THE BAJADA BROTHERS
CHRISTIAN AND RODERICK BAJADA
Ranks and Titles:
• Sichidan (7th degree black belt), Kyoshi Jujutsu (Jiu-Jitsu) - DNBK Japan
• BJJ Black Belt - Imanari Jiu-Jitsu - Masakazu Imanari
• Rokudan, Renshi, Menkyo Chudan Myoshin Ryu Jujutsu - UK
• Godan, Renshi Iaido - DNBK Japan
Trained with/at:
• Masters of modern and old school martial arts and styles in Japan.
• Instructors worldwide of the different martial arts and styles: jujutsu and judo, karate, iaido, kenjutsu and kendo, aiki, kickboxing and Thai boxing.
Some of the most notable names:
• Masakazu Imanari, aka “Ashikan Judan” (Master of Leglocks) – Imanari Jiu-Jitsu headquarters, Tokyo
• Yuki Nakai – Paraestra Shooto and Jiu-Jitsu Academy headquarters, Tokyo
Mentors and patrons:
• Hiroyuki Tesshin Hamada Hanshi - Chishin Ryu Heiho
• Allan Tattersall Hanshi - Myoshin Ryu Jujutsu
Performed (trained, demonstrated or taught) in:
Kyoto - Japan (Butokuden, Budo Centre, Seiryuden of Shoren-in), Tokyo - Japan, Virginia - USA, Manchester - England, Essex - England, Brussels - Belgium, Clermont-Ferrand - France, Breitenbrunn/Saxony - Germany, Magdeburg - Germany, Sonthofen - Germany, Baden-Württemberg (Achern) - Germany, Landkreis Augsburg (Meitingen) - Germany, Sintra - Portugal, Athens - Greece, and various localities in Malta and Gozo.
Quick Facts:
• The first professional martial arts instructors in Malta.
• Started training at the ages of 4 and 5 years at a local club.
• Competitions (up to mid-teens):
Winners of numerous competitions, most notably 3 gold medals at the British Ju-Jitsu International Championships in 1998. Competitions at that time consisted of self-defence application, demonstrations, striking-only sparring, grappling-only sparring and striking-and-grappling sparring.
• Opened their dojo, the Jiushin Kan, at the ages of 16 and 17 years.
• Their dojo and jujutsu were named in Kyoto, Japan, by Tesshin Hamada Hanshi of the DNBK as Jiushin Kan, meaning “hall of the true ideals of yawara (jujutsu)”.
• Received their BJJ Black Belt from the legendary Masakazu Imanari (Imanari Jiu-Jitsu).
• Awards:
Multiple Yushu Sho (outstanding excellence award), Dantai Yushu Sho (team outstanding excellence award) and Shorei Sho (commending award) by the DNBK of Japan.
• The first martial artists in the Maltese islands who have trained in authentic koryu.
• Introduced iaido in Malta.
• Demonstrated in the presence of royals and dignitaries, such as HIH Princess Akiko of Mikasa, HRH Prince Higashifushimi Jigo (Chief Abbot of Shoren-in Temple) and Higashifushimi Jiko (Chief Abbot of Shoren-in Temple).
• Coached athletes to MMA victories.
• The brothers' success can be accredited to the constant guidance of their father, Raymond Bajada.