Albert Lim
Albert Lim built Studio 23 while still learning BJJ himself, developing students through a small Kuching team and years of training abroad.
Biography
Sources for this profile
Studio23 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, public club history, Smoothcomp(opens in a new tab)
Albert Lim founded Studio23 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Kuching, Sarawak; it opened to the public in January2009.
Where in the source: Club history, second paragraph.
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The club remembers its beginnings as one coach training with only one or two regular students.
Where in the source: Club history, early days paragraph.
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The club describes competition as optional but encouraged, alongside a continuing aim to build a supportive learning community.
Where in the source: Club history, competition philosophy and closing paragraph.
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The club credits Lim’s early team with exploring detailed leg-lock setups.
Where in the source: Club history, mid2010s paragraph.
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Studio23’s present public club history identifies Ivan Evetovics as its leader and Lim as its founder.
Where in the source: Club history, opening and second paragraphs.
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Albert and Serina, Studio23 year reviews,2009–2012(opens in a new tab)
Albert and Serina recalled assembling fans and cleaning floors on New Year’s Eve2008 while waiting anxiously for the studio’s temporary door.
Where in the source: 2009 AT STUDIO23, opening recollection.
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Their launch drew a full room and workshop volunteers; new registrations made the first month feel real to them.
Where in the source: 2009 review, JANUARY.
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The school reported that Lim won blue-belt under-70kg gold at the2009 Pan-Asian International in Manila, its first competition appearance.
Where in the source: 2009 review, MAY.
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He also entered the2009 Worlds in the United States; the school’s account recalls a close loss followed by his excitement watching elite black belts.
Where in the source: 2009 review, JUNE.
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Albert, Wanna Roll? training journal,2010(opens in a new tab)
In July2010 Lim described teaching as a blue belt in East Malaysia, far from established jiu-jitsu centres.
Where in the source: ONE MAN’S MEMORY LANE, July1,2010.
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He said competing meant leaving Malaysia, with a trip to Thailand taking him roughly eight hours from home to hotel.
Where in the source: ONE MAN’S MEMORY LANE, competition-travel paragraph.
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That isolation also gave him room to experiment, while online instruction helped him develop his own practice.
Where in the source: ONE MAN’S MEMORY LANE, closing paragraph.
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His2010 Thailand Open trip was the first on which he brought students to compete; he worried about their flights, weight and matches.
Where in the source: TOURNAMENT REPORT: BANGKOK, October25,2010, opening.
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After four losses and one win that weekend, he resolved to repair weaknesses in his game and praised his students Ivan and Tony for their gi performances.
Where in the source: Bangkok report, match results and closing reflections.
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Albert and Serina, Studio23 year reviews,2009–2012(opens in a new tab)
In May2011 Adam Kayoom promoted Lim to purple belt during training in Thailand.
Where in the source: 2011 YEAR IN REVIEW, MAY, first numbered item.
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His2011 learning trips included Nicolas Gregoriades in Sydney and Roger Gracie’s seminar in Singapore.
Where in the source: 2011 YEAR IN REVIEW, FEBRUARY.
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The school’s 2012 review recalls his training with Oliver Geddes at Roger Gracie Academy in London and records two weeks training at Marcelo Garcia’s New York academy in 2012.
Where in the source: 2012 review, January return from London and April New York account, read with the closing London passage in the 2011 review.
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The2012 school review describes his Bangkok Open silver in a higher weight class as humbling and motivating after losing the final to a stronger opponent.
Where in the source: 2012 review, OCTOBER.
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Wallace, Joanna Yap interview, Warriors of Borneo, October8,2015(opens in a new tab)
Joanna Yap described Studio23 as operated by her jiu-jitsu coach Lim and dance instructor Serina William.
Where in the source: BORNEO INVASION @ MIMMA3 – JOANNA YAP, college/martial-arts answer.
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Yap first attended fitness and self-defence classes; Lim later invited her into gi training to provide a partner for a new student.
Where in the source: Joanna Yap interview, answer after college martial-arts question.
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Yap credited the supportive class with keeping her in jiu-jitsu: partners helped one another improve and increased training pressure progressively.
Where in the source: Joanna Yap interview, Why choose BJJ answer.
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Wallace, Bryant Tan – Sarawak’s Pride, Warriors.asia, August25,2016(opens in a new tab)
In2016 Bryant Tan credited Lim with shaping his MMA preparation, especially decisions about what to attempt or avoid during a fight.
Where in the source: Interview, Who helped most in fight camp answer.
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Cecilia Sman, Making Miri a Muaythai, Jiu Jitsu powerhouse, Borneo Post, February11,2018(opens in a new tab)
Nathaniel Lakai recalled finding Lim’s Studio23 while studying in Kuching after he could not find an aikido gym.
Where in the source: Key players, Nathaniel Lakai paragraphs.
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Georgette Tan, Studio23 at WAK2017, Borneo Post, September9,2017(opens in a new tab)
By2017 Studio23 offered gi and no-gi classes as well as separate children’s and women’s sessions.
Where in the source: Closing class-schedule paragraph.
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For What About Kuching2017, the school announced introductory workshops, a waterfront session and a self-defence demonstration with free trial vouchers.
Where in the source: Workshop schedule and waterfront/The Junk paragraphs.
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DayakDaily Team, Studio23 seminar and reopening, June8,2024(opens in a new tab)
Studio23 moved from Bormill Estate to Queen’s Court at the end of November2023.
Where in the source: Relocation paragraph.
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Organiser Norman Chai described the move and reopening as rebuilding momentum after the pandemic disrupted martial-arts schools.
Where in the source: Chai’s closing explanation.
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Adam Kayoom awarded Lim his black belt during Studio23’s seminar on May11–12,2024.
Where in the source: Seminar dates and Lim promotion paragraphs.
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The reopening seminar drew nearly forty participants and six black belts from Malaysia and elsewhere in Borneo.
Where in the source: Opening seminar-attendance paragraph.
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At the2024 reopening, the school reported about forty regular members aged five to sixty across general, women’s and children’s classes.
Where in the source: Membership paragraph.
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Lineage
No teaching connections are shown on this page.
Open lineage