Professionals Serendipity 
Security. Fitness. Confidence. These are things anybody values, especially in such a diverse community as Tamborine Mountain. Enter Matheus Frustockl, better known as Coach Matt to his students at Tamborine Mountain Lions Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy, running for roughly 8 months at time of writing. Today, Coach Matt is more than happy to share the fascinating history behind Brazilian jiu jitsu, and shed a little more light on what goes on on the academy’s mats.
by Kyle Hitchmough
How did you originally come to open Tamborine Mountain Lions Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy?
I grew up in South Brazil, in a European town in the hinterlands, very similar to Tamborine Mountain. It’s a similar lifestyle with the community feeling you miss in a city like the Gold Coast, where I live. I work security there on the weekends, so I’ve seen a lot of chaos, and I was looking for somewhere calmer to raise a family in a good environment, away from all of that. I found Tamborine Mountain, and I realised it did not have Brazilian jiu jitsu yet. It’s the fastest growing combat sport in the world, so I decided to open here.
What is your history with jiu jitsu? Has it always interested you?
I’ve been into jiu jitsu since I was 17 years old. I had a little break when I was studying at university but then I came to Australia and ended up back in the sport. It’s my main passion.
Can you explain to us exactly how you operate here? What kind of classes do you offer?
For the time being, we offer three morning classes, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday where people learn self defense and the sport aspects of it. They also do jiu jitsu fitness, which is incorporated into the exercises. From 3:15 I have the Little Cubs, for 6 to 8 years olds. Sometimes we take 5-year-olds depending on their development. Then at 4:45 we have the Young Lions, which is 8-12 years old. It’s important to learn how to defend yourself and build your confidence. It translates into your daily life. That’s one of the gifts of jiu jitsu. Then you have the MMA fitness, which is a little bit more for the people who don’t like the contact. After that it’s the adults’ Brazilian jiu jitsu, 6:00-7:30, Monday to Friday. We focus on self-defense and on sport competition. One of our Young Lions got our first gold medal for the team in the Byron Bay Australian Open in February.
What actually is Brazilian jiu jitsu?
The best thing about jiu jitsu is it’s a grappling art with submissions. It gives an opening for the aggressor to tap out and give up. Speaking as a coach and as a security officer, it works well within the law. One punch can kill, but you can get someone in a hold and gradually increase the pressure so the person has a chance to tap. It happens to me a lot of times working security. There might be an aggressor who wants to punch me and I can put him in a restraining position, and say “Look, can you calm down? I’m not trying to hurt you.” And I can release him and send him home.
How does jiu jitsu compare to other martial arts?
I would compare it most to judo. Judo is the brother of jiu jitsu. They both come from Japanese jiu jitsu. Judo focuses on 90% throws and 10% ground restraints, and Brazillian jiu jitsu is 90% on the ground and 10% takedowns and throws. There are many stories about how Brazillian jiu jitsu was founded. One goes that the founder of judo sent one of his students to Brazil to teach judo, but that student knew jiu jitsu as well. He taught the Gracie family, the family that started UFC. They’re the most famous family in the martial arts world. They made jiu jitsu global.
Which part of jiu jitsu would you say is the biggest draw for your students? Is it more about the self-defense, the fitness, the competition?
All of it, depending on the individual. I have ladies who say it’s boring at the gym, they need something a bit more entertaining and at the same time get fit. Some people come for the self defense, I do private classes with police officers as well. Some people come to relieve their anxiety. You forget about your problems, you learn about breathing. Some people come for the sport, they want to be competitors. The other thing is for kids of all ages, and even for adults, it teaches discipline. You give your respect to the coach and to the environment. Even if you don’t like someone, you don’t bring that into the academy. We respect each other.
Amongst your classes, which is your largest demographic?
Right now my biggest number is the Little Cubs. The main reason that I feel that is because parents are very busy working, and need help with teaching discipline, respect, and listening skills. They want to see their kids with confidence and ready for all the challenges in life. There’s more males than females in here. We did offer women-only classes, but we did not have the numbers to continue. If we did, we could look at reopening that.
Are you a local? What’s your opinion on the Tamborine Mountain area and community?
I don’t have property yet but if the academy keeps going well, I can make a move here. All the people who come through the door and step onto the mats here are great people. They all know that it belongs to the community, and they’re accountable for themselves. That’s the thing about a small community like this, you see people in the barber or the petrol station or the coffee shop, and you do things right by them.
Do you have any personal favourite things you like to do on the mountain?
I like to have lunch around here and support the other businesses. I have coffee next door at Spice of Life, I go to the local barber and get petrol at the local petrol station. I like to go to St. Bernards for lunch sometimes.
What do you think Tamborine Mountain Lions Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy really provides to the area?
I really like that it keeps the younger people on the mountain. It keeps the families together for a little bit longer at least. I find that there’s not much entertainment here for the younger generation, so they start migrating to other areas. This helps to keep the population here.
What do you enjoy most about doing this?
It’s the change in people’s lives. People give me feedback and say this is a therapy for them. Maybe they’ve been through a tragedy or are experiencing difficult times, and then they come to jiu jitsu and feel better afterwards. I have so many stories like that. Kids with ADHD or things like that where the parents do not know what to do, I can see them becoming more calm, listening more and learning how to breathe properly. They become more disciplined and respect the coach and their parents. That’s why we’re here.
Is there anything else you’d like to go on the record?
Everyone gets a three-week trial, we don’t have lock-in contracts or joining fees.
Tamborine Mountain Lions Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy
24 MAIN ST, TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN QLD 4272
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