From Olympic Boxing to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: My Unexpected Journey to the Australian National Championships

As an Olympic medalist boxer, I never thought I’d find myself competing in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). But that’s exactly what happened when I stepped onto the mats at the Australian National Championships. It was an emotional rollercoaster that left me in tears, but also filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment I hadn’t felt in years.

My BJJ Journey Begins

My journey into the world of BJJ started a few years ago when I took my three young daughters to a class at ZR Gym in Los Angeles. I figured if they could do it, so could I. Little did I know that decision would reignite a competitive fire I thought had been extinguished.

At first, I had no intentions of ever competing. I was simply enjoying the training and the way it was benefiting my mind and body, especially after retiring from boxing. Unlike boxing, where you risk getting “punched in the head,” BJJ provided a new outlet for my competitive drive without the same health risks.

As I continued training consistently 4-5 times per week, I started to improve rapidly. I earned my first stripe on my white belt, then my second. I was hooked. But still, the idea of competing never crossed my mind.

That all changed when we moved our family to Australia in 2024 and I started training at Marcelo Frias’ gym. Marcelo is a 5th degree black belt with an impressive competitive resume, including 3 world championships, 7 Brazilian national titles, and 2 Pan Pacific championships. His teaching style resonated with me in a way previous instructors hadn’t, and I found the techniques sticking with me better than ever before.

After a couple more months of consistent training, Marcelo awarded me my third stripe. That’s when the rumblings of an upcoming national championship tournament started circulating through the gym. Everyone was talking about it, and my kids were especially excited about the prospect of competing.

• Watch my video where I tried BJJ for 30 days and saw major improvements: I Tried BJJ For 30 Days – This Happened

The Decision to Compete

At first, I had zero intentions of competing. The idea of putting my reputation on the line at nearly 40 years old was daunting. I was scared – not of getting hurt, but of losing. The easy thing would have been to say no and avoid the pressure.

But then my kids got involved. They were reading a book called “The Warrior Kid” about a young boy who gains confidence through learning martial arts. They were so inspired by the story that they were adamant about competing in the national championships.

I couldn’t say no to them. If they were willing to step onto the mats, how could I not do the same? I had to lead by example. So, with one week to go before the tournament, I signed up.

The nerves hit immediately. My palms were sweaty, my heart was racing. I knew I had the skills from months of consistent training, but the self-doubt crept in. What if I lost? What if I got submitted in front of my kids? The pressure was immense.

Luckily, I reached out to my friend James Smith, who is an accomplished BJJ competitor with a huge online following. His advice was a game-changer for my mindset.

“Tony, let’s say you do lose. So what? It’s back to the drawing board with your amazing family and businesses. How many YouTube awards have you won? This competition is a condiment to your life, not the nucleus.”

Those words helped me reframe my perspective. This wasn’t about my ego or my reputation – it was about the journey, about challenging myself, and about setting an example for my kids. With that in mind, I was able to approach the tournament with a renewed sense of confidence and excitement.

The Australian National Championships

As I arrived at the venue, the nerves were still there, but I tried to channel them into positive energy. I walked around, visualizing the matches ahead and sizing up the competition. I was relieved to see I had a weight advantage over most of the other competitors.

When it was time for my first match, I was paired up against a guy who had just won his previous fight in under a minute with a tight collar choke. I took a few deep breaths, tapped into my fighter’s mentality, and stepped onto the mats.

Fight 1

My opponent did something that really threw me off – he told me he watched my videos and was a fan. In the world of combat sports, that’s highly unusual. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was trying to play some kind of psychological game.

Nevertheless, we shook hands and the match began. I was determined not to pull guard, hoping he would come to me instead. That’s exactly what happened, and I was able to get on top of him and start applying pressure.

I could hear my coach, Marcelo, yelling instructions from the sidelines, urging me to pass the guard. I tried, but the guy was doing a good job of keeping me at bay. Eventually, I was able to get my hooks in and secure a dominant position.

From there, I went for a collar choke, but the guy was putting up a tough fight. I decided to try something I had never practiced before – a crank on his chin. To my surprise, it worked, and he tapped out.

I looked over at my kids, beaming with pride. I had won my first BJJ competition match!

The Final

Up next was the final match against a guy who had won multiple gold medals in previous tournaments. This was going to be a much tougher challenge.

As we shook hands, I could tell this guy was all business. No smiles, just laser-focused intensity. I tapped into my fighter’s mentality once again, determined not to let this guy beat me.

The match started, and the guy pulled guard immediately. I tried to pass, but he was doing a great job of keeping me at bay. I could hear Marcelo yelling for me to pass, but every time I tried, I felt like I was risking getting swept.

I ended up getting a slight advantage point, which gave me a small lead. From there, it was a matter of playing a defensive game and not making any mistakes. The guy tried to threaten with submissions, but I was able to stay calm and composed.

As the clock ticked down, I could feel the tension building. I knew I was ahead on points, but I also knew one mistake could cost me the match. I dug deep, drawing on all my experience as a boxer, and was able to hold on for the victory.

When the final buzzer sounded, I was overcome with emotion. I looked over at my wife and kids, who were cheering wildly. I couldn’t hold back the tears – it was a moment of pure joy and accomplishment that I hadn’t felt in years.

• Check out my video where I spar with the legendary BJJ champion Cyborg: Pro Boxer vs Cyborg – BJJ World Champion (Who wins?)

Lessons Learned

Looking back on my BJJ competition experience, there are a few key lessons I took away:

1. Embrace the journey, not just the destination. I put an immense amount of pressure on myself to win, but James Smith’s advice helped me reframe my mindset. This was about the process, not just the outcome.

2. Trust your training and your coach. Marcelo’s teaching style resonated with me in a way previous instructors hadn’t. By trusting the process and the techniques he taught me, I was able to perform at a high level on competition day.

3. Lead by example for your family. Seeing my kids’ excitement about competing inspired me to step up and do the same. I wanted to show them that if they were willing to put themselves out there, so was I.

Overall, this experience has been a testament to the power of perseverance, adaptability, and a growth mindset. As an Olympic boxer, I thought my competitive days were behind me. But BJJ has reignited that fire within me, and I’m excited to see where this new journey takes me.

What’s Next?

Now that I’ve tasted success at the Australian National Championships, I’m hungry for more. I’m going to continue training hard under Marcelo’s guidance, and I’m already looking ahead to my next competition opportunity.

In the meantime, I’m excited to share my BJJ journey with my online community. I’ll be creating more content to help others who are interested in trying the sport, whether they’re seasoned martial artists or complete beginners.

And of course, I’ll never forget the support and inspiration my family has provided throughout this process. They’ve been there every step of the way, cheering me on and pushing me to be my best. I’m grateful to have them by my side as I continue to explore the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

• Learn how to teach boxing for fitness and master holding mitts with my online certification course: Boxing Fitness Academy

• Check out my 4 boxing drills you can do at home with no equipment: 4 Boxing Drills NO EQUIPMENT at home training

• Learn why you should stop sparring before it’s too late: STOP SPARRING Before It’s Too Late!

If you’re interested in following my continued BJJ journey, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram. I’ll be sharing more videos, tips, and insights along the way.

Thanks for joining me on this unexpected adventure. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

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