Uroš Čulić

Black Belt 2nd Degree

Uroš Čulić grew up in Serbia and embarked on his martial arts journey at a young age, driven by his passion for sports. Growing up under the guidance of his father, a former boxer, Uroš began his training in water polo in 1993 at the tender age of 5. For the next 9 years, he dedicated himself to the sport, honing his skills and discipline. Following his water polo journey, Uroš transitioned to wrestling, training intensively for 4 years.

However, it was during his wrestling training that Uroš felt a void and it was Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) that captured his heart in 2007 and changed everything. Uroš vividly recalls his first memory of training BJJ, where he humbly faced the reality of the art. Despite his wrestling background, he found himself submitting to his opponents nine times in just three rolls, dispelling any misconceptions about the effectiveness of BJJ.

Under the guidance of Jovan Zerjal, brown belt under Fernando Pinduka, Zerijal Team, he immersed himself in BJJ, achieving his blue belt in 2008, and purple belt in 2009.

The decision to teach martial arts came unexpectedly to Uroš. Originally aspiring to be solely a competitor, teaching seemed to choose him. The experience of teaching not only enhanced his own preparation and knowledge structuring but also instilled in him a deep sense of giving and nurturing others’ progress. Uroš began teaching Jiu Jitsu in his home country of Serbia in 2012 the same year he achieved his brown belt.

In 2016, Uroš further expanded his knowledge by training in Brazil under Ricardo Vieira at Fightzone, this is where he received his black belt. His desire to explore different aspects of life through martial arts led him to Australia in 2018. Since then, Uroš has dedicated himself to BJJ, training twice a day and teaching full time at Arte Suave since.

Uroš tailors his classes meticulously, covering two topics per session and revisiting them in subsequent classes for in-depth understanding. He strives to develop well-rounded grapplers and instils the value of continuous learning. Uroš teaches both fundamental and advanced classes, sharing his passion for dissecting and simplifying BJJ techniques to support each student’s unique journey.

He also teaches private group classes, more recently having created a very successful program called the Bulletproof for BJJ program. This 26 week program, he spent years developing, to give his students that extra boost in their jiu jitsu journey.

For aspiring competitors, Uroš encourages taking the plunge into their first competition, regardless of initial nerves. He vividly recalls his own humbling experience, realizing the power of BJJ after being submitted multiple times early on.

At Arte Suave, Uroš finds a perfect blend of exceptional Jiu-Jitsu education and a warm, family-like atmosphere. The gym stands out for its organized approach and supportive environment. Uroš believes that Arte Suave strikes a perfect balance between delivering excellent training and fostering a sense of belonging.

As a black belt competitor, Uroš has achieved remarkable success in various tournaments, including double gold at the IBJJF Asian Open Championship in Tokyo 2019, six gold medals at the AFBJJ Australian National Championship in Melbourne in 2019 and 2022, double gold at the ADCC Asia Pacific Grand Slam in Gold Coast 2019, two gold medals at the ADCC Australian National Championship in Sydney in 2018 and 2022, and a finalist position in the BOA super 8 tournament in Melbourne in 2022.

Uroš Čulić exemplifies a lifelong commitment to martial arts, sharing his expertise and passion with his students while continually striving for excellence and personal growth within the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Beyond his commitment to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Uroš Čulić embraces a range of interests. He is an avid reader, particularly enjoying books on human development, biographies, and fiction. He also has a passion for films, with directors like Stanley Kubrick and Woody Allen being among his favorites. Uroš appreciates a well-cooked home meal and finds solace in nature through hiking and beach outings. He has a diverse taste in music and enjoys attending festivals. Additionally, Uroš is skilled in poker and loves a good game. These varied pursuits complement his Jiu-Jitsu journey, adding depth to his personality.