Anker Fuglsang

Black Belt 3rd degree

Anker Fuglsang’s passion for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu began in 1997, marking the start of an incredible journey that spans over nearly three decades. Despite the limited resources available at the time, Anker’s thirst for knowledge led him to seek out Jiu Jitsu teachings from various sources worldwide. He immersed himself in the art, accumulating an astonishing 26 years of experience and becoming an encyclopaedia of Jiu Jitsu.

Anker’s early training commenced under the guidance of a blue belt named Billy Burton in Tasmania, Australia. This was a time when the internet was still in its infancy, and information about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was scarce. With determination and dedication, Anker persevered, honing his skills without the modern luxuries of online resources. During this period, there were no black belts in Australia.

In 2003, Anker’s journey took a significant turn when he crossed paths with Minol Tavares Tutida, a then (now 5^th degree black) brown belt from Brazil under the Oswaldo Fadda lineage. Training under Minol, Anker achieved his blue belt in 2004. The following year, in 2005, he moved to Brisbane, Queensland, where he continued his training at Garra Jiu Jitsu under the guidance of Eduardo Diaz, who himself was under the Roberto Traven lineage of Rolls Gracie.

Anker’s quest for Jiu Jitsu knowledge led him to travel extensively across the globe. In 2008, he spent three months in the United States, training under Leo Viera and Ricardo Feliciano at Checkmat La Habra in Orange County, California. Following his time in the U.S., Anker ventured to Brazil for another three months, where he trained with Akxe BJJ, affiliated with Alliance.

In 2009, Anker returned to Brazil for three months of intense training at Akxe and Fightzone (Ricardo Viera, Checkmat). His commitment and progress were duly recognized, and upon his return, he was awarded his brown belt.

In 2011, Anker embarked on another three-month journey to the United States, this time training at The Jiu Jitsu League and Atos Longbeach under Professor Kevin Howell. It was after this trip, when he returned to Australia that he achieved the highly coveted rank of black belt.

In 2012 he continued his Jiu Jitsu travels and went to Brazil for another 6 months, this time to train at the famous Barbosa B9.

Anker’s competitive spirit has driven him to participate in numerous tournaments throughout his Jiu Jitsu journey. As a blue belt, he secured victories and claimed titles such as the 2006 and 2007 Queensland State Champion and the 2005 Tasmania State Champion.

In 2016, Anker made a significant transition in his Jiu Jitsu journey. He reconnected with Minol Tavares Tutida under the Oswaldo Fadda lineage and found his home at Arte Suave. This affiliation marked a new chapter in Anker’s journey, and he became the academy’s first official black belt after their affiliation with Atos ended.

Beyond Jiu Jitsu Anker’s first martial art was Viet Vo Dao (Vietnamese martial art), which he trained in from 1993 to 1997. He also spent a few years (2001-2003) in Korea where he achieved his second black belt in Hapkido.

Off the mats, Anker indulges in various hobbies and interests. He has a passion for languages, computers and enjoys tinkering with them. Tai Chi is another discipline that captivates his interest and has accentuated his Jiu Jitsu. Anker finds solace in reading comic books and has a profound love for Star Wars and Marvel movies. He is also a proud owner of a beautiful Pomeranian dog named Misha whom he adores. Additionally, Anker savours hot chocolate and has an affinity for Korean Fried Chicken.