Emanuela D’Annibale

Brown Belt 1st Degree

Emanuela D’Annibale, the sole and managing director of Arte Suave, is a driven entrepreneur who has successfully built and managed a promotions and marketing business for over 13 years. Her unwavering passion for martial arts, fitness, personal development, and motivating others to achieve their best is what inspired her to create Arte Suave – an inclusive and safe environment where everyone can train.

Martial Arts Journey:

Emanuela’s martial arts journey began in 2002 with Xing Yi (Kung Fu) under the guidance of Dr. Fei Wang. She also extensively trained in Qi Gong (moving meditation) and Tai Chi during this time. In addition to her training with Fei, she explored various martial arts disciplines, including Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Boxing, and Wishu (acrobatic Kung Fu) during her stay in Canberra. Her goal was to experience a wide range of martial arts and absorb knowledge from each.

Yoga and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:

Emanuela’s background is yoga, which she started in 2000 under Deborah Carey-Burrows in Canberra, played a significant role in shaping her approach to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Her unique infusion of yoga and martial arts experience creates a distinctive style of yoga focused on enhancing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu performance. This integration incorporates her knowledge of postural work from Karen Chapman, who teaches the Alexander technique.

The Birth of Arte Suave:

In 2012, Emanuela relocated to Brisbane and initially viewed Jiu Jitsu as just another martial art to explore. However, after her first lesson, she fell in love with the art. Six months later, as a white belt, Emanuela made the bold decision to start her own academy – Arte Suave. She sought a career change and a path that would fulfill her soul, leading her to embark on this challenging endeavour.

In October 2014, during the opening weekend of Arte Suave, Emanuela was awarded her blue belt under her then coach and the affiliation of Atos. However, in early 2016, she made the difficult choice to continue Arte Suave without an affiliation, parting ways with Atos. 

Brown Belt Jeremy Juhas was the first teacher to assist in the rebuilding of the academy, which had faced some challenges at the time. Shortly after, Black Belt Anker Fuglsang joined the team, along with other dedicated instructors such as Steven Wade and Justin Bennets. Together, they played a vital role in the growth and development of Arte Suave during this period. In December 2017, Emanuela’s dedication and hard work were recognized when she was awarded her purple belt by Anker Fuglsang.

In 2016, after Jeremy’s departure, Emanuela sought a complementary instructor to Anker Fuglsang and eventually found black belt Uroš Čulić, who came from Serbia to teach at Arte Suave. This decision proved to be one of the most significant and rewarding risks she had taken for the academy. In 2022, after years of hard work and dedication, Uroš Čulić finally awarded Emanuela her brown belt, marking another milestone in her Jiu Jitsu journey.

Emanuela’s approach to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a fusion of teachings from all her instructors, with her own unique twist. She believes in helping her students connect techniques, providing them with both submission and escape options, while emphasizing attention to detail. Her teaching style is geared towards nurturing and growth, ensuring that Arte Suave remains the best home for their students.

Passions and Hobbies:

Beyond her martial arts journey, Emanuela nurtures a diverse range of passions and hobbies. She finds joy in gardening, expressing her creativity through various artistic endeavours like painting with oils, sewing, and exploring craft projects. Connecting with nature, Emanuela often seeks solace in outdoor activities such as hiking and basking in the serenity of the beach. An insatiable reader, she delves into a wide range of subjects, with a keen interest in psychology, physics, and human development, occasionally taking delightful detours into the realm of fiction. Emanuela’s home is shared with three cherished feline companions, and while tempted, she remains resolute in her determination not to expand her beloved feline family to include a fourth member.