PJJ Beast Files 001

●THE EDDY BROTHERS●

Q. OCCUPATION:

Heath: Marketing stuff, like websites and shit. It’s not important.

Josh: Professional bull crap fabricator

Q. AGE:

Heath: 38 I think.

Josh: 39

Q. HOW LONG HAVE YOU TRAINED BJJ FOR?

Heath: Sort of started back in 2002, paused for 10 years and then started back up again with PJJ.

Josh: First started back in 2000 I think in Adelaide under Sean Black. Travelled and moved a lot, and picked it up again in 2010 when Heath suggested it. In a weird small world coincidence, it turned out that the (now brown belt) coach was one of the very few others who trained under Sean in Adelaide. It didn’t really make sense to go anywhere else after that.

Q. WHAT OTHER DISCIPLINES HAVE YOU TRAINED IF ANY?

Heath: I’ve watched a fair bit of WWE, that’s about it.

Josh: I did Ninjutsu for a couple of years before BJJ. After all, who didn’t want to be a ninja? It was fun and all, but not really good for self defense or fitness. I mean, yeah going full ninja on someone might stop Dave the face-peeling stabber from wearing my skin as a suit, but trying to explain to law enforcement why I tried to rip out the larynx of a bloke as I chewed on his scrotum for slapping my girlfriend on the arse became tiresome.

Besides that, I did a bit of judo, iado, kung fu, and capoeira.

Q. HOW DID YOU GET INTO BJJ?

Heath: The Rickson doco CHOKE. I wanted to do some martial art and at the same time didn’t want to get punched in the face. The original appeal for BJJ for me was that sparring could be 100% and still no one gets hurt. Or at least that’s the theory.

Josh: I was going alphabetically, and Aikido was too far away. Honestly though, I can’t really remember. Probably UFC 1. Royce was a beast.

Q. HAVE YOU COMPETED? IF SO WHICH COMP? WILL YOU LOOK TO COMPETE IN THE FUTURE?

Heath: I did GTA way back in the day and a Renegade comp, as well as the PJJ Champions of the Universe in house comp. Oh – I also did a comp in 2002 at Anthony Perosh’s gym in Manly, where I went 0-2. I’ve got a few medals now so no more competing for me.

Josh: I’ve competed in a few comps. I took third in weight category at Vic champs at white belt, and I think I had a Grappling Industries medal for fat old blokes. I do want to compete, or at least get comp ready, because without that I’d be ignoring a lot of the self defence aspects of BJJ. Plus I think some of these young lads could benefit from my veteran wiles. They don’t even know what an oil check is, or how to get your breath while belly smothering someone in North-South.

Q. WHAT ARE YOUR IMMEDIATE TRAINING GOALS AND THEN FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS?

Heath: Just to get back to being consistent again. I used to pride myself a few years back of being the absolute most consistent person on the mats, and then life got in the way. So now my goal is just to get back to being a regular again.

Josh: Well, step one is to keep ducking Sammy until he either gets fat or finds a girlfriend. I figure she could tire him out a bit before we roll.

Other than that, it’s about trying to get back to consistent training, drop a bit of weight, and get a broader game plan.

Q. WHY DO YOU LOVE TRAINING AT PERKINS JIU JITSU?

Heath: I couldn’t imagine training elsewhere. When I first started at PJJ, I remember about 3 months in we were drilling something that was really not suited to a super-heavyweight white belt. After Deon set up the drill and got everyone going, he took 10 minutes to essentially give me a quick private lesson to show me something else that would suit me (Americana – Kimura – Head/Arm choke combo). And I knew then, this was the place for me. I like that the technical expertise is there for whatever type of BJJ game you have, as well as the freedom to have a bit of fun at the same time and not take yourself too seriously. I also like that PJJ has never resorted to doing inane profiles on students. Like who cares what that student has to say - right? (Oops sorry Heath LOL)

Josh: A lot of other arts I trained in were either “too lethal to spar” and had instructors whose Gi’s were coated in eleven secret herbs and spices, or were determined to have a drill instructor-like programme of absolute adherence without question to the instructors whim.

When I turned up at Perkins, I got quality instruction without the “fluff”. Also, it became obvious that students were allowed to have personalities, and the occasional joke was encouraged.

Q. GUARD PULL OR TAKEDOWN?

Heath: What’s a “guard pull”? Is that when I try to crack on to Justin?

Josh: I’m attempting to combine both by jumping guard. It looks like a frog splash performed by an airborne rhinoceros.

Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SUBMISSION?

Heath: T-Bar/breadcutter from underneath – because I like a submission that people have no idea is coming.

Josh: Anaconda. Although for me it looks more like a salt water crocodile twisting around in the mud, but that’s a plus in my book.

Q. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR WALK OUT SONG?

Heath: “We’re going on a bear hunt” by John Hamblin

Josh: Probably “baby shark”, it’d get in my opponent’s head, and any time I wanted to distract him I’d just sing “doot doo doo doo doo doooooo”.

Either that or “Big Bad Wolf” by in this moment.

Q. NICKNAMES & FIGHT NAME, DO YOU HAVE ONE? IF NOT, IF YOU COULD PICK ONE FOR YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Heath: “Charneca” is Heath in Portuguese, but generally the nickname is just Ed. Or bear fighters if Brian Hurley is around.

Josh: Well, my nickname is Fat Head, but that wouldn’t really work as a fight name. The only Portuguese interaction I have is with Nandos, and they might sue for trademark infringement, so I’ll go with Josh “King Heavy Knackers” Eddy.

Q. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO TO CHILL, BESIDES TRAINING?

Heath: I am far too invested in footy, and lately boardgames.

Josh: I write, play PS4, drink craft beer and tell outrageous lies to tourists.

Q. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO EAT IN MELBOURNE AND YOUR #1 DISH RECOMMENDATION?

Heath: We cook at home – low and slow. BBQ beef ribs that spend about 8 hours in the oven or smoker is better than any restaurant you want to suggest.

Josh: Meat Maiden in the city is spectacular, and right near bartronica, an arcade bar that’s a lot of fun. Quality BBQ, great beer and NBA Jam works for me.

Q. IF YOU COULD IMPROVE ANYTHING IN YOUR OWN TRAINING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Heath: Consistency clearly. I’m not trying to win world championships – I just find BJJ fun, and I want to keep it fun.

Josh: Getting to know the newbies. I do fall into the trap of kind of ignoring new faces until a few sessions in, because people drop off so often, but I think a quick hello might actually help a few of those who might have dropped off become regulars instead.

Other than that, getting in more often.

Q. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME TO YOUR FIRST MARTIAL ART CLASS, WHAT WOULD BE THE ADVICE YOU GIVE TO YOUR PAST SELF?

Heath: Just because you know what a triangle is, doesn’t mean you need to tap the instant it is thrown on. You’re allowed to try to escape – some people even encourage it.

Josh: If someone guarantees a blackbelt in a certain time, it’s not a belt worth having. I might do BJJ until I’m 90 and never get a black belt, and I like that. They’re not given, they’re earned.

Q. ANY LAST WORDS FOR YOUR FELLOW PJJ STUDENTS AND COACHES?

Heath: What do you mean ‘last words’? Is there something you know that I don’t? What’s happening to me?

Josh: Follow your dreams. You can reach your goals, I’m living proof. BEEFCAKE!

Q. BEING KNOWN AS THE "EDDY BROTHERS" WHAT IS YOUR FONDEST/MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT WITH YOUR SIBLING ON THE MATS?

Heath: Mine is I think Josh was there for the invention of ‘’Footsu’’ on the Friday morning classes back at Ringwood. That was the single most upbeat and fun class I think I’ve ever had.

Josh: Probably the Champion of the Universe final. Rich yelled out “Do a flying arm bar”, so despite never having attempted any move with “flying” in the title in my life, i swung all 100+ kgs into the air. Some say I fell on my arse and was quickly overwhelmed, but I prefer to think that I had added the necessary style that the bout had lacked, and didn’t want to hog the glory.

WHAT YOUR TRAINING PARTNERS SAY ABOUT BOTH OF YOU.

I'm still trying to figure out which one is which... Not cause they're identical, they're not even twins... I just never bothered to actually learn their names properly. But what I do know is they've got lots of them tricks that just make you go "God dammit! I fell for that again!"

-Trent Thiessens

For a long time o didn't even realize there was 2 Eddie brothers, I thought it was just one dude who's standard of haircut fluctuated significantly, to be honest I still don't know which one is heath and which one is josh, all I know of that they show up occasionally, kick arse and are super nice about it every time

-Gareth Maloney

It's like 2 parts gentleman, 2 parts dead pool, and to finish off a generous garnish of dick joke.

-Aaron Steinmetz

So anyway, I find myself looking around the room, am I feeling intimidated and uncomfortable, hell yes! Mr Incredible look-alike (with cauliflower ears) is sitting quietly on the mat, the guy stretching out is 6’4” and jacked, talking to this young athletic type, I hear them call him Face, I remember thinking that was an unusual name. Cameron leaves me and starts talking to some guy called Drew and a German guy with a serious look on his face. Just as I was deciding to get the hell out of there, a black gi clad, ninja-looking bloke with painted toe nails introduces himself as the head coach. Why was I here and what was I trying to prove to myself, too late to back out now. My first BJJ class at Perkins Ringwood. I desperately looked around for a friendly face, and it was the Eddy brothers that stood out. Sometimes you meet people for the first time and they make you feel relaxed, you say to yourself hey I really like this guy, that was the Eddy brothers for me at my first class. I kept coming back and that friendly Eddy face went a long way to reducing my anxiety. Perkins BJJ would not be the same with out the Eddy’s. Heath did however teach me to be very scared of the paper cutter choke!

-Dragan Antolos

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