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Dragan Konjevic

Dragan Konjević founded a Kitchener-Waterloo BJJ academy and built an Alliance teaching network that includes Derek Bindner.

Biography

Dragan Konjević is an Alliance jiu-jitsu black belt and teacher whose academy work has connected Kitchener-Waterloo with a wider network of instructors and students. Before specializing in BJJ in Canada, he trained in kickboxing, taekwondo, judo and sambo. A September 2014 biographical introduction published by BJJ Eastern Europe dates his involvement in jiu-jitsu to 1996. The Jiu-Jitsu Lab's own history traces its local roots to Dragan Alliance, the academy it dates to 1998. It credits Konjević with the idea of a space devoted specifically to Brazilian jiu-jitsu and describes the Lab as a continuation of that approach. His work also extended through Alliance's international connections. A team-news bulletin republished in November 2006 described him, then a brown belt, as assisting Jeff Joslin with the Canadian team's development and coordinating an Eastern European connection. The 2014 introduction also identifies training relationships with Marcelo Garcia, Rubens Charles, known as Cobrinha, and Fabio Gurgel. Konjević received his Alliance black belt from Romero Cavalcanti, known as Jacaré. The Lab now lists Konjević as its founder and says he continues to visit to teach, while Brandon Twaddle handles day-to-day leadership. It identifies Twaddle, Dave Knowles and Roger Morais among the coaches whose jiu-jitsu roots run through Konjević's teaching network. One named student also describes the relationship from his own academy: Derek Bindner, founder and head instructor of Bindner Academy, explicitly identifies himself as an Alliance BJJ black belt under Konjević.

Sources for this profile

  • The Jiu-Jitsu Lab, academy history and coaching staff(opens in a new tab)

    • Konjević is an Alliance black belt promoted by Romero Cavalcanti, known as Jacaré.

      Where in the source: The Lineage and named Dragan Konjevic coaching card.

      Accessed:

    • The Jiu-Jitsu Lab traces its Kitchener-Waterloo roots to Konjević’s Dragan Alliance academy, which its history dates to 1998.

      Where in the source: Our Roots: Dragan Alliance, The Beginning.

      Accessed:

    • The Lab credits Konjević with the idea of a training space devoted specifically to BJJ and describes its present academy as a continuation of that approach.

      Where in the source: Today: The Lab Lives On.

      Accessed:

    • The academy lists Konjević as its founder and says he continues to visit to teach, while Brandon Twaddle leads day-to-day operations.

      Where in the source: Today section and complete Dragan / Brandon coaching cards.

      Accessed:

    • The Lab identifies Dave Knowles, Brandon Twaddle and Roger Morais among coaches whose jiu-jitsu roots run through Konjević’s teaching network.

      Where in the source: The Legacy, final sentence, with coaching cards.

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Eastern Europe, Dragan Konjević interview introduction, September 19, 2014(opens in a new tab)

    • Before specialising in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Canada, Dragan Konjević trained in kickboxing, taekwondo, judo and sambo. The 2014 biographical introduction dates his BJJ involvement to 1996.

      Where in the source: Complete introductory biography before the embedded interview.

      Accessed:

    • Konjević represented Alliance and trained with Marcelo Garcia, Rubens Charles, known as Cobrinha, and Fabio Gurgel.

      Where in the source: Introductory biography, final two sentences.

      Accessed:

  • Emirates One, November 11, 2006 republication of Kid Peligro news / Alliance team news(opens in a new tab)

    • A 2006 Alliance team-news bulletin described Konjević, then a brown belt, as assisting Jeff Joslin with the Canadian team’s development and coordinating an Eastern European connection.

      Where in the source: Alliance Team News: paragraph immediately after Joslin’s October14 Montreal report.

      Accessed:

  • Bindner Academy, Derek Bindner leadership biography(opens in a new tab)

    • Derek Bindner, founder and head instructor of Bindner Academy, explicitly identifies himself as a BJJ black belt under Konjević of Alliance.

      Where in the source: Leadership Team, Derek Bindner opening paragraph.

      Accessed:

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