This is a conversation with Frane Velčić — a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under the Checkmat organization, a member of the Croatian national team, and the founder of BJJ Pura Vida on the island of Cres. This article brings you a combination of his words, reflections, and life philosophy, along with summaries of the most important moments from our conversation.
Frane has dedicated his entire life to martial arts, and his passion for BJJ evolved into creating a community that raises new generations of athletes — not just on Cres, but beyond. We touched on everything: from his beginnings and inspirations, to his vision for the sport's growth, and the personal moments that left the deepest mark.
If you're curious what it looks like to truly live the BJJ philosophy — this is a story you don’t want to miss.
Frane Velčić (35) is a black belt under the Checkmat organization, a member of the Croatian national team (both as a competitor and coach), and the founder of BJJ Pura Vida. He started training martial arts at the age of seven, beginning with karate — at the time, the only option available on Cres.
The Bushido code and the whole ninja/samurai story always fascinated me as a kid — and it still does.
After Shotokan karate, he quickly transitioned to more contact-based sports with friends — all of whom idolized the legendary Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović. He got more seriously into MMA during university, but his first real encounter with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came via TV — when Minotauro Nogueira defeated Cro Cop in Pride with an armbar.
We were all like — ‘What is this?! A spectacle.’ It really blew our minds.
Thanks to his build, wrestling came to him quite naturally, and the idea that you could use the body as a weapon in various ways — to neutralize someone without a typical “beatdown” — instantly hooked him. After having four to five MMA fights, he did a sparring session with a 15-year-old who kept catching him in various triangle chokes. Instead of discouraging him, this experience only deepened his fascination with Jiu Jitsu and fueled his motivation to master the art.
At the time, BJJ was almost synonymous with MMA in our region — there wasn’t yet a clear distinction between the two in the general mindset. Although there was no official system or federation, a small group of enthusiasts slowly broke ground — often in a wild, trial-and-error kind of way — and began building the scene step by step.
The Balkans proved to be fertile ground for martial arts, mainly due to the mentality and genetic predispositions of the people. As MMA grew in popularity, so did interest in BJJ, and for many, it all started with Mirko’s fights.
When it comes to BJJ knowledge, the Balkans are ten years behind the world, and Cres is ten years behind Croatia — but that’s definitely changing now.
Frane moved to Cres for several reasons, but he had always dreamed of opening a school in a beautiful, coastal, exotic location. He also always had a natural pull toward being an educator.
Even back then, I was daydreaming with a friend about this exact location, this exact gym — and everything it is today.
Starting out wasn’t too hard — Cres is a small place, so word travels fast. But that can also be a double-edged sword, as the number of people is limited. Still, the children’s program was successful from the very beginning.
The small size of Cres can be a double-edged sword.
On one hand, it can be limiting, but from a coaching and organizational perspective, it offers unique advantages. This environment gave young local girls, who previously had few athletic opportunities, a chance to find themselves in sport.
I’ve never believed someone can just give you something… If you want it — you’ll find a way.
A number of people on Cres showed strong enthusiasm, and the small setting made it possible to dedicate time to each individual, helping form a tight-knit community. According to Frane, Croatia is now at a turning point — more and more gyms are becoming professionally run, and people are willing and able to invest serious time and effort to build something meaningful.
From the younger generation of Cres athletes, he highlighted these national team members (U21):
The COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges, especially since BJJ is a close-contact sport. During that time, many people — particularly the youth — dropped out of training, which left a noticeable mark on the club dynamic.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, the opportunity arose — the right time and the right place — to expand the club to Rijeka.
A top chef needs a great restaurant.
The idea is for the Cres club to partly act as an incubator, where young athletes can start their journey. Later, if they move to Rijeka for school or work, they’ll have a place to continue training and developing within the same community.
It’s important to recognize the potential that lies in being part of the Croatian BJJ Federation and the value of a structured, organized system. Despite some resistance still present in the community, proper organization is key for the sport’s future growth.
Judo in Croatia already has a very well-developed and functional system — something the BJJ community could learn from. It’s hard to expect serious progress if everything relies on part-time enthusiasts who don’t have the means to fully commit.
The vision for BJJ Pura Vida is to create a full-circle system, with a high-quality training center on Cres at its core. The long-term goal is for athletes from Rijeka or Cres to one day return to the club — as coaches, mentors, or supporters — helping the community grow from within.
...Injuries and challenges.
Frane has dedicated his entire life to martial arts, and the previously mentioned Bushido code has always been his personal compass. Driven by a pursuit of perfection — even knowing it’s unattainable — that constant effort gives him inner peace. The same kind of peace BJJ itself provides through the daily search for a stronger, better version of oneself.
Beyond the physical and mental aspects, one of the most important things BJJ has given him is the community. Through it, Frane has met his closest friends and lived through some of the most meaningful moments of his life — both good and bad.
Frane has had many memorable moments, and he’s already achieved most of his personal goals in the sport — earning a black belt, competing for the national team, teaching seminars… But there’s one moment that immediately comes to mind, which he says perfectly represents what he hopes to build with BJJ Pura Vida.
It happened last year at the Croatian National Championship and the Pula Open. The club won the overall team category at the national level, and Frane also took home a medal.
There was this moment… The youngest competitors were warming up, the intermediate group was actively fighting, and the cadets were standing off to the side watching. That whole full-circle moment — when I saw that, I just knew: this is it.
For Frane, it’s not about the gear, the gym, or the appearance — it’s about intent. He constantly emphasizes that consistency and showing up are what truly matter.
The gym doesn’t matter, the fancy stuff doesn’t matter… If you want it — you can do it.
Just show up. There are no shortcuts." It’s that simple.
Frane Velčić’s story shows how martial arts can be more than just training — it’s a lifestyle, a philosophy, and a community. From a small island gym to representing his country, his journey proves what can be achieved through dedication, effort, and love for the sport. BJJ Pura Vida is not just a club — it’s a place of growth, a circle that completes itself and continues to expand with each generation.