Canada’s mixed-martial arts scene is getting back to the mats, across the country and in the city.
That’s good news for Ryan O’Shea, owner of the Stratford Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy (Stratford BJJ).
“COVID was horrible for our sport,” O’Shea told StratfordToday.
While other organizations, at various stages of the pandemic, could put restrictions in place, because of the nature of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), they could not. BJJ revolves around grappling and submission holds, with opponents often cheek to cheek.
Competition organizers attempted to go forward with face masks, though O’Shea said that they were quickly called off, as it was too difficult. Additionally, venues did not want the exposure and risk of a potential outbreak.
Now, they are getting back to the mats.
The 2023 Canadian Nationals Jiu Jitsu tournament is March 27, with qualifiers moving on to represent Canada at the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation World tournament this summer.
The Abu Dhabi Combat Club, a prominent mixed-martial arts organization, is staging its first Canadian Open in April of this year in Ottawa.
The Ontario Open International Jiu-Jitsu Championships is scheduled in Oshawa in early May.
With competitions around the corner, O’Shea said that they are busier than ever. They have over 200 people at their gym, with about 30 members gearing up for the various competitions.
Others are just looking for a good workout.
While competitive, having previously housed pro fighters in their studio, Stratford BJJ does not focus on competitions, per se. The philosophy of the academy has always been 'to provide an all inclusive environment without compromising on the effectiveness of our art'.
Stratford BJJ was founded in 2013 by O’Shea and his wife Alexandra when they moved to the area to be closer to Alexandra’s grandparents’ farm.
O’Shea comes from Toronto, having been involved in BJJ for twenty years. He originally trained at Canada’s most accredited BJJ academy, Toronto BJJ. In a time when many studios did not have any black belt instructors, Toronto BJJ had a handful.
After graduating from the beginner’s white belt to the blue, O’Shea got a job at the studio teaching classes and cleaning mats. Finding an aptitude for the “managing” side of running a studio, O’Shea eventually felt confident in starting his own academy when they decided to move to Stratford.
He wouldn’t recommend his career path, though.
“It was a massive risk,” he laughed. “We knew no one here … What I should have done was run classes on weekends at the Y and build a clientele base.”
Instead, O’Shea hit the ground running and opened a shop, beginning to teach all ages and all body types. As a teacher, O’Shea focuses on fundamental techniques. Whatever your athletic ability, you can succeed in BJJ, he said.
“All body types, all walks of life,” O’Shea explained. “Your physical ability really doesn’t have any bearing when it comes to your ability to learn … Every sport, every martial art is so different and what it asks of your body. The only way to get in shape for something is to do that thing. You’re not going to hit the treadmill to learn how to swim long distances.”
Stratford BJJ offers a tots course for children aged 4-6, a kids course for children aged 7-9, a youth course for children aged 10-12, a teens course for children aged 13-15, a women's only BJJ course, BJJ basics, an open, mixed level BJJ course, a boxing course, and a submission wrestling (No Gi) course.
More changes coming …
While competitions get going, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has begun work on restructuring how combat sports are run in Ontario, beginning a process that was started in 2019.
In Ontario’s 2019 budget bill, the Combative Sports Act was included to change the law for combative sports. Then-sports minister Michael Tiboloo said it would bring regulations in this province up to international standards.
Although much of the Act replicates the old act, it creates new standards like creating an advisory council to advise how combat sports in Ontario should be licensed, creating new inspector roles, and worsening penalties for violators of the act.
Much of the Act is still unimplemented, meaning combat sports in Ontario still follow the Athletics Control Act.
With files from Charlie Pinkerton, The Trillium.