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John Simon

John Simon links John Will to Lachlan Giles in an Australian lineage shaped by teaching, relocation, and a 2012 black-belt promotion.

Biography

John Simon is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt whose influence in Australia is clearest in a three-generation lineage: he trained under John Will and later taught Lachlan Giles. A 2013 profile of Anthony Perosh also names Simon as one of Perosh's instructors. The magazine profile records that in July 2001, Perosh took over teaching at Simon's school after Simon had moved to Melbourne. It also describes Simon as a black belt under Will. A separate date comes from Simon's own account: in a forum post signed John Simon on August 17, 2003, he wrote that Will had awarded him the black belt that weekend. Simon also said he had trained with Will since 1991 and was the first person to receive a black belt from him. Those details remain a first-person account. BJJ Australasia's current ranks page lists Simon as a black belt. Simon's role in Giles's development extended beyond lineage notation. BJJ Heroes says that when Giles returned after a year away with a knee injury, Simon was the training group's new coach. Simon awarded Giles his brown belt and then his black belt in 2012. Only after those promotions did Simon retire following an injury of his own. The sequence places him as a working link between Will's generation and Giles's: a student, instructor, and promoter whose record is preserved most clearly through the students he trained and promoted.

Sources for this profile

  • KarateForums, Got my Black Belt, John Simon self-report.(opens in a new tab)

    • Simon says he was the first person to receive a black belt under John Will.

      Where in the source: Opening JohnnyS post dated August 17, 2003; first paragraph, sentence containing 'first person'.

      Accessed:

    • In a post signed John Simon on 17 August 2003, Simon says John Will had awarded him a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt that weekend.

      Where in the source: Opening JohnnyS post dated August 17, 2003, signed John Simon; first paragraph and BJJ signature line.

      Accessed:

    • Simon says he had trained with John Will since 1991.

      Where in the source: Opening JohnnyS post dated August 17, 2003; first paragraph, sentence containing 'since 1991'.

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Heroes, Lachlan Giles profile.(opens in a new tab)

    • BJJ Heroes publishes the lineage John Will to John Simon to Lachlan Giles.

      Where in the source: Lachlan Giles facts, lineage field.

      Accessed:

    • BJJ Heroes says that when Giles returned after a year away with a knee injury, Simon was the training group's new coach.

      Where in the source: Lachlan Giles biography, paragraph beginning Giles' first BJJ instructor.

      Accessed:

    • BJJ Heroes says Simon awarded Giles his brown belt and then his black belt in 2012 before Simon retired because of an injury.

      Where in the source: Lachlan Giles biography, paragraph beginning Simon awarded Lachlan.

      Accessed:

  • Grappling Magazine BJJ Special 2013, Anthony Perosh profile.(opens in a new tab)

    • A 2013 Australian grappling magazine profile says Anthony Perosh trained under John Simon, who was a black belt under John Will, and that in July 2001 Perosh took over teaching at Simon's school after Simon moved to Melbourne.

      Where in the source: Printed page 76, Anthony Perosh profile; paragraph beginning 'Perosh also resumed', directly above the May 2002 academy paragraph.

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Australasia, Black Belt Ranks Australia New Zealand.(opens in a new tab)

    • BJJ Australasia's current black-belt ranks page includes John Simon.

      Where in the source: Black belt ranks list, John Simon entry.

      Accessed:

Lineage

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