Gracie Bullyproof

Gracie Combatives

Women Empowered

Master Cycle

JAMES SMART

CTC OWNER & 2nd-degree black belt

James, started Jiu Jitsu in the nineties, has lived in the US and Brazil and has travelled across Europe to train with the Gracie family (the founders of Gracie Jiu Jitsu). He was awarded his Black Belt by Ryron & Rener Gracie in April 2013.

He has over 25 years’ experience in various martial arts, has taught all over the world, and won medals both nationally (in the UK and South Africa) at European level and internationally. James prides himself on giving his students quality training and arming them with the ability to defend themselves in the real world.

ROBYN TAYLOR

SPECIALIST INSTRUCTOR WOMEN EMPOWERED

With over 19 years training in a range of Martial Arts, it was only when she started Gracie Jiu Jitsu in 2011 she realised that until then she would not have been able to successfully defend herself against a much larger and stronger attacker. Knowing how important it is for women to learn Gracie Jiu Jitsu for self defence, she became passionate about encouraging more women to train. Through years of assisting with classes she worked towards her Women Empowered® Instructor Certification and proudly launched the program in South Africa in 2017.

ANTON DE WET

BLACK BELT

Anton had a brief introduction to BJJ in 2002 while overseas where he learnt about Royce Gracie and the UFC. He trained a hybrid system of Jiu Jitsu for about 6 weeks before returning to South Africa. As one of our first members, he started training Gracie Jiu Jitsu when we first opened our doors in 2007 and won gold in the Cape of Storms tournament a year later.

In 2017 was graded by Ryron Gracie and awarded his Black Belt becoming the first South African Gracie Jiu Jitsu Black Belt. Nothing makes him prouder than to see his fellow students progress in this beautiful art.

GARETH OLIVER

4th-Degree Brown Belt

With over a decade of training experience, Gareth has been a student of Gracie Jiu Jitsu Cape Town since we opened in 2007. He has also trained and competed around SA [including Abu Dhabi trials in JHB], as well as internationally in Thailand, Amsterdam, and U.S.A at the Gracie Academy. He has also trained in Brazil at Gracie Niteroi and Gracie Humaita, the first academy opened by Helio Gracie in Rio De Janeiro, under Red and Black belt Rolker Gracie, as well as competing in Tijuca in Rio Gareth has a passion for teaching the gentle art and seeing the progression of its students.

DANIEL TAYLOR

INSTRUCTOR

Dan trained Judo for a few years from junior school and then trained Karate in the 90's. Having heard about Gracie Jiu Jitsu in 1996, with the advent of UFC 1 and Royce Gracie choking all his opponents with his pajama's, (back then "real fights" only consisted of kicking and punching). It wasn't until 2009 that he heard about Gracie Jiu Jitsu Cape Town and thought he'd just try 1 class to see what it was all about. Well, he never left. Passionate about sharing the art he loves so much, he started assisting with teaching in 2011 and become a Certified Instructor in 2016. Dan was proudly awarded his Brown Belt by Ryron & Rener Gracie in July 2019.

AXEL MOORE

INSTRUCTOR

Axel started training Jiu Jitsu at the age of 5 at a small local school close to home, he moved over to Gracie Jiu Jitsu Cape Town a few years later and was the first student to go through all the Junior Belts, his Blue Belt, his Purple Belt and then proudly awarded his Brown Belt by Ryron & Rener Gracie in July 2019.

The most valuable lesson he has learnt over his 15 years of training is to never give up, even when it seems like progression is impossible. He prides himself in teaching his students the lessons he has learnt so that it may help them in their journey too.

TYRONE BECK

INSTRUCTOR

Tyrone the Creative Director for one of South Africa's largest Advertising Agencies, started his Jiu Jitsu Journey in 2009. He was drawn initially to the self defence aspect of the art, but it wasn't long before the Gracie Principles and teaching methodology inspired him to become an instructor allowing him to share his passion in his spare time. With almost a decade of Jiu jitsu training, learning and teaching under his belt, Tyrone is passionate about the art and revels in seeing his students succeed in being more street ready.

LERIA FRANCOIS

WOMEN EMPOWERED INSTRUCTOR

Leria is the founder and owner of Fighting Fit, a kickboxing studio for women, focusing on fitness and self defence. She’s been training Martial Arts for over 15 years, is a qualified SAKA and WAKO affiliated kickboxing instructor as well as a qualified personal trainer and nutritionist. Upon completing the Women Empowered program and earning her Pink Belt in 2018 she realised how important this program is for women and passionate to teach it, she proudly qualified as a Women Empowered® Instructor in Los Angeles, USA. Leria’s goal and dream is to empower woman in all aspects of their lives!

KYLE SADDINGTON

INSTRUCTOR

TRACEY MOORE

ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

JUAN POTTER

ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

JONATHAN OSBORNE

ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

STUART DAVIES

KIDS ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

ROXY LOTTER

KIDS ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

ADRIAN ALEXANDER

KIDS ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

ELIJAH BRAUER

KIDS ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR