The mission to grow Brazilian jiu-jitsu stepped up a level with the staging of the first-ever army skills course.
Aimed primarily at novice athletes, the week-long programme welcomed more than 50 personnel to the mat at the Army School of Physical Training in Aldershot, where they learnt the discipline’s key components under the watchful eye of expert instructors.
The event was the brainchild of Capt Trevor Tuhey (RAPTC), a ten-year veteran in the sport who first came up with the idea in 2023 and ran a successful pilot last September.
“We were at maximum capacity,” he told SoldierSport. “We had more than 70 people apply so had to turn some away.
“I think that reflects the growth of combat sports on civvy street. You see the popularity of the UFC and mixed martial arts – Brazilian jiu-jitsu is the ground element of that.
“It is a thinking person’s sport with a lot of intricate positions, and we are seeing a new generation that wants to try something different.
“We started with the foundations and then progressed to stand-up work, the ground game, submissions and full-contact sparring. The feedback was really positive.”
Tuhey said the support of fellow black belts Capt John Woodman (REME), Cpl Gareth Byrne (RE) and SSgt Andy Capper (Int Corps), as well as the wider army team, was crucial to the week’s success.
He added: “We are now at the stage where we have our own instructors and can deliver courses. We have a lot of people coming through and are at the point where jiu-jitsu is self-sufficient, which is great to see.”
The next course runs at the ASPT from October 20 to 24.
