The Team
Mike Herbig: Combat Jiu-Jitsu Academy – Chief Instructor
Mike Herbig: Chief Instructor
Mike started his training at age of 16 with traditional karate. After 10 years and a 3rd Dan ranking he became became disillusioned with the lack of a complete fighting approach found in the karate systems.
Co-forming the Kyokan Martial Arts School, he then spent the next 10 years searching the world of martial arts to find out what REALLY worked in terms of the combat. He studied various disciplines including, judo, wrestling, pankration, aikido, muay thai, and boxing, all in an endeavour to broaden his knowledge base.
Dissolving Kyokan in 2000 he founded the Combat Jiu-Jitsu Academy to continue his pursuit of the truth in martial arts.
He has fought in numerous karate tournaments, non-contact as well as full contact, and achieved championship status in various fighting competitions. In 1999 he participated in the All Africa Pankration Championships and won to become the Super-Heavy Weight Champion. In 2001 he fought in the United Nations of Jiu-Jitsu Competition. He dominated the open grappling division to take the Gold Medal.
He has now retired from active competition and focuses on training the next generation of fighters and instructors.
Currently he is graded to 6th Dan in Jiu-Jitsu, is the Chairman of the Western Province Jiu-Jitsu Council and an executive member of the South African Jiu-Jitsu Council. He is also the NMA / ISKA Grappling Commissioner
CJA Instructor Team
Jacques Portelli
Jacques Portelli
I started Judo when I was 8 years and took part in as many competitions as I could. I won a lot of provincial competitions and just loved to train. When I got to high school I stopped training for a while after grading to Brown belt.
I started my studies in mechanical engineering and then decided to move to Cape Town with my family and run a family business in 2001. I started training Judo again but then found Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2004.
Soon I realized that I loved the sport.I started doing competitions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo, started winning some of them and then looked at doing the sport for a living. Soon I was teaching and training and winning competitions.
I have won numerous national medals in my weight division and in Open Division for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.I took part in the Abu Dhabi World Cup Pro in 2011 after winning the South African trials. In Brazil I won a bronze medal in a state competition.
I am now a registered Brown Belt under Gracie Barra.
I have decided to put all my energy into teaching and growing the sport of grappling in South Africa.
I have 2 beautiful 3-month old daughters (twins) and myself and my family plan to move to the northern suburbs in the very near future. I am a very chilled guy that loves to train, teach and just be involved in whatever way with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
We all never stop learning in Jiu-Jitsu just like in life. We are always learning everyday and we can never know everything. The earlier we start the better.
Anthony “Emo” Chute
Anthony Chute - Combat Jiu-Jitsu Instructor
Anthony has been a student for 18 years and has been teaching for 10 of those. He has a passion for finding alternative ways of teaching and is the resident stand-up specialist in CJA
He is graded to 1st Dan Black Belt – he is the red-headed ninja art instructor”
“I’m 22 years young, Afrikaans ninja boy. I live in Table View and teach Jiu Jitsu there. I’m a graphic designer, recent college graduate from CPUT Cape Town. I love art, illustration and everything weird and right brained. I love creative solutions to any problem.
I play guitar for a band called ‘Quarter Inch Jack’. I love Rock, Metal and Dubstep Music”
Wynand ‘Billy-Bob’ Gerber
Wynand Gerber - Combat Jiu-Jitsu Instructor
Wynand has been training since 1994, currently work for AFRICAN SUN MeDIA, as Graphic Designer, Prepress Operator, Social Media / Marketing Manager.
He went to school in Stellenberg, Studied Art Direction and Graphic Design at Red & Yellow in Cape Town.
He is graded to Junior Black Belt and is going to grade for 1st Dan Black Belt at end of 2012
“I enjoy swiss-inspired design, good music and Tarentino films. I specialize in having a sense of humour and not taking life to seriously. I also have a Jack Russel called Roxy.
I enjoy fighting, training and having a braai with mates. “
