About Us

BJJ is founded on the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend themselves against a bigger, stronger, heavier opponent. This is done by using technique, leverage, and most notably, taking the fight to the ground, and then applying joint locks and choke holds to defeat the opponent. BJJ training can be used for sport grappling tournaments and in self defense situations. Sparring (commonly referred to as "rolling" within the BJJ community) and live drilling play a major role in training and the practitioner's development. BJJ is considered a martial art, a sport, a method for promoting physical fitness and building character, and a way of life.

Sensei Dallas O’Regan’s lineage ties back to Mitsuyo Maeda who was one of five of the Kodokan's top groundwork experts that judo's founder Kano Jigoro sent overseas to demonstrate and spread his art to the world. Maeda left Japan in 1904 and visited a number of countries giving demonstrations and accepting challenges from wrestlers, boxers, savate fighters and various other martial artists before eventually arriving in Brazil, November 14th, 1919.

In 1917 Carlos Gracie, the eldest son of Gastão Gracie, watched a demonstration by Maeda and decided to learn judo. Maeda accepted Carlos as a student and Carlos learned for a few years, eventually passing his knowledge on to his brothers. Gracie's account of the events is that his sibling Hélio Gracie gradually further developed Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as a softer, pragmatic adaptation from judo that focused on ground fighting, since he was unable to perform many judo moves that require direct opposition to an opponent's strength.

BJJ employs a wide range of takedown techniques to bring an opponent to the ground such as "pulling guard", for example, which is not used in other combat sports such as Judo or Wrestling. Helio Gracie is known to be the creator of the guard. Once the opponent is on the ground, a number of maneuvers (and counter-maneuvers) are available to manipulate the opponent into a suitable position for the application of a submission technique. Achieving a dominant position on the ground is one of the hallmarks of BJJ, which includes effective use of the guard position to defend oneself from bottom (using both submissions and sweeps, with sweeps leading to the possibility of dominant position or an opportunity to pass the guard), and passing the guard to dominate from top position with side control, mount, and back mount positions. This system of maneuvering and manipulation can be likened to a form of kinetic or physical chess when executed by two experienced practitioners. A submission hold in BJJ is often assimilated to the equivalent of "checkmate", where the opponent is left with no other option but to tap or get injured or choked. 

The Lineage of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu goes in many directions with various stories about the arts history but for Sensei Dallas O’Regan’s lineage it continues on with Helio Gracie. As a 135 pound man, Helio is known as the creator of the guard and would go on to test the effectiveness of his leverage and technique in many battles, one lasting 3 hours and 45 minutes against a Black Belt student of his, Valdemar Santana. The fight is recorded as the longest fight in history. 

Next in line is Rolls Gracie, who was born the son of Helio Gracie’s brother Carlos but was raised by his Uncle Helio as one of his own. Rolls Gracie, known as the blue eyed devil from having blue eyes and an American mother was a leader to many of Helio’s son’s such as Royce, Royler and Rickson Gracie to name a few. Known also as the innovator of Gracie Jiu Jitsu or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Rolls was responsible for cross training into other arts such as Judo, Wrestling and Russian Sambo. Today, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu incorporates many of the movements/techniques tied to these arts. Rolls Gracie tragically passed away due to a hang gliding incident on June, 6. 1982. 

One of Rolls Gracie’s best friends and Black Belt students, Romero Jacare Calvalcanti would be the predecessor to Rolls Gracie, carrying on a lineage that Sensei Dallas O’Regan is very proud to be a part of.  

Romero Jacare Cavalcanti, nicknamed Jacare (meaning Alligator) is a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a black belt under Rolls Gracie and the founder and head coach of the prestigious Alliance Jiu Jitsu Team. Romero has coached many of today’s top Black Belt competitors.

Sensei Dallas O’Regan was awarded both his blue and purple belt in the presence of Romero “Jacare” Calvalcanti which to this day remains a tremendous honour. 

Last but not least is Dallas O'Regan's sensei and friend of over 35 years. Jeff Joslin, former UFC fighter and Canadian Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Pioneer is Romero “Jacare” Calvalcanti’s first Canadian Black Belt and Instructor to Canada’s first Team Alliance affiliate. Jeff was the first Canadian in history to win an International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournament, the prestigious Pan American BJJ Championship in 2002. He has won the Arnold Schwarzenegger/Gracie Classic BJJ Championships both middle weight and open weight Champion, the Grappler’s Quest U.S Nationals submission wrestling Champion, 2013 IBJJF Chicago Summer Open Champion and in 2016 he took home a bronze medal in the IBJJF Master’s Worlds, Black Belt division. Jeff owns and operates Joslin's Mixed Martial Arts in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He is a gentleman, Champion, Sensei and Master of the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.