Team François Deniau
TFD Gozo
Team François Deniau Gozo
My martial art journey begun at 11 years old when I begun with judo & jiu-jitsu classes with european champion Jacques Noris in the Judo Club of Cergy (near Paris). Jacques was also my neighbourg, so it's like it was meant to happen. In 1993 during my studies "I have been sent to Coventry" (England) at the Neil Adams'Club (judo Olympic Champion, specialist of Ne Waza or ground technics) and competed in England for the black belt. Then BJJ attracted me naturally my judo was more orientate to ne waza. I started to compete in BJJ in 1997. It was the "pioneers time" in France, winning the first competitions in the adult division, and then travelling in Brazil, USA, Japan.... I had the chance to meet my friend and bjj sensei Wellington "Megaton" Dias in 2005. I received my black belt from him in 2009 in Phoenix (USA) in presence of Royler Gracie. The most incredible memory I have is to have met Helio Gracie (the Creator of Gracie jiu-jitsu) in his ranch in Petrópolis (Brazil) in 2008. All that was like the reward of my sports Journey. I am gratefull to my teachers and to you who may join or support us here in Gozo. Thank you and see you on the mat ;)
François Deniau, Gozo, 20 August 2018.
Sport Achievement
Judo:
- 1984: 1st place at the Cergy Tournament (Judo Club of Cergy near Paris; teacher: Jacques Noris)
- 1986: Vice-Champion of "Bas-Dauphiné" (Judo Club Dauphinois at "Saint Clair de la Tour"; teachers: Marc & Denis Mermet)
- 1990: Champion of "Isère" (Club GUC JCD in Grenoble; teacher: Jean-Pierre Millon, Military World Champion)
- 1993: a year training and sparring at the Neil Adams'club (Coventry). Participate in 3 tournaments for the black belt points, with the objective to perform a "line up" (when you win all your fights one after another by "IPPON"). The first competition I won 2 IPPON, the second one 3 IPPON and the last one I did the line up with 5 IPPON. Back in France the french federation did not recognised the points! So I started again :)
- 1994: Judo University Champion (GUC JCD, Grenoble)
- 1995: Judo University Champion (CS DOUA; teachers: Daniel Ray & Jean-paul Pagnoud)
- 1996: Judo University Champion (CS DOUA)
- 1997: Judo Inter-University Champion (CS DOUA)
Wrestling:
- 1995: University Vice-Champion (CS DOUA)
- 1996: University Champion (CS DOUA)
Sambo:
- 1995: University Champion (CS DOUA)
- 1996: University Champion, Rhône Vice-Champion (CS DOUA)
- 1997: 5th in the French Championship (CS DOUA)
BJJ:
- 1997: 1st place at the French Cup (BJJ LYON); part of the french team, pioneers of BJJ in France (12 members selected to go to the World Championship)
- 1997: won the first match in the World Championship in the Adult Blue Belt Division (Alliance Academy, rio de Janeiro)
- 1998: 2nd place at the european Cup in "Evian", Switzerland (BJJ LYON)
- 1999: 2nd place at the european Cup in "Evian", Switzerland (BJJ LYON)
- 2000: 2nd place at the Robin Gracie Cup in Barcelone, Spain (BJJ LYON)
I was away from competitions for 5 years for injuries...
- 2005: 5th place at the Hot Blood Cup (BJJ LYON);
- 2005: No Gi Alps Champion (BJJ LYON)
- 2006: participation at the Master & Seniors Championship of RIO de Janeiro (Gracie Humaita)
- 2007: participation at the Master & Seniors Championship of RIO de Janeiro (Gracie Humaita);
- 2007: Arizona Vice-Champion (Team Megaton); European Vice-Champion (Gracie Humaita)
- 2008: participation at the Master & Seniors Championship of RIO de Janeiro (Gracie Humaita); Gold Medal at Rio State Championship (Gracie Humaita); Bronze Medal at the Panamerican, California (Team Megaton);
- 2008: European Champion (Gracie Humaita)
- 2009: European Vice-Champion (Gracie Humaita); Gold Medal at the Scandinavian Cup, Division & Absoluto (Gracie Humaita)
- 2010: European Vice-Champion (Gracie Humaita)
- 2011: European Vice-Champion (Gracie Humaita)
- 2015: 2nd at the London Open & third at the Zurich Open
- 2016: 3rd at the IBJJF European Championship (open division & lightweight division)
Freediving as been also part of my sport carrier as a complementary discipline that help in focusing and relaxing.
Formation
- 1996-2018: Master in Sports Sciences (Management of risks)
- 2005: certified Judo & Jiu-Jitsu teacher (french federation)
- 2013: certified MEF1 Freediving Instructor with 4x World Champion Pierre Frolla
- 2015: IBJJF certified 2nd degree black belt BJJ instructor
TFD support the environment with the ngo WAAO
