Instructor Bio

JM Stats:

• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt
• IBJJF Master World Silver Medalist – M1 Blackbelt 2022
• IBJJF American National Champion – adult, brown belt, 2018
• IBJJF Pan American Bronze medalist – adult, brown belt, 2018
• IBJJF World Bronze medalist – nogi, adult, purple belt, 2017
• IBJJF Seattle International Open Champion 2014, Runner up 2017
• X2 CBJJF B.C. Provincial Jiu Jitsu Expert Champion
• x7 Vancouver Jiu Jitsu Champion – Katana BJJ
• x3 Vancouver Island Jiu Jitsu Expert Champion
• Amatuer MMA record 2-1

JM’s bio

JM is the co-owner and head instructor of Victoria’s acclaimed Van Isle Brazilian Jiu Jiu Academy. Both JM and his brother Matthew hold the rank of Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu under Professor Filip Matos of Roll Academy and has over 17 years of competitive jiu jitsu experience. JM is fiercely passionate about both teaching and competing in Jiu Jitsu.

Early on JM distinguished himself as one of Vancouver Island’s stand out jiu jitsu athletes, dominating local circuits consistently for over a decade. Recently, JM represented Canada amongst the very best in the world at the Master World Jiu Jitsu Championships hosted in Las Vegas, Nevada. Despite the ferocity and skill of his opponents, JM shone, working his way through the division to eventually face multiple time world champion and legend, Joao Miyao in the finals. 

From the beginning, JM garnered the attention of the local community by consistently winning matches in dramatic fashion, often against opponents outweighing him by close to 100lbs. It was not long before JM became known as the ‘Flying Tomato’ not only for his red hair and his exciting style but also for his unconventional yet, precise use of the rare flying armbar submission. He is one of the very few people in the world to amass a total of 18 flying armbar victories in jiu jitsu tournament. At one point, JM remained undefeated as an active competitor in his category for over 4 years.

Looking to test his skills to new heights, JM competed in a number of Mixed Martial Arts events. He showed promise as a burgeoning Mixed Martial Arts athlete, winning two fights in spectacular fashion, both by way of armbar submission. Soon he realized, however, that the sport of mixed martial arts was not ideal for longevity, and chose to focus all of his efforts on his first love – Jiu Jitsu. At that point, JM became even more active as a jiu jitsu competitor, and has distinguished himself as one of the very best in the world. Locally, JM has dominated the scene, having conquered 7 Vancouver regional titles, 3 Provincial titles and 3 Vancouver Island titles. He has taken his competitive success to the international jiu jitsu stage, placing 2nd at the IBJJF Master world Championship (black belt) 3rd at the IBJJF No-Gi Jiu Jitsu World Championships in the adult, purple belt division, and 3rd at the IBJJF Pan American Championship in the adult, brown belt division.

After great local and international success, JM, alongside his brother Matthew, has his sights set on even higher competitive peaks. It is his goal to work his way to the very top of the world jiu jitsu podium, and to cultivate a culture and community that supports and inspires his students at Van Isle BJJ to do the same. It is his goal to help those around him realize their potential and achieve their greatness, and he believes that there is no better tool than jiu jitsu to accomplish this mission.

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