ABOUT GC TEAM NZ

Welcome to our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu School.

Here, you are not just joining a regular Jiu-Jitsu gym. You are becoming part of a school of formation, built on purpose, structure, and responsibility.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in our school is taught through a structured curriculum and a progressive program, designed to develop students technically, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Every class has a clear objective. Every belt represents a real learning process, not just time spent on the mats.

Our coaches are trained to teach, not only to fight. They follow a consistent teaching methodology, respect each student’s stage of development, and understand that teaching Jiu-Jitsu means, above all, shaping people.

We carry a strong trajectory and a proven history of life transformation.
Children develop discipline and confidence.
Adults rediscover self-esteem, focus, and health.
Families find here a safe and respectful environment guided by strong values.

We do not pursue volume. We pursue quality.
We do not promise shortcuts. We deliver process.
We do not train only athletes. We develop stronger human beings,
on and off the mats.

For this reason, we state with confidence:
we are not just another gym. We are a true Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu School.

If you are only looking for a place to train, there are many.
If you are looking for a place to learn, grow, and transform,
you are in the right place.

Welcome to GC Team

ABOUT OUR HEAD COACH

Gledson Cigano

Cigano as he is commonly known, started Jiu-Jitsu in 2010 when he was 22 years old, competed only once as a white belt and only returned to the competition mats in his purple belt, defending BTT, a team that he trained with until his brown belt.

Since then he has collected several medals from many championships, most of them in his brown belt where he spent two years undefeated in his category, he got his black belt in August 2019 from his professor Claudio Custodio.

In 2020 Cigano moved to New Zealand. But before that he went through one of the most difficult moments of his life where, due to Covid, He was unable to bring his wife and son, thus being away for 2 years and 4 months until the country's borders opened again to the world.

Cigano stood out in the NZ Jiu-Jitsu scene becoming champion of Oceania, three time national Gi champion and many others.

He was also the creator of Black Belts Meeting in New Zealand, a meeting that has been taking place for two years, bringing together the country's black belts every month to train together and unite local Jiu-Jitsu. Today Cigano and a leader of GC Team NZ. One of the most complete and structured academies in the country with a team of more than 200 students at the HQ and with two more branches in Clevedon and Hamilton.

ACCOLADES

2024 Oceania champion Gi and No Gi in New Zealand
2023 IBJJF Pan Pacific Master 1 Super Heavy Champion
2023 IBJJF Pan Pacific Master 1 Absolute Champion
2023 IBJJF Pan Pacific No-Gi Master 1 Absolute Champion
2023 IBJJF Pan Pacific No-Gi Master 1 Super Heavy Champion
2022 Champion National open, New Zealand
2021 Champion National open, New Zealand
2020 Champion National open, New Zealand
2020 Champion Oceania open, New Zealand
2019 Champion Leag de jiu-jitsu, Brazil
2019 Champion Open Joao Pessoa, Brazil
2019 Champion Copa CB, Brazil
2019 Champion Grandslan Natal, Brazil
2019 Champion Open Recife, Brazil
2019 Champion Copa RN, Brazil
2019 Champion Copa Lampiao, Brazil
2018 Champion Nordeste open de Jiu-Jitsu, Brazil
2018 Champion Open Santa Cruz, Brazil
2018 Champion Norte Nordeste, Brazil
2017 Champion Mossoro open, Brazil
2016 Champion Mossoro open, Brazil

Bruno Carvalho

Registered Personal Trainer
Strength training
1 on 1 and group sessions
Online Consulting

All GC Team NZ Members receive a 20% discount on Bruno's services.