Daniel Burzotta
Daniel Burzotta; Born on 28 December 1974 in Mazara Del Vallo, Italy is a Mixed Martial Artist. He is the Founder and Head Instructor of the TSG MMA (Team Sure Grip Mixed Martial Arts) Schools. He is also the Co-Founder of UWC - Ultimate Warrior Challenge which promotes and organises MMA events. He trains some of the best MMA Fighters in the UK, Europe and Middle East.
Burzotta has trained under legends Royce Gracie & Renzo Gracie and has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a black belt in Judo, and has been graded by Royce Gracie himself to a black belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Dan is the only European, to date, to achieved the latter. He has won the UK Jiu Jitsu Championship twice as well as the European Jui Jitsu, beating Remco pardoel.
Burzotta has won the International Jiu Jitsu Glod Medal 8 times. He won the United Nations Heavy Weight Championship twice, the Open Combat Championship and the UK Gold Medal in Judo. Burzotta's further achievements are winning the MMA UKMMAC Title Belt and being the Cage Rage Winner in 2004.
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Early life
Burzotta was born on 28 December 1974 in Mazara Del Vallo, Italy to Salvatore & Patricia Burzotta (née Helsby). He has 3 brothers, Alex, Riccardo & Davide. Salvatore Burzotta moved to the UK when Daniel was 14 years old. He opened an Italian Restaurant in Southend On Sea called El Pescatore (The Fisherman) which is run by Members of the Burzotta family. Salvatore's wife Patricia Burzotta was a Jazz Dancer and loved music, perhaps this is where Daniel's Brother, Davide, gets his musical skills from. Davide Burzotta is an Opera singer and his talent is often performed at the Family Restaurant. While Alex, with whom Daniel co-founded UWC - Ultimate Warrior Challenge with, manages the promotional side of the MMA Events in the UK and abroad.
Daniel started Karate lessons at the age of 13. In 1993, he took on Kick Boxing and reached Black Belt. In 1997, Burzotta decided to turn to Judo Jiu Jitsu and subsequently won the UK Gold Medal.
Personal life
Daniel Burzotta is married and has 2 boys. He is very close to his Family. The Burzotta's restaurant is run by Members of their Family and Daniel is always there.
TSGMMA Schools
In 2002, Burzotta opened his first Fight School in Southend On Sea, England, naming it Team Sure Grip Mixed Martial Arts. The School started teaching Brazilian Jui Jitsu and Vale Tudo and expanded to Mixed Martial Arts including Muay Thai. , Valentino Petrescu & Ivan "The Terrible" Serati.|Daniel Burzotta, Stav Economou, Valentino Petrescu & Ivan "The Terrible" Serati''.]] At the TSGMMA School, Burzotta saw the potential in many of his Trainees. This was the mental attitude rather than the physical side of Fighting. Burzotta would train his Pupils hard to achieve results but he believes that their mental attitude is paramount. He always refers to the Buddha proverb: "The man that conquers himself is superior to the man who conquers a thousand man in battle".
Burzotta's School went on to produce many Fighters who won Title Belts including Valentino Petrescu, Ivan Serati and Stav Economou. {{-}} .|Daniel & Alex Burzotta with Ian Freeman.]] Burzotta trained Ian Freeman in 2008 in order to regain his British Cage Rage Light Heavyweight title prior to Freeman's retirement from MMA. Ian trained at the TSGMMA School under Burzotta to fight Paul Cahoon on May 10, 2008, for the title. He won after three rounds with a unanimous decision.
Following his retirement, Freeman now hosts Burzotta's UWC - Ultimate Warrior Challenge events throughout the UK {{-}} Burzotta refers to the TSGMMA Fighters as a Family rather than Fighters. Burzotta's TSG Family has now expanded. There are TSGMMA Schools in Thurrock & Harlow in the UK, in Norway, Italy and Dubai. {{-}}
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Burzotta trained with the Gracie Family and traveled to Los Angeles, U.S in 1997 to join them for 2 weeks of constant training.
Ever since, Burzotta kept training with them and especially Royce Gracie who subsequently awarded him the Gracie Jiu Jitsu Black Belt. Rarely given, Burzotta enjoys the status of being the only European to date to have a Black Belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu.
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Burzotta is now very close to the Gracie Family and even mentions the Legendary Hélio Gracie on his TSGMMA website front page.