Discover Townsville's Best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Judo-Based Takedowns
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Townsville | BJJ & Judo Classes for Adults 15+
Build Confidence. Learn Real Skills. Train From Standing to Ground.
Looking for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Townsville? United Martial Arts & Fitness provides structured BJJ training for adults and teens aged 15+, from complete beginners through to experienced grapplers.
Under black belt instructor Emilio Cardenas, you'll develop practical ground control, escapes, sweeps, submissions and live grappling skills—while also learning Judo-based takedowns and throws to build a more complete game from standing to ground.
UMF is an official Will/Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Associate School, combining established BJJ methodology with a strong focus on technical development, practical self-defence and controlled progression.
Whether your goal is self-defence, fitness, competition, MMA or simply becoming more capable and confident, our program gives you a clear pathway to improve.No experience is required. Beginners are welcomed and techniques are introduced progressively in a supportive training environment.
BJJ • Judo-Based Takedowns • Self-Defence • Fitness • Competition
Start Your BJJ Journey
Experience Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/Judo at UMF and discover what you're capable of. 
Build Confidence. Learn Real Skills. Get Fit.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced grappler, UMF provides structured Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training with experienced black-belt instruction in a supportive environment.
Develop practical ground skills, Judo-based takedowns, fitness, confidence and real self-defence while progressing at your own pace.
No experience required. Beginners welcome.
BJJ • Judo Takedowns • Self-Defence • Fitness • Competition 
Your BJJ Journey
Start → Build → Develop → Challenge → Progress
Adult 15+ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Judo Classes in Townsville | UMF
Looking for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes in Townsville? UMF's adult BJJ program teaches ground control, escapes, sweeps, submissions and Judo-based takedowns for practical self-defence, fitness and competition.
UMF's BJJ program also incorporates Judo-based throws and takedowns. Emilio Cardenas receives additional Judo coaching from Robert of Mackay Kodokan Judo Club, with those skills incorporated into UMF's grappling development.
Learn to Stay Calm Under Pressure
BJJ teaches you to solve problems while under physical pressure, using positioning, leverage and technique rather than relying purely on strength. At UMF, students progressively develop the ability to control, escape and respond from difficult positions.
Why Train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at UMF?
- Train under qualified BJJ Black Belt Emilio Cardenas within a structured Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program supported by ongoing external training, mentorship and technical development.Judo-based throws and takedowns
- Practical ground self-defence
- Structured beginner progression
- Fitness and conditioning
- Competition development
- Supportive training environment
- Character, discipline and resilience
You'll always train with partners suited to your experience level and every technique is introduced progressively.
Why Train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/Judo at UMF? 
- Black Belt - Instructor: Learn BJJ from certified instructor with years of experience.
- Practical Self-Defence: Master techniques that work in real-life situations.
- Full-Body Fitness: Build strength, endurance, flexibility, and agility.
- Supportive Community: Train in a safe and encouraging environment for all skill levels.
- Character Development: Discipline, respect, and focus are at the core of every class.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coaching with a Broader Perspective
A BJJ black belt isn't the end of learning—it's another stage in a lifelong martial arts journey. At United Martial Arts & Fitness, our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes in Townsville are led by BJJ Black Belt Emilio Cardenas, a lifelong martial artist committed to developing capable, knowledgeable and confident students.
What sets Emilio's coaching apart is the breadth of experience he brings to the mats. Alongside Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, his background includes Judo, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Muay Thai, Boxing/Kickboxing and Krav Maga - practical self-defence. This multi-discipline experience
provides a broader perspective on grappling, including distance, movement, takedowns and how ground skills connect with other ranges of combat.
Students learn ground control, positional strategy and submissions alongside Judo-based throws and takedowns, with opportunities to develop their skills for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, self-defence, competition or a broader MMA pathway.
At UMF, the focus isn't an instructor's personal competition record. The focus is the quality and continued development of the students we teach.
Our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Lineage
At United Martial Arts & Fitness, lineage matters. It represents where our knowledge comes from, the instructors who shaped it, and the responsibility to pass that knowledge forward.
UMF is proud to be an official Will/Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Associate School, connecting our students to an established lineage with deep roots in the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Australia.
Through Fari’s mentorship and our connection to John Will’s lineage, our students benefit from knowledge influenced by generations of highly respected practitioners.
John Will trained extensively with the Machado brothers and alongside members of the Gracie family, before becoming Australia’s first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt in the late 1990s. Today, as a Coral Belt, his influence continues through generations of instructors and Black Belts.
UMF → Fari’s Mentorship → John Will → Will/Machado → Machado & Gracie Roots
For our students, lineage represents credibility, knowledge and generations of Jiu-Jitsu experience passed forward.
Who Can Join?
UMF Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is open to ages 15+ and welcomes complete beginners through to experienced grapplers. You don't need previous martial arts experience or exceptional fitness to start
Join UMF, the Leading martial arts academy in Townsville, and unlock your full potential through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 
UMF CURRENT OFFER — See What's Available This Month
Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Ages 15+) — FAQs
1. What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and self-defence system focused on leverage, technique, and ground control. Training improves confidence, fitness, and real-world self-defence skills for adults and teens.
2. Can beginners join BJJ classes?
Absolutely. UMF welcomes all skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners. Our structured classes make it easy to learn safely and progress at your own pace.
3. What will I do in my first BJJ class?
Expect a friendly, safe environment where you’ll practice basic techniques, warm-ups, and drills. No experience is needed — our instructors guide you every step of the way.
4. Why train BJJ at UMF?
UMF combines Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Judo- and wrestling-based takedowns, practical self-defence applications and experienced black-belt instruction, providing students with skills from standing through to ground control and submission.
5. Is BJJ safe for adults?
Yes. Classes are carefully supervised, techniques are taught with control, and training partners are matched by experience to minimise injury. 
6. What should I wear to BJJ class?
Wear comfortable gym clothes for your first session. Later, you’ll use a BJJ Gi (uniform). Bring water, a towel, and a positive mindset.
7. How can I start training? BOOK YOUR TRIAL CLASS
Our Townsville Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes are designed for those who want to learn:
- effective self-defence for personal safety,
- competition,
- MMA or
- simply as an exciting way to stay fit & healthy.
UMF BJJ program doesn't stop on the ground. We teach essential takedowns and throws derived from Judo and wrestling, giving students a complete grappling foundation — from standing to submission.
Develop your stand-up striking alongside your grappling with Muay Thai and Boxing . Both form the MMA program
Emilio is now focused on his next major goal: earning a Judo Black Belt. But the journey never truly ends. In martial arts, there is always more to learn, more to refine and more room to grow. No matter the rank, always remain a student.
Are you ready to embrace your full potential?
Book a trial class today!
Our Approach to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Classes
UMF BJJ Combatives aims to be combative rather than tournament-oriented. Unlike most Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools, UMF offers classes that are both proven effective and tournament-specific.
UMF BJJ Combatives is all about making sure the technique works anywhere and anytime be it for MMA, Self Defence or for tournaments!
Personal self defence is our goal and is in fact the measure of proficiency in our system. We believe that being ready for street encounters will also make you more proficient in a competitive setting, not the other way around.
What Is Involved in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Training?
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art that has evolved from its origins in Judo to incorporate a focus on ground fighting and leverage to overcome an opponent.
BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger, heavier assailant. BJJ techniques involve using leverage, taking the fight to the ground, and then applying joint locks and choke holds to defeat the opponent.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Combatives is incredibly strategic — it involves mental clarity, mental acuity, and the ability to outmanoeuvre your opponent by controlling the ground. Beyond pure physical strength, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu requires clarity of technique and intelligent problem solving and strategic skills.
The training can be used for sport grappling tournaments [Gi and No Gi], mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions or self-defence.
Are you ready to embrace your full potential?
Book a trial class today!
Are you ready to embrace your full potential?
Book a trial class today!
The Physical Benefits
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has many positive physical benefits, including weight loss, increased flexibility, increased strength, and simply feeling fitter. Over the course of several classes, students will witness changes in physique and experience improvements in overall health as a result of training.
- Teaches you how to use your body as one unit. The majority of people in modern society spend most of their day sitting, driving, or working at a computer, which causes the body to develop strange and unnatural movement patterns.
- Enhances your body awareness. An increase in body awareness rapidly promotes strength and mobility, reversing the negative effects of sitting all day, every day.
- Improvements in mobility show up during techniques and drills that at first were difficult to complete, but become easier and more natural within your body.
UMF Academy has expanded its network for training, competing, and connecting with other practitioners. We also offer seminars with Master Fari Salievski (Black Belt). You can expect a great community and network of people from all over who support one another in mastering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
The Mental Benefits
Beyond any physical improvements that come as a result of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Combatives, the mental improvements significantly impact all areas of your life. With Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Combatives, the process of learning demands as much mental engagement as it does physical effort. To master the technique, students are encouraged to practice it repeatedly. Practitioners study the technique like with a new subject, and then learn to apply it.
Learning to apply the technique can be the most challenging part. To improve, you must constantly attempt the technique, drill it some more, and try again. This takes mental acuity, persistence, patience, and the ability to strive for excellence and not give up.
When something is easy to achieve, we do not feel the same level of satisfaction as we do when we have learned and mastered the technique over time! This builds confidence and our inherent belief in our ability to achieve, not just a hollow victory but one full of satisfaction that feeds our soul.
Stress Management
Everyone experiences stress in their lives. It’s how we manage that stress that truly matters. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Combatives offer excellent stress relief. After a long day at work, students can walk into UMF Academy and discover a healthy method of releasing stress.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Combatives requires focus; it demands being present while projecting your strategy into the future and working to bring it to fruition. Students can harness built-up anger or frustration and release it on the mat. Many of our students find relief from stress after an intense rolling or drilling session.
Through training, practitioners can transition to a positive mindset that moves past the frustrations of the day and builds a lightheartedness that lingers after leaving the training session. This lightheartedness can be felt and channelled into the home and family relationships for more fulfilling connections.
The UMF Academy Way
Students are made up of almost every type of person you can think of – tradies, soldiers, security officers, doctors, lawyers, students, law enforcement, teachers, nurses, business people, and more. Every day our students walk into the academy for the same reasons: to be better, to improve their health and well-being, learning ability and stress levels. Our students are taking the lessons learned on the mat and applying them to their everyday life and making their lives better.
The Instructors
Emilio Cardenas
Emilio Cardenas, Pablo's son, has grown up living and breathing martial arts at UMF Academy. He has dedicated himself to his art, spending many hours per week training and assisting his father with his teaching.
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