Featured affiliated academy: Blue Dog Jiu-Jitsu UK
Where is the gym located?
Just on the outskirts of Yeovil (UK), 5 minutes from the train station and 10 minutes from the town centre.
How many people train in Blue Dog Jiu-Jitsu UK?
We are a fresh new club just waiting for restrictions to lift and start filling the mats.
Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
I feel that when Covid ends, people will be yearning for close contact with other humans and what better way than learning BJJ? I’m confident that the membership numbers will rise in no time.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
With plenty of travelers passing through Yeovil ,due to the fact that Yeovilton air base is nearby and with many tourist locations, we should eventually have many different coloured belts on the mats at any one time.
When did the gym open?
For the love of god, let it be soon.
Blue Dog Jiu-Jitsu UK
Some facts about you:
Name: Roger
Age: 44
Belt: Blue
Profession: Postman
Years in BJJ: 4
Other martial arts: Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Japanese Jujutsu
Currently living in: Sherborne, Dorset, UK
Originally from: Born in the Netherlands
Blue Dog Jiu-Jitsu, UK
Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence
Frustrated with the politics of the massive chain BJJ clubs that dominate the area, I thought I would try and provide an alternative.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
Fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters, from all walks of life.
Why do they train?
Jiu jitsu provides so many different things to different people,it could be for self defence or fitness to socializing and mental health or all of the above.
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
Yeovil is a small town surrounded by lots of other towns and villages,just trying to get the word out that you exist can be tricky.
Blue Dog Jiu-Jitsu UK
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
A little more vibrant and with more options.
What’s the best thing about your gym?
Its family oriented and the emphasis isn’t on generating champions but sharing all that BJJ has to offer.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
The list is long! We have the ancient town of Sherborne, with its castle and abbey. Stonehenge is 30 minutes away and the town of Bath, with its Roman baths, is an hour away, to name but a few of the wonders in the beautiful West Country.
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