Head Instructor - Chris Rees

Chris is a brown belt under Braulio Estima and an official instructor under the Gracie Barra Association. He has over twenty years of martial arts experience and holds black belts in traditional Ju-Jutsu, Shotokan Karate and Aikido.

Chris has been teaching martial arts to children and adults since 2002 and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2004. You can expect to be guided through your BJJ practice from beginning to end with each technique broken down and fully explained in a relaxed, safe and friendly atmosphere.

Private lessons with Chris are £20  per hour.

Chris' Bio;

   1991: Awarded Shotokan Karate 1st Dan by Barrie Mainwaring (5th Dan)
   1996: Awarded Aikido 1st Dan by Gwyn Jones (6th Dan Head of Shin gi tai Aikido
            Association)
   1999: Awarded Japanese Ju Jutsu 1st Dan by Anthony Rigdon
   2001: Awarded Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt by Carley Gracie
   2004: Started training as purple belt with Braulio Estima & Roger Gracie
   14/12/08: Awarded Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt by Braulio Estima

   

   1997 Southern Open Submission Grappling Championships (<75kg) - Bronze
  
1997 British Open Submission Grappling Championships (<75kg) - Silver
  
1998 Southern Open Gi Championships (<80kg) - Gold
   1998 Northern Open Submission Grappling Championships (<80kg) - Gold
   1998 Midlands Open Submission Grappling Championships (<80kg) - Gold
   1998 British Open Submission Grappling Championships (<80kg) - Gold
   1998 British Open Submission Grappling Championships (open weight) - Gold
   1998 European Invitational Submission Grappling (open weight) - Gold
   2000 Midlands Open Submission Grappling Championships (100kg+) - Bronze
   2000 Southern Open Submission Grappling Championships (<100kg) - Gold
   2002 British Open Submission Grappling (open weight) - Gold
   2003 British Open Submission Grappling (open weight) - Gold
   2007 Member of the UK purple belt team vs. Team Brazil at the
          CBJJ European Championships
   2007 Competed in the inaugural 10k Ground Clash
   2008 Gracie Invitational (purple belt <88.3kg) - Bronze
   2008 Gracie Invitational team event - Bronze
   2010 IBJJF European Championships (masters brown belt <88.3kg) - Bronze

 

Instructor - Rob Taylor

 

 

Rob started training in January 2005 and is now a purple belt under Braulio Estima. He assists Chris in both the childrens and adults classes. He also teaches the Sunday morning class and covers for any lessons when Chris is unavailable.

Private lessons with Rob are £15 per hour.


Rob's bio;

   30/10/05: Awarded blue belt by Braulio Estima
   08/04/07: Awarded purple belt by Braulio Estima

   2006 Welsh Open Grappling Championships (<80kg) - Gold
   2007 British Submission Grappling Championships (<80kg) - Gold
   2007 Grapple & Strike Amateur League Welterweight Champion (<77kg)
   2009 Celtic Open BJJ (purple belt open weight) - Silver
   2009 British Open BJJ (purple belt <82.3kg) - Silver
   2010 IBJJF European Championships (masters purple belt <82.3kg) - Silver
   2010 Hereford Open III (purple belt <82.3kg) - Silver

          Amateur MMA record:  5-0-0 (see HERE for details)



Assistant Instructor - Steve Pascoe

 

 

Steve started training in June 2005 and is currently a purple belt under Braulio Estima. He helps out with the adults and childrens classes and teaches if both Chris and Rob are unavailable. Steve also teaches the basics class on Wednesday evenings.

 


Steve's bio;

   19/11/06: Awarded blue belt by Braulio Estima
   24/06/09: Awarded purple belt by Braulio Estima

   2006 (Oct) Combat Academy Gi Championships (<86kg) - Silver
   2007 (Apr) Combat Academy Gi Championships (<86kg) - Bronze
   2007 (Oct) Combat Academy Gi Championships (<78kg) - Gold
   2008 (Dec) Combat Academy Gi Blue Belt (open weight) - Silver
   2009 (Jul) Combat Academy Nogi Championships (<80kg advanced) - Silver

   2010 (Mar) Welsh BJJ Open (purple belt <82.3kg) - Silver

   


Assistant Instructor - Ash Williams 

 

Ash started training in May 2007 and is currently a blue belt under Braulio Estima. He helps out with the adults and childrens classes in the Swansea academy, teaches the Saturday lesson in Cardiff and also teaches when other instructors are unavailable. Ash is also a black belt in traditional ju-jitsu.

 




Ash's bio;

   03/08/08: Awarded blue belt by Braulio Estima

   2007 (May) Combat Academy Kumite (>65kg juniors) - Silver
   2007 (Oct) Combat Academy Gi Championships (>60kg juniors) - Gold
   2007 Worcester Groundfighting Championships (<60kg juniors) - Gold
   2007 (Oct) Combat Academy Kumite (>65kg juniors) - Gold
   2007 (Dec) Combat Academy Nogi Championships (<65kg) - Gold
   2008 British Schools Judo Championships (<60kg) - Bronze
   2008 (Feb) Worcester Kumite (<65kg juniors) - Silver
   2008 Bristol Open (white belt <64kg) - Silver   
   2008 Welsh Open (white belt <64kg) - Silver  
   2008 (May) Combat Academy Kumite (>65kg juniors) - Gold  
   2008 (May) Combat Academy Gi Championships (>71kg) - Bronze
 
   2008 Gracie Invitational (juvenile <65kg) - Gold 

   2009 British Nogi Open (juvenile <64kg) - Gold 
   2009 British Nogi Open (intermediate/blue belt <67kg) - Silver   
   2010 Welsh Open (blue belt <64kg) - Gold
   2010 Spartan Grapple Challenge (advanced <68kg) - Bronze

          Amateur MMA record:  2-0-0