Jiu jitsu: City gains skilled coach

Dunedin has gained a coach highly skilled in jiu jitsu.

Brazilian Johnny Gui Costa (27) has joined the New Zealand Fight and Fitness Academy, which will open in Dunedin later this month.

Gui Costa, from Sao Paulo, has been teaching jiu jitsu around the world for the past six years. He is a first dan black belt in the sport.

He demonstrated his skills last year when he came runner-up to fellow Brazilian Luciano Cristovan at the world championships in Germany.

Gui Costa has been unbeaten in 200 mixed martial arts fights around the world during the past few years.

Jiu Jitsu has been called the ‘‘gentle martial art'' because it is a means of self defence that does not use weapons. It was taken to India 2000 years ago by Buddhist monks who later took it to Japan.

The discipline went to Brazil in 1913 and the Gracie family adapted the movement for the Brazilian lifestyle.

Grand Master Flavio Behring continued the Gracie family dynasty and is the teacher of Gui Costa, who will teach the Brazilian style in Dunedin.

‘‘Jiu jitsu not only teaches people self defence, but also develops self confidence,'' Gui Costa said.

‘‘It is a discipline that will help build teenagers' confidence, and help older people who have problems with obesity.''

Gui Costa visited Dunedin in 2003, liked the city, and decided to return on a permanent basis.

He came back last year and played football for Dunedin Technical as a goalkeeper. He was in the Sao Paulo under-18 team when he lived in Brazil.

‘‘I like it here,'' he said. ‘‘This place and the whole city environment feels comfortable for me.''

Gui Costa was skilled at gymnastics when growing up and represented the Brazilian juniors in diving.

Ryan Henry, the director and chief boxing coach, has spent the last year developing the Fight and Fitness Academy in Princes Street.

Grant Robertson is the assistant boxing coach at the academy