Instructors
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Richard Martin
I was born and raised in Barnes and spent a lot of time in Sheen in my teenage years. In 2004 I moved to Sheen and still live in SW14.
I started BJJ in 2001 and immediately knew that I had found my new sport. I loved it from the first day. I often tell people who are thinking about joining to just try a class and you will know if it is for you. I trained and competed regularly through the belts, winning British and European titles in the process. I was awarded my black belt in 2008 by my instructor, Wilson Junior and now hold a 4th degree, awarded by Carlson Gracie Junior in 2022 and recognised by the IBJJF.
I took over the administration of Carlson Gracie London in 2006, and in 2009 I switched from my previous career of 20 years (trading interest rate options) to running the club full time. I have been teaching and competing professionally since then and started Carlson Gracie Sheen in April 2022.
I teach every age group at our dojo in Sheen at least once per week, and I really enjoy guiding our students on their BJJ journey. My goal is to create a world champion in the adult black belt division, and to have a positive and enjoyable training environment for all our students.
3 x World Masters Champion
3 x European Champion (Masters)
2 x Pans Champion (Masters)
2 x British Champion (Masters)
President of the UKBJJA (the NGB for BJJ in the UK)
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Danny Curruthers
I have done lots of martial arts and hold black belts in various styles including
1st dan Baron Omidi's Kick Fighting/ Chinese boxing, 1st dan in Anglo Japanese jujitsu, 4th dan in Functional Freestyle jujitsu and Black belt in Brazilian jujitsu. I also practice Qigong
I have been the British heavy weight Combat jujitsu champion numerous times and at 50 years old also won the absolute division. European BJJ champion, British BJJ champion and English BJJ champion in my competition career including the British Brown belt masters BJJ champion in 2019.
I started BJJ because I wanted to be able to get back on my feet if someone took me down onto the ground in an altercation, BJJ has helped me to control many angry and aggressive people in my working life as a prison officer and a forensic health promotion therapist working in mental health hospitals given me the confidence and competence to control individuals without having to strike or injure them.
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Nelson Sanchez
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Ashley Belle
I started BJJ in 2012 having practiced various martial arts for 10 years previous. Graded by Dickie Martin to purple belt 2018, I continue to enjoy the challenge both mental and physical that BJJ demands of you daily.
Away from BJJ I was a swimming teacher for 20 years teaching both junior and adults. During this time I developed coaching techniques, understanding the importance of goal setting for progression and purposeful practice to improve an athlete’s performance. I feel these skills transfer over well to most physical activities, especially the technical demands of BJJ. If there’s a sport to be played I will be involved.
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Nathan Roberts
I started my BJJ journey through the teen programme in Hammermith.
I have years of UK BJJ competition experience.
Outside of the sport I have a background in medical research.
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Oliver Martin
I’ve been on the mats training BJJ ever since I could remember.
Going through the kids and teens programmes in Hammersmith and continuing to train now as an adult.
It feels great teaching new students now and seeing my self in them from all the years ago.
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Joss Ayres
I started training in 2016 when I was 14 years old and have loved Jiu Jitsu ever since! I quickly realised that it was what I wanted to pursue as a career above anything I was learning at school, so the school term was always just an inconvenience while I waited for the holidays when I could train full time at the gym in Hammersmith. During these holidays I used to travel for around 5 hours a day between Oxford, where I used to live, and London in order to be able to train three times a day with Dickie and all of the instructors at the Hammersmith HQ.
Since finishing school I have moved to London in order to train and compete in Jiu Jitsu full time. I was competitive in Jiu Jitsu throughout my time at school as well, becoming British Open Champion, English Open Champion and IBJJF British National Champion at the Adult Blue Belt level at 17 and 18 years old.
At purple belt I am currently British Open Champion in my weight division and English Open Champion in my weight division and in the Open Weight division and I have ambitions of competing and winning at the World Championships in the future when I am a black belt.
Teaching at Carlson Gracie Sheen is an exciting opportunity for me and I look forward to passing on what I have learnt.
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Joseph Essombe