It’s not often that you meet someone who is versed in all forms of Jiu-Jitsu: Traditional, Sport, BJJ and even Judo. Sweden’s Paul Persson has trained in all styles. Starting with traditional Ju Jitsu (IJJF), he was a part of the Swedish National Ju Jitsu team for several years (National champion 05 and 06). When BJJ hit Sweden in the early 2000’s Paul started training and also competed and taught Sport Ju Jutsu at Swedish Team Dynamix Fighting Sports.

Paul’s BJJ lineage comes from Marcelo “Yogi” Santiago, who promoted him to black belt after long years of training.
He is head trainer at JJK Samurai, coach of the national newaza-team (IJJF) and the coach behind many famous names in Sweden and some of the best female fighters in the world. Black belt adult world champion Janni Larsson and Ida Hansson both started off at Samurai as students of Paul Persson.
Some other big European names are the brown belts Tommy Karlsson and Andreas Gustavsson and also the purple belt Andreas Falk who is very skilled and upcoming (famous for his Peruvian necktie).

Paul Persson talked to BJJ Eastern Europe about the different aspects of Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ sweden and about his team:

Your academy differs from other classic BJJ academies as it is a mix of Sport Ju Jutsu and BJJ. What are the benefits and disadvantages of having both styles?

There is a huge difference in between these Jiu-jitsu styles but the benefits would be that the stand up game is a much bigger part in the sport ju- jutsu. The ones who cross-train give the BJJ practitioners good stand up sparring. I do not see any disadvantages excepts maybe competing of space in the dojo.

Paul with his BJJ students

You spent many years of your BJJ journey self teaching yourself techniques and have achieved an excellent level both as a competitor and a coach. How did you manage this without having the regular guidance of a BJJ black belt instructor?

I do not know the exact answer fore that question, passion for the sport maybe . No seriously, i have been thinking about that a lot and there is propably several main things that made it possible. First thing must be that i did not have a choice, there was no on else doing BJJ here in Jönköping. Second maybe that i have very easy to see the game, copy and actual understand what i see others do in videos and at competitions. About the coaching thing, this is something i relly enjoy to do and i am proparly better on coaching others than to compete my self. This is something i have understood trough the years and in the relatively fast progresses my students have had on the competitions. We are not actually a competition club, i try to make every one to compete as a way of developing their jiu-jitsu.

What are your thoughts on ‘creontes’ in Jiu-Jitsu? Is that mentality applicable for Europe?

I see it this way. You as a BJJ black belt or club leader, instuctor must know that you are just borrowing your student’s time. If they whant to leave you cannot stop them. I can only be happy for the time they gave me. If you are good friends and family you wish them the best. I try my best. If i succeed, people want to come and train with me/us JJK Samurai. I want my students to train with others to build their own opinion about what i do compared to other academies. If they like it, they will come back. If not, i have to improve my teching/way of being.

Paul competing in Sport Ju Jutsu

Best advice to give to new instructors who want to inspire their students?

Do the things you know and use yourself when you roll and compete If you have fun the sudents will have fun.

What is next for you and your team in 2014?

*Interview was done 2 weeks ago. This weekend the IJJF European junior Championships is heald in Lund Sweden. I am part of the national team so i go to Lund. Some of my fighters gone fight in a national competition in Sweden. An other gang is leaving for USA and the Worlds After that we have the Swedish nationals and so on. But on big thing i am looking forward to is the IJJF World Campionchips in november that are held in Paris where I’ll probably have some fighters participating.

Paul got silver at IBJJF Europeans in 2014

If you want to thank somebody or sponsors, feel free

I want to thank all my students and training partners for letting me borrow their time.
Thanks to Martin Jansson, Janni Larsson, Shimon Mochizuki and Marko Gyllenland for the gis i have been given. Martin Jansson, Eduardo Rios, Renato Moraes and Marcelo Galvao Santiago for the technical advices through the journey. And off course Marcelo for my black belt!

Thanks Paul and all the best.

My pleasure.