More Than a Martial Arts Academy
JTSU Academy is one of the pioneering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academies in Didi Dighomi, Tbilisi. Built on nearly three decades of coaching experience and a commitment to high-quality instruction, JTSU Academy provides Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, No-Gi Grappling, and Judo programs for children, adults, hobbyists, and competitors.
OUR STORY
JTSU Academy was built on a lifelong dedication to martial arts and a commitment to providing high-quality Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction in Georgia.
Head Coach Alex Umantsev began his martial arts journey at the age of nine and received his first coaching assistant certification at just sixteen years old. What started as a passion for training quickly became a lifelong career dedicated to teaching, mentoring, and helping others grow through martial arts.
In 2007, Alex discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and immediately recognized the depth, technical complexity, and effectiveness of the art. Over the following years, he continued to develop both as a competitor and as a coach, working with students of all ages and skill levels while gaining experience across different organizations and training environments.
In 2017, Alex moved to Tbilisi, Georgia, where he continued coaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and became actively involved in the growth of the local grappling community. During this time he coached at Legion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and helped develop athletes ranging from complete beginners to experienced competitors.
International Training Experience
Throughout his martial arts journey, Alex has always believed that a coach should never stop learning. In addition to years of coaching and competition, he has continuously traveled to train with some of the world’s most respected Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors and teams.
Alex trained in Brazil at Checkmat Academy (Fight Zone), where he had the opportunity to learn from Ricardo Vieira, one of the founders of Checkmat and one of the most respected figures in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
He also trained in the United States at Atos Jiu-Jitsu, one of the world’s most successful competition teams, working alongside elite athletes and learning directly from André Galvão, multiple-time world champion and founder of Atos.
By regularly seeking knowledge from different academies, coaches, and training environments, Alex continues to refine both his technical understanding and coaching methodology. The experience gained through international training is reflected in the structured curriculum and high technical standards taught at JTSU Academy today.
As his experience continued to grow, Alex expanded his role beyond coaching. Today he is actively involved in the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Georgia not only as a coach but also as an organizer and referee, helping support the sport through competitions, education, and community development.
- Black Belt received in 2016
- Black Belt awarded by Ido Pariente
- Current rank: 3rd Degree Black Belt
- AJP Certified Referee since 2022
- Organizer of:
- AJP Tour Georgia
- Fortis Championship
In 2024, JTSU Academy was established with a clear vision: to create a professional, welcoming, and technically strong training environment where students could learn authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, No-Gi Grappling, and Judo in a safe, structured, and supportive atmosphere.
Today, JTSU Academy offers programs for children, adults, beginners, hobbyists, and competitors. Every class follows a structured curriculum designed to help students progress step by step, whether their goal is fitness, self-defense, personal development, or high-level competition.
Unlike many academies, JTSU Academy places equal emphasis on technical development, discipline, safety, and building a positive community where every student feels welcome.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Lineage
One of the most important aspects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is lineage—the direct connection between instructors that preserves the knowledge and traditions of the art.
Coaching Philosophy
For Alex, coaching has never been about collecting medals or producing champions alone.
It is about helping people build confidence, develop discipline, overcome challenges, and become better versions of themselves—both on and off the mats.
Whether someone walks into the academy for their very first class or prepares for an international championship, every student deserves the same attention, respect, and commitment from their coach.
JTSU Academy Today
Today JTSU Academy continues to grow as one of Georgia’s leading Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academies, offering:
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Gi)
- No-Gi Grappling
- Kids Programs
- Adult Programs
- Women’s Classes
- Judo
- Competition Team
- Private Training
- International Seminars
- Competition Preparation
The academy welcomes students of all ages and experience levels and is committed to helping every member reach their personal goals.
Experience at a Glance
- 🥋 Nearly 30 years of coaching experience
- 👦 Started martial arts at 9 years old
- 👨🏫 Coaching since 16 years old
- 🥋 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 3rd Degree Black Belt
- 🌍 Coaching experience in multiple countries
- 🏆 Organizer of AJP Tour Georgia
- 🏆 Founder of Fortis Championship
- 📍 Founder & Head Coach of JTSU Academy
- 👨👩👧👦 Hundreds of students coached
- 🇬🇪 More than 10 years coaching in Georgia