Grapple Asia

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.

Verontino “Veron” Giovanni is one of Indonesia’s rising forces in grappling. A brown belt under Prof. Hardian Kristiady and coach at Flow BJJ Indonesia, he’s already turning heads with standout runs at ADCC Southeast Asia and other elite stages. Hungry, competitive, and relentless, Veron talks with Grapple Asia about his journey, the growth of Jiu-Jitsu in Indonesia, and his drive to put his country on the global map.

In this Grapple Asia feature, we sit down with Singaporean grappler Nicholas Ooi, a lifelong competitor who has tested himself across BJJ, wrestling, judo, sambo, and submission grappling. From his early days chasing self-defense to becoming a full-time coach, Nicholas shares raw insights on the state of Jiu-Jitsu in Singapore, the struggles of making a career in the sport, and his vision for the future of Southeast Asian grappling.

From childhood chessboards to earning his black belt under Cobrinha, James Jayme has lived Jiu Jitsu as both a student and teacher. In this interview, he talks about his path on the mats, building Manila Kimonos, and what it will take to grow the sport in the Philippines.

David Ooi is a black belt in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the co-founder of Singapore Submission Grappling. Known for his thoughtful approach to training and coaching, David has been part of Singapore’s evolving grappling scene from its early stages. In this interview, he shares his journey from Judo to No-Gi, the philosophy behind his coaching style, his views on the sport’s development in Asia, and why building a strong grappling culture matters just as much as winning medals.

At just 18 years old, Michael Nathanael is one of Indonesia’s most promising young grapplers. A purple belt representing GFTeam Northern BJJ Jakarta, Michael started training as a child under the guidance of his father who also happens to be his professor. In this interview, he shares how he began his journey, his thoughts on Indonesia’s growing Jiu-Jitsu scene, and his dreams of competing on the world stage.

At just 18 years old, Michael Nathanael is one of Indonesia’s most promising young grapplers. A purple belt representing GFTeam Northern BJJ Jakarta, Michael started training as a child under the guidance of his father who also happens to be his professor. In this interview, he shares how he began his journey, his thoughts on Indonesia’s growing Jiu-Jitsu scene, and his dreams of competing on the world stage.

From Jakarta to Bali and beyond, Randolf has become one of Indonesia’s most respected emerging grapplers,  not just for his achievements on the mats, but for his impact as a coach. Training under Hardianism and leading Adler Jiu-Jitsu, he represents a new generation of athletes shaping the country’s grappling . In this interview, he shares his journey, philosophy, and hopes for the future of Indonesian Jiu-Jitsu.