Au revoir Juliette!

Last night we said au revoir and bon voyage to our longest serving female student Juliette Brillett who is leaving the UK and heading out for new adventures Down Under. She is off to Paris first for Christmas, then coming back in the new year to tie up loose ends (and tie us all up at the gym) and then she is off to terrorise the Aussies :) 

It has been an absolute pleasure to teach Juliette and I'm very proud to be her first BJJ instructor. Watching her walk through the doors for the first time and then seeing her grow in skills and confidence, before unleashing her on the competition circuit is what makes it all worthwhile as an instructor. Her Shoulder of Justice is horrendous, which I'm sure my students will all agree, but the biggest thing I'm proud of is actually getting her to finally smile in a photo :)

God bless and bon voyage Juliette from everyone at Checkmat Wimbleon and London Fight Factory. We wish you nothing but happiness and great adventures! 

Oooossss

Last class @ Checkmat Wimbledon!

Training has now come to an end here at Checkmat Wimbledon, with the last class held last night, No Gi Open Mat style; both sessions this week had good turnouts considering many students have flown back home for the festive period.

 

Monday night class

The session ended up No Gi  and everyone rolled flat out for the last session of the year and a swift pint after training brought an end to a fantastic year for everyone at the club. Numbers continue to grow, as well as everyone's skill levels and we have enjoyed success on the competition circuit this year and I'm looking for more of the same next year and get a few more students out there in the middle, laying it all on the line for club and country.

 

Wednesday class

Enjoy the Christmas break, stuff yourselves with good food and drink and see you all back on January 2nd.

Oooossss!

Last class at LFF!

Took part in the last lunchtime class of 2016 at London Fight Factory yesterday, sharing the mats with a bunch of warriors, rolling the afternoon away in fine style; it's been a great year, which has seen me finally shake off my back injury (to be replaced with new ones) and get back into proper training the last two months.

It was the year I was promoted to black belt, something which still hasn't quite sunk in yet and am now looking forward to a new year filled with training, teaching, competing and taking the club on to bigger and better things.

Merry Christmas everyone!

So long to AP!

Yesterday, everyone at London Fight Factory turned up at the 2pm class to have one final training session with black belt Luis Gil, before he heads back to New York.  Luis has been here for four years, arriving as a purple belt and now leaves as a black belt with a suitcase full of trophies and memories.

Bon voyage and best of luck for the future!

 

Adios to Artur!!

On Wednesday night, Checkmat Wimbledon said adios to Artur Monteiro, who is moving back to Portugal later this month. 

You will be missed my friend, you brought energy, fun and great passion to the mats and we all wish you well in your new chapter in life :)

Side control drill #4

This is my favourite of the four drills I teach in class; when you get the hang of the movement and have a good partner underneath you can really move fast and fluid and there's scope for omoplata, rolling omoplata and much more.  

Try it out in class and add it to the other three drills, mix and match the four drills and watch your top game go through the roof!