Life BJJ Coffs Harbour Head Coach Sensei Bernardo “Trekko” Magalhaes recently travelled to Wollongong to visit and train at Freestyle MMA, home of UFC legend and former UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski.
For Bernardo, the visit was also a reunion with an old training partner.
Back on the Mats with Alexander Volkanovski
Long before Alexander Volkanovski became one of the biggest names in Australian combat sports and a UFC World Champion, Bernardo and Alex trained together regularly in Sydney and Wollongong.
During those years, Bernardo was heavily involved in the Australian BJJ and MMA scene as both an athlete and coach, competing at a high level and building extensive experience across Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA and grappling.
Years later, it was great to see Bernardo and Alex sharing the mats again at Freestyle MMA — two martial artists who have dedicated a huge part of their lives to combat sports.
From High-Level Competition to Coaching in Coffs Harbour
Sensei Bernardo was one of Australia’s leading BJJ and MMA competitors during his competitive years, building a career that included Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition, professional MMA and coaching.
Today, that experience is passed directly to students at Life BJJ Coffs Harbour.
Whether coaching a four-year-old attending their first martial arts class, an adult learning BJJ for fitness and self-defence, or an athlete preparing for competition, Bernardo’s philosophy remains the same: develop strong fundamentals, discipline, confidence and effective martial arts skills.
Training and maintaining relationships with some of Australia’s best coaches and athletes also helps keep Life BJJ Coffs Harbour connected to the highest levels of Australian combat sports.
Coaching Zane Martin for His Professional MMA Debut
Bernardo’s visit to Freestyle MMA wasn’t only about getting some training in.
He was also there as a coach, helping prepare his student Zane Martin for an important milestone in his career — his professional MMA debut at Eternal MMA in Perth.
Preparing an athlete for a professional MMA fight requires much more than simply being fit. It involves strategy, grappling, wrestling, striking, cage work, conditioning and, importantly, the ability to remain composed under pressure.
Bernardo’s decades of experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA give his fighters the opportunity to learn from someone who has personally experienced the demands of high-level competition.
High-Level BJJ and MMA Coaching in Coffs Harbour
Experiences like this are part of what makes Life BJJ Coffs Harbour different.
Our students aren’t simply learning techniques. They are learning from coaches with genuine experience in BJJ, MMA, self-defence and competitive martial arts.
Life BJJ Coffs Harbour offers training for:
- Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Teen BJJ and martial arts
- Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- MMA training
- Judo
- Self-defence
- Beginners through to experienced competitors
You don’t need to be a fighter or have previous martial arts experience to start. Most people who walk through our doors are simply looking to get fitter, learn practical self-defence, build confidence or find a challenging and enjoyable way to train.
Train BJJ & MMA at Life BJJ Coffs Harbour
From training alongside athletes such as Alexander Volkanovski to preparing the next generation of fighters, Sensei Bernardo continues to bring decades of martial arts knowledge and experience back to the mats at Life BJJ Coffs Harbour.
If you’re looking for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA or self-defence classes in Coffs Harbour, come and experience Life BJJ for yourself.
We welcome beginners, kids, teenagers and adults from across Coffs Harbour, Korora, Sawtell, Toormina, Boambee, Moonee Beach and surrounding areas.
Start your martial arts journey with Life BJJ Coffs Harbour and book your trial class today.