# Auckland BJJ > Auckland, New Zealand ## Overview **Name:** Auckland BJJ **Description:** Auckland BJJ is a premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club located in Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand, led by renowned IBJJF 3rd degree black belts Stuart Mitchell and Serge Morel. Founded in 2011, the club began in David Tua's Boxing gym in Onehunga before moving to Rick Littlewood's dojo in Epsom in 2012. In 2018, Auckland BJJ expanded with a new location in Sandringham, and in August 2020, consolidated both locations to a new and larger Onehunga dojo featuring 160 square meters of mats. The club has produced multiple champions in local and international events, establishing itself as a leader in New Zealand's BJJ community. The training philosophy at Auckland BJJ emphasizes high-quality instruction and a dedication to student development. The well-structured curriculum covers all aspects of BJJ including self-defense, sport, and competition, with classes offering a balance of drilling, sparring, and live training. The instructors foster a positive and inclusive training environment where students feel comfortable to ask questions, make mistakes, and learn from them, creating an atmosphere where everyone is encouraged to push themselves regardless of skill level. Stuart Mitchell, co-founder and 3rd degree black belt, began his BJJ journey in 2003 under Douglas Santos and achieved his black belt on December 1st, 2011. He also holds a 3rd dan in Judo and brings a Ph.D. in Engineering's dedication and focus to his martial arts training. Serge Morel, co-founder and 3rd degree IBJJF black belt (member since September 2013), serves as Head Professor and prioritizes teaching the fundamentals program to ensure beginners receive correct instruction. The club is also joined by black belts Luiz Henrique Machado (promoted in 2020) and Laurance Pene, who has won multiple New Zealand grappler events and served as a training partner for ADCC Silver Medalist Nicky Rod at the 2019 ADCC event in Los Angeles. **Status:** Active ## Contact Information **Address:** 35 Church Street, Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand Auckland 3122, New Zealand **Phone:** 021441331 **Email:** info@aucklandbjj.com **Website:** https://www.aucklandbjj.com **Social Media:** - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aklbjj/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aklbjj ## Hours of Operation - Monday: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM - Tuesday: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Wednesday: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM - Thursday: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Friday: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Sunday: Closed ## Pricing ## Instructors ### Serge Morel - Black **Role:** Head Instructor **Bio:** Serge Morel is a 3rd degree IBJJF black belt and Head Professor at Auckland BJJ, an IBJJF registered academy. As co-founder and instructor, he prioritizes teaching the beginners classes to ensure the fundamentals program is taught correctly. His favorite topic is sweep. When not teaching BJJ or at his full-time logistics job, Serge enjoys fishing, surf skating, surfing, cooking, entertaining the family, and video games. ### Stuart Mitchell - Black **Role:** Head Instructor **Bio:** Stuart Mitchell began his BJJ journey in 2003 under Douglas Santos and achieved his black belt on December 1st, 2011. Born in New Zealand with a mother from Levuka, Fiji and a father from Glasgow, Scotland, he holds a Ph.D. in Engineering and brings that level of dedication to his martial arts training. Stuart is a 3rd degree black belt in BJJ and also holds a 3rd dan in Judo. ### Laurance Pene - Black **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Laurance Pene has been training in BJJ for 7-8 years under Stuart Mitchell and Serge Morel. He has been coaching adults at Auckland BJJ for 2-3 years, teaching both gi and no-gi techniques. Laurance has won multiple New Zealand grappler events, and his career highlight was serving as a training partner for Nicky Rod, an ADCC Silver Medalist, at the 2019 ADCC event in Los Angeles. ### Luiz Henrique Machado - Black **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Luiz Henrique Machado is a highly skilled Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor with over a decade of experience. He trained under Serge Morel and Stuart Mitchell, earning his black belt in 2020. With a deep understanding of the technical aspects of BJJ and the discipline required to excel, Luiz is a dedicated and passionate teacher committed to helping students reach their full potential. ## Programs ### Gi BJJ **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** Gi required **Description:** Traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training with the gi, covering self-defense, sport, and competition. Well-structured curriculum with drilling, sparring, and live training. **Classes:** ### No-Gi **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Grappling without the gi, similar to MMA training. Focus on wrestling-based techniques and submission grappling. **Classes:** ### Open Mat **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** all_ages **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Free training time to practice techniques and receive feedback from instructors. **Classes:** --- **Last Updated:** March 03, 2026 **Data Source:** BJJ.Space (https://bjj.space/gyms/new-zealand/auckland/auckland-bjj)