Anthony Perosh


SPMA Concord,
New South Wales


01/23/06

by Stephen Kamphuis

Anthony Perosh, ADCC competitor and 7 time Australian BJJ Champion took a short break from training to give us an opportunity for an interview.

Hi Anthony,

Thank you for taking the time to visit BJJ Philippines.com and be part of our Black Belt interviews.


We are very happy to have both you and Elvis on our site.

Thanks, Stephen.

Can you tell us a little about how you got started in martial arts and your martial arts background?

I started in Karate and Thai Kickboxing in 1994 and then BJJ in 1996. I commenced martial arts while in university. I started a part time job as a bouncer in a nightclub and I thought I better learn how to defend myself.

You are one of the most successful competitors in BJJ in Australia winning a record 7 times BJJ Australian Champion, 2 Time Mundial bronze medalist, 2 x ADCC finalist, and many other titles including Pan Pacific champion etc. Can you tell us a little more about your competition profile?

I won the 2005 South Pacific Submission Grappling Championships and qualified again for the 2005 ADCC World Championships in LA. Unfortunately I lost my first match and was eliminated.

You where one of the first Australians to train directly under the Machado brothers in the US, can you tell us about this experience and your time under Carlos Machado in Texas.

I loved every minute of it. I was there for 3 years under Carlos Machado. I was a white belt when I arrived and I left a purple belt. That was in 2002.

I then visited Carlos in Texas every year for a week or two to improve my skills. Carlos promoted me to black belt in August 2004. Carlos now has over 10 blackbelts and a host of brown belts. All of his students are very good and I always get so much out of it when I go there.

You are also one of the very first practitioners in Australia to receive your BJJ Black belt and the first from Machado Sydney. How long where you training and who are your greatest influences?

I have been training in BJJ for 10 years now. It took me 7 ˝ years to get my blackbelt. Carlos Machado is a big influence. My entire game is based on his.

I also really liked “Margarida’s” style when he won the World Championships in 1999 and 2000. Today I like Roger Gracie, Jacare and Marcello Garcia.

You and Elvis were both students under Anthony Lange, can you tell us a little about this time?

I started with Anthony Lange in 1996. He was a blue belt and the highest ranked BJJ instructor in my state. I was doing Thai Kickboxing at the time and I wanted to add grappling. It quickly became my passion. That is where I first met Elvis too. To this day we all still train together and are very good friends.

It was just after receiving your black belt you started fighting in MMA competitions and are currently they MMA heavyweight Australian winner. Are you more focused on MMA or BJJ and was it your plan to fight MMA after becoming a BJJ black belt?

I have a current MMA record of 4 wins and 1 loss. In 2004 I won the Spartan Australian Heavyweight MMA title. I still compete in BJJ but want to compete in MMA too. In the near future I will be competing in more MMA matches than BJJ.

You have been featured in many Australian magazines in the technique workshops can you tell us what are your favorite techniques?

I love a cross arm-hooking sweep (“Perosh flip”), knee through guard pass and finishing with a kimura from side control or lapel choke from Kneeride.

With so many competitions National and International under your belt can you tell us little about the mental and physical preparation that you undergo?

I train 6 days per week, twice per day. I cross train between BJJ, Thai Kickboxing, Wrestling, running and lifting weights. I truly believe that if you are fit and are physically prepared you will be mentally prepared.

You and Elvis run one of the most successful BJJ schools in Australia. What advice could you give if someone was looking to join a BJJ school?

Find a blackbelt in BJJ or someone who is under a blackbelt in BJJ. Do a couple of free classes to see if you like it. Check to see if they compete or not. This may or may not be important for you. The important thing is that you feel comfortable in the school and the instructor knows what he is doing and helps out all of his students.

Could you tell us a little about what you teach in your school?

I teach BJJ, Thai Kickboxing, Wrestling and MMA. I also have a Yoga instructor that teaches 3 days per week. We have separate classes for beginners and advanced and also separate classes for kids.

You are one of the busiest fighters in Australia what are your future plans?

I want to fight a lot more MMA and eventually fight in Pride or the UFC. I am also planning to fight in the 2006 World BJJ Championships in Brazil.

Thank you Anthony for your time.

My pleasure Stephen. I would like to thank my two sponsors for their continued support, Musashi Supplements and Atama Kimonos.

BLACKBELT INTERVIEWS

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