I would like to write some words about my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Luta Livre coach, Radosław Turek, who is in this sport from its early moments in Poland. He is not only a coach but also titled competitor known in world of jiu jitsu for his ruthless leg locks. Now after about a year without a competition he is going to fight on World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship Trial taking place in Warsaw on 12th January.
History
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in our country was introduced by Karol Matuszczak in around 1996 and that is why he is considered a precursor of this sport in Poland. Together with his colleagues from Aikido he went to Brazil. On return they founded their own club in Poznań, and so it has just begun. Radek, then student of AWF, started training there short after, and stayed for about a year. Then he met Sebastian Słowek, who also was in Brazil and trained with bunch of people. Sebastian, who had several knee surgeries, needed a second coach, so he accepted Radek. It turned out that after two years of training they were able to compete with guys who have trained in the regular section of Karol. After three years of training Radek were already successful in the competition. He won competition in Włocławek and BJJ league in Kraków. Then Sebastian came into contact with a German, who had a black belt in Luta Livre. They started training with him, every two - three months they were in Germany. It was a lot cheaper than trips to Brazil, and they could afford more sessions per year. They went quickly in the right direction. After three years Sebastian, persuaded him to go to Brazil. Radek spend there half a year. It was a breakthrough for him. There he saw how they train, what they are heading. After returning to Warsaw, he opened a club. At the beginning there were two or three guys. Now, after six years of club running, his students win medals in Poland and Europe, and I'm proud one of them. In 2010 Radek was promoted for a black belt in BJJ, and he achieved it as a 13th Pole.
Achievements
Radek won numerous competitions, most of them by his famous leg locks. But most valuable are those where competed only best: he won few editions of Ultimate Grappling Challenge in Germany, Abu Dhabi Combat Club European Trials in Finland which he won in 2007 and then competed as a first Pole in ADCC World Submission Fighting Championships in USA, later in 2009 he also won European Trials and took 5th place at ADCC World Championship in Spain (I have to add that I was there too :))
Radek after winning gold medal at ADCC Europe Trials 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG8GIPzC4Ww
Radek Turek winning Submissao. Amazing leg locks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG-DbThZ7WM
Radek's old HL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fvwC3k3rP0
Radek Turek defeats Raphael Davis in ADCC 2009.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSjRyF6d624
Old Alliance Warsaw HL
Summary
I know Radek for nearly four years. During this years I learned much from him, I could say that almost everything I know about grappling I know from him. He's not only very good coach but also good guy, with sharp sense of humor which is contagious for everyone who train with him. For everybody that would like to start training I recommend www.allianceteam.waw.pl, see you on the mat!
