About Us
“Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.”
– Bruce Lee
WHO WE ARE
Founded in 1997, Bindner Academy is a professional, full-time Jiu-jitsu training and coaching community, led by it’s founder Derek Bindner. We are people of value who add value to others.
WHAT WE DO
Using Jiu-jitsu as a vehicle, we specialize in teaching self-protection and functional movement through adventure-based personal development and leadership training methods, for all ages . Everything we do is designed to forge human strength, confidence, courage, and clarity in mind, body and spirit. We equip individuals with life skills for leading through conflict, fear, stress, and adversity, while challenging them to tap into their greatness and create their own life's masterpiece, everyday.
We deliver a highly structured curriculum with professional instruction. Our unique training formula optimizes our members' training time and energy for maximum results.
WHY WE DO IT
The world is chaotic and unpredictable, and life favours the prepared in mind, body and spirit. We believe in people, we value people, and we see a better future. When an individual is confident, prepared and equipped, they will achieve great things and add value to the world. We believe passionately in the power of our training to elevate thinking, enhance movement, and ultimately transform lives. Our goal is to keep our members safe and active.
HOW WE DO IT
Our innovative approach allows us to leverage the most practical, simple and timeless self-protection techniques, combined with verbal communication tactics, and functional movement strategies using scenario-based training to achieve our objective of neutralizing violence for peaceful outcomes.
Training and coaching is possible through private lessons, group classes, presentations, retreats, and seminars, both online, and in-person, during the daytime, evenings, and weekends, anywhere around the world.
WHEN WE DO IT
OUR SUCCESS
Since 1997, our success and significance comes from the power of innovation, inspiration and invitation, word of mouth, and the culture of excellence that we value and up-hold. Our community is our treasure.
OUR PASSION, PURPOSE, and MISSION
To make people safer, fitter and stronger with confidence in mind, body, and spirit, through the highest level of Jiu-jitsu training for an unbeatable existence.
OUR VISION
A world-wide, quality-driven self-protection and functional movement training program for all ages, featuring Fusion Jiu-Jitsu in the leading role.
OUR STORY
In 1982, Derek Bindner experienced his first Bruce Lee movie, and was instantly hooked. Mesmerized by the power, mobility, and control displayed by this man, Derek immediately began his martial arts journey of a lifetime. Starting with Karate and wrestling, moving to Aikido, Tae Kwon Do, and kickboxing in the mid/late 80's, and finally moving to Jiu-jitsu in 1994. Being bullied as a young child, he remembered what powerlessness felt like before he started martial arts training and found his personal power at the age of 12. In the 1990's and early 2000's, Derek had many opportunities to lead in conflict as an executive/close protection professional and doorperson. Being charged with leading a team of 7 operatives during a volatile labour dispute in the Niagara region, he learned what strategies and tactics worked (and what didn't work), in unpredictable situations. This challenge was very impactful, educational and life changing. Derek envisioned a world of good, strong, and capable people and leaders who demonstrated confidence, humility, courage, compassion, respect, integrity, and clarity in their purpose. Shortly after being employed as a defensive tactics instructor in early 1997, this sparked a revolutionary thought...instead of protecting others, why not teach them how to move, lead, protect themselves, their families, and their way of life? This led to the birth of Bindner Academy, and the creation of Fusion Jiu-Jitsu, Derek Bindner's life‘s masterpiece, and contribution to the world.
Jiu-Jitsu training is very powerful and life changing when the philosophy and the teacher align with the students’ values, goals, and expectations.
LET OUR PASSION INSPIRE YOU!