Instructors / Murat Besnek
Head Trainer & Founder
Murat Besnek
3rd-Degree Black Belt under Peter de Been
Biography
Murat Besnek
Murat Besnek is a 3rd Degree black belt under Peter de Been and a qualified referee for the Australian Federation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (AFBJJ). Peter de Been is a 5th Degree Black Belt under Carlos Gracie Jr and the founder of the AFBJJ. Carlos Gracie Jr is an 8th Degree Red Belt and the founder of the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF).
Murat started his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey attending casual classes in the northern suburbs. From there he joined Peter de Been's academy in St Kilda in 2009 to take up BJJ at a more professional level — training daily, drilling specific techniques and competing at night. He has won multiple state, national and pan-pacific championships; his competition record is below.
Murat started wrestling in 2012 to complement his BJJ. Under his coach Sahit Prizreni — a three-time Olympian from Albania with a bronze medal at the 2007 FILA Wrestling World Championships — he trained twice a week and competed at the 2014 Wrestling National Championships, winning two of his three fights.
Murat still competes internationally in BJJ, chasing that elusive international medal. Away from the mats he holds a Ph.D in Economics (completed in 2012) and lectures in Economics at La Trobe and Charles Sturt University.
On the podium
Competition record
2014
- BOA Super 8 No-Gi 73kg Super Fight Champion (Black Belt)
2013
- Tasmanian Championships Gi 85kg — Gold (Brown)
- Tasmanian Championships No-Gi 85kg — Gold (Brown)
- Tasmanian Championships Gi Open — Gold (Brown)
- Tasmanian Championships No-Gi Open — Gold (Brown)
- Australian Champions Cup Gi 73kg — Gold (Brown)
- Australian Champions Cup No-Gi 73kg — Gold (Brown)
- Melbourne International Open No-Gi 73kg — Gold (Brown)
2012
- Victorian Championships No-Gi 73kg — Gold (Purple)
- Victorian Championships Gi Open — Silver (Purple)
- Pan Pacific Championships No-Gi 73kg — Silver (Brown)
2011
- Victorian Championships Gi 79kg — Gold (Purple)
- Victorian Championships No-Gi 79kg — Bronze (Purple)
- NSW Championships Gi 73kg — Gold (Purple)
- NSW Championships No-Gi 73kg — Silver (Purple)
- Australian Champions Cup Gi 73kg — Silver (Purple)
- Australian Champions Cup No-Gi 73kg — Gold (Purple)
- Pan Pacific Championships No-Gi 73kg — Gold (Purple)
2010
- Victorian Championships No-Gi 79kg — Silver (Blue)
- NSW Championships Gi 79kg — Silver (Blue)
- Australian Champions Cup No-Gi 73kg — Gold (Blue)
- Australian Champions Cup Gi 73kg — Silver (Blue)
- Pan Pacific Championships Gi 73kg — Bronze (Blue)
2008
- Australian Champions Cup Gi 85kg — Silver (Blue)
- Australian Champions Cup No-Gi 85kg — Silver (Blue)
Train with our team
Learn from coaches who compete.
All levels welcome. Ages 4+. Your first class is free.