Katikati’s jiu jitsu club has put their town on the global martial arts map by claiming the prestigious Gold Teams Trophy at the 2025 SJJIF World Jiu Jitsu Championships in Chiba, Japan.

Finishing first overall out of 183 international teams of more than 5500 athletes from around the world, to claim the trophy at the championships on September 18-21, this is Katikati’s Global Jiu Jitsu Academy’s most extraordinary triumph.

Incredible!

Global Jiu Jitsu Academy (GJJA) head coach Lance Campbell said his club’s results saw a haul of medals and international recognition come home to the Western Bay of Plenty town. “It was incredible. [It was teams from] you name it – Brazil, Japan, Tahiti, Guam, Australia, China, the USA, Canada – all over the place.”

“I think our expectation was to do the best we could. We didn’t even have an eye on that trophy. Albeit we won the bronze trophy last year but that too came as a surprise.”

Waikura Taiapa, 18, prepares to challenge an international opponent at the 2025 SJJIF World Jiu Jitsu Championships in Chiba, Japan. Photo / @aureo_sph

Campbell said the Gold Teams Trophy is won based on the highest number of points gained by a club through their athletes competing and winning placings at the championships.

“You get so many points for [winning] gold, silver and for bronze. In terms of the gold medals we won – it was over 20. So from a points perspective, it gave us a huge advantage and was obviously what got us over the line for that trophy.”

40 athletes

GJJA took 40 male and female competitors in total – including those from its associate teams, HT Strength & Fitness in Rotorua and Pearce Martial Arts in Auckland – aged from 12 to 56 to the championship, across four disciplines: Kids, Juveniles, Adults and Masters.

All GJJA athletes self-funded their trips with only minimal internal club fundraising bolstering their efforts, said Campbell. “This included products from two of our members who own local businesses as prizes for our raffles, and an amazing family who provided sponsorship but prefer not to be named.”

Across four days his team secured more than 20 World Championship titles, with 10 coming back to Katikati and the remainder won by GJJA’s associate teams.

“In addition to the gold medals, the team also brought home numerous silver and bronze medals, showcasing the depth of talent across all divisions.”

From the front

Campbell, an athlete himself, led from the front, achieving double gold in both gi and no gi, cementing his place as a four-time SJJIF World Master champion.

Global Jiu Jitsu Academy head coach and athlete Professor Lance Campbell in action. Photo / Supplied

His leadership and coaching excellence were also recognised on the world stage – he received the second place overall trophy for Coach of the Year.

“Standing alongside our team on the world stage and watching them achieve at this level was incredibly special,” said Campbell. “It shows what’s possible when passion, perseverance, and community come together.”

Campell said he’s been practising Jiu Jitsu for 23 years, and began GJJA in Katikati about nine years ago. “There wasn’t club here – and it’s just grown over the years. Both my wife and I are from Tauranga. We moved to Auckland in our twenties.

“We were involved in a jiu jitsu club up there. When we decided to move about nine years ago it was important that we maintained that thing for our kids.”

Some properties appealed in Katikati and the decision was made. “We loved the whole rural aspect of it because we’d come from the city.”

A combination

Campbell said Jiu Jitsu was a combination of a number of disciplines. “One would be wrestling, another would be judo and grappling; and the ultimate goal is to take a person from a standing position to a ground position, with the intent of controlling them so that they no longer are a threat, and if need be by applying all sorts of different submissions.

“You have arm locks, leg locks, chokes – and so you’re using a combination of those."

Ty Campbell, 15, at the 2025 SJJIF World Jiu Jitsu Championships in Chiba, Japan. Photo / @aureo_sph

Campbell said the sport’s origins go back to the 1800s in Japan, and it had morphed over the years with different countries putting their own touch on it. “Then Jiu Jitsu’s prominence really started to ignite when the UFC – the Ultimate Fighting Championship founded in 1993 – started becoming a sort of household brand. It’s very much today used and taught as a form of self-defence – but there is a big sport element to it as well.”

The culture

Campbell said his club’s success this year yet at the championships was nothing short of historic – and he put it down to the culture of excellence it tries to instil in every athlete.

“That means stepping outside the realms of comfort, really trying to have our athletes believe that anything is possible – even from a small little town like ours,” said Campbell.

“We’ve got so many athletes here – it’s incredible the number of talented kids and adults we have in this small town. But the biggest component is some of them can’t see themselves on the podium at a world event. We can – but it’s getting them to see that and believe that. So this is what culture is fostered at our academy. Not accepting mediocrity, pushing the boundaries, having a go and that losing is not a bad thing.

“Our society informs us that losing is a bad thing – for us, it’s experience, it’s invaluable. As long as you go out and give it everything and believe in your ability – that’s the biggest catalyst here that we foster.”