title: On Jiu Jitsu
author:  Chris Matakas 
description: Chris Matakas is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blackbelt under Ricardo Almeida. He has published four books regarding using Jiu Jitsu as a vehicle for personal development. He was born in New Jersey, USA in 1986, where he currently resides.
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  PUFFIN BOOKS
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../images/00009.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chris Bradford likes to fly through the air. He’s thrown himself over Victoria
  Falls on a bungee cord, out of an aeroplane in New Zealand and off a French
  mountain on a paraglider, but he’s always managed to land safely – something
  he learnt from his martial arts…
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chris joined a judo club aged seven where his love of throwing people over his
  shoulder, punching the air and bowing lots started. Since those early years,
  he has trained in karate, kickboxing and samurai swordmanship and has earned
  his black belt in Kyo Shin taijutsu, the secret fighting art of the ninja.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Before writing the Young Samurai series, Chris was a professional musician and
  songwriter. He’s even performed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (but he
  suspects she found his band a bit noisy).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Chris lives in a village on the South Downs with his wife and two cats, called
  Tigger and Rhubarb.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  To di