Hard-earned medals and well-deserved promotions at Borderlands Grappling

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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 dedication, consistency, and skill progression.

• Damian earned his blue belt. Step by step, Damian Lewis-Colledge has shown incredible grit and technique, making this promotion thoroughly well-deserved.

• Phoenix Kemp-Goode, Matt Saer, and Drew Jackson all earned new stripes, marking key milestones on their journey towards blue belt

  
  

Gradings aren’t just about the fabric around your waist; they are a reflection of hours spent drilling, rolling, learning from mistakes, and showing up for your teammates. Seeing everyone progress at our new Leominster location sets a fantastic precedent for the future of Borderlands Grappling.

Stepping up at Roll Models competition

Just before our grading night, a crew of Borderlands grapplers headed down to the Roll Models tournament on Sunday. Taking the leap from the academy mats to the competition stage takes guts, and we couldn’t be prouder of the team that represented us.

Our competition line-up featured Josh Alderson, Joe Mole, Damian Lewis-Colledge, Ben Rusling, Drew Jackson, and Mel Davies.

It was a day full of tough battles, strategic adjustments, and high-level grappling against solid opponents from across the region. Across a mix of hard-fought wins and valuable learning experiences, the team came away with a fantastic collection of medals to bring back to Leominster.

A massive shoutout goes to Mel, who stepped up to support with coaching throughout the day, ensuring everyone had clear guidance, cornerman support, and encouragement from the sidelines.

Building the future together

Whether you competed, earned a promotion, or simply showed up to push your training partners to be better, every single member contributes to the standard we set here at Borderlands.

We are immensely proud of the growth, camaraderie, and heart shown by everyone involved. Let's keep building this momentum—see you on the mats for the next session!

Ready to give grappling a go?

Whether you are looking to build self-confidence, get fit, learn practical self-defence, or simply find a friendly and supportive community, there has never been a better time to step onto the mats. We welcome all fitness levels and zero prior experience is required!

You can book your free trial today—we’d love to welcome you to the team.