Founder, Chief Instructor. With over 35 years experience in Jiu Jitsu and Judo and a legend in MMA in Canada, our programs are overseen by World Master’s Medalist, MMA veteran and multiple time Canadian Jiu Jitsu Champion, BJJ (IBJJF) and Judo (IJF) Black Belt Joel Gerson.
Joel has trained extensively with the Canadian Olympic Judo Team and in his professional debut became the first and only person to defeat one of the best pound for pound no holds barred fighters in the world, former Champion and Japanese Shoot Fighting legend, Rumina Sato by arm bar submission in the first round. Joel is one of a handful of Canadians certified under “Big” John McCarthy as an MMA Judge. Certified Instructor in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu®. He has been called upon as an industry expert for The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Toronto Sun, The National Post, The CBC, The National, CTV News, The Fight Network, The Sports Network, among others, and has acted as a subject matter expert for criminal trials in the United States.
Training with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu royalty, Rickson Gracie, 1997.
Joel on the cover of the largest martial arts magazine in Japan
Joel fighting professional MMA and winning in Japan.
Joel and Joe Rogan
Joel training with UFC legend Georges “Rush” St. Pierre.
With the Founder of Gracie University, Rener Gracie.
Training with multiple time World Champion and BJJ legend Marcelo Garcia, New York.
Winning via arm bar submission at the IBJJF Toronto Open.
IBJJF World Masters – 2020
At Art of Jiu Jitsu Academy training with young phenom World Champions Tainan Dalpra and Jonatha Alves 2021, California.
