Category Archives: News

All the posts on the Artemis BJJ blog are under the News category, in order to make it easy to link to all the Artemis BJJ posts at once.

Details of Artemis BJJ Charity GrappleThon 2020 For Refugee Women of Bristol

bjj grapplethon charity Bristol Artemis BJJ Brazilian jiu jitsu

What: The concept behind a GrappleThon is very simple: at least two people are grappling at any one point over a predetermined period.

When: 14:00 on Saturday 7th March 2020 until 14:00 on Sunday 8th March 2020.

Where: At our central location in Bristol, by LA Gym. Head to 7 Lawrence Hill, Bristol, BS5 0BY

How: To take part, simply turn up and roll. If you want to earn a fantastic custom Meerkatsu t-shirt (kindly provided by Tatami Fightwear), there’s only one way: fundraise! 

Head here for the main fundraising page. To earn a t-shirt, set up your own fundraising page supporting Refugee Women of Bristol, here. (be sure to contact us with the link, so we know you’re fundraising). Note that our limited number of t-shirts will be awarded in order of total amount fundraised, until we run out.

Why: On the International Women’s Day 2020 weekend (7th-8th March), we will be supporting Refugee Women of Bristol. They support refugee and asylum seeking women, empowering them to build a new life. To learn more about their important work, have a read of their website, here.

Donate: Head to our JustGiving donations page, here.

Press: Take a look at the Artemis BJJ press page for upcoming articles and interviews about the GrappleThon (as well as previous events), here. For pictures and videos from both previous and current Artemis BJJ GrappleThons, go to our Instagram channel.

Simultaneously with the GrappleThon, we’ll also be running a Rolla(d20)thon, aiming for 24hrs of continuous D&D. So even if you’re not super keen on BJJ, you can still take part (and with WiFi, you can join one of our DnD sessions wherever you are in the world).

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors, renowned BJJ apparel brand Tatami Fightwear and top BJJ artist Meerkatsu 

4 New Purple Belts & 2 Blue Belts at Artemis BJJ Grading with Kev Capel

It has been a while since our last grading, so we’ve had a few interim promotions, but the big one was today. There are a number of people at the club who came in with a lot of existing training, who have therefore been overdue for their belts ever since they joined. Thanks to the continuing support of Kev Capel, that’s now been resolved, meaning we have four new purple belts.

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Yay, four new purples @ArtemisBJJ yesterday, plus two blues! I try hard to not emphasise belts at my club (one of several reasons I don't give out stripes), as it's important people focus on just getting better, with belts serving as a nice side effect. Also, makes for a handy photo. 😉 Big congrats to everyone who got promoted. Those who follow the Artemis BJJ Instagram should recognise @mj.dalton, who is my uke in many of the vids. 😃 It was also brilliant to see Lisa, who hasn't been in for a while due to an injury. Although I'm the head instructor, the majority of Lucy's training has been with Lisa, so it was great to have her there to see Lucy promoted to blue. Looking forward to Lisa's knee getting better: thanks for the great photos (Sara took good ones too 😃)! _________________________________________ Of course, none of this could happen without Kev: I can't thank @rgabucks enough for how he supports the club. 😎👍 ________________________________________ #bjj #BrazilianJiuJitsu #SlideyClub #SupportWomensBJJ #ArtemisBJJ @BJJglobetrotters #bjjglobetrotters

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Big congrats to everybody who was graded today, thanks also to Sara and Lisa for their great photos and videos!

Guest Blog – Visit to Womankind Bristol

by Tracey Robinson

In the run-up to our GrappleThon in support of Womankind Bristol next month, Artemis BJJ instructor Tracey headed down to their offices (a short walk from MYGYM) to talk to them about their wonderful charity work. 

Womankind helpline Artemis BJJ GrappleThon 2019 Bristol Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Before I talk about the services they offer, I want to say that Womankind Bristol are thrilled that we are fundraising for them. The staff were lovely and very interested in what a grapplethon was! Their mission is to help women to improve their mental health and well-being so they can experience a better quality of life. They offer a number of services:

• Helpline

• Group therapy

• Individual counselling

• Specialist counselling service for women who have suffered sexual violence

• Safer women’s project – supports women who have been trafficked or refugees

• Service for deaf and hard of hearing women

• Befriending service for women who are isolated and struggle to leave their home

• Transgender support group – the only one in the South West

Womankind Bristol are currently setting up an instant messaging service. They hope to launch the service in about 6 months time and part of the money raised in the grapplethon will go towards this project. This service will be geared towards young women and those who are deaf and hard of hearing.

On a personal note, I was overwhelmed at the variety of issues that Womankind Bristol deal with, including: anxiety and depression, eating problems, physical disabilities and suicidal thoughts. They strive to help those who struggle and I am thrilled that we can raise money to enable them to carry on doing this.

Details of Artemis BJJ Charity GrappleThon 2019 For Womankind Bristol

What: The concept behind a GrappleThon is very simple: at least two people are grappling at any one point over a predetermined period.

When: 14:00 on Saturday 9th March 2019 until 14:00 on Sunday 10th March 2019.

Where: At our central location in St Paul’s, which is MYGYM Bristol, Unit 4B Dean Street, Bristol, BS2 8SF

How: To take part, simply turn up and roll. If you want to earn a fantastic custom Meerkatsu t-shirt (kindly provided by Tatami Fightwear), there’s only one way: fundraise! Head here for the main fundraising page.

To earn a t-shirt, set up your own fundraising page supporting Womankind Bristol Women’s Therapy Centre, here. (be sure to contact us with the link, so we know you’re fundraising). Note that our limited number of t-shirts will be awarded in order of total amount fundraised, until we run out.

Why: On the International Women’s Day 2019 weekend (9th-10th March), we will be supporting the Womankind Bristol Women’s Therapy Centre, a charity that provides counselling for women to improve their mental health and well-being, in order to experience a better quality of life. To learn more about their important work, have a read of their website, here.

Donate: Head to our Womankind Bristol donations page, here.

Press: Take a look at the Artemis BJJ press page for upcoming articles and interviews about the GrappleThon (as well as previous events), here. For pictures and videos from both previous and current Artemis BJJ GrappleThons, go to our Instagram channel.

Simultaneously with the GrappleThon, we’ll also be running a Rolla(d20)thon, aiming for 24hrs of continuous D&D. So even if you’re not super keen on BJJ, you can still take part (and with WiFi, you can join one of our DnD sessions wherever you are in the world).

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors, renowned BJJ apparel brand Tatami Fightwear, top BJJ artist Meerkatsu and of course our awesome hosts, local fitness specialists MYGYM.

Artemis BJJ Xmas Schedule 2018

Hooray, it’s almost Christmas! Lots of presents, mince pies and excellent cheesy music. You’ll still be able to get in some BJJ because our Clifton venue will be open, but  MYGYM will be closed for  the period. So, the normal schedule will be altered over xmas.

🎅🎄XMAS SCHEDULE 2018🎄🎅

We’re running as normal until Sunday 23rd December, then based on MYGYM holiday opening hours, this will be the schedule:

Monday 24th DecCLOSED (🎄Xmas Eve🎄)
Tuesday 25th DecCLOSED (🎅Xmas Day🎅)
Wednesday 26th DecCLOSED (Boxing Day)
Thursday 27th DecCLOSED
Friday 28th DecCLOSED
Saturday 29th Dec – 17:30-18:30 Open Mat (Clifton)
Sunday 30th DecCLOSED
Monday 31st DecCLOSED (New Years Eve)
Tuesday 1st JanCLOSED
Wednesday 2nd JanCLOSED
Thursday 3rd JanCLOSED
Friday 4th JanCLOSED
Saturday 5th Jan – 17:30-18:30 Open Mat (Clifton)
MYGYM is then back to normal

 

Artemis BJJ Kids Class 2nd Anniversary

The Artemis BJJ kids class has been running now for over 2 years. The aim has always been to create a friendly atmosphere for the children and to teach them Brazilian jiu jitsu in a fun way. In December 2017, we were delighted to promote 2 of the kids and they joined in with the club’s GrappleThon this year. More recently, we have had several new kids join and Artemis BJJ blue belt Erick helps out when either of the instructors are away.

Artemis BJJ kids Brazilian jiu jitsu Bristol children martial arts

We’ve had a brilliant time teaching the kids class so far. It’s such a fun half hour and we learn a lot too!

Paul & Tracey

3 New Blue Belts at Artemis BJJ Grading with Kev Capel

Coinciding with our first ever Artemis BJJ Camp, we had a small grading on the Sunday too. Three well deserved blue belts were handed out by Kev and Can, meaning that Jade, Nick and Paulina joined the ranks of Artemis BJJ blues. Well done to all of them!

As we have now gotten through the big backlog of promotions, we’ll be switching to less frequent gradings. Kev will therefore next be along in 2019, though Can will also be promoting a few people to blue belt in the interim (especially as a couple of people who would have been promoted at the weekend weren’t able to make it). Thanks again to Kev. 😀

Successful 1st Artemis BJJ Camp

The BJJ Globetrotter Camps are amazing, which is why Can regularly attends several every year. Unfortunately, not everybody has the time to take a whole week off work to enjoy a spot of pyjama wrestling. Therefore, Artemis BJJ hosted a mini BJJ training camp right here in Bristol to bring a taste of that experience closer to home. Our first attempt, mostly in an effort to test to see if this BJJ training camp idea can work, was held over the 25th-26th August at our Clifton location, The Exercise Club on 213 Whiteladies Road, along with a few sessions at MYGYM (directions are over on our Locations page). Everybody is always welcome at Artemis BJJ, wherever you train.

There was training on both Saturday and Sunday from 15:00 through to 19:00. We had six black belts teaching us, including Seymour Yang (who runs the world famous Meerkatsu brand), world champions Chelsea Bainbridge-Donner and Tom Barlow, pioneering female grappler Gret Zoeller, plus Neil Owen (one of the most experienced black belts in the UK) and his student James Boyle (who runs a successful BJJ academy in Chesterfield). The schedule was as follows:

Sat 25th Aug

MYGYM
09:30-10:30 Yoga with Heidi
11:00-12:00 Judo intro with Marcus

CLIFTON
15:00-15:10 Open Mat
15:10-16:10 Seymour Yang
16:10-16:25 Open Mat
16:25-17:25 Chelsea Bainbridge-Donner
17:25-17:40 Open Mat
17:40-18:40 Tom Barlow
18:40-19:00 Open Mat

A post shared by Can (Jun) (@slideyfoot) on

Sun 26th Aug

MYGYM
11:00-12:00 Can Sönmez

CLIFTON
15:00-15:20 Open Mat
15:20-16:20 Gret Zoeller
16:20-16:30 Open Mat
16:30-17:30 James Boyle
17:30-17:40 Open Mat
17:40-18:40 Neil Owen
18:40-19:00 Open Mat

A post shared by Can (Jun) (@slideyfoot) on

Mon 27th Aug

CLIFTON
11:00-12:00 Can Sönmez

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We had an excellent turnout, with around 30 grapplers sharing the mats over the Bank Holiday weekend (you can check out Meerkatsu’s write up over on his website). Putting open mat inbetween each class worked well, though perhaps a longer break for lunch would be worth trying next time. There is scope to expand on the Sunday, if we hold it in the same venue, so that could mean more classes and more open mat. There is also the option of upgrading in terms of space, to the larger venue at MYGYM, though that would mean a higher ticket price. We’ll be considering the options over the next few months.

Please follow the Artemis BJJ Facebook page if you would like to stay updated on future camps, which also have a dedicated page on this website. You will then be able to contact info@artemisbjj.com if you would like to buy a ticket. 😉

Artemis BJJ visit to the 2018 Heidelberg BJJ Globetrotters Camp | Artemis BJJ Camp this weekend

Artemis BJJ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Bristol at Heidelberg 2018 b

In August 2018, three of us from Artemis BJJ headed to Heidelberg in Germany for another BJJ Globetrotters Camp. In Can’s case it was his seventh camp, but the two students hadn’t been before. There was lots of excellent training, Dungeons & Dragons and a random impromptu bodybuilding competition (won by the very awesome Heather Raftery).

Most importantly for the club, Can has loads of techniques to bring back and teach. We’ll be taking a look at Lilo Asensi’s intriguing instep to neck armbar series, Jeff Knight’s pointers on half guard, Heather Raftery’s details on the crucifix and quarter guard, Daniel Bertina’s passing and some introductory leglock material from Charles Harriott.

In fact, we will be lucky enough to have Charles himself teach that material, as he will be in the UK later this month. There will therefore be a two hour introductory footlocks seminar on the 31st August, from 18:30-20:30, followed by open mat. As always with Artemis BJJ seminars, this will cost £20 and everybody is welcome, wherever you train. Check out the Facebook event page for more details.

Artemis BJJ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Bristol Charles Harriott

Also, don’t forget that Can is launching his own mini-camp in August to try and bring that BJJ Globetrotter feeling to Bristol. This first event, on the 25th and 26th August weekend, is a test to see if it’s a viable option. It will be held at 213 Whiteladies Road, our Clifton venue (full changing facilities and showers for both women and men).

We have six black belts booked: Seymour ‘Meerkatsu’ Yang, world champions Chelsea Bainbridge-Donner and Tom Barlow, pioneering female grappler Gret Zoeller, plus Neil Owen (one of the most experienced black belts in the UK) and his student James Boyle (who runs a successful BJJ academy in Chesterfield). The schedule will be as follows:

Sat 25th August

MYGYM
09:30-10:30 Yoga with Heidi

CLIFTON
15:00-15:10 Open Mat
15:10-16:10 Seymour Yang
16:10-16:25 Open Mat
16:25-17:25 Chelsea Bainbridge-Donner
17:25-17:40 Open Mat
17:40-18:40 Tom Barlow
18:40-19:00 Open Mat

Sun 26th August

MYGYM
11:00-12:00 Can Sönmez

CLIFTON
15:00-15:20 Open Mat
15:20-16:20 Gret Zoeller
16:20-16:30 Open Mat
16:30-17:30 James Boyle
17:30-17:40 Open Mat
17:40-18:40 Neil Owen
18:40-19:00 Open Mat

Mon 27th August

CLIFTON
11:00-12:00 Can Sönmez

Tickets are £50, which is non-refundable as the proceeds will be used to pay for the venue and the instructors. However, you can of course sell that ticket on if it turns out you can no longer make the event. Please contact info@artemisbjj.com if you would like to buy a ticket: there is a maximum of 30, so you’ll need to be quick!

Artemis BJJ visit to the 2018 Leuven BJJ Globetrotters Camp | Artemis BJJ Camp in August

Bristol BJJ Brazilian Jiu Jistu Artemis BJJ at Leuven 2018 - Weronika, Jack, Oscar, Can & BenIn July 2018, more grapplers from Artemis BJJ made another return visit to Leuven. Almost of us had been before, while in my case it was my fourth Leuven Camp. There was lots of excellent training, top notch techniques and some funky dance moves at the awesomely 80s themed open mat (one of several musical themes Christian picked, always a nifty addition to his camps).

Most importantly for the club, Can had loads of techniques to bring back and teach. We’ll be taking a look at x guard from Henk Heneweer, along with some back attack details from Hillary Van Ornum, more passing from Fran Vanderstukken and a handy detail on the crucifix from Jochem Branderhorst.

There is plenty more to come in the next few months, which will be further enhanced by yet another BJJ Globetrotter Camp, with a return visit to Heidelberg. Can is one of several Artemis BJJ representative at that one as well, as a few of our students are booked to head to Germany too.

Be sure to book your ticket as soon as possible for Leuven next year: they sold out a few weeks after the box office opened last year, so you will need to be quick. Don’t miss out!

Can is launching his own mini-camp in August to try and bring that BJJ Globetrotter feeling to Bristol. This first event, on the 25th and 26th August weekend, is a test to see if it’s a viable option. It will be held at 213 Whiteladies Road, our Clifton venue (full changing facilities and showers for both women and men).

We have six black belts booked: Seymour ‘Meerkatsu’ Yang, world champions Chelsea Bainbridge-Donner and Tom Barlow, pioneering female grappler Gret Zoeller, plus Neil Owen (one of the most experienced black belts in the UK) and his student James Boyle (who runs a successful BJJ academy in Chesterfield). The schedule will be as follows:

Sat 25th Aug

15:00-15:10 Open Mat
15:10-16:10 Seymour Yang
16:10-16:25 Open Mat
16:25-17:25 Chelsea Bainbridge-Donner
17:25-17:40 Open Mat
17:40-18:40 Tom Barlow
18:40-19:00 Open Mat

Sun 26th Aug

15:00-15:20 Open Mat
15:20-16:20 Gret Zoeller
16:20-16:30 Open Mat
16:30-17:30 James Boyle
17:30-17:40 Open Mat
17:40-18:40 Neil Owen
18:40-19:00 Open Mat

Tickets are £50, which is non-refundable as the proceeds will be used to pay for the venue and the instructors. However, you can of course sell that ticket on if it turns out you can no longer make the event. Please contact info@artemisbjj.com if you would like to buy a ticket: there is a maximum of 30, so you’ll need to be quick!