Combat Academy instructors Dave Coles and Simon Small made the journey to Sheffield to train under Ultimate Fighting Championships legend, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Royce Gracie.
Royce is a three time winner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a Pride Veteran. In the UFC Royce at 6'1", 180 pounds defeated fighters from a variety of backgrounds including Boxing, Karate, Kick Boxing, Savate and Wrestling, often being out-weighed by more than 50 pounds. Royce Gracie is the only man in the history of no holds barred matches to successfully defeat four opponents in one night.
On the previous Sunday Royce had refereed Dave in the final of the Gracie Invitational European Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships where Dave, as a white belt, had won the Blue Belt under 91 kg category.
Royce was also aware that Simon, also a BJJ white belt, had taken silver in the over 96 kg Blue Belt category.
During the Seminar Dave had the opporunity to spar with Royce, which was not only an honour but also the realisation of a long time ambition.
At the end of the seminar Dave and Simon were awarded Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt status by Royce.
In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu there are only four colours of belt, and unlike most fighting arts there are no theory requirements, belts are awarded purely on fighting ability.
Four days later whilst training at the Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Birmingham, Mauricio Gomez, Chief Instructor of Gracie Barra UK, also awarded Dave with his blue belt making him one of only a handful of people to have been awarded the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue belt by two separate masters.
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