Latest news & updates

This past Saturday marked a major milestone as we officially opened the doors to our new home at Benedict Court, Southern Avenue, bringing a new age of martial arts to Leominster. The day began with tea, coffee, and a look around the new facility before stepping onto the mats. Head Coach Owain Williams kicked off the training with an Intro to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, focusing on a technical breakdown of fundamental movement, leverage, and position control. Following a short br

At Borderlands Grappling, we believe that true discipline extends beyond technique—it is about how we show up for the people and the place around us. As we continue to build our home here in Leominster, supporting our local community is central to everything we do. We are hosting a free open event at the academy. Whether you are stepping onto the mats for the first time or returning to refine your craft, this event is completely free to attend. While there is no obligation, w

The wait is over. We have officially moved into our new home at Benedict Court, Southern Ave, Leominster, and we are opening our doors to the community. Whether you have been considering martial arts for years, want to test your mettle, or simply want to see what our new facility is all about, you are invited to our free open day. Coming along? Please RSVP to our Facebook event so we can get a rough idea of numbers. You don’t need prior experience, and you don’t need to be in

Cross-training just got easier—and cheaper! Throughout October, we’re teaming up with Rogue Combat for an exclusive member exchange. If you’re a paid Borderlands Grappling subscriber, you can drop into any Rogue Combat striking class for just £5. On the flip side, Rogue Combat members can join our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu sessions for the same £5 rate. Whether you’re a grappler looking to sharpen your hands or a striker wanting to learn the ground game, October is the best time to

\ What a week it’s been for the Borderlands Grappling family. Between making moves at our new venue and stepping onto the competitive mats, our team has been putting in serious work—and it's paying off. Celebrating progress at our new Leominster venue Last night was a special session as we hosted a long-overdue grading at our brand-new training facility in Leominster. The energy on the mats was electric, and we had the privilege of recognizing several team members for their

We have officially moved into our Leominster martial arts facility. While our temporary setups in Ludlow were perfect for getting us started, having a dedicated combat sports home allows us to take our training, mat space, and community to the next level. To celebrate this huge milestone, our new weekly schedule is officially live. What’s new on the schedule? Whether you are a complete beginner taking your first steps or an experienced grappler sharpening your skills, our up

Big news for the Borderlands Grappling family! We are officially moving out of our temporary setups at Cast Iron Culture and Ludlow Primary School and into a dedicated, purpose-built martial arts facility in Leominster. Starting Monday 21st September, our new home will be: Suite 5, Benedict Court, Southern Avenue, Leominster, HR6 0QF We are co-locating alongside our friends at Rogue Combat, creating a premier martial arts and combat sports hub for Leominster, Ludlow, and the

We are thrilled to announce that our very own Head Coach Owain will be stepping out from behind the sidelines and back into the spotlight as he competes at the upcoming GrappleMax 3 event. Known for its high-energy atmosphere and submission-only format, GrappleMax 3 will showcase some of the sharpest grappling talent in the country. Coach Owain will be testing his skills on this high-profile stage, demonstrating the technique, grit, and strategy he preaches during daily class

Whether you are stepping onto the mats for the very first time or looking to sharpen your core techniques, a new BJJ Fundamentals class is coming to Borderlands every Friday evening from 19:00 to 19:45, held at Ludlow Primary School. Designed around a structured 12-week syllabus, the curriculum covers the core positions every grappler needs to know, including closed guard, mount, back control, and takedowns. Each 45-minute session focuses on technical instruction and active l

The Borderlands Grappling squad made the trip down to HA Muay Thai in Tenbury for a brilliant afternoon of Jiu-Jitsu and community, taking part in a joint open mat followed by a post-training BBQ. Representing Borderlands on the mats were Coach Owain, Andrew Lloyd, Josh Alderson, Charlotte Lewis, Kev Smart, and Fin Smart. The session brought together a great mix of grapplers from across the region, featuring teams from: Borderlands Grappling (Ludlow) HA BJJ (Tenbury) Rouge Co

Turns out it isn't just grappling competitions that Borderlands cleans up at! On Sunday, 26th July, the team at Borderlands Grappling traded the mats for the outdoors to give back to the local community with a volunteer litter-picking day at Mortimer Forest. Following a team open mat training session, a group of 11 students of all ages gathered at High Vinnalls car park, eager to roll up their sleeves and make a positive impact. Over the course of an hour and a half, the crew

Borderlands has been mentioned in two major local media outlets, celebrating our summer grading and our brand new blue belts. You can find the articles covering these in The Ludlow Advertiser and in the Shropshire Star.

Last Saturday, Borderlands Grappling members Andrew Lloyd and Adam Evans travelled to Three Points Martial Arts in Worcester for an intensive, eye-opening seminar led by world-class black belt Jon Thomas. It was an incredible day of technical development, conceptual breakthroughs, and a lot of hard work. Who is Jon Thomas? For those unfamiliar with his background, Jon Thomas is one of the most respected minds in modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Receiving his black belt in 2013 u

It was an action-packed Sunday for the team at Borderlands Grappling as we hosted our latest in-house mini-competition and belt grading. The event brought together our grappling community for a fantastic day of sharp technique, hard-fought rounds, and well-earned promotions. A milestone for Borderlands: Homegrown blue belts We kicked off the session with a grading ceremony to recognise the dedication and consistency of our students. This grading marked a massive milestone for

Don't waste time at the wrong gym. We teamed up with a BJJ Black Belt to break down the pros, cons, and coaching pedigree of the county's top 6 grappling academies.

The University of Wolverhampton Walsall Campus Sports Arena played host to the highly anticipated NAGA England Grappling and BJJ Championship this past weekend, drawing top-tier competitors from across the UK. Among those stepping onto the mats was Borderlands Grappling’s own Damian, who endured a grueling, multi-division marathon to bring home two hard-earned silver medals. A strong start in No-Gi Damian kicked off his campaign in the No-Gi 3-man Round Robin division. He s

The Borderlands Grappling community has once again proven that our strength extends far beyond the mats. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our members and supporters, we are proud to announce a total donation of £75 to St Michael’s Hospice, raised entirely from the profits of our limited-edition "Breathe Easy" charity t-shirt. A massive thank you to the community The "Breathe Easy" campaign was launched with a simple but powerful mission: to channel the passion of our l

This weekend, student and assistant coach Andrew Lloyd made the trip to the prestigious BJJ British Open, stepping onto the mats to test his skills against the best in the UK and bringing home a well-deserved bronze medal. Andrew’s First British Championship The BJJ British Open is one of the toughest and most competitive events on the UK calendar, making it a major milestone for any grappler. This was Andrew’s very first time competing at the British. Stepping into an arena

At Borderlands Grappling, we believe that the mat is more than just a place to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; it’s a place where young athletes build character, resilience, and lifelong friendships. To ensure our kids' martial arts classes remain focused and fun, we’ve formalized our kids’ code of conduct. This isn't just a list of "dos and don’ts"—it’s the foundation of a safe, high-energy, and inclusive environment. Here is a breakdown of why these standards matter for our youn

The mats in Coventry were home to some of the highest-level grappling in the country this past weekend, and Borderlands Grappling was right in the thick of it. On April 25th, Coach Owain stepped onto the big stage at the ADCC National Championship, putting his skills to the test in one of the most prestigious and challenging environments in the sport. The road to the podium Owain’s day started with a statement victory. In his opening match, he showcased the technical precisio