Kids BJJ Geelong: Coach Billy’s Marathon and Our Torquay Medal Wins
Our kids BJJ Geelong crew had a big weekend, and so did one of our coaches. Twelve months ago, Coach Billy Nicholls ran a marathon in about five hours, and he says it broke his body. This September he ran the Zeekr Marathon at the Geelong Running Festival in 3:34:41.
That’s roughly 85 minutes faster. The same weekend, our kids stepped onto the mats at the Regional Victoria Jiu Jitsu Championships in Torquay.
Both stories come down to the same thing. Show up, get a little better each week, and keep going when it’s hard. Here’s what happened, what the research says about kids and competition, and how your family can try a class.
What Is the Geelong Running Festival Marathon?
The Zeekr Marathon is the 42.2 km race at the Geelong Running Festival, a brand new event that ran for the first time in September 2026. More than 6,000 athletes took part across six events, and the festival raised over $167,000 for local charities.
Race director Lee Troop said the weekend was many years in the making. You can see the full race results here, and read more about the course on the festival’s marathon page.
Billy’s finisher certificate shows a chip time of 3:34:41. He placed 200th overall.
How Did Coach Billy Cut About 85 Minutes Off His Marathon Time?
Coach Billy did it with a year of steady work. After a five-hour marathon left him beaten up, he went back to the gym and trained through months of 3am starts. The result was a 3:34:41 finish, roughly 85 minutes faster than his last one.
Billy is one of our boxing coaches, so plenty of you know him from the pads. He’s the first to say there was no trick to it. The plan was to build a body that could handle the distance, then turn up every morning, even when the alarm went off in the dark.
He also made a point of thanking the mates who trained with him and the family who put up with the early starts. That’s the part we love most. Nobody at Carbon does it alone.
How Did Our Kids BJJ Geelong Crew Go in Torquay?
The Regional Victoria Jiu Jitsu Championships ran on Saturday 19 September at Wurdi Baierr Stadium in Torquay. There were separate boys and girls divisions in both gi and no-gi.
Our kids came home with two golds, two silvers, a fourth place and one more medal. Arwin won gold with a submission, and Aiyah won gold on points. Jack and Tristan both took silver, Henri finished fourth, and Jackson came home with a medal too.
Jack, Tristan and Henri had tough matches and got caught in a few submissions. They still walked away with plenty of experience.
Head BJJ coach Coach Russ was there with them for the day. It’s not our first time on the podium either. You can read about our earlier BJJ competition wins too.
Is Kids BJJ Competition Good for Children in Geelong?
Kids BJJ Geelong competition can be a good thing, when it stays fun and suits the child. Competing gives kids a chance to handle nerves, follow a game plan and bounce back from a loss. It should always be optional, and enjoyment comes first.
The Australian Sports Commission’s research review says too much seriousness and pressure is a common reason kids lose enjoyment and drop out of sport. It also says the right format for each child’s level helps them enjoy sport and stay in it. That matches how we approach it at Carbon: kids compete because they want to, not because they have to.
Research on BJJ is growing too. A 2025 study of 420 adult BJJ athletes found links between mental health and traits like self-control, resilience, life satisfaction and aggression. It looked at adults and can’t prove BJJ caused the difference. Still, it fits what we see on the mats.
What Do Kids Learn From a Tough Jiu Jitsu Match?
Kids learn that losing a round isn’t the end. They see what went wrong, listen to their coach and try again. That habit of turning a rough match into a lesson helps in school, sport and life.
Some of our kids got caught in submissions in Torquay and still left with medals and a lot of experience. That’s the point of a first comp. The Australian Sports Commission also notes that young people in local sporting clubs report a stronger sense of belonging, closer friendships and higher life satisfaction.
That fits the team we try to build: kids and adults backing each other, whatever colour the medal is.
Ready to Try Kids BJJ Geelong With the Carbon Crew?
Here’s what this weekend taught us. Steady effort beats a quick fix, every time. Competing is a great option for kids who want it, and it’s fine if they don’t. And the best results come from being part of a community that has your back.
Whether you want your child to try kids BJJ Geelong classes and other kids martial arts, or you want to start BJJ classes yourself, we’d love to meet you at our Norlane gym. Check the class timetable, then book a free class and come and see what it’s about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do kids have to compete to train BJJ at Carbon Gym?
No. Competing is optional. Plenty of kids train for fitness, confidence and friends, and only some enter competitions. You can see what’s on offer on our kids martial arts page.
What is the Regional Victoria Jiu Jitsu Championships?
It’s a Victorian jiu jitsu competition that ran on 19 September 2026 at Wurdi Baierr Stadium in Torquay. It had boys and girls divisions in gi and no-gi.
What does Coach Billy Nicholls teach at Carbon Gym?
Billy is a boxing coach at our Norlane gym. You can read more about him on his coach profile, or try a class through our boxing classes page.
How fast was Coach Billy’s marathon?
Billy finished the Zeekr Marathon at the Geelong Running Festival in 3:34:41, placing 200th overall. That’s roughly 85 minutes faster than the marathon he ran a year earlier. The official race results are online.
How do I try a class at Carbon Gym?
You can book a free class online. Have a look at the timetable first to pick a session that suits you or your child.
