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