Hi there, Just wondering if anyone knows if there is a country wide BJJ body, like there is for judo? Basically I want to start looking round my area to see if there are any clubs in driving distance and need somewhere to do a club search. Any thoughts? Based in SE england - hants.
Well, there are certain organisations that have clubs in a number of areas - Gracie Barra being the obvious one - but I don't think there is a national governing body. I could be wrong though, only been in the sport a few months.
Yes, first result from Google - here. Where are you based? There's a club listing on that site that probably has somewhere at least vaguely near you. If not, plenty of non-Gracie Barra clubs about, such as Carlson Gracie's in London, along with certain MMA gyms that offer BJJ in the curriculum.
These any good? Gracie Barra clubs: http://gracie-barra.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=category§ionid=5&id=71&Itemid=71 BLUE WAVE Address: L.A.Fitness morton hall Industrial Est. Bury Sy Edmunds Suffolk Description: MMA with Lee Doski, BJJ Brazilian Top Team Class Times: MMA Fri 6.00pm - 8.00pm, BJJ Weds 9.00 - 10.15 pm Sun 3.00 - 5.00pm Cost: £5.00 Contact: Windy Miller Tel: 01449 780248 Mobile: 07799 403584 e-mail: windy.mail@virgin.net CARLSON GRACIE TONBRIDGE Address: Swanmead Sports Ground Description: BJJ has arrived in West Kent. Class Times: Friday at 7.00pm Cost: £6.00 Contact: Dave Tel: 07940872373
Heh - might help if I actually bother reading your posts properly. Ahem. I'd check out the ones Ghost Frog mentioned: Carlson Gracie's clubs have a good rep, especially for BJJ geared towards MMA. So, Hampshire would presumably mean the big towns near you are places like Southampton and Bournemouth? There is BJJ in Bournemouth, at Sleeping Storm - seem to remember hearing good things about that club.
Bit further north than bournemouth (near the surrey border) so it's places like basingstoke, farnborough. Still, this is all good stuff to go on.
If you just want to grapple (as opposed to bjj) I can recommend Gaz Roriston and Alex Reids class in the Budokan, Frimley (it's a two part class striking for an hour and grappling for the second half) Out towards Reading/Wokingham you've got RW martial arts school with some grappling and MMA. There also used to be BJJ at the camberley judo club but it isn't running at present. You are more likely to get MMA schools with specific grappling sessions than pure BJJ. Hope that helps - pm me if not and I'll fill in what I know (I'm based in Aldershot so probably not a million miles away, and I've flitted in and out of a lot of classes at one time or another!)
It is grappling I'm looking at, I just know BJJ tends to be regarded as the daddy in that area... Alex is teaching grappling now?? He can't have been doing that for more than few years, surely? (I remember Alex when he used to train Lau Gar with us!!) What day is that then? be interested to check it out. I am near aldershot, yes. Based in lovely Farnborough. :/
Reidy has had several cage fights, and can roll, but mostly focuses on the kickboxing side of things, and Gaz trains the groundwork. I haven't been down there for about a year (gotta get my fat ass back down there - maybe this is the kickstart I need!). It is on Thursdays, but I'll need to check the times
The class runs 7-9.30 Until 8.15 it's K1 and dirty boxing, after that it's grappling and vale tudo. Good mix of guys, several fighters - I think Phil Else trains there and he's on the next FX3 card. (They've always been very patient with me, and I'm a big fat spaz novice) Budokan is on the other side of the road to the station in Frimley - let me know if you need anything else PS Nothing wrong with lovely Farnborough!
Can I ask what Gaz's training is in? and what his level of experience is? Not heard of him... I know Alex switched to cage stuff a few years ago, and his kickboxing knowledge is good - just unsure of his grapplings skills. I may be totally wrong on dates though. I know where the club is though - Used to train with Gary Turner on and off.
Gaz has fought in the cage, and teaches sub wrestling. No particular style, and I don't know where he learnt it, but he impresses the heck outta me - slick, technical and very knowledgeable. I know instructors in other schools who take private classes from him, if that is a useful reference. Don't want to broadcast names, but some good people rate him pretty highly. It is a very relaxed club, so you might do best to turn up, have a class and see what you think.
That sounds like a reasonable endorsement to me, I just want to be sure I'd be getting decent training. I might well have to pop along since it's so close. Have to wait a bit as my knee is playing up at the moment and I doubt my physio would appreciate me getting it in a leg lock!
