Sime Peni
Head Coach
Eastside Grapplers Aotearoa is a martial arts school specialising in the fighting systems of grappling, primarily Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and submission grappling.
Why the grappling arts? While we love all martial arts, unfortunately the reality is that trading blows with an attacker is not achievable for everyone. Most attack scenarios inevitably result in some form of closing in to strike, then a form of tie-up (clinch), then ultimately ending up on the ground. This is the reason we chose one of the most effective martial arts for everyone on the planet, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. A martial art with a proven history and one that is responsible for creating one of the biggest growing sports worldwide - MMA.
Eastside Grapplers is lead by Head Coach, Sime Peni. A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu First Degree Black Belt and IMMAF certified Instructor, he is a multiple times champion in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and submission wrestling having trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Wrestling and MMA. He gained his Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from the Founder of Tukaha Jiu Jitsu, Pedro Pacheco Fernandes, one of the most decorated and successful Black Belts in New Zealand.
How Brazilian Jiu Jitsu stacks up against other martial arts
Warning: this video, although informative and does show the effectiveness of Jiu Jitsu, it does contain violence. Please watch at your own discretion.