• By Times’ Junior Journalist Willow Taylor

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a sport designed for your mental and physical health which keeps you fit and keeps your brain sharp.

Ryan Medcalf recently opened a gym dedicated to BJJ in Lloyd Elsmore Park under the netball club.

BJJ is like a human game of chess because of the mental stability and needing to use the tactics that you learn while in a fight.

Ryan offers a free week trial for anyone who isn’t quite sold on the idea of joining BJJ, but I know it’s worth it. Jiu Jitsu is a great sport to join with lots of benefits.

Osmosis is a great place for everyone to do and learn BJJ.

Andy Medcalf (Ryan’s father) used to be the proud owner of Bucklands Beach BJJ and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Ryan first started training in the UK when he was 10.

The first gym his family had was Gracie Barra (pronounced ba-haa) which was part of a franchise.

When they moved to New Zealand they then opened a new gym in Bucklands Beach.

Ryan’s commitment to his sport is honored through his fighting and teaching.

He’s been doing BJJ for 13 years and in those 13 years he’s won three national titles, a lot of medals (too many to count) and respect for his fighting abilities.

You may be wondering why this BJJ gym is called Osmosis? Osmosis is a term used in biology meaning the ‘transfer of water’ and it can also mean the ‘transfer of knowledge’.

Ryan used this word because in BJJ you must be like water, or a simpler way of putting it, adaptable, so it has a cool hidden meaning.

A key part of Ryan’s BJJ journey was earning his black belt.

In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu it can take a lifetime to get a black belt, but Ryan got his in his mid-20s! Keeping in mind you can’t get your blue belt till you’re at least 16.

Ryan has always wanted to teach since watching his dad do it his whole life, so his dad was a big inspiration.

Another inspiration of Ryan’s is Caio Terra, who was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1987, began BJJ in 2003 and earned his black belt in 2006. He’s also a 12-time world champ!

Outside of BJJ Ryan’s inspirations are mainly people from within the community.

After finding out about BJJ’s past and a bit about Ryan, here’s some of the future opportunities at Osmosis.

Ryan hopes to enter Osmosis into some competitions and teach his students his favorite move ‘the guillotine choke’.

Ryan teaches a range of moves for self-defence and attack, so if you get into any fights (which is unadvised) you know how to defend yourself without breaking a sweat.

If it’s something you wanted to do, here’s how to get in contact with Ryan: info@osmosisbjj.co.nz or call 021 809 441.

• Willow Taylor is in year 7 at Farm Cove Intermediate