Featured affiliated academy: Lewes Grappling Club, UK
Where is the gym located?
Lewes, East Sussex,UK
How many people train there?
We’re a small club at the moment. 10-15 people.
Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
We are still very new. Only been opened a few weeks. Trying to grow slowly and organically. No need to rush these things.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
From complete beginner to Brown.
When did the gym open?
March this year.
Some facts about you:
Name: Gareth Rossi
Age: 45
Belt: Officially Blue, but ditched the devil’s pyjamas a while ago. Now more concentrating on freestyle and Catch wrestling.
Profession: Can’t tell you that one I’m afraid.
Years in BJJ: 7
Other martial arts: Freestyle and catch wrestling, previously did some karate and Kung Fu when (much) younger, and a little bit of Judo.
Currently living in: Just up the road from the club
Originally from: Sussex born and bred
Lewes Grappling Club, UK
Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence
A fool and his money are easily parted!! Essentially the BJJ scene in Lewes had quietened down a lot, and there were absolutely no nogi sessions without travelling to Brighton or Eastbourne. A few of us were discussing it over a social media post, and next thing you know, I’ve spent a big lump of cash on some mats. I’m easily swayed by peer pressure.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
All sorts, from 17 years old at college, to college teachers, a real mix of people from all walks of life. Most of them also train at other clubs as well. We don’t, and won’t turn anyone away as long as they’re good people.
Why do they train?
Why do any of us train? Personally I feel it keeps me young and playful, and helps me to burn off excess energy. I’ve never really asked any of the others at the club, but we never cover any self defence aspects, so mostly just for the love of having a roll around I guess.
Lewes Grappling Club, UK
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
We run as a non-profit, and now the mats are paid for, we have very little in the way of expenses, so essentially the only thing we have to make sure of is that the venue hire is paid and the mats are cleaned. I’m currently working shifts, so making sure everything fits in around my schedule can be a bit hectic.
Lewes is quite a small town, so there’s always going to be limited interest in what is a fairly niche sport, but we aren’t really looking to get big and make money anyway. The hardest part is finding a venue with storage. I’ve got no idea where to look if we decide we need more space.
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
Getting brighter. We have now got a small 10th Planet gym opened up as well. I get on well with the coach there and we recommend people each others way depending on what they are looking for. I drop in at his club, and he drops in at mine. It’s a small but friendly scene that can only get bigger and better.
What’s the best thing about Lewes Grappling Club, UK?
The absolute freedom. We have no affiliation so we can literally do what we like. You want to roll, we can roll. You want to cover technique, we can do that. There’s zero structure. It’s probably a bit chaotic really, but it works for us.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
Lewes is a lovely little town, and if you visit in November, Lewes Bonfire is a spectacle that you will not believe. We are only minutes walk away from the South Downs National Park, and 15 minutes on the train to Brighton. There’s a lot of history in Sussex, lots of green spaces, and lots of nice beaches.
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