Gracie
Barra North
Gracie
Barra North — Doncaster and Bradford in the house!
Report
by Carl Fisher, 11 January 2004
As
the spread of Gracie Jiu Jitsu continues in the UK, two academies are now setting
the standard for BJJ in the North of England. Gracie Barra Doncaster’s roots
travel back to 2000, when Ben Poppleton began training with Andy Williams, Charlie
Martin and Neil Owen. From this point, the lads met Neil White, captain of the
British Olympic Wrestling team and Yorkshire Judo champion for over ten years
and Steve Gorthorpe, who used to train with Judo legend Neil Adams; through hard
work and dedication, this team of grapplers formed the nucleus of what has turned
out to be the most prolific BJJ club in the North of England.
Doncaster
Crew
The
club was officially formed after Ben attended Gracie Camp in March 2001;Ben told
Carlos Jr that he had a group of guys training back in the UK and the original
teacher had left and they were left to their own devices. UK Chief Instructor
Mauricao Gomes also gave the nod and between them both Gracie Barra Doncaster
was formed.
Gordinho
v Neil Owen
Since
2001, there are now over ten blue belts, with another handful waiting to grade
and in August 2003, Carlos awarded Ben his purple belt in Brazil. Ben now divides
his time between training in Doncaster and training with BJJ legend Gordinho,
whom he met at Gracie Camp. The two have struck up a solid friendship and in November
this year, Ben brought Gordinho over to the UK for a ten day trip and the good
news is that the half guard wizard will be back in January 2004 and on a regular
basis, overseeing the development of BJJ in the North of England. Gordinho also
aims to bring over his brother Gordo sometime in 2004 and one of Gordo’s
black belts Pablo Silva is now in the UK, based in Brighton and will be teaching
in the area.
The
academy regularly send fighters out to the Mundials and the Pan Ams, with blue
belt Neil Owen leading the way on the competition scene; Neil is one of the UK’s
top BJJ fighters and will be once again flying the flag for the UK at the Pan
Ams and the Mundials in 2004.
GB
Bradford
Coming
back towards Manchester on the M62, turn off at Junction 26, drive along the M606
to the end and head down into Bradford Town Centre; as you come back up the hill
and drive round the one way system, avoiding Spenna’s post training venue,
Rimmers, you will find yourself at the Kickers Black Belt Academy, run by BJJ
blue belt Darren Good. Darren has an extensive martial arts training background
and the academy’s walls are plastered with photographs of the world’s
leading martial artists. Darren runs the academy with Thai boxing instructor Dave
McClennon, who trained under Master A and Tony Devine also lends a hand teaching
Judo at the gym. The gym boasts two matted areas, a full size boxing ring and
the academy also lends itself to hosting MMA events, most notably events run by
the Pontefract Pitbull Darren Currie, with the likes of Andy Williams, Andy Roberts,
Spenna and Ross Pettiffer all cutting their teeth here in their amateur days.
When not being the Godfather
of Northern MMA, Spenna can also be found honing his deadly triangles every
Thursday evening and putting his students through their paces.
The
BJJ club started two years ago and the club now boasts four blue belts and hosts
regular BJJ seminars with Mauricao and Roger and now have the services of brown
belt sensation ‘Carcara’ aka Braulio Estima twice a month for students
and instructors respectively. Darren has trips to Brazil under his belt and is
keen to expand and develop the Gracie academy in Bradford and will be sending
out his students to compete in the New Year at grappling events up and down the
UK.
Gracie
Barra is now the byword for BJJ excellence in the UK; with academies firmly established
in many major cities in the UK (awaiting miracles in Manchester!!), it should
be easy for most people to gain access to a Gracie academy. New academies are
now open in Sheffield and Essex, further testament to the pulling power of Gracie
Jiu Jitsu in the UK. See you on the mats!
Training
info
Doncaster
martial arts centre (Old Judo Club), Baxter Avenue, Wheatley. Tuesday 6.30 —
9pm, Thursday, 8-10pm and Saturday 2-30 — 5pm. Other nights available on
request. Contact Ben Poppleton on 07929 150521 or ben_poppleton@hotmail.com
Kickers
Black Belt academy, Bradford town centre. Monday and Wednesday 7-8.30pm. Contact
Darren Good on 07956 502061 or darrengood@kickersbba.co.uk
BJJ
black belt Pablo Silva will be teaching in Brighton — call 07976 593531 or
pablosilva12@netscape.net
Check
websites for BJJ seminar announcements with Braulio, Roger, Gordinho, Pablo
and others!
