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Rolling back attacks from the US of A For our most recent guest seminar here at New School BJJ, we welcomed over American black belt, Seph Smith, owner of Upstream BJJ in Richmond, Virginia, USA. The first black belt under world-renowned jiu jitsu innovator and current UFC fighter, Ryan Hall, Seph boasts a unique style of inventive yet extremely effective free-flowing jiu jitsu. Having personally travelled to Virginia several years ago to train at Fifty/50 BJJ, where Seph was teaching at the time, I had already experienced the slick techniques he is known for, so I was thrilled Seph could visit our academy as part of his two week UK seminar tour. On the night of the seminar itself, Seph had […]

Back in late April, New School BJJ welcomed the return of one of the true originals of jiu jitsu: 5th degree black belt and affiliated academy authority, Helio Soneca. Only in town for a few days, it was the perfect opportunity to combine a seminar with the academy’s annual grading. Like a fun-filled festival that rolls around once a year, Soneca arrived with his unique brand of colourful comedy and animated displays of impeccable technique that have come to be expected from a visit. Split over two days, the BJJ hall of famer kicked off proceedings by demonstrating a set of fundamental positions that could compliment the game of any level of jiu jistu practitioner. To start he addressed the […]