Edward Anthony
@edwardscissorhandsanthony — discipline, darkness, and the long road through jiu jitsu
By Danni Levy
In combat sports, some people fight for belts, some for legacy, and some because the mats are the only place where the noise stops. Edward Anthony falls firmly into the last category.
Known to many as Edward Scissorhands Anthony, he’s a lifelong grappler, school owner, coach, competitor and entrepreneur. His journey spans more than two decades, from early jiu jitsu when black belts were rare, through mental health battles, to running five Brazilian Jiu Jitsu schools and building Atlas Jiu Jitsu as a place where people can put life down for an hour and breathe again.
Below, Anthony speaks in his own words.
What first got you into combat sports?
“The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” he says. “I was obsessed with the show when I was little and it inspired me to research and practice martial arts.”
When you think back to your first fight, what do you remember most?
“When I think back of my first grappling match I remember the nerves going in,” he says, “and then the amazing feeling of accomplishment I felt after winning a match.”
How has your journey evolved since then?
“My first match was over two decades ago,” he says. “Everything has evolved, especially the sport itself.”
Edward explains just how different the landscape was. “When I started jiu jitsu a purple belt was rare, a black belt almost impossible. Now you can find black belts in almost every city.”
His role has changed too. “My journey has evolved from me being just a student to being a teacher, student and owner of five Brazilian Jiu Jitsu schools.”
What mindset or daily discipline defines you?
“When I am on the circuit, I am locked in 100%,” Edward says. “I know the calories in and out of my body, my sleep schedule, training schedule, work schedule and family schedule.”
Everything is structured. “Every part of my life is planned out towards the goal of being the best competitor I can be.”
That shifts when competition isn’t the focus. “When I’m off the circuit, everything is geared towards instructing and being the best teacher I can be.”
What doesn’t change are his core values. “I always live by the code of constant hard work, honesty, loyalty and honour,” he says. “My slogan has always been: Through struggle comes greatness.”
How do you balance the mental and physical sides of training?
“They are both equally important,” he says. “You must be sound in the body and mind to perform best always.”
As he’s got older, priorities have shifted. “I’ve put much more focus on my mind. Therapy, sleeping and talking things out loud always help me.”
Physically, the work is still structured. “Two days a week of strength, three days of cardio and five days of jiu jitsu,” he says. “Everything has to be balanced.”
What’s been your hardest fight — inside or outside competition?
“The hardest fight of my life has definitely been mental health,” Anthony says. “Depression is the hardest thing I have ever had to battle.”
He doesn’t dress it up. “It is a darkness like no other,” he says, “and it is a lifelong battle.”
What do most people misunderstand about making a living in combat sports?
“It is a full-time job that is 24 hours a day,” he says. “If you want to be successful you must be present as a business owner and instructor.”
There’s no off switch. “The job doesn’t stop when you go home,” he says. “It is a constant lifestyle. You must truly love it to be successful.”
How have sponsorships or partnerships played a role in your career?
“Sponsorships have helped me travel the world to compete,” he says. “They are a big help, but they definitely don’t pay the bills.”
If you could change one thing about fighter pay and support, what would it be?
“Fighters sacrifice everything; body, mind and soul, for the art they love,” he says. “The pay rarely reflects this.”
Even at the top, it’s tough. “At the pro level you usually don’t see money unless you make it to the very top.”
His priorities are practical. “I would love to see all medicals and travel covered for every fighter, and a decent pay scale.”
Do you see yourself as more than a fighter?
“I’m a grappler who has become an entrepreneur and creator,” he says. “I love hard work and constantly working towards goals.”
Platforms like Combat Market giving fighters ownership are emerging — how important is that?
“I would love to work with a company like Combat Market,” he says. “I’ve never had the chance to, but it sounds like it could be great for the future of combat sports.”
Quickfire
Best knockout you’ve ever witnessed?
“McGregor vs Aldo.”
Who would you most love to spar with?
“Marcelo Garcia.”
One piece of advice for fighters starting out?
“Consistency is key.”
The next 100 years of combat will be all about…
“MMA.”
Why jiu jitsu became your life
Before jiu jitsu, Anthony was a professional actor. “What I loved about acting was that when people came to see a show, everything going on in their life could be put on hold,” he says. “For two hours, the weight of everyday life was lifted.”
When his father became ill, that path stopped. Training others began instead, and the same feeling returned. “Helping people better their lives through exercise,” he says.
Eventually, it all merged. “One hour a day I’d go to jiu jitsu class and the weight of the day was lifted off my shoulders,” he says. “Jiu jitsu combined everything I loved.”
That’s where Atlas Jiu Jitsu was born. “Atlas held the weight of the galaxy on his shoulders,” Anthony says. “Atlas Jiu Jitsu would be a place where people could come, train, and have the weight lifted off.”
For Edward Anthony, the fight has never just been about winning — it’s been about carrying weight, and learning how to put it down.
