Skip to content
The BJJ Story
Search
Back to people
Two training partners meeting on the mat.Drawn in cream, forest green, and muted terracotta. People and objects are symbolic illustrations.
Portrait unavailable. General BJJ illustration; not a likeness of this person.Illustration: The BJJ Story

Andri Dan Traustason

After returning to Húsavík, Andri Dan Traustason helped create a BJJ club for others and himself.

Biography

Andri Dan Traustason teaches Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Völsungur alongside Kristján Gunnar Óskarsson. In a 2016 University of Akureyri interview, he recalled choosing business studies for their breadth after an undecided gap year. Interest grew as he studied. An injury had interrupted his training at Fenrir, but he still followed combat sports. University life also surprised him: he found personal support where he had expected to manage alone. He encouraged students to get to know their classmates, and planned postgraduate study in Edinburgh and work abroad. By September 2025, he was recalling studying and working in Edinburgh. A brief return to Húsavík had become seven years at PCC, followed by leading Sessor’s new local office. Building a place to grapple at home was a collective undertaking. In their signed 2021 club report, Traustason, Óskarsson and Ólafur Ármann Sigurðsson recalled buying mats late in 2020 and starting Völsungur’s grappling section in February 2021. Beginner courses brought people in; Saturday open mats let newcomers try techniques, grapple or simply watch, without previous training. Vikublaðið reported in 2022 that four weekly sessions followed a six-week BJJ101 introduction required before regular classes. In a May 2024 BJJ Globetrotters interview, Traustason and Óskarsson explained their shared aim: introduce others to BJJ while resuming local training themselves. Their volunteer club had gained more mat space. Teaching a small group ranging from white to purple belt meant making each class useful across different experience levels. Youth classes were their next plan. He described fifteen years in BJJ, including breaks. That plan became a programme for school years 7–10 in September 2024, according to Völsungur’s annual report. The report also records brown-belt promotions for Traustason and Óskarsson that year.

Sources for this profile

  • Vikublaðið, November 2022.(opens in a new tab)

    • Vikublaðið’s 2022 report names Traustason among Völsungur’s Húsavík BJJ coaches and describes four weekly sessions, with a six-week introductory course before regular classes.

      Where in the source: Local coaching and introductory course.

      Accessed:

  • Völsungur, staff.(opens in a new tab)

    • Völsungur’s staff page lists Andri Dan Traustason as a Jiu Jitsu coach alongside Kristján Gunnar Óskarsson.

      Where in the source: Martial-arts coaching staff.

      Accessed:

  • University of Akureyri, May 2016.(opens in a new tab)

    • In a May 2016 university interview, Traustason described business studies in Akureyri after an undecided gap year, choosing their breadth and growing interested during the course. Injury had interrupted his BJJ training at Fenrir, though he still followed combat sports. Back in Húsavík, he planned postgraduate study in Edinburgh and work abroad. He valued unexpectedly personal university support and encouraged students to build relationships.

      Where in the source: Studies, interrupted training and future plans.

      Accessed:

  • Völsungur, Christmas magazine 2021.(opens in a new tab)

    • In their signed 2021 club report, Traustason, Kristján Gunnar Óskarsson and Ólafur Ármann Sigurðsson describe buying mats in late 2020 and establishing Völsungur’s grappling section in February 2021. Beginner courses attracted members; Saturday open mats welcomed newcomers to try techniques, grapple or watch without prior training.

      Where in the source: BJJ spread, physical pages 8–9.

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Globetrotters, May 2024.(opens in a new tab)

    • In their May 2024 interview, Traustason and Óskarsson described returning to Húsavík after study and work, then creating BJJ North to introduce others to BJJ and resume local training themselves. Their volunteer club expanded its mat space. A small group spanning white to purple belts made useful classes for everyone challenging. They planned youth classes. Traustason reported fifteen years in BJJ with breaks and a brown belt.

      Where in the source: Joint coaches’ interview and personal details.

      Accessed:

  • Völsungur, annual report 2024.(opens in a new tab)

    • Völsungur’s 2024 report records youth classes starting that September for school years 7–10, and brown-belt promotions for Traustason and Kristján Gunnar Óskarsson.

      Where in the source: BJJ section, printed pages 19–20.

      Accessed:

  • Vikublaðið, September 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • In September 2025, Traustason recalled studying and working in Edinburgh before returning to Húsavík. An intended short stay became seven years at PCC, followed by leading Sessor’s new local office. He valued building a professional life in his hometown.

      Where in the source: Homecoming and career change.

      Accessed:

Lineage

No teaching connections are shown on this page.

Open lineage