Instructors

We’re connecting with some high level instructors to offer you some of the best mat time with great BJJ. We’re not just looking for high level instructors, we’re looking for good people that are aligned with our philosophy to embody the respect and compassion of community support that these festivals represent and all our instructors are onboard to help support this ethos.

This is our first wave of instructors from our own BJJ community and we’ll be updating with more great people in the new year

 

dan gandy

Dan Gandy

1st Degree Black belt, training since around 2008, spent time training in Brazil and the USA. Best competition result was winning British Open at Brown Belt Adult u64kg (but it was so long ago there were barely any u64kg brown belts!). What I like about jiu jitsu is the way that small, subtle changes can have a big impact on the effectiveness of a technique.

jon bull jiu jitsu instructor

Jon Bull

Fisrt Degree Black Belt. Jon is a dedicated Jiu Jitsu instructor who firmly believes that hard work, attention to detail, and consistent drilling are the keys to achieving great results. With years of experience on the mat, Jon’s teaching philosophy centers around the importance of discipline and perseverance, ensuring his students not only master techniques but also build strong mental fortitude.

In addition to his passion for martial arts, Jon is a talented potter with over two decades of experience in creating and exhibiting his pottery. His artistic journey is marked by a deep commitment to craftsmanship and creativity, resulting in pieces that have been widely admired and sold in various exhibitions. Jon’s dual expertise in Jiu Jitsu and pottery showcases his diverse talents and his dedication to both physical and artistic excellence.

Karl Franks

Karl started his martial arts journey at the age of 10 years old training in Boxing then moving to kickboxing, training under European champion James Russell and WKO World champion Denzil “Deadly Lawrence” Karl competed in point scoring karate at a high level moving on to full contact where he competed at a international level representing Wales.

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He started JIU-JITSU in 2009 in Cardiff under multiple world and ADCC champion Braulio Estima’s black belt Chris Rees (Wales very first black belt)Karl then moved to train under UFC veteran and SBG black belt Jason Tan and of MMA academy Liverpool.Achieved the rank of black belt in 2022.
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Karl also trains freestyle wrestling with links to Wolverhampton wrestling club.
Karl runs his own successful gym – OSWESTRY JIU-JITSU ACADEMY with over 150 students.