Perez siblings now legally classified as ‘regional hazard’ in five countries
Rochdale has produced many things over the years, pies, political scandals, and that one bloke who once ate 12 Greggs in a single sitting, but now, it can add “international jiu-jitsu dynasty” to its increasingly diverse CV.
Meet the Perez brothers, Andrew (13), Colin (12), and Ethan (10), who are currently submitting the planet one championship at a time. While most kids their age are mastering Fortnite or sulking through maths, the Perez trio are out here collecting medals like Pokémon cards and making international opponents tap out before they’ve even unpacked their gi.
The eldest, Andrew, has had a particularly brutal summer. He took gold at the IBJJF Los Angeles Summer Kids International Open, became World Champion in Florida, and then nipped over to Las Vegas to grab another gold at the largest youth jiu-jitsu tournament in the world, because why not? You might as well conquer a continent or two before Year 9 starts.
His brothers, not to be outdone, have also claimed European and national titles, ensuring that family board games are now banned, and any disagreement over the dinner rota ends with someone in a triangle choke.
Rochdale MP Paul Waugh met the brothers recently to congratulate them and not, as some feared, to ask for self-defence lessons. “They’re an inspiration,” he said, while eyeing their trophy collection and quietly reconsidering his own achievements. “Their discipline and sportsmanship are a credit to Rochdale, and a mild concern to their opponents.”
The boys train across Greater Manchester and Calderdale at places like RIO Grappling, Predators MMA, and Judo Excellence, names that sound less like sports clubs and more like underground gladiator camps. Andrew reportedly trains seven days a week, which has prompted Rochdale Council to list him as an “Area of Outstanding Physical Intimidation.”
Behind the medals is a story of resilience. Andrew, who started training at seven after facing bullying, now represents both Rochdale and the UK, not with a PowerPoint or a football scarf, but by flipping people into submission in front of international crowds.
Between them, the Perez brothers have turned Rochdale into a global hotspot for youth combat sports. Neighbours report hearing regular thuds, motivational shouting, and the occasional sound of a confused opponent muttering “how is he only ten?!”
Reporting from down the M62, we at the Rochdale Times offer our congratulations to the Perez brothers, and our sincere hope they never find out we wrote this article.
