Head Coach and Owner of True Grit

3rd Degree Black Belt

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Dan Ward

Dan started training in 1998 and was promoted to Black Belt in December 2012. He started True Grit in 2017 as a way of teaching resilience, determination and grit to young people, rather than just seeing Jiu Jitsu as a medal winning opportunity.

He is a registered and practicing High School educator and has nearly 20 years teaching neurodiverse children as well as having an extensive personal training and strength and conditioning background.

Dan affiliated with Six Blades Jiu Jitsu in 2022 and was promoted to 3rd Degree Black Belt by his now Coach and Mentor 7 x IFBJJ World Champion, Xande Ribeiro.

Dan has competed Nationally and Internationally having competed at the last World championships held in Brazil, 2004. 

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Black Belt Coach

Jon See

Jon started his jiu jitsu journey in Perth in 2008 where he trained and competed. He has also competed Internationally. He found his way to True Grit in 2020 and was impressed by the tutelage, culture and camaraderie, and has never looked back.  Jon has a passion for teaching, and problem solving with his students.

Jon was promoted to Black Belt in 2022 in the presence of Xande Ribeiro, one of his Jiu Jitsu idols.

Patient, knowledgable and extremely professional, Jon will help get the most out of your No Gi Jiu Jitsu game.

2nd Degree Black Belt Coach

Dan Toole

Dan started Freestyle Wrestling in High School and then University in Canada. He moved to Melbourne in 1996 I started training with John Will, the highest ranked guy in the country at the time (Brown Belt). He met Alexandre Santos in 2011 and trained with him until Alex passed away in 2023 following a long fight with cancer. He received his Black Belt from Alex back in 2016. Dan has fought extensively in Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling and MMA and brings a wealth of experience to our mats.