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Emanuela D’Annibale

Founder - Yoga and BJJ Coach

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.

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Great place to train!Amazing group of dedicated coaches and a very welcome and diverse community to train with.

Narayan S.

10:59 28 Nov 24

been doing JuJu at ArteSuave for over a year. The owner and instructors are very approachable and very experienced. This gym is great to enjoy as recreation but also serves the more serious contenders. I have been choked out by many gladiators from this gym both men and women, but always gone home with a smile and feeling better for training Jiujitsu. If you haven't done grappling this is the gym for you, if you are experienced and want to sharpen your skills this is also the gym for you. Aaron H-T 🙂 ps- I started my journey here in my late 40's and the gym has all shapes and sizes, my co-worker who is 21 also enjoys the gym

Stone R.

07:13 25 Nov 24

Very welcoming when dropping by for open mat Sunday session.Witnessed coach Sergio lead the tail end of a session.. implementing incredible technique in 'king of the mats' and then finished with a closed eyed meditative drop in, followed by a circle and discussion.love this and look forward to dropping by again soonGreat atmosphere hereOos!

Lewis C.

02:45 24 Nov 24

My son has been attending Arte Suave for almost 2 years now, my 2 year old daughter for almost a year and the team have been nothing but supportive of them. Helping them every step of their training and supporting my son in his competitions. Nearly two years down, many to go. Thank you Emanuela, Chris and Sergio for all your attention and support for all the children at Arte Suave.Can highly recommend Arte Suave to any children, teens or adults.

Rhys R.

11:15 15 Nov 24

Great gym, level of grappling is awesome. A lot of great people. The technical understanding of movement patterns and skill application is underrated of the coaches. Definitely a must train gym. Shout out to James Woontoon his classes be filled with well explained step by steps. Definitely worth your time.

H888H N.

10:50 13 Nov 24

I’ve got two boys that train at Art Suave, and we are so happy with the gym and its community. The team of instructors are so passionate about their craft and deliver a high level of training. It’s a warm and friendly environment where my kids can learn new skills and keep fit. So happy at Art Suave!!

Kate S.

06:52 01 Oct 24

Great classes that are super fun and enjoyable. The social vibe is fantastic, and the instructors are top-notch. The schedule is really flexible, making it easy to fit into your routine. It's a great way to boost your fitness and pick up some self-defense skills.Would highly Recommend Arte Suave!

Brad F.

23:25 25 Sep 24

I was looking for a BJJ club in Brisbane after relocating from Dublin, and I tried a few ones, but once I got a call from Emanuela, I knew straight away how serious about BJJ Arte Suave is. And that happened even before having my first trial class; just by a phone conversation with her I felt reassured that there was the place I was looking for to resume my lessons.At Arte Suave, I feel supported by staff and members alike, and most importantly, I feel respected regardless of my level, limitations and challenges. BJJ as a martial art is taken really seriously, and I feel I can learn a lot from everyone there in a safe, welcoming and friendly environment.Thanks, Arte Suave, for the great work you all do, and keep it up! Oss.

Taisa Chiarioni de L.

01:51 25 Sep 24

What a beautiful place Arte Suave is! When I joined I had no background in any martial arts and I took up the 3-class pass on a whim. But now I can’t seem to get enough of it.The deep knowledge of the professors, the seamless learning structure of the classes, and the warm and helpful community at AS is the perfect mix I could have asked for.If you are looking to start your BJJ journey then come speak to Emanuela, come sit around at AS and get a feel of how incredible this place is.

Dilip G.

22:08 24 Sep 24

Came here for open mats. Everyone was very skilled and respectful.

Raghave G.

05:19 18 Sep 24