Jiu Jitsu in Victoria BC Canada
Testimonials
Jeff M: 20 Year Police Member
Jiu Jitsu has dramatically changed the way I use force and interact with non-compliant subjects. Since training Jiu Jitsu, the amount and frequency of force I need to use has gone down significantly, while my confidence has gone up. When I am required to use force, I am far better able to control the subject without risk of injury to them or myself. The techniques can be scaled up or down, whereas strikes can not.
Hundreds of use of force encounters have shown me that strikes are far less effective, more likely to result in injury, and optically look bad to the public who does not understand policing and use of force. Using Jiu Jitsu I am far less likely to instigate bleeding of the subject I am controlling. This protects me from blood born disease and looks better from a public perception standpoint.
Other benefits of Jiu Jitsu are my increased understanding, vocabulary and ability to articulate my use of force. This is increasingly important in the current climate of law enforcement, and I doubt that will change.
An unexpected benefit has been a reduction in PTSD symptoms. I don’t know if that will happen for everyone, but it has been a benefit to me.
Ari and Dan are extremely knowledgeable, patient, and excellent teachers. The Invictus Hq environment is welcoming, relaxed and safe for law enforcement with no judgment or ego. You don’t have to have any prior experience to get in to Jiu jitsu and benefit from it, no matter your age or physical fitness. Some the benefits of Jiu jitsu are;
- Better control over subjects.
- Better optics for the public resulting in less complaints.
- Increased articulation and understanding of force used.
- More confidence.
- Less injuries to both officers and subjects.
- Less likely to use force over all.
- Possible reduced PTSD symptoms.
- Great exercise and fun.
I truly believe that training Jiu Jitsu should be mandatory for every police officer. It has made me more effective, safer, and a better police officer. Until Jiu Jitsu becomes part of every police departments regular training curriculum, I believe every officer owes it to themselves to train on their own time. Besides, it’s a lot of fun and you meet other great people as you train. -Jeff M.
Meagan
I love the dedication and passion that all instructors bring. The intimate space means the instructs know me, my style, and my learning journey. I have a learning disability, and I can honestly say that I don’t think I would have lasted in this sport without the compassion and creativity of everyone (instructors and students) at Invictus. I’ve not only learned a set of movements, but I have also learned how I learn. At Invictus you are not a number, a statistic, or a ratio. You are a whole human and you are seen.
-Megs
Zach M: Police Officer
When I moved to Vancouver Island to start my new career as a police officer, I did not know anyone on the island. I was very interested in maintaining my fitness, improving my self-defence abilities, and growing my social network but was unsure where or who to go to. Through co-workers, I was recommended to Invictus Jiu Jitsu and it has been nothing but outstanding since.
The teaching, class sizes and price are phenomenal and second to none. Putting the time in really shows improvement and over my time with Invictus I feel my confidence in being able to conduct my job in a safe and controlled manner only increasing.
More than anything though, the Invictus team consists of some of the best people I know who are like a family to me. Everyone comes with such a positive attitude which results in informative and fun classes. We are all about the collective improvement of members, and everyone is excellent at taking care of their partners and accommodating for personal injuries, size differences and individual needs.
If you're looking for a friendly learning environment where you'll see genuine improvement while having lots of laughs, this is the place to be.
Pauly B
"It is an honour to be a student at Invictus Leo. I needed and was looking for an outlet to channel my past inner fears, anxiety, and PTSD in an understanding environment. What I found was so much more. The transformation I've seen in myself and my family and friends has been incredible in the last four months. I'm mentally in the best shape of my life and getting there physically with more peace during my days. I am more confident, and my brain is more active in a sense; Jiu Jitsu has enhanced my critical thinking, but most importantly, I have found a sense of belonging with the Invictus Leo family.
Invictus Leo is a place where both my mind and body can get challenged and is an environment that allows me to level up with transferable skills to help overcome many obstacles. It has been a critical component that has led to my success with obtaining my bachelor's degree.
Having Ari as an Instructor, a brother, and a friend has and will continue to be an excellent foundation for my growth, both personally and professionally.”
Pauly B
Alex P. -Protection Services Officer
First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to Ari and Invictus for welcoming me into the dojo. He is a fantastic owner and person who takes exceptional care of his gym and his students. I have been practising Jiu Jitsu for the past 8 years, and I can confidently say that Invictus HQ is top notch. Every member is welcoming and the mutual respect among each other is remarkable. You'll never have to worry about getting injured when you come to the dojo.
Both Ari and Dan possess extensive knowledge and technical expertise. They are always available to assist with any questions you may have. Jiu Jitsu is a true passion of mine, bringing forth numerous benefits such as improved physical condition, heightened self-confidence, lasting friendships, and the ability to embrace discomfort and grow from it. The boost in self-assurance that Jiu-Jitsu has brought to my professional life is truly incredible. The techniques shown by the instructors are applicable to real-life situations.
Embarking on the Jiu Jitsu journey is a gradual process, but I assure you, embracing it is a decision you will never regret.
-Alex
D. -Police Officer
I’ve seen the benefit of training at Invictus in my job as a police officer many times. The ability to go hands on in a more effective and controlled way that prevents injury to me, my coworkers, and those we have physical interactions with has seen significant growth.
Above and beyond that, training at Invictus has had incredible benefits to my health and mentality overall. Physical more fit, calmer, and higher confidence. I cannot speak highly enough of the teaching, the syllabus, and the environment of good people working hard.
Stu
When Ari and Lindsay chose to close down their commercial academy in 2021, my son and I were devastated; my son had trained there since he was 5 and it was a big part of our life. We had no idea the training environment that would emerge 12 months later would exceed our wildest dreams. InvictusHQ (North) is literally the stuff that movies are made around.
The nature of InvictusHQ (North) is such that class size is intentionally kept to a maximum of 6 students and is taught by multiple Degree Black Belts in both Brazilian and Japanese Jiu Jitsu.
The small class size means that Ari is exceptionally selective in those who are accepted to study at Invictus. Not surprisingly, the waiting list exceeds 12 months because turnover is so low (a testament to the positive learning environment they have created). This low turnover creates a sense of close family that helps drive both accountability and progress, further reducing turnover.
On a personal note, neurodiversity and mental health are significant factors in the daily life of both myself and my son. The combination of tiny class size, highly experienced black belt instructors and a hand selected cadre of like minded students (bordering on family) is almost too good to be true. The small classes allow Ari and Dan to easily identify and correct technical errors before they become training scars, as well providing students the opportunity to ask questions in a very non-intimidating environment; these are both critical to effective learning, but exponentially so when learning something as complicated as Jiu Jitsu.
In closing, I would like to thank Ari and Lindsay and the rest of the instructors for creating and sustaining a training environment that has helped both my son and myself realize almost unbelievable progress in our Jiu Jitsu while effectively managing a variety of mental health and neuro-diversities.
-Stu
Alex B: 12 Year RCMP Member
Jiu Jitsu allowed me to not only be more prepared physically, but also mentally. Those encounters were much more scalable and professional – especially in a day in age where every police action is meticulously scrutinized, sometimes without prior context. I wish I started training sooner. On a personal level, Jiu Jitsu has been the best therapy for me, especially having to cope with PTSD. For me, Jiu Jitsu is very mathematical – in a way that it can be scary when you don’t know what you’re doing. But when you take the time to break it down piece by piece, the equation makes total sense. Invictus has provided the highest level of instruction and expertise in Law enforcement use of force and Jiu Jitsu.
I consider myself extremely lucky that my previous encounters resulted with a positive outcome. Was it pretty? No. Was I scared? Yes, because I wasn’t always confident in my abilities to subdue and control a violent subject. When I started training Jiu Jitsu, that confidence slowly instilled itself within me. I learned to discover my limitations, my flaws but also my strengths. Was my following encounters pretty? Not necessarily. Was I scared? Yes, but I was going in a much more calm approach and clear mind.
Jiu Jitsu allowed me to not only be more prepared physically, but also mentally. Those encounters were much more scalable and professional – especially in a day in age where every police action is meticuslously scrutinized, sometimes without prior context. I wish I started training sooner. On a personal level, Jiu Jitsu has been the best therapy for me, especially having to cope with PTSD. For me, Jiu Jitsu is very mathematical – in a way that it can be scary when you don’t know what you’re doing. But when you take the time to break it down piece by piece, the equation makes total sense. Invictus has provided the highest level of instruction and expertise in Law enforcement use of force and Jiu Jitsu.
-Alex B