Lori O'Connell has trained in the martial arts for over 23 years and taught for over 20 years. She is the owner and head instructor of Pacific Wave Jiu-jitsu in Richmond, BC, which she has been running since January 2006. She holds the rank of 5th degree black belt in a Japanese style of Jiu-jitsu called Can-ryu, and has trained in a wide variety of other styles to supplement her training in her primary style. She is a regular instructor at the Canadian Jiu-jitsu Union winter and summer camps, and has taught Jiu-jitsu/self-defense workshops and seminars at martial arts schools/organizations, private companies, and community organizations across Canada.
Can-ryu Jiu-jitsu Instructor & School Owner
As part of her involvement with Professor Georges Sylvain's development of the Can-Ryu 2000 program, Lori was one of the main demonstration models in several of his training videos including The Persuader Key Holder Self-Defense System, Police Pressure Point Techniques and The Use & Application of Pepper Spray Against Dogs.
Lori has taught martial arts for over 20 years in Canada and abroad. She started teaching at her home dojo in Ottawa, moving on to teach at the University of Ottawa. She later moved to Iwaki, Japan, where she lived and worked on the JET Program for 3 years. She started a club there, teaching both Japanese people and foreigners living there. After she finished her teaching contract in Japan, she moved to Vancouver where she eventually founded West Coast Jiu-jitsu in January 2006 (recently renamed 'Pacific Wave Jiu-jitsu'), which has grown steadily since it started to become the dojo it is today.
Other Martial Arts Training
In addition to Jiu-jitsu, Lori has trained in a variety of other arts to broaden her perspective, including Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, MMA, Western Boxing, Shotokan Karate (brown belt), Aikido, Hapkido, Taichi, Taekwondo, Wing Chun and more besides. Her original introduction to the world of martial arts pre-dating her Jiu-jitsu training was western fencing, in which she competed at the national level and in the university circuit for 7 years. She is currently doing regular training in Shorinji Kan Jiu-jitsu, KoKoDo Jujutsu and Filipino martial arts as a supplement to her activities at her own dojo. She firmly believes in continual learning and progress in the martial arts.
Martial Arts Author / Blogger
In addition to her martial arts training and teaching, Lori has published 2 books. Her most recent book, When the Fight Goes to the Ground: Jiu-jitsu Strategies & Tactics for Self-Defense, was written for Tuttle Publishing, an international publisher of martial arts books. She also wrote Weapons of Opportunity, about her personal experiences teaching and training in the martial arts. Lori also writes regularly on her dojo's martial arts blog.
