Big News
Some news I’m really pleased to share: Bones MMA has been welcomed into the Will Machado BJJ Association.
Today I went to see John Will in Geelong to ask whether he would consider accepting us into the association.
John explained that he hasn’t built the association by actively recruiting gyms. It has grown naturally through black belt lineage, his black belts develop black belts of their own, who then go on to open academies. Bringing an established gym like ours into the association falls outside that usual pathway. Following our meeting, and on the recommendations of Jelley and Craig, John agreed to welcome us aboard. I’m grateful to all three for their trust.
After 7 years building Bones, I felt it was the right time to give our mma community a stronger connection to a wider network, with more opportunities to learn, develop and progress.
What drew me to John was his community first mindset and his practical, no bullshit approach to bjj. His emphasis on legitimate fighting skills and techniques that work under pressure closely aligns with our values at Bones. We value competition, but our approach has always centred on grappling that also holds up in MMA and practical fighting situations.
This is a great opportunity for everyone who trains here, from brand new students to our most experienced members and coaches.
Being part of the association gives us opportunities for cross training with other Will Machado academies, exposure to different training partners and coaching perspectives, and access to a broader community of experienced martial artists. It also strengthens the support around our coaching development and gives us a wider framework for standards, assessment and progression as our students advance.
For newer members, it means joining a gym connected to an established community from the beginning. For senior students and coaches, it opens more doors to keep developing, challenge ourselves and bring that learning back onto the Bones mats.
Our day to day classes and coaching arrangements remain the same. Jordan and I will continue running classes, and Jordan’s relationship with his coach, James Sarginson is his and our shared linage. This affiliation adds another layer of support and opportunity to what we already have.
There’s also an immediate chance to meet the wider community at the Will Machado Gathering at MSAC in Melbourne this Saturday, 10 October. John has invited our students along, and registrations close this Thursday at midnight.
Registration: https://tinyurl.com/Will-Machado-Gathering
I’m proud of what we’ve built together over the past seven years and excited about what this connection can offer everyone at Bones.
Matt