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Owain Williams | Founder & Head Coach 

My journey into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), grappling and martial arts started somewhat unexpectedly. Back in 2008/9, while friends headed off to university, I found myself working a boring kitchen job, trying to fund some travelling. Luckily, although the job was boring, my colleagues weren't and the Head chef encouraged me to join him for my first Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) class.   

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I'd never enjoyed sports, let alone something 'full contact'. But something about grappling and the community surrounding it just clicked for me. Now, 15 years later, I'm hooked and proudly hold my brown belt in BJJ. 

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Along the way, I've tested my skills against some of the UK's top grapplers at events including ADCC (Open), Grappling Industries, and InterGrapple. I continue to be an active competitor to today.

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I started Borderlands Grappling to bring grappling martial arts to Ludlow and to share my experience and knowledge about it. I'm excited to meet you on the mats.

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See you there!

Image of the founder of boardlands grappling competing at the Worcester open

QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING

First Aid

  • Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid

  • BMABA Martial Arts First Aid Essentials

Safety

  • Enhanced DBS checked

  • BMABA Lead Safeguarding Qualification

  • BMABA Safeguarding in Martial Arts

accreditations

  • Registered brown belt (UKBJJA)​

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Coaching

  • BMABA Level 1 Instructor Award

  • Exploring Sports Coaching & Psychology (The Open University)
     

BACKGROUND& History

image of Owain being awarded his brown belt by Paul Severn
Image of Owain being awarded his purple belt along side a friend
image of Owain being awarded his blue belt by Salvatore Pace

2014-2019

Blue to purple 

Over the next 5 years I continued to train both in grappling and BJJ at Gracie Barra Bath, as well as regularly attending several satellite schools around the South West. This is when I got my first taste for coaching, being asked to occasionally cover classes when the higher belts were away. 

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In May 2019, I was awarded my purple belt. 

2011-2014

White to blue

In 2011 I moved from the Ludlow area to Bath, where I started to focus more on grappling and BJJ. I was taught by black belt Salvatore Pace at Gracie Barra Bath

In April 2014, I was awarded my blue belt. 

2008/9

Getting started

I started my grappling journey by joining a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) class in Hereford. Over the next few years, I trained in several locations across the West Midlands and started training specifically in BJJ for the first time. 

2019-2022

Purple to brown 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, grappling sports became a no-go. Throughout this time there were several big changes in my personal life and I decided to move back to the Ludlow area. 

Once restrictions were lifted, I started regularly training at a local gym and at Checkmat Worcestershire under black belt Paul Severn

Paul awarded me my brown belt in August 2022.  

2022-now 

Since receiving my brown belt I have focused more on coaching and competing. I've been lucky enough to compete against some of the top competitors in the UK at events including ADCC opens. 


I have also had opportunities to teach grappling regularity at a number of different clubs. 

 

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