Kurdt George
Kurdt George brought New York jiu-jitsu lessons home to Cape Town, where he developed an existing school into a Renzo Gracie affiliate.
Biography
Sources for this profile
BJJ Eastern Europe, Wesley George interview, February 5, 2013(opens in a new tab)
Kurdt George introduced his younger brother Wesley to BJJ and encouraged him to keep training when Wesley was initially more interested in weights and Cape Town's beaches.
Where in the source: Journey: Big Brother.
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According to Wesley, frequent business trips took Kurdt to New York, where he found Renzo Gracie's academy around early 2004. He took private no-gi lessons with John Danaher and returned home to practise the techniques with his brother.
Where in the source: Renzo connection: 2004.
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The brothers continued that pattern for roughly two years before joining a Cape Town school in 2006 that had recently moved from no-gi grappling into gi BJJ. Wesley regarded this as an important change in their technical development.
Where in the source: Renzo connection: 2006.
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Kurdt took over running that academy and converted it into a Renzo Gracie affiliate in 2008. Wesley associated the closer affiliation with a clearer curriculum and a welcoming training culture.
Where in the source: Renzo connection: 2008.
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By February 2013 Wesley described Kurdt as the Cape Town academy's head instructor and a brown belt under Renzo Gracie, and credited his brother's teaching with the school's development.
Where in the source: Introduction: head instructor.
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Liam Wandi, The Part Time Grappler, Cape Town visit, October 2011(opens in a new tab)
During a 2011 visit, Liam Wandi attended a ninety-minute advanced class led by Kurdt after Wesley's warm-up. The class alternated technical drilling with resisted practice of escaping, maintaining and attacking from mount, then finished with sparring.
Where in the source: Technique: 90 minutes.
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Wandi singled out Kurdt's details for switching between mounted armbars while keeping close contact and weight on the opponent, rather than relying on strength.
Where in the source: Technique: armbar.
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Wandi also described students greeting him by name and taking an active interest in his visit, connecting the academy's welcome with Kurdt's manner. He found experienced and recreational students learning together rather than treating training solely as competition.
Where in the source: Friendliness.
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The academy already had two separate mat spaces in 2011, allowing a beginners' class to begin while the advanced session was still running.
Where in the source: Facilities: two.
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Graciemag, Good news at the Cape, November 17, 2010(opens in a new tab)
In 2010 Kurdt hosted Angola-based black belt Helio Pereira for two weeks of teaching at Renzo Gracie Cape Town. During the visit Pereira promoted Wesley to purple belt with Renzo Gracie's approval.
Where in the source: Good news at the Cape: Pereira.
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Team Lagarto, Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Cup preparation, December 16, 2011(opens in a new tab)
Lucio Rodrigues's team reported an actual Cape Town teaching visit in December 2011, with extra training after his classes. Kurdt and Jenny helped arrange a changed return flight when Rodrigues needed to get back to London.
Where in the source: Abu Dhabi preparation: Cape Town; Kurdt.
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Jiu Jitsu in SA, Belt ranking, February 11, 2017(opens in a new tab)
A South African rank list published in 2017 places Kurdt George of Renzo Gracie Cape Town among the BJJ black belts, with a teaching line through Renzo Gracie and John Danaher.
Where in the source: Black Belts: Kurdt George.
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Renzo Gracie Academy, Cape Town affiliate directory(opens in a new tab)
The Renzo Gracie Academy's official affiliate directory lists Kurdt George and Wesley George as the professors at its Cape Town academy.
Where in the source: About this Academy: Professor.
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EFC Worldwide, Marcel Teniers archived fighter profile(opens in a new tab)
EFC Worldwide's archived profile for MMA fighter Marcel Teniers names Kurdt George as his trainer and Renzo Gracie Cape Town as his gym.
Where in the source: Marcel Teniers: Trainer.
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IDIDTHAT, Alex Goldberg interview, September 16, 2025(opens in a new tab)
In a 2025 interview, Alex Goldberg's black-belt promotion was identified as coming under Kurdt George after seventeen years of training. Goldberg described the Cape Town academy as a community that helped him develop as a person, creative professional and leader.
Where in the source: Personal habits; Black Belt Promotion Ceremony.
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Goldberg described teaching at Renzo Gracie Cape Town himself, including sharing jiu-jitsu with his son, showing one of Kurdt's black-belt students continuing the academy's teaching work.
Where in the source: Personal habits: Professor/Instructor.
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ADCC, South African Open invitation, August 21, 2015(opens in a new tab)
ADCC's official 2015 South African Open invitation named Kurdt George as the registration and event-information contact for the Cape Town tournament organised by ADCC South Africa.
Where in the source: Registration: Kurdt George.
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ADCC, Federation directory(opens in a new tab)
ADCC's current federation directory names George as the South African leader.
Where in the source: South Africa: Leaders.
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Renzo Gracie Cape Town, official programmes(opens in a new tab)
The Cape Town academy now advertises gi and no-gi fundamentals with live practice, intermediate and advanced training, and classes for children and teenagers, alongside striking classes.
Where in the source: Fundamentals; Teens & Kids.
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Lineage
No teaching connections are shown on this page.
Open lineage