Leverage Jiu Jitsu Academy

Bunch of shots from todays shark tank thanks again to everyone who made it down to support the team and join in the fun!

Congratulations to everyone who graded today! 🥋💜🤎

Lachlan Merkel , Quinn Roberts , James Doney and Richard Paladino — purple belt is a massive achievement, and you all put on a phenomenal showing today. 👊

Christine Stapleton , SHEN and ↪️🖇🅱️🪄 — brown belt is a giant step that so many people never reach. The black belt is inevitable for you three. Your showcase of the self-defence curriculum was absolutely immaculate. 🔥

Everyone who graded today is an amazing and inspirational human in their own right, but a special mention has to go to Christine, who at nearly 70 years young performed beyond expectations. What an inspiration. ❤️

You all represented yourselves, your training partners and Leverage with immense pride today. The skill, humility, effort and character you showed on the mats is exactly what we want our academy to stand for.

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support the team, celebrate the gradings and jump in for the Shark Tank! 🦈

Proud of every single one of you. Leverage! 💙🥋

🥋 LEVERAGE GRADING — THIS SATURDAY!

22nd August 👊

Make sure you:
🥋 Wear a WHITE GI
⏰ Be there early and ready to go

Then we celebrate! 🍻

🍺 6PM — Jaga Jaga Bar, Greensborough
Post-grading drinks with the team.

Let’s have a great day and support everyone getting on the mats! 💙

🥋 LEVERAGE GRADING — THIS SATURDAY!

22nd August 👊

Make sure you:
🥋 Wear a WHITE GI
⏰ Be there early and ready to go

Then we celebrate! 🍻

🍺 6PM — Jaga Jaga Bar, Greensborough
Post-grading drinks with the team.

Let’s have a great day and support everyone getting on the mats! 💙

BJJMelbourne

Last night we had the pleasure of having George Sotiropoulos Omega Jiu Jitsu and MMA down at Leverage to teach class. 👊

George shared some excellent details on shooting in for the double-leg takedown, with plenty of little tips and adjustments that everyone could take straight onto the mats.

Everyone had a great time, picked up some great knowledge, and got to learn from one of Australia’s best.

Thanks George for taking the time to come down and share your knowledge with us. We really appreciate it! 🙏

BJJAustralia

🥋 WEEKLY DOSE OF THE STOICS — WEEK 3

SENECA — PREPARE RELENTLESSLY

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

In Jiu-Jitsu, confidence doesn’t come from knowing you’re going to win.

It comes from knowing you’ve prepared yourself for whatever happens.

The bad position.
The bigger opponent.
The tough round.
The competition nerves.
The unexpected problem.

You can’t control what happens on the mats.

You can control how prepared you are to deal with it.

Every drill matters.
Every round matters.
Every uncomfortable position matters.

Do the work when nobody is watching, so you’re ready when it counts.

LEVERAGE PRINCIPLE

Prepare relentlessly.
Trust your training.
Embrace the challenge.

LEVERAGE ON & OFF THE MATS.

🥈 DOUBLE SILVER FOR THE MERKEL BROTHERS, AT NATIONALS!🥈

Lachy and Josh Merkel both took 2nd place today in their respective No Gi divisions — Lachy in Purple Belt and Josh in White Belt.

Both brothers had tough draws in their absolute divisions, but they represented themselves, their family and Leverage Jiu-Jitsu exceptionally well. 👊

We couldn’t be prouder of them both.

Josh isn’t finished yet — he’s back tomorrow for his Gi fights, so we’re wishing him the best of luck! 🥋🔥

The Merkel brothers are a mainstay at the gym. They show up, put in the work, support their teammates and keep turning up week after week.

And the hard work pays off.

Well done boys. Proud of you both! 💙🤍

Weekly Dose of the Stoics 02 — Marcus Aurelius

EMBRACE THE OBSTACLE.

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” — Marcus Aurelius

Jiu-Jitsu has a way of turning this philosophy into something you can feel.

The tough training partner.
The position you can’t escape.
The sweep that keeps failing.
The submission you didn’t see coming.
The round where nothing seems to work.

These aren’t interruptions to your progress.

They are your progress.

Every obstacle gives you something to solve. Every mistake gives you information. Every tap gives you another lesson.

On the mats, resistance isn’t something to avoid.

It’s what makes you better.

👊 Leverage on & off the mats.

FROM THOMASTOWN TO RIO.
FROM SAVANNAH TO LEFKADA. 🌎🥋

Professor Pedro Sauer and Coach Phil, sitting in Lefkada, Greece — sharing stories, watching the action and passing on the details that make Jiu-Jitsu so much more than just the techniques we learn on the mats.

The relationships we build through Jiu-Jitsu shape us just as much as the physical work.

You train together.
You travel together.
You share meals, stories, victories and struggles.
And somewhere along the way, the people you meet on the mats become family.

That’s one of the special things about being part of the Pedro Sauer Association.

It’s not just an association.
It’s a huge family spread across the world.

And if we’re being honest… Pedro is basically our Jiu-Jitsu granddad. ❤️

From Thomastown to Rio.
From Savannah to Lefkada.
Different countries. Different mats. Same family.

Jiu-Jitsu connects us. 🥋🌎

ROGER — THE HEART & SOUL OF LEVERAGE

Roger has been part of this academy since he was a kid.

From white belt all the way to black belt, every step of his journey has been under Phil. He’s grown up on these mats, and in many ways, he represents exactly what Leverage is about.

On the mats, he’s a technical beast — the kind of guy who can make you work for every inch. He’s the enforcer when it’s time to get serious, but somehow he’s also usually the first person to crack a joke when things get a little too serious.

Off the mats, he’s a genuinely stand-up human being and a great mate.

The enforcer.
The joker.
The vibes man.
And one of the biggest characters in the Leverage family.

Roger isn’t just someone who trains at Leverage.

He’s part of its story. 🥋💙