Saul guiding two children through a Jiu-Jitsu training interaction.

Private martial arts coaching

Private Jiu-Jitsu.Built around you.

Private coaching with Saul Abelson, shaped around your experience, body and goals. Personal attention, controlled intensity and practical flexibility — in Cape Town and the Winelands.

People
not ego
Technique
for life
A stronger
you
Get to know the coaching.

Explore CHACMA’s YouTube channel and training updates.

Focused coaching

Private coaching. Your starting point.

New to martial arts, returning to training or refining an existing BJJ game? Start with what you need. Saul shapes the coaching around you.

Professor Saul Abelson
Founder & head coach
Professor Saul Abelson coaching a private Jiu-Jitsu student.

One-to-one coaching

Beginner foundations or focused private lessons around your schedule, at a pace that suits you.

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Private Jiu-Jitsu coaching adapted to an adult student.

Pairs & small groups

Train with a partner, friend or family member in a focused, practical small-format session.

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Saul coaching an inclusive youth Jiu-Jitsu session.

Private youth coaching

Direct attention around your child’s age, goals and practical requirements, with fit discussed first.

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Advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training under controlled lighting.

BJJ technical development

Already training? Solve recurring problems, build your game or prepare for competition with focused coaching.

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Western Cape mountain landscape representing mobile coaching across Cape Town and the Winelands.

Coaching at your location

Train at your home, gym, workplace or another suitable venue, with travel arranged directly.

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Gi, no-gi and self-defence can be discussed around your objectives. Specific requirements start with a conversation about practical fit.
Professor Saul Abelson in a black Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gi.

Meet Saul

Experience
you can trust.

I’m Saul Joshua Abelson. I’ve devoted more than 25 years to the study, practice and teaching of martial arts. My approach is individual, attentive and rooted in experience — with the technical focus and intensity shaped around the person I’m coaching.

25+ years’ experienceBJJ black beltJudo black beltJapanese Jiu-Jitsu black beltBoxing & kickboxing backgroundCoached professional fightersFirst-aid trainedYouth & special-needs coaching experience
“

Martial arts has given me a way to help people become more capable, more resilient and happier in life.

Prof. Saul Abelson
Saul teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu during a private training session.
Western Cape mountains and coastline.

Cape Town & the Winelands

Private coaching at your home, workplace or a suitable venue.

Discuss your location
Service-area map showing Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Franschhoek and Val de Vie.

Cape Town · Stellenbosch · Somerset West · Franschhoek · Val de Vie. Sessions by arrangement; confirm your location with Saul.

Testimonials

Real people.
Real progress.

Serious coaching. Individual attention. Trust earned over time.

“He is calm, intelligent, patient and highly attentive to the person he is training rather than simply running through a syllabus. He has earned my trust and my respect.”

David · Private client

“Private lessons have helped me build a game suited to my age and size. Saul’s complete lack of ego rolling makes a world of difference to a beginner building foundations.”

Ian Calder · Chief Customer Officer · Global Tech platform provider · Paarl

“Saul has an incredible ability to make everyone feel welcome, safe and respected. I especially appreciate the way he works with women and children with such patience and care.”

Margot Mundell · Martial arts academy · Fish Hoek · Blue belt

“Saul took the time to understand my game as it was, so the lesson focused entirely on areas I needed to work on. Personalised training helped massively before my first competition.”

Fergus · 20 · Second-year law student · Stellenbosch

Full testimonial

David

Private client

“I cannot recommend Saul strongly enough. I have trained with a lot of different people, but Saul is one of those rare coaches who understands that good training is about more than simply teaching technique.

From the outset, he was extraordinarily accommodating of my circumstances and consistently went out of his way to make training workable. At the same time, he was completely discreet. I never felt that I had to explain more than I wanted to, nor that anything discussed or observed would become anyone else's business.

He has earned my trust and my respect. Saul's gentle, polite and professional demeanour earns both naturally. He is calm, intelligent, patient and highly attentive to the person he is training rather than simply running through a syllabus.

Saul and Chacma-BJJ have provided an unusually positive training environment for me, and I am genuinely grateful for all his time, patience and expertise. For anyone looking for serious Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction from someone with both competence and character, I would recommend Saul without reservation.”

Full testimonial

Ian Calder

Chief Customer Officer · Global Tech platform provider · Paarl

“I've been training with Saul for approaching a year, but realized that if I wanted to make progress on building a game suited to my age and size, that private lessons would be the way to go.

His complete lack of ego rolling makes a world of difference to a beginner looking to stay motivated while building your foundations.”

Full testimonial

Margot Mundell

Medicine woman · Runs a martial arts academy in Muizenberg · Fish Hoek · Blue belt

“I’ve had the pleasure of training under Professor Saul Abelson, and I can’t recommend him highly enough. He is not only a brilliant coach, but also a true gentle warrior—someone who brings strength, compassion, and professionalism to every class.

Saul has an incredible ability to make everyone feel welcome, safe, and respected. I’ve always felt completely comfortable in his classes, and I especially appreciate the way he works with women and children with such patience and care.

Every session is challenging in the best possible way, and I always walk out feeling lighter, stronger, and more positive. His great sense of humour makes the training even more enjoyable, while his knowledge and professionalism are second to none.

An exceptional coach, a wonderful person, and someone I’m genuinely grateful to have had the opportunity to train with. Highly recommended!”

Full testimonial

Fergus

20 · Second-year law student · Stellenbosch

“Saul is a fantastic coach. I had two sessions with him right in the week before my first competition and I couldn’t have asked for better preparation.

Saul has a personal, comfortable and comprehensive approach to teaching and the experience was incredibly informative, genuinely beyond anything I have encountered in my training thus far.

My absolute favourite part of the experience was, after asking me what I wanted to work on, Saul took the time to roll with me and understand my game as it was. This meant the lesson was entirely focused on areas that I needed to work on which was absolutely brilliant.

Was super nervous going in to my first competition. Personalised training and an amiable, principle focused coach helped massively. Would highly recommend.”

Start the conversation

Let’s build a stronger you.

Ask a question on WhatsApp or send Saul a structured session request. Quick, direct and no obligation.

Train your way
Cape Town & Winelands
Real people. Real progress.