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Amir Buaron

Amir Buaron’s pupils describe a coach who encouraged competition and developed practical ways to communicate.

Biography

Before becoming a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) coach, Amir Buaron worked in nightlife and ran a Herzliya bar. In a 2019 NetanyaNet interview, he recalled meeting fighters after an MMA event; friendship with them brought him into training. Early defeats in Portugal exposed a gap in competitive standards. In Ayelet’s 2024 interview, he described studying overseas coaches’ philosophies, inviting them to Israel, and watching and filming their practices. Encouraged by Itzik Ben Melech, he opened a club with partners. MMA Israel’s own history dates its Netanya opening to 2010. The school describes shared leadership between Buaron and Ronen Edelstein, with Buaron responsible for BJJ. By the time Graciemag published its January 2016 seminar-tour report, Bruno Mendes had awarded Buaron a black belt. Pupil Tomer Alroy described another step toward competition. In a 2019 Jiu Jitsu Legacy interview, he identified Buaron as his teacher at MMA Israel/Soul Fighters in Netanya. Alroy had initially disliked the idea of competing, but credited Buaron’s encouragement. He also described the team’s daily practice: morning situational sparring, rehearsing particular positions or competition situations, followed by evening technique classes and regular sparring. The school’s BJJ program groups pupils by age and experience. Children learn grips and positions through games, with several coaches involved. Training spans gi—the jacketed form of BJJ—and no-gi practice without the jacket. For those who choose competition, the route begins locally. Communication required practical adjustments for pupil Sarah Kovalyov. In her December 2017 interview, she explained watching Buaron demonstrate with another student, then trying the technique herself. When something was unclear, teammates called him over and helped with explanations. Buaron described their developing visual signals. Unable to hear coaching during matches, Kovalyov also needed a shoulder tap to tell her when a bout had ended. NetanyaNet’s 2019 profile reported Buaron’s 2018 Ayelet coach-of-the-year award, his own Masters, or age-group, competition and a club teaching children through older adults. He hoped to coach a World Games gold medalist. The school also points to longer pupil relationships: its Omri Haviv profile describes eleven years under Buaron and twice-daily national-team sessions. The school’s own Buaron biography describes a third-degree BJJ black belt, federation professional director and Soul Fighters’ Israeli representative. Ayelet’s interview describes continued learning from pupils, visitors and courses, alongside daily national-team and club training and international exchanges. He called the 2022 World Games a highlight; his 2024 plans included a dedicated facility, school leagues and wider women’s participation with Ayelet, Athena and Otzma. In August 2026, the Jerusalem Post identified him as Israel’s head jiu-jitsu coach. He thanked the association and professional staff supporting the team.

Sources for this profile

  • Jerusalem Post, August 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • In August 2026, the Jerusalem Post identified Amir Buaron as Israel’s head jiu-jitsu coach and reported his acknowledgements of the association and professional staff.

      Where in the source: Head coach’s comments.

      Accessed:

  • NetanyaNet, Or Boker, January 2019.(opens in a new tab)

    • In his January 2019 NetanyaNet interview, Buaron recalled running nightlife venues and a Herzliya bar, meeting fighters after an MMA event, befriending them and starting to train.

      Where in the source: Personal interview, nightlife section.

      Accessed:

    • The same profile reported his 2018 Ayelet coach-of-the-year award, Masters competition and a club spanning children and older adults; he hoped to coach a World Games gold medalist.

      Where in the source: Award and closing ambitions.

      Accessed:

  • Ayelet magazine, 2024.(opens in a new tab)

    • In Ayelet’s 2024 interview, Buaron described studying and filming overseas coaches after early defeats in Portugal and, encouraged by Itzik Ben Melech, opening a club with partners. He outlined learning from pupils, visitors and courses, daily national-team and club training, international exchanges, 2022 World Games highlight, and facility, school-league and women’s participation plans with Ayelet, Athena and Otzma.

      Where in the source: Interview, printed pp. 58–60.

      Accessed:

  • Graciemag, January 2016.(opens in a new tab)

    • Graciemag’s January 2016 tour report records Bruno Mendes awarding Amir Boaron a black belt in Israel.

      Where in the source: Promotion in the tour report.

      Accessed:

  • Jiu Jitsu Legacy, Tomer Alroy interview, 2019.(opens in a new tab)

    • In 2019, Tomer Alroy named Amir Boaron as his MMA Israel/Soul Fighters teacher and a black belt under Bruno Mendes. Initially reluctant to compete, he credited Boaron’s encouragement and described morning situational sparring and evening technical classes.

      Where in the source: Training origins and daily routine.

      Accessed:

  • MMA Israel, BJJ programme.(opens in a new tab)

    • MMA Israel’s BJJ programme names Buaron as head coach and describes age/level groups, children’s grip-and-position games with multiple coaches, gi/no-gi practice and a competition route beginning locally.

      Where in the source: Children’s groups and competition pathway.

      Accessed:

  • MMA Israel, club history.(opens in a new tab)

    • MMA Israel’s own history dates its Netanya opening to 2010 and describes leadership shared by Buaron and Ronen Edelstein, with Buaron leading BJJ within a multi-discipline coaching team.

      Where in the source: Club history and coaching roles.

      Accessed:

  • MMA Israel, Omri Haviv profile.(opens in a new tab)

    • MMA Israel’s Omri Haviv profile describes him as training under Buaron for eleven years and taking part in twice-daily national-team sessions.

      Where in the source: Named pupil biography.

      Accessed:

  • Xnet, Sharon Rofe Ofir, December 2017.(opens in a new tab)

    • In a December 2017 interview, pupil Sarah Kovalyov described following demonstrations, explanations and peer help; unable to hear bout-side advice, she needed a shoulder tap when a bout ended. Coach Buaron discussed their developing visual communication.

      Where in the source: Pupil’s training and communication answers.

      Accessed:

  • MMA Israel, Amir Boaron profile.(opens in a new tab)

    • Buaron’s own school profile describes him as a third-degree BJJ black belt, national-team coach, federation professional director and Soul Fighters’ Israeli representative.

      Where in the source: Named head-coach profile.

      Accessed:

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