As combat sport competitions get rolling again, Stratford BJJ hits the mats

Canada’s mixed martial arts scene is returning to the mats across the country and city.

That’s good news for Ryan O’Shea, owner of Stratford Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy (Stratford BJJ).

“COVID has been terrible for our sport,” O’Shea told StratfordToday.

While other organizations have been able to implement restrictions at various stages of the pandemic, due to the nature of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) they have not been able to. BJJ revolves around grappling and submission holds, with opponents often standing cheek to cheek.

Competition organizers tried to move forward with face masks, although O’Shea said they were quickly canceled as it was too difficult. Additionally, the venues did not want to face the exposure and risk of a potential outbreak.

Now they are returning to the mats.

The 2023 Canadian Nationals Jiu Jitsu Tournament will be held on March 27th and the qualifiers will represent Canada at the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation World Tournament this summer.

The Abu Dhabi Combat Club, a prominent mixed martial arts organization, is hosting its first Canadian Open in Ottawa this April.

The Ontario Open International Jiu-Jitsu Championships are scheduled for early May in Oshawa.

With the competitions around the corner, O’Shea said they’re busier than ever. They have over 200 people in their gym and about 30 members prepare for the various competitions.

Others are just looking for a good workout.

While Stratford BJJ is competitive, having previously housed professional fighters in its studio, it does not focus on competition per se. The Academy’s philosophy has always been “to provide an all-encompassing 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 is from Toronto and has been active in BJJ for twenty years. He originally trained at Canada’s premier BJJ academy, Toronto BJJ. At a time when many studios didn’t have black belt instructors, Toronto BJJ had a handful.

After graduating from white rookie strap to blue, O’Shea got a job at the studio teaching classes and cleaning mats. O’Shea found an aptitude for the “executive” side of running a studio and eventually felt confident about starting his own academy when they decided to move to Stratford.

However, he would not recommend his career path.

“It was a huge risk,” he laughed. “We didn’t know anyone here… What I should have done was teach classes at the Y on the weekends and build a client base.”

Instead, O’Shea took off and opened a shop where he began teaching all ages and all body types. As a teacher, O’Shea focuses on fundamental techniques. Regardless of your athletic ability, you can succeed in BJJ, he said.

“All body types, all walks of life,” explained O’Shea. “Your physical ability really doesn’t affect your ability to learn… Every sport, every martial art is so different and what it demands of your body. The only way to get in shape for something is to do it. You’re not going to get on the treadmill to learn how to swim long distances.”

Stratford BJJ offers a Tots course for ages 4-6, a Kids course for ages 7-9, a Youth course for ages 10-12, a Teens course for ages 10-12 Ages 13-15, a women-only BJJ class, BJJ fundamentals, an open mixed-level BJJ class, a boxing class and a submission wrestling (No Gi) class.

More changes are coming…

As the competitions get underway, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has begun work to restructure how martial arts is conducted in Ontario, initiating a process that began in 2019.

Ontario’s 2019 budget bill included the Combative Sports Act to amend the Martial Arts Act. Then-Sports Minister Michael Tiboloo said it would bring regulations in that province up to international standards.

Although much of the law repeats the old law, it creates new standards such as establishing an advisory board to advise on how martial arts should be licensed in Ontario, creating new inspector roles, and increasing penalties for breaking the law.

Much of the law has yet to be implemented, meaning combat sports in Ontario still follow the Athletics Control Act.

Featuring files from Charlie Pinkerton, The Trillium.