Testimonials

"When I first started at Sudbury BJJ & Muay Thai Academy, I weighed 336 lbs. My diet was horrible and I was not active at all. My biggest fear going into my first trial class was that I was going to be out of place, but the instructors treated me the same as everyone else. I enrolled in both Muay Thai and BJJ with specific goals in mind: 1) weight loss and overall health and wellness 2) competition experience. I worked with the instructors to better my diet, and train 3 to 6 times a week. To date, I have lost 110 lbs, and I have never felt better. I am proud and honoured to call Sudbury BJJ & Muay Thai Academy my home, and I consider them to be my extended family."

Denis Labbee

"Je crois que la qualité la plus motivante du club est sa dynamique sociale. L'ambiance créée par les entraîneurs et les employés encourage le respect de tous et chacun, et forme un aire où tout le monde peut s'épanouir socialement, mentalement, et physiquement. Je me suis fait de bon amis tout en découvrant le sport de Muay Thai, que j'apprécie maintenant énormément.

The club's ambiance is one of the greatest qualities found at SBJJ. Great people train there because great people work there. They help you grow as a person and as an athlete. It is a club run on respect, which creates an atmosphere where each and every one of us can grow socially, mentally, and physically. I met some good friends at the club, and also discovered a passion for Muay Thai. I will never forget this experience."

Andrée-M. D'Aoust-Messier

"As a wellness practitioner, I am continuously impressed with the focus of Sudbury BJJ and Muay Thai Academy. They are not only teaching their students self defense principles and how to compete in martial arts, but also the benefits of staying active and living well. Everyone, from children and teenagers to adults, can benefit physically and mentally from training at the club. I train at the club regularly and recommend it to my patients."

Dr. Janna-Marie Doni, Vita Chiropractic and Wellness Centre

"Hi, my name is Jay, and I am 28 years of age. I am married and have three children aged 9, 7, and 3. I also work full time. When I was 22, I started working out at the gym and pumped iron. My average weight was about 220 lbs, and I would load myself with protein shakes and eat anything I wanted. My cardio was horrible; I couldn’t even run for 5 minutes. My body did not react well to this type of lifestyle, and I had terrible mood swings and a short temper, which then started to affect my home and work life. I wasn’t able to go out socially without getting into some sort of fight, whether it was physical or verbal. I had zero self-discipline, and just couldn’t control myself. With my negative attitude and how repetitive my life was, I needed a healthy change. I decided to try a Muay Thai class at Sudbury BJJ and Muay Thai Academy. The first class I went to, I was embarrassed that I couldn’t even skip. I weighed 228 lbs and was a muscle head with a lot of body fat and no cardio. Being so heavy, I felt really out of place. But because the instructors were so nice and didn't judge me, I kept coming. I made sure to go at least 3 times per week, and by March of 2010, I had my first Muay Thai fight, weighing in at 184 lbs. I felt so much better, and so did my body. I perfected my diet with the help of the instructors, and was able to eat meals that helped me train and feel more active all day, every day. This also helped me at work, giving me more energy and more patience with my children.

Since then, I have competed in 4 Muay Thai competitions, including the CASK K1 Provincial Tournament in October. In August, I started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and found another new love. I recently competed at the Ontario BJJ Open, and came home with a medal and lots of experience. I competed in this tournament at 176 lbs. Yeah, that's right - that means that with one year of training at Sudbury BJJ and Muay Thai, I have lost 52 pounds!!!

My life has changed completely, and I feel better about myself. I have so much self-control now, and my friends and family have noticed a huge change in me! I can proudly say that I have not gotten into any fights since joining, and know that I can take any aggression out in a safe, controlled environment.

I have since enrolled my children in the BJJ program. They love it, and I know they will be taught by the best!

Thanks to everyone at Sudbury BJJ and Muay Thai."

Jay Bertin

"I moved to Sudbury in 2008, which is when I started training at Sudbury BJJ and Muay Thai Academy - and I've been training and competing ever since. I started out with Muay Thai for the first year, and I've trained with top level instructors, including UFC fighter Kru Mark Holst, Coban Lookchaomaesaitong, Ajahn Burklerk Pinsinchai, Kru Chris Kew, Kru Jeff Harrison, Kru Nick Castiglia, and Kru Mel Bellissimo. Since training Muay Thai, I have lost 70 lbs. Steve and Jenn really focused on helping me with my diet. It was an easy, healthy diet that never left me hungry, and I still had enough energy to train. I was always the bigger kid in high school (235 lbs), and now I am a more average, healthy size, which makes me feel great. I've also had four amateur fights - two in New York City, one at Friday Night Fights, and the other at the MMA expo in a four-man tournament for Take On Productions. I also fought in other tournaments, such as the Muay Thai Classics, where I won the 2010 Muay Thai Classic Cruiserweight Championship belt in the Junior Division, and the CASK provincials in Burlington, where I won the Men’s 81 kg CASK Provincial Championship. I am now also training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling. I recently won gold at the 2010 Ontario Open BJJ tournament, and I now look forward to a professional career in Muay Thai and MMA."

Jessie Cronier, Muay Thai Instructor, Kids BJJ Instructor

"When I first came to the club, I knew very little about martial arts, so the first class was pretty intimidating. But the more time I spent there, the more I saw that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was not just about how big or strong you are. BJJ has built up my confidence, developed my problem-solving skills, as well as strengthened me physically and mentally. Through the encouragement and support of my instructors and my team, I feel more confident and better able to defend myself. I come back each day knowing I can train in a positive atmosphere that keeps me focused on healthy living for the body and mind."

Krista Gooderham

"After much searching, I have found my second home! This statement becomes more and more accurate every time I go for a class at Sudbury BJJ and Muay Thai Academy.

I was born with a rare limb growth deficiency called Fibular Hemimilia, which means the fibula in my left leg never grew, so I am missing that bone. This seldom has been something that has limited me in the past when it comes to recreational activity. But when it comes to Muay Thai, the fact that I have the prosthesis could have become a concern. So I held off on looking into it for a while, until fate brought me into Sudbury BJJ and Muay Thai Academy. All it took was one conversation and I was in love with the place and the people. Right away, Jenn and Andre were so accommodating in getting me in for a free trial, and even a private session beforehand, to see if I could handle the movement required to participate in the classes. They were so helpful and encouraging, and they have truly become new friends.

Since joining, I have been getting in better shape, which is still a work in progress. My agility is up, my cardio has improved vastly, and my overall attitude towards life and exercise is completely different. I truly believe that joining this club has turned my life around significantly, and at a time when I needed it most.

I cannot advocate joining and participating in their programs enough. It is honestly the best thing I have ever done, and I have made some amazing friends that I wouldn't trade for the world.

Come to a class and see for yourself."

Shawn Bailey