New Lesson: 5 Rules for Closed Guard

Mike Featherstone

owner / operator / bjj coach

Mike Featherstone is the owner, operator, and 3rd-degree Black Belt (2022) head coach at Legion 13 Perth Hills located in Midvale near Midland. Closely involved, he leads most of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes and spars with students at every opportunity. He has dedicated the last 20 years to training, competing, coaching, researching, and studying Jiu-Jitsu.

After a working holiday around Australia in 2001, he arrived back in Perth overweight and unfit. Mike had been fit and active for most of his life and understood very clearly that if he wanted to get back into shape he should take up something that would not only get him back into shape, but also something that would give him skills to maintain consistency and interests for a long time. That’s when he turned to various martial art forms (including kickboxing, boxing, Aikido, and Japanese Jiu-Jitsu). In 2003, he attended his first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class. Within just a couple of months, even as a complete novice, he saw the results he wanted. He lost weight, gained energy and muscle, and most importantly, fell in love with his new set of skills. What he also saw was how much more effective BJJ was, shaving years off other forms of martial arts training. Thus, BJJ became his number one priority and passion.

He began training as a Blue Belt at Legion 13 Perth in Cannington (formally Gracie Barra) in 2007. One year later, he started teaching on a regular basis. In 2010, now a purple belt, Mike’s coach encouraged him to accept the position of head BJJ instructor at Legion 13 Success. In 2012, now holding the rank of brown belt, he (along with his wife and children) moved to the Perth Hills to bring the Legion 13 team to Kalamunda and foothills areas.

However, as the academy had become so popular and with students travelling from areas outside the Kalamunda Shire, Mike knew he needed to move to a much larger and more central location. After 6 years, the academy moved to a full-time facility in Midvale, in the Shire of Mundaring and very close to Midland, in April 2018.

In March 2013, after 10 years of training, Mike received his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt from 5th degree Black Belt Professor Peter de-Been and 1st degree Black Belt Professor Grayson West. During all these years, Mike trained at Western Australia’s most successful BJJ school under the guidance and support of Professor Grayson West, one of the State’s most experienced international coaches and competitors. Mike continues to hone his craft and fine-tune his skills by attending training camps overseas with world renowned coaches, and world champions as often as he can.

Mike has been an active competitor and has won and placed in several State and National titles. Mike’s undoubted talents, knowledge, and dedication underpin all that he does to help others exceed their own expectations. He believes in modern Jiu-Jitsu style with an emphasis on self-defence. As he says…

“Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has had a profoundly positive effect on my life, instilling confidence and self-belief. For me, it is a privilege to teach. I want to share the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle, so you can gain what I have, on the mat and off. I pride myself on seeing my students achieve competency, especially the non-athletic and or physically ungifted.” ~ Mike

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 3rd degree black belt
• Working with Children 924112
• Diploma Trainer and Assessor
• Senior First Aid

Jimmy Johnson

Coming Soon as one of our Kickboxing Coaches

James started his martial arts journey in 2005, taking up Boxing and Kickboxing classes and eventually transitioning fully to Kickboxing and Muay Thai in 2006. In 2009, he achieved a Black Belt rank under the instructors at XL Martial Arts Academy in Mandurah and was an active competitor in exhibition and novice bouts until 2011. During this time James performed duties as an assistant instructor to both kids and adult beginners. After relocating to Perth, he has worked with a number of local coaches honing his striking skills in Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and traditional arts including Karate and Taekwondo. James maintains a passion for Kickboxing and Muay Thai and his experiences have included training in Thailand at TMT and taking opportunities to learn from some of Australia’s best including John Wayne Parr, Nathan Corbett, and Bruce Macfie.

“With my experience, I hope to bring in a striking skillset which is adaptable to students at all levels and one which can provide a challenge but still maintain some creativity and fun.

Laura Sanders

Coach / Purple Belt

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt
• Working with Children 3284175
• Master Trainer, Certificate IV in Fitness
• Senior First Aid

Andy James

Coming soon as one of our Coaches / Black Belt

Rebecca James

Coach / BJJ Black Belt

Bec first started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in August 2011, after a year of kickboxing training at Legion 13 Cannington, and some gentle pressure from her husband. Three months later, she entered and experienced great success in her first competition. This cemented her new passion and she has since gone on to compete and win at State, National and International competitions – including winning gold at the World Masters Championship in Las Vegas in 2017.

Since 2015, she has been an instructor teaching kids, teens, adults and in more recent years, women’s only classes. Bec has found teaching to be hugely rewarding and is always looking to improve her skills and knowledge to pass on in class. In November 2019 Bec had the honour of being awarded her Black Belt from 3rd-degreeBlack Belt Professor Grayson West, 2nd -degree Black Belt Mike Featherstone and 1st -degree Black Belt Bernie Bishop. This was an honour that she was able to share with her husband, teaching partner and Legion 13 Perth Hills coach, Andy James.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a huge part of Bec (and her family’s) life and she is passionate about introducing and supporting younger and older students to find their passion for BJJ too.

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt
• Working with Children 2721546
• Senior first aid
• Certificate III Education Support