Instructors

 

All of our trainers are highly qualified with well over a decade of experience. All trainers are trained in First Aid, have completed a Working with Children check and are fully insured

 
 
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Ernest Lapornik

Gracie Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt
Head Instructor HVJJ

Ernest has been practicing Gracie Jiu JItsu since early 2007 and is the Head Instructor at Hunter Valley Jiu Jitsu. He is a Brown Belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu under Luke Beston and had a successful competitive career winning multiple state and national competitions prior to retiring in 2015

In addition Ernest has a long history as a martial artist holding senior grades in both Hapkido and Kendo and is one of very few FIAS certified SAMBO coaches in Australia

Ernest takes an extremely technical approach to coaching, challenging students to reach their fullest potential

 

 

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Luke Beston

Gracie Jiu Jitsu 2nd Degree Black Belt

Head Instructor Beston-Gracie Jiu Jitsu Network Australia

Chief Representative Royce Gracie Network Australia

 

  • Certified Instructor – Nobre Arte under founder Meste Claudio Coelho
  • Certified Instructor – Floro Fighting Systems under founder Ray Floro
  • Level 4 – Kali Ilustrisimo under Guro Ray Floro
  • Black Belt – Modern Arnis
  • Battlefield Kali Knife - Level 4 under Guro Burton Richardson
  • Battlefield Kali Stick - Level 3 under Guro Burton Richardson
  • Certified Instructor - Ginastica Natural Level 1 under Master Alvaro Romano
  • Certified Instructor - Knife Defence FTS under Guro Burton Richardson
  • Certified Instructor - Red Zone Knife Defence
  • Certified Instructor – RBPP under founder Jim Wagner
  • Certified Instructor – ISR Matrix PM
  • Certified Instructor – MMAXFIT (MMA Fitness) under founder Ian Schaffa
  • Level 3 Kinetic Fighting under Paul Cale

Luke was first introduced to Gracie Jiu Jitsu when Prof. Carlos Gracie Jr visited Australia in 1995. Over the next 10 years Luke travelled countless times to train at many of the best academies throughout Australia, Brasil and the U.S.A.

During this time Luke has won a number of Grappling titles as well as being crowned the 2001 NSW Pankration Champion.

In December 2005, Luke was awarded his Black Belt by Gracie Academy head instructors Prof. Royler Gracie & Prof. Rolker Gracie and Gracie Sydney head instructor Prof. Bruno Panno. This achievement made luke the first ever person from New South Wales to receive a Black Belt from the Gracie family.

As a grappling coach Luke has produced many champions at the state and national level, as well as winning the overall 2005 & 2008 NSW BJJ Federation team championship.