Interview with Jesse Ariestya | GF Team North Jarkata
Meet Jesse Ariestya, a black-belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and one of GFTeam Indonesia’s most dedicated instructors. Based in North Jakarta, Jesse manages Northern Jiu Jitsu, a GFTeam affiliate and is known for not only guiding fighters to success on the international mat but also fostering a family deeply embedded in the art of BJJ. His journey spans competitive stages from regional brown-belt leagues to the prestigious black-belt division, showcasing both his skills and passion for the sport.
Q: Can you kindly introduce yourself?
A: Hi! I’m Jesse Ariestya from, Black belt from GFTeam.
Q: How did you start training in BJJ?
A: I knew BJJ back in I think end of 1999, in Australia, meeting Mario ‘the Zen’ Machine who was at that time having an mma fight there. But Learn it regularly soon as Im here in Indonesia at 2020 with a friend of mine Professor Martin Hartono, but only really getting more dedicated and opening a gym 8 years ago.
Q: What drew you to the gentle art?
A: Of course the complexity of the game, a knowledge that you can have to solve certain problem, i.e, how an open guard passing could be very simple, but with proper knowledge it could be like super confusing and complicated.
Q: What do you think it would take to accelerate the growth of BJJ in Indonesia?
A: Competition to differentiate gyms level and of course public education about the normal standard in BJJ, which atitude is allowed which not, and which ones taboo.
Q: In terms of competing Submission Grappling and Jiu Jitsu, what rules set do you favor the most?
A: IBJJF, AJP, JJIF is my main preference, both in gi and nogi for the 1st 2.
Q: How do you find the training environment in Indonesia compared to other regions in Asia?
A: The standard gap between gyms in Indonesia is still very far, we have like gyms I knew will be comparable (in terms of competition) with any gyms in Asia, but at the same time we still have many mcdojo gym teaching bullshido.
Q: What is the most influential or biggest achievement in your career so far?
A: I’m living my best moment atm, when i see my students did really well on competition, that is my biggest achievement.
Q: Do you have personal preference over Gi or No-gi?
A: Gi all the way.
Q: How would you evaluate the current trends in Jiu Jit-su? What do you think of the future of Jiu Jit-su in Indoenesia?
A: We are slowly and gradually getting better, as there are now more competition and more academy coming. I’m sure we will be more than capable competing in Asia in couple of years, as now I knew we have a batch of young humbry athletes wait their time to soar.
Q: Which country do you think is the fastest growing in terms of grappling in Asia right now?
A: Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand , Philippines, all have great acceleration, of course Korea, Japan , China are on different level.
Q: What is a typical training schedule for you ? Weekly, Daily.
A: Currently we have 3 classes average a day seven day a week.
Q: How do you approach your coaching?
A: As the training system will be the same, kids class, fundamental class, and intermediate, and sometime we will have like training camp class for big competition.
Q: In your own experience coaching at GFTeam, do you think this is the fastest way to develop students in terms of progression?
A: Fundamental repetition is the best approach, instead of going for hard spar everytime, i believe 70-80%. spar is better in the long run.
Q: Who do you draw inspiration from in terms of coaches and competitors?
A: Indonesian, i like the approach from both Professor Martin for his isolation drill theory and Professor Hardian for his forcing your opponent to make mistake theory. As for world figure, i idolises every teaching from both Profeasor Guy and Rafa Mendez from AOJ.
Q: What are your future plans?
Spreading BJJ to as many as possible Indonesian, and show them how amazing is this gentle art in influencing and changing one life. IBJJF or AJP world champ for Indonesia, is always future plan and goal.
Q: Lastly, who would you like to thank?
Prof Martin Hartono, for showing me the right path on my BJJ Journey
Prof Hardian for all the eye opening theory
Prof Pedro Falbo and Master Julio Cesar for their warm welcome to GFTeam
Follow Jesse and his team here:
GF Team Northern Jakarta | Jesse Ariestya
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