sending our scholarship athletes overseas to get a taste of overseas tournaments and training as well.
What’s the best thing about your gym?
Its hard to pick just one but, in Maori we have a saying that goes: “He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata”. It is the people, the people, the people.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
There is so much to see and do if you love the outdoors, from Fiordland, boating on the lake, or one of the many hikes, plus 3 ski fields in winter. We are also the best producing Pinot Noir region.
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