Back in Black.
Some time ago Geoff Grant, instructor of Wellington’s specialist grappling school, G.S.W, took of his 5th Dan Black Belt
and replaced it with a White one. Now 12 years later he’s once again wearing Black.
Wellington November 28th 2007 – The Grappling Specialists Wellington (GSW) recently hosted Australian BJJ legend, John
Will. Mr. Will was in New Zealand on a seminar tour teaching at his affiliate schools in Auckland, Hamilton, Napier,
Wellington and Christchurch. At a packed session at the GSW club in Wellington Mr. Will took the opportunity to promote
Geoff Grant to the rank of Black Belt.
In recent times the once coveted Black Belt has lost some of its mystique. With life speeding up and people wanting
instant gratification, hard work and toil are becoming thinks of the past, especially in the Martial Arts industry.
“I gained my first Martial Arts Black Belt in about 15 months.” Said Mr. Grant. “In fact I was awarded my 5th Dan after
11 years of training. At that time I had already had contact with John Will and really liked the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
style that he was teaching. I came to question my current rank and training to the point where I eventually gave it all
away to start again”
Now a little over 12 years later that decision has begun to pay dividends. Mr. Grant now runs one of the countries
biggest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) schools and his new rank makes him one of only two “home-grown” Kiwi BJJ Black Belts.
The new Black belt was not the only promotion at the club that night. Also promoted were Cain Harland and Brendan
Pfahlert who were awarded BJJ Blue Belts, and Jonathan Bares and Jason Murphy who were promoted to Purple Belt. The
promotions came at the end of another stunningly successful year for the GSW club.
Earlier in the year a small team from the club headed to Auckland for an open BJJ competition. 6 of the 8 team members
came away with medals including, 3 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze. In both the White belt and Blue belt under 74kg division
GSW members fought for first and second places, after defeating every other competitor in the field!
Mr. Grant plans to keep running the GSW club as always and says the new Rank will not change the way things are done.
“After the year we’ve had making any changes would be silly, we’re just going to keep on teaching quality BJJ classes
and having as much fun as we can doing it.”
For more information visit www.gsw.co.nz
Ends