JOHN COLE
Our Chief Instructor John Cole is a very experienced, talented, and well-rounded Martial Artist with over 35 years of experience. Beginning with Tiger Style Kung Fu at the age of 11, John quickly realized that martial arts training would be a permanent part of his life. During his High School years, John began training with the Sudbury Golden Eagles Freestyle Wrestling team, eventually being voted as team Captain and quickly achieved a great deal of success within the sport.
Highlights of John’s wrestling years include having competed at the Ontario Winter Games, receiving a bronze medal at the Provincial level, sixth place in the National Championships, and a fourth-place finish at the OFFSA, 1994 championships. John’s passion for grappling continued after high school as he attended the local Judo club. John also wanted to compliment his grappling skills with a more striking-focused martial art and as such, in 1991 John began training in the traditional form of Okinawan Karate.
In 1996 John travelled to Okinawa, Japan. Once there, he was blessed with the privilege of training at the main academy with Shigetoshi Senaha Sensei. John also trained in traditional weaponry (Kobudo) while in Japan. In Japan, John learned from and trained with such masters as Meitoku Yagi, Shoshin Nagamine, and Akamine Eisuke. From meeting such masters, John was inspired to begin teaching others in his arts, and upon his return to Canada in September of the same year, opened his school.
John has since returned to Okinawa, Japan to train with Senaha Sensei and other masters in order to increase his skill, as well has been influential in bringing Senaha Sensei to Canada for training. In 2004, John was awarded his 5th Degree Black Belt from Senaha Sensei.
In 2005, John participated in his first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Seminar, and early in December of 2005, was introduced to Renzo Gracie Black Belt, Pat Cooligan. Since that time, he has met and trained with several BJJ legends such as Carlos Gracie Jr., Renzo Gracie, Igor Gracie, Holles Gracie, Gregor Gracie, Roger Gracie, Braulio Estima, John Danaher, and of course, Pat Cooligan. After years of dedication and training, in April of 2018, John was awarded the rank of Black Belt and in 2021, became an IBJJF certified 1st Degree Black Belt in BJJ.
John has also had a number of Mixed Martial Arts contests, and in 2007 while preparing for an MMA fight, he met and befriended Leroi De Leon. Kru Lee, a local Muay Thai instructor with over 15 years of experience, quickly became very close to John, training with him extensively for upcoming MMA matches. Kru Lee was a very influential instructor and has been a key component in the development of the Muay Thai program currently offered at Sudbury MMA. John has also acquired his WAKO Coaching Certification and is an active club member of WAKO Canada.
As a competitor, John has not stopped since his early wrestling contests and is the most accomplished BJJ competitor in Northern Ontario. John has travelled extensively in order to learn and compete at the highest possible levels. John Has travelled all over North America, England, Finland, Romania, Japan, Thailand, Abu Dhabi, and Brazil. John has visited and trained at several gyms including the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York, Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand, Roger Gracie Academy in London, England, and Gordo’s BJJ Academy in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Despite all his personal achievements, John’s passion for martial arts has now extended into teaching his students. John says that teaching and helping his students achieve their goals and watching them develop a passion for martial arts is what is most important.
CREDENTIALS
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt – 2018
World Master Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship – Bronze Medalist – 2017
South American Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship – Silver Medalist – 2017
Abu Dhabi World Pro – Masters 3 – Silver Medalist – 2016
Pan American Senior Purple Belt Ultra Heavyweight Champion 2012
World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Mundials Blue Belt Bronze Medalist 2009
4X Provincial BJJ Champion
4X Ontario Open Champion
MMA Record 3-0
Level I Thai Boxing Coach
Karate 5th Degree Black Belt (received in 2004)
Kobudo 1st Degree Black Belt (received in 2000)
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 1st Degree Black Belt (received in 2021)
WAKO CANADA Level I Certified Coach
John’s Martial Arts / Competition TIMELINE
2021
World Master Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship – 2021
Black Belt – Gi Ultra Heavy Weight – Masters – Quarter Finalist
April 2021 – Received BJJ 1st Degree Black Belt from Professor Pat Cooligan
Received 1st Degree Black Belt Certification from IBJJF
2019
World Master Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship – 2019
NEWBREED US Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship – 2019
Black Belt Masters – Absolute Champion
2018
Toronto International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2018
Black Belt Masters – Champion
April 2018 – Received BJJ Black Belt from Professor Pat Cooligan
2017
Traveled to London England to Train at the Roger Gracie Academy – 2017
World Master Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship – 2017
Brown Belt – Gi Ultra Heavy Weight – Masters – Silver Medalist
South American Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship – 2017
Brown Belt – Gi Ultra Heavy Weight – Masters – Silver Medalist
Traveled to Brazil for Competition and Training – 2017
Traveled to Thailand to train Muay Thai and BJJ – 2017
2016
Abu Dhabi World Pro (Abu Dhabi) – 2016
Brown Belt – Gi Ultra Heavy Weight – Masters – Silver Medalist
Traveled to Brazil for Training 2016
2015
Ontario BJJ Provincials 2015
Brown Belt – Gi Ultra Heavy Weight – Masters Champion
Brown Belt – Gi Absolute Division – Masters Champion
Traveled to Brazil for Training 2015
Ontario Open BJJ 2015
Brown Belt – Gi Ultra Heavy Weight – Masters Champion
Brown Belt – No Gi Absolute Division – Silver Medalist
Ascension BJJ tournament 2015
Brown Belt – Gi Ultra Heavy Weight – Masters Champion
Brown Belt – Gi – Absolute – Masters Champion
2014
Ontario BJJ Provincial Championships 2014
Brown Belt – Gi Ultra Heavy Weight Champion
Brown Belt – Gi – Absolute Bronze Medalist
Brown Belt – No Gi Heavyweight Absolute Silver Medalist
BJJ Mundials – World Championships 2014
Brown Belt – Competitor
Ontario Open BJJ Championships 2014
Brown Belt – Ultra Heavyweight Silver Medalist
Brown Belt – Absolute – Silver Medalist
Brown Belt – No Gi Absolute Champion
2013
September 11th, 2013
Received Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt from Pat Cooligan, Renzo Gracie Black Belt
Northern Ontario BJJ Open
Purple Belt – Ultra Heavyweight Champion
Purple Belt – No Gi Absolute – Shared Gold with Team Member
2012
Ontario BJJ Provincial Championships 2012
Purple Belt – No Gi Heavyweight Champion
Ottawa Open Championships 2012
Purple Belt – Ultra Heavyweight Bronze Medalist
Purple Belt – Gi Absolute Bronze Medalist
Purple Belt – No Gi Absolute Champion
Rio De Janeiro International Master and Senior’s Open
Purple Belt Ultra Heavyweight Champion
Purple Belt Absolute Silver Medalist
2012 – Travelled to Brazil to compete and Train
OJA Ottawa International Open – Fit Day Exhibition 2012
Purple Belt – Ultra Heavyweight Champion
Purple Belt – Absolute Champion
Ontario Open BJJ Championships 2012
Purple Belt – Ultra Heavyweight Champion
Purple Belt – No Gi Ultra Heavyweight Champion
Pan American Championships 2012
Senior Purple Belt Ultra Heavyweight Champion
Ascension BJJ Tournament 2012
Purple Belt – Super Heavyweight Champion
Purple Belt Absolute – Bronze Medalist
2011
Ontario BJJ Provincial Championships 2011
Purple Belt – Absolute Bronze Medalist
Ottawa BJJ Open 2011
Purple Belt – Absolute Champion
Montreal International BJJ Open 2011
Purple Belt Absolute – Bronze Medalist
Ontario BJJ Open Championships 2011
Purple Belt Ultra Heavy – Bronze Medalist
Purple Belt Absolute – Silver Medalist
2010
Ontario Provincial BJJ Championships 2010
Purple Belt – Super Heavyweight Champion
Purple Belt – Absolute Champion
October 2010
Received Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Purple Belt from Pat Cooligan, Renzo Gracie Black Belt
Renzo Gracie New York Invitational 2010
Blue Belt – Absolute Champion
Arnold’s Sports Festival BJJ –Columbus Ohio 2010
Blue Belt – Bronze Medalist
Pan American No Gi Championships Competitor
2009
World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Mundials 2009
Blue Belt – Ultra Heavy Weight – Bronze Medalist
New York International Open Invitational 2009
Blue Belt – Bronze Medalist
2008
NAGA – New Jersey – Battle at the Beach NJ 2008
Blue Belt – Super Heavyweight Champion
No Gi – Intermediate Champion
Renzo Gracie Invitational NYC 2008
Blue Belt – Master’s Champion
NAGA – Arnold’s Challenge 2008
Blue Belt – Master’s Champion
No Gi – Intermediate Champion
Children’s Grappling Invitational 2008
Absolute Champion
Heavyweight Champion
2007
Joslin’s Grappling Tournament 2007
Blue Belt – Heavyweight 3rd
No Gi – Advanced 3rd
King of the Cage – Supremacy 2007
Defeated Pete “The Trooper” Rogers via TKO
King of the Cage – Capital Chaos 2007
Defeated Jason “The Monster” Bissonette via TKO
King of the Cage – Freedom Fight 2007
Defeated Wayne “X-Man” Xilon via TKO
September 2007
Received Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt from Pat Cooligan, Renzo Gracie Black Belt
2006
Joslin’s Grappling Tournament 2006
White Belt – Super Heavyweight Champion
No Gi – Beginner Super Heavyweight 2nd
Salvosa BJJ Tournament 2006
2004
White Belt Heavyweight Champion 2004
2002
Received 5th Degree Black Belt from Shigetoshi Senaha Sensei
SanShou 2002
Absolute Champion
Heavyweight Champion
2000
Traveled to Okinawa, Japan to study Okinawan Karate and Kobudo (weaponry)
1998
Traveled to Okinawa, Japan to study Okinawan Karate and Kobudo (weaponry)
1994
OFSSA – Wrestling 1994
4th place – 184-pound category
1992
Received 1st Degree Black Belt from Perry Campbell in Okinawan Karate