Hi everyone,

I did a search in the reviews section for Budokwai, but did not find anything.

They have BJJ classes on tuesdays and wednesday, and they are located in a way which would be very convenient for me.

Does anyone have any experience with the club and the BJJ there?

They also teach Judo, Shotokan Karate, Aikido and some other things at the gym.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Also, I am going to try to go to their newbie and/or open day session next week to try it out, get tapped out, choked etc, and will try to write a review.

The link to their website is here:

http://www.budokwai.co.uk/.


The BJJ instructor listed on the page is:

NICOLAS GREGORIADES

Nicolas began martial arts at 7 years old when he took up judo which he continued until the age of 15.
At age 19 he began boxing and then proceeded to take up submission grappling.
He is the founder of Gracie-Barra South Africa and was the first person to be promoted to brown belt under the legendary
Roger Gracie. He is also the owner of and main contributor for the popular Jiu-jitsu Brotherhood website.

His titles include.

Paris Open Champion 2006
London Open Champion 2005
South African National Grappling Champion 2005
Grappler of the Year France 2007
Gracie Invitational Champion 2006, 2007
Absolute Submission Fighting 3 winner

If you're training at the Budokwai do the Judo as well. Anything else would be like going to Scotland without drinking whiskey.

I haven't personally trained under Nic, but I've been tapped out by people who have and heard good things about him.

Thanks PSB,

Unfortunately, in the end it comes down to time, and while this sounds offensive to any true MA guy, there has to be camera-fu and small business startup-do time, while at the same instant maintaining a high rate of pay-yo-bills-jutsu...

Unfortunately.

But again, thanks for the heads up. Also - do you happen to know any Muay Thai / MMA / boxing places around chelsea/Earl's cout?

But again, thanks for the heads up. Also - do you happen to know any Muay Thai / MMA / boxing places around chelsea/Earl's cout?
Carlson's has got MT and MMA and isn't a million miles away in Hammersmith: http://www.carlsongracie.org/

Speaking from personal experience (http://slideyfoot.blogspot.com/search/label/Nick%20Gregoriades), Nick G is a great coach. I can highly recommend his classes.

Carlson's has muay thai and MMA, and there is also the recently establish RGA Kilburn (http://www.rogergracie.com/), which has both BJJ and muay thai under the same monthly fee. Again, that's a personal recommendation: Jude Samuel (http://slideyfoot.blogspot.com/search/label/Jude%20Samuel) is another awesome instructor.

Going by my map (http://slideyfoot.blogspot.com/2000/01/uk-bjj-club-list.html), the closest BJJ options to you in Chelsea, aside from the Budokwai are:

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu School (Battersea) (http://www.bjjschool.co.uk/)
Battersea Youth Sports Centre
Hope Street
London, SW11 2DA
admin@bjjschool.co.uk

The instructor at BJJ School is Felipe Souza, who I would also personally recommend (http://slideyfoot.blogspot.com/search/label/Felipe%20Souza).

Carlson Gracie London (http://www.carlsongracie.org/)
56 Glentham Road, Hammersmith,
London, SW13 9JJ
carlsongracieteam@hotmail.com
£60 monthly unlimited

Gracie Garcia Jiu Jitsu (South London) (http://www.bjjinlondon.co.uk/page_810877.html)
Synergy Centre
220 Farmers Road
London, SE5 0TW
info@bjjinlondon.co.uk
07888654922

Budokwai is the oldest and most famous judo club in europe I think. Nic G is a really cool guy and knows his stuff, can check more of his stuff at jiu jitsu brotherhood.com .

Cool, thanks everyone. I will be checking it out in the next week or so.

I've never trained there myself, but like others on this thread, I've rolled and gone stand-up with those who do. As far as I can tell it's a really good school. Good luck.

Hi -
I trained Judo at the Budokwai for a few months several times a week. I can tell you that the Judo is one of the highest standards in the country with many internationals and Olympians passing through its doors ( I cant tell you too much about the BJJ except that many of them cross trained in Judo and their groundwork was always excellent (compared to other BJJ people Ive done Newaza with) I would imagine a prestigous club like the Budokwai would have Çexcellant BJJ instructors as it is slightly more expensive and can therefore attract the best tutors. One thing though - I used to pay 8 pounds and stay for both the beginers and advanced session in Judo (one started after the other) so you could train intermediate Judo (630 - 730) and then BJJ straight afterwards (730 -830) if you wished get the timetable here :

http://www.budokwai.co.uk/

http://www.budokwai.co.uk/the_club/timetables

Any road up you wont regret training anything there its a great club.