Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are combat effective martial arts, grappling sports and a vehicle to improve your entire life. Judo was developed in Japan during the late 1800s and focuses on taking your opponent to the ground using sweeps and throws from clinches and grips - it has evolved to an Olympic sport today. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was developed by a family called the Gracies in Rio de Janerio, who modified the techniques of Judo to focus on choke-holds and joint-locks to end the fight, although the sport has advanced far beyond them.
Given that 90% of street fights you see end up in grappling situations these martial arts have been proved most effective - the ability to throw someone off you or escape an entanglement is vital to self-defence. Judo & BJJ have been proven again and again in mixed martial arts, all the way from PRIDE FC through to the Ultimate Fighting Championship today.
Our BJJ sessions on Friday and Sunday are taken by Ben, Freya, Harry and Matt who are all active purple belt competitors under local 3rd degree black belt Kevin Webb. There will be minimum 2 coaches at each session to ensure attention to all members. Saturday sessions will either be additional No-Gi sessions taken by ex-student Jack Penman or Women & Non-binary sessions, ran by BJJ Vice President Deon Nunoo and Secretary Erin Walton. Open Mat will have a constant exec presence, and require exec approval to attend.
Our Judo coaching team is provided by MGN Total Judo Coaching Ltd: Mark Dawes, Scott Barnes, Rory Edwards, and Matty Sexton.
Mark has represented the BJC internationally in Holland and Ireland, and competed in the European Masters in Glasgow in 2018. He has also won a silver medal at the 2010 British Masters and a bronze at the 2016 British Masters, and currently holds a 2nd Dan. Mark has been a qualified coach for over 19 years and holds a UKCC Level 2 Coaching qualification, bringing his extensive competitive and coaching experience to Warwick University.
Scott started Judo at the age of 7 at Neil Adams Judo Club and competed at national level as a teenager. He earned his 1st Dan in 2014 and 2nd Dan in 2025. Scott has coached a range of ages and abilities, and has also been a referee for several years, officiating at major BJA events. He is now a table official and has worked at events including the British Championships. His coaching focuses on strong fundamentals, while encouraging Judoka to develop their own style and a broad range of techniques across both tachi-waza and ne-waza.
Rory is a 2nd Dan who has practised Judo since childhood, competing at national level and representing England internationally in Malta. Alongside his studies at Warwick, he has moved into coaching and is also a qualified referee and table official. A keen enthusiast of ne-waza, with a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and an arguably excessive reliance on tomoe-nage, Rory brings his competitive experience and enthusiasm for the sport to the club.
Matty is a former Team GB international fighter who now competes for New Zealand. For GB, he won bronze medals at the Montreal Pan-American Open and Marrakech African Open; for New Zealand, he has competed at the Linz Grand Prix and won a team silver medal at the Oceania Championships. A lifelong Judoka, BJA 4th Dan and Warwick alumnus, Matty has a strong connection to the club and fondly recalls training and competing here, particularly at Warwick Comp and BUCS. A keen fan of ashi-waza and technical analysis, with over 10 years of coaching experience, he enjoys sharing his knowledge with everyone from beginners to high-level athletes.
Together, our coaching team brings a wealth of competitive, coaching and officiating experience, supporting Judoka of all levels to develop their skills, confidence and enjoyment of the sport.
Our session times this year will be:
Judo:
Tuesday 20:30-22:00 (Advanced)
Wednesday 18:30-20:00 (Beginner)
Thursday 18:00-20:00 (Intermediate)
BJJ:
Wednesday 12:00 - 14:00 (Open Mat)
Friday 16:00 - 18:00 (No-Gi)
Saturday 9:00-11:00 (Women and Non-Binary Sessions/No-Gi)
Sunday 16:00-18:00 (No-Gi)
Mat Fees:
Mat fees must be purchased to attend coached sessions after week 2 of term 1
Please not that from Term 2 onwards termly mat fees are NOT REFUNDABLE.
Judo:
Yearly: £170 https://www.warwicksu.com/shop/product/10344260/
Term 1: £75 https://www.warwicksu.com/shop/product/10344270/
Drop in: Members £6.50, Non Members £7.50 (Pay at door)
BJJ:
Yearly: £220 https://www.warwicksu.com/shop/product/10344280/
Term 1: £90 https://www.warwicksu.com/shop/product/10344290/
Drop in: Members: £6.50, Non Members £7.50 (Pay at door)
Judo & BJJ Yearly: £250 https://www.warwicksu.com/shop/product/10344300/
If you want to convert an existing BJJ or Judo Mat Fee to a combined yearly, please contact the treasurer.
All sessions take place in the Combat Hall in the Sports Hub. Until week 2 (Term 1) all sessions are open to everyone and can be booked via the Warwick Sport website.
You can find and chat to us at the Sports Fair next week or message us on our Facebook page for more info.
Find us on facebook by searching 'University of Warwick Judo Club' and 'University of Warwick BJJ' for our members group. And like our page here: https://www.facebook.com/warwickjudobjj
Injury policy: If a member is injured during club activities and it is decided that the injury requires the member to go to a hospital to be checked out, the club is willing to reimburse transport to and from the hospital up to a maximum of £20, provided that a receipt for the transport is provided to us. If an exec asks another member to drive the injured member to the hospital, we are also able to reimburse up to £20 for any parking costs too.