Anthony Lange

Northside Martial Arts
Sydney, Australia

05/02/05

by R.Navarro

Anthony Lange, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) was the first on the BJJ Mixed Martial Arts scene in Sydney, starting a club in 1994. The club has produced many of Australia’s leading athletes and fighters. Northside Martial Arts is a full time academy in North Manly that has produced great depth of skilled BJJ practitioners from all belt levels. He has a passion for coaching and trains people from all ages ranging from 5 to 55.

With over 20 years experience he has fought, coached and trained all over the world. He teaches BJJ, kickboxing and mixed martial arts and also runs a Shiatsu clinic. Anthony has for over 10 years competed and won in BJJ tournaments at a state, national and recently won a gold medal at the world masters championships in Brazil. He is one of the guiding forces for the Will/Machado association in NSW.

We proceeded with the interview right after a bjj session in his gym in North Manly.

Welcome to BJJ Philippines.com
Firstly, could you tell us a little about your Martial Arts background?

I started with a traditional background of karate of which I trained for seven years. I then moved on to Thai boxing and Arnis with a JKD coach. I did some Kickboxing, then started to get into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and soon after opened my own school.

Your School was the first BJJ School in Sydney Australia, how did you get started in BJJ and who was your instructor?

I first saw “Gracie In Action” video and started training in Japanese Jiu Jitsu and Larry Heartsell JKD type grappling. Then when I thought I had some skill in grappling, I went to John Will and was completely schooled by John and his beginner students. After that I started training every spare moment in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As I was learning, my school was growing and I had to try and keep ahead of my students, some of who were very talented. Guys like Elvis Sinosic, Anthony Perosh, John Simon, Luke Pezzutti, Peter King, Stuart Nairne and Stephen Kamphuis all of which either head of their schools or have titles in BJJ and MMA in their weight divisions. There are too many to mention.

In your school what do you teach and do you incorporate other systems in your teaching?

I teach BJJ straight on six classes during the week. I have two kick boxing classes. I run two MMA classes which is my own shoot system (or my blend of MMA), which I really enjoy teaching. I have a syllabus and structure for teaching this system.

You have fought in Shoot matches in Australia and Japan and on one of these matches JJ Machado was the under card. Could you tell us about your MMA fight experience?

I only fought one Shooto match in Australia before fighting as the head lining fight on a Shooto card against the Japanese champion. We were in the back room as the fighters were being called out and John Jacques and I were the only ones left. He asked when I was on and I said I was in the fight after him. (Meaning I was headlining). I remember him being quite surprised as he was my coach’s coach. Also on that card were Zane Frazer, Eric Paulson, Rumina Sato, Yuki Nakai and Sayma. So it was a star studded card. It was a tough fight, unfortunately I lost that one but they liked the fight and invited me straight back. I fought in Japan once again and two other MMA in Australia. I fought mainly to gain experience and for the exposure. I wasn’t trying to make a career out of professional fighting.

Having trained and fought in Brazil, how do you feel the standard and training compares with Australia?

The standard in Brazil is very high. There are many talented guys over there. I enjoy the training especially at Fabricio’s as he has some good lightweights in his school. The training I have got in Australia from John Will easily compares with anywhere in Brazil or America because he has such exceptional coaching skills which is rare to find anywhere in the world. Your training is often only as good as the guys you are training with. I have been lucky because I have had the best guys to train with. By this I mean guys that are interested in your development as well as their own. People who are motivated and are into JiuJitsu at whatever grade or level are going to be great training partners. I remember, Rigan Machado and his brothers in the beginning only had seven training partners.

You have produced some of Australia’s best BJJ/MMA fighters in your school or have been the coach to many others. Can you mention some names and their achievements.

Elvis Sinosic was the first Australian to win in the UFC. He has also fought such greats as Frank Shamrock, Tito Ortiz, Dave Beneteau, Evan Tanner, Babalu etc. Anthony Perosh – ADCC champ, Australian BJJ champion, heavy weight MMA Spartan champion. Stephen Kamphuis – Numerous Jiu Jitsu local and international titles. Luke Pezzutti – Middle weight MMA champion, Stuart Nairne – MMA top level light weight fighter. There are numerous NSW BJJ champions in different belt levels and age groups. I have been able to bring out the best in a lot of people.

You are widely recognised as one of the most knowledgeable BJJ/MMA instructors in Australia.
Can you tell us a little about your training methods and about the unique Machado syllabus?

The good thing about our group (Machado) is we do have a syllabus and a systematic way of improving and going up the grading system. Each level has a certain skill set that needs developing at a specific stage in a person’s training. Being able to specifically mark these times and feed the right instruction is one of the unique methods that we use and have developed. This allows the person to improve at a rapid pace.

If you were looking to train in BJJ/MMA for the first time what would you be looking for in a school?

I would be looking for coach who was interested in developing me as an individual. I would want someone who has the skill to see the potential, and capitalise on that potential for any individual. You also have to walk into a school and get a good feel. The atmosphere of the school and the culture set by the instructor is the main thing I would look for in a school.

The Kamphuis-Machado Academy (KMA) in the Philippines is affiliated with Will-Machado, but is also a direct descendant of your school. KMA students have their grades recognised by Will-Machado and are listed under your school and on your web site. What are your thoughts about this and having a school in the Philippines that is an extension of your own with one of your senior instructors teaching?

I am proud to have Stephen teaching and representing me in the Philippines. To me it is important to have people of good character, good skill and what I call people who are black belts in life associated with me. I don’t give black belts to people who don’t have the mental maturity to represent me. To me martial arts is not about tournament success but about personal growth and character development. I hope this attitude spreads throughout the world, not only in Australia and the Philippines. It is great to have you guys on board. In the future I hope to meet your students and cross train with them and look forward to the cross-cultural exchanges that may happen.

What is your opinion of politics in sport?

As for politics in sport, it is going to be there whether we like it or not! I think it is important that people don’t lose sight that it is a sport ie. for health, for fun, for self improvement. If they want war – join an army or become a mercenary.

What does the future hold for you?

I am going to be on the mat training, choking, arm barring for as long as I can.

Do you think you will be able to visit us sometime in the future?

Pay for my airfare and I am there…

Thanks for the opportunity to be a guest on your new web site.

Thank you Anthony on behalf of BJJPhilippines and Team Machado Philippines for taking the time to give your personal insight.

BLACKBELT INTERVIEWS

Anthony Perosh, SPMA - 01/23/06
John Will, Will-Machado Academy - 06/13/05
Anthony Lange, Northside Martial Arts - 05/02/05