Hardianism | Hardian Kristiady – Building a submission grappling family

Hardian Kristiady is a Black Belt under Niko Han of Synergy BJJ and now leads the GF Team affiliate known as Hardianism in Indonesia. Along with his 2 sons Randolf and Verontino they lead a up and coming competitive team.

BJJASIA: Can you kindly introduce yourself?

Hardian: Hello, my name is Hardian Kristiady, head coach of Hardianism Hidden Submission Jiu Jitsu. I am black belt 2nd degree from GF Team International.

My professional achievement from the past years:

2007: Champion of Indonesian Submission championship
2008: Champion of Java Submission Championship 2008
2013: Champion of Indonesian Submission championship
2015: Champion of Indonesian Badass Championship
2016: Champion of Philippine ADCC

BJJASIA: How did you start training in BJJ?

Hardian: I started training BJJ back in July 2003 with Niko Han from Synergy BJJ Academy in Jakarta. BJJ had come to my attention deeply especially when I watched UFC 1, 2 and 4 when Royce Gracie won the match with BJJ (submission).

BJJASIA: What drew you to the gentle art?

Hardian: Jiu Jitsu is literally interpreted as gentle art in Japanese, what is interesting and challenging part is the energy efficiency. It is how to use the right techniques in a very fast moment to get right positions or submission attempt even though our opponents are way bigger and stronger. It also means giving our opponent a chance to tap out before being seriously injured.

But when it comes to competition, the situation might be different and can be challenging. Everyone will try to win the match by using all their strength and speed when taking better positions or submissions, and mostly Jiu Jitsu athletes build very strong and athletic bodies to maximize all the techniques they have including strength, speed and endurance.

For me personally, BJJ is a fascinating martial art indeed. It is renowned for its emphasis on leverage, technique, and submissions rather than relying on strength alone. What draws me to it is its intricacy and the strategic aspect involved in grappling with an opponent. There is a beauty in the way BJJ practitioners maneuver and control their opponents using technique and timing rather than brute force.

Additionally, the fellowship and respect within the BJJ community are admirable, it is not just about competition but also about personal development and mutual growth.

BJJASIA: You are now part of GF Team Association, how did that connection come about?

Hardian: We (Hardianism) joined GF Team International because if we want to compete at a higher level we need maximum support and when we looked for an affiliate that suited our conditions, it turned out that GF Team was the most suitable team. We felt full support with a relationship like family, which helps each branch to develop for the better and that continues to this day.

BJJASIA: When and how did you get your Black Belt?

Hardian: I got my black belt in April 2017, by Prof. Niko Han after I won the 2016 Philippine ADCC: gold medal in <65kg class and silver medal in the absolute division.

BJJASIA: What is the Jiu Jitsu scene in Indonesia like?

Hardian: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) has quickly become a global sensation in the martial arts world, and Indonesia is no exception. The BJJ scene in Indonesia has grown exponentially, staging a number of international competitions and bringing prominent BJJ practitioners to provide seminars and workshops. The growth of BJJ in Indonesia has been further accelerated by this interchange of information and skills. BJJ is more than just a martial art, it is a way of life. It has unified communities, had a great effect on people, and opened doors to a world of personal development.

The growing number of BJJ schools, tournaments, and practitioners across the archipelago suggests a good future for the sport. As we know that Jiu Jitsu in Indonesia is growing rapidly, because it is not only seen as a sport but BJJ has power to change people physically and emotionally. Competitions have been held locally and nationally, and also the opening of BJJ Academies affiliated with big teams such as Gracie Barra and Alliance generating more interest in Indonesia. So there is no question that Indonesia BJJ has a promising future.

BJJASIA: What do you think it would take to accelerate the growth of BJJ in Indonesia?

Hardian: The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu scene in Indonesia has been steadily growing over the years. While it may not be as prominent as in some other countries, there is a passionate community of practitioners and a growing number of gyms/ academies across the country.

There are regular seminars, workshops, and tournaments organized throughout the year, which further contribute to the development and popularity of BJJ in Indonesia. The sport’s inclusive nature and emphasis on technique over strength make it appealing to people of all ages and backgrounds, contributing to its increasing popularity in the country.

One of the most crucial part in growth is marketing; through competitions in collaboration with large organizations such as IBJJF, ADCC and AJP will make top level competitors compete in Indonesia and will by osmosis raise the standard level of Indonesian BJJ, this will trigger the opening of new BJJ Academies in Indonesia.

BJJASIA: In terms of competing Submission Grappling and Jiu Jitsu, what rules set do you favor the most?

Hardian: I prefer submission grappling match rules because more suitable for players who have good takedowns technique, players who always look for submissions without worrying about getting negative points, and also for players who like to look for points.

BJJASIA: You seem to have a very competitively successful team, what do you credit your success for?

Hardian: Hardianism’s success in every competition is a credit to every team member, both those competing and those helping during the competition prep period. There is no special individual in the team, everyone is the same, everyone trains together, develops together and becomes a winning team together. So all credit is for and belongs to all Hardianism members.

BJJASIA: How do you find the training environment in Asia compared to other regions in the world?

Hardian: It depends on the country, even in Asia, each country has a different training atmosphere, such as in Indonesia there are still not enough BJJ classes that have programs for competition classes, BJJ for lifestyle is more popular. The training environment for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Asia varies widely from country to country and even within different regions of the same country.

Overall, the BJJ training environment in Asia is dynamic and evolving, with each country and region offering its own unique opportunities and challenges for practitioners. As the sport continues to grow in popularity across the continent, we can expect to see further development and integration of BJJ into the broader martial arts landscape in Asia.

BJJASIA: Correct me if I am wrong, you have two sons Randolf and Verontino? I had the pleasure of watching Verontino competing at ADCC Bangkok. When did they start training Jiu-Jitsu?

Hardian: Yes Randolf and Verontino both have been training with me since they were seniors in high school. Randolf started training in 2012 and Verontino started training in 2015. They are champions in several No-gi competitions in both Indonesia and Asia as well. Randolf competes in the medium-heavy weight class while Verontino in the light weight class. Randolf just got promoted to Black Belt on the 23rd of February 2024 and Verontino currently holds a Purple Belt.

Both of them are actively compete in the professional division at ADCC.

BJJASIA: What is the most influential or biggest achievement in your career so far?

Hardian: My biggest achievement was when I won the Philippine ADCC in the Adult Pro -65kg class and a silver medal in the Absolute class, and when Hardianism Team has managed to be the overall champion in all weight classes every year, in championships across Indonesia such as the Indonesian Submission Championships.

BJJASIA: You seem to focus a little more on No-Gi rather than Gi? Is there a reason why?

Hardian: It is true that I am a little more focussed on No-Gi rather than Gi, when BJJ first came to Indonesia, the price of a Gi at that time was quite expensive for us, due to heavy import and custom tax made the price of a gi even more expensive. At that time, there were still very few people interested in competitions in Indonesia, so the competitions we participated in were largely submission grappling matches where the competitors who took part were from wrestling and sambo backgrounds. Even though I prefer No-Gi, I also train Gi at the same time, because each style has it owns unique benefits and challenges, and practicing both will enhance my overall skillset.

BJJASIA: How would you evaluate the current trends in Jiu Jitsu? What do you think of the future of Jiu Jitsu in Indonesia?

Hardian: Currently the trend in Jiu-Jitsu is to combine all styles of wrestling (freestyle, greco, folkstyle) with fast and aggressive pacing. In Indonesia, the future of Jiu-Jitsu is still in the process of forming competitors at a higher level, in Indonesia it’s clearly evolving, and the future seems quite promising. The practitioners passion and commitment, coupled with the assistance of the teachers and mentors, have created a solid base for progress. The presence of Indonesian competitors in international BJJ tournaments has also helped the sport get more recognition by exhibiting the skills of our countries representatives.

Additionally, Indonesian BJJ practitioners may stay linked to the international BJJ community while always learning and improving their skills thanks to the accessibility of BJJ through online resources and social media. Because of the quick interchange of information being sparked by this interconnection, Indonesian BJJ will continue to be competitive and relevant.

BJJASIA: Which country do you think is the fastest growing in terms of grappling in Asia right now?

Hardian: Several countries in Asia have shown significant growth in grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) in recent years. While in South East Asia, Singapore is currently the fastest growing country in Asia with the opening of many BJJ classes affiliated with large teams with accomplished coaches. Also we now have high level international competitions being held in Singapore such as the ADCC trials and Thailand.

BJJASIA: How do you approach your coaching?

Hardian: My coaching approach involves a combination of technical instruction, individualized feedback, positive reinforcement, and fostering a supportive learning environment.

My training methodology  is to differentiate the material for each member (personalized) as each practitioner has a unique body in terms of strength, flexibility and proportion of body parts, therefore they practice BJJ which is adapted to their own body which are different from others. The composition of each session is 20% drilling, 30% specific sparring and 50% free sparring.

With a holistic approach that addresses technical, physical, and mental aspects of training, I believe I can help each individual in the team to reach their full potential in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while fostering a lifelong love for the sport.

BJJASIA: Who do you draw inspiration from in terms of coaches and competitors?

Hardian: Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art that continues to develop every year with techniques that are always being refined. The inspiration for me at the start of training was Eddie Bravo, how he was able to create a different style of Jiu Jitsu at that time, something unique and it turns out it can be proven through competition. This is what always encourages me to continue to be creative in Jiu-Jitsu instead of waiting for new techniques on BJJ forums.

BJJASIA: What are your future plans?

Hardian: In the future, my plan is to make Hardianism the first team in Indonesia that is able to compete in world class events and become champions. In conjunction with this plan, I also plan to focus on establishing clear developmental goals for my students and provide guidance on how to achieve them. This may involve setting specific milestones, developing personalized training plans, and monitoring progress over time.

My other plan is to build and develop a high-quality team personally and professionally and starting from an even younger age. I would like to place a strong emphasis on developing a sense of community and teamwork, starting from our kids programs. By fostering a strong team spirit from a young age, I believe BJJ can create a supportive and inclusive community. 

Starting BJJ from a young age can have a profound and positive impact on a childs physical, mental, and emotional development, setting them up for success both on and off the mats.

BJJASIA: Lastly, who would you like to thank?

Hardian: I would like to thank each members of the Hardianism team who have trained together to become better everyday, by trusting the training methods at Hardianism.

I also want to thank the special international GFT Team, Master Julio who wants to accept us as part of GFT big family.