Grading Week - E17 BJJ Weekly Newsletter 15/06/2026
- e17bjj
- Jun 15
- 3 min read
Hey team,
The refurb is finally getting close to being fully finished.
Most of the major work is now complete, and we're down to the final snagging jobs, a deep clean and some varnishing work that should be wrapped up over the next few days.
It's been great seeing the gym gradually come together over the last few months and seeing more and more of you making use of the space. We've still got ideas and improvements planned for the future, but it's nice to finally be reaching the point where we can spend less time building and more time focusing on training.
Summer Grading
This Saturday, 20th June, we'll be hosting our Summer Grading.
The grading will begin at 12:30pm, directly after Mehmet's Wrestling for BJJ class.
All classes will run as normal beforehand.
After the grading there will be time to roll, test out your new grades and see if they've unlocked any new powers before we head over to Malt Haus for a few drinks and a chance to celebrate together. There are plenty of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available, so everyone is welcome.
I'm really looking forward to this one. I've seen a huge amount of progress across the gym over the last few months and it'll be great to celebrate that with you all.
Competition Success
A huge congratulations to both Hugo and Ryan this weekend.
Hugo put together an incredible performance at the London Open, securing four gold medals.
Ryan also continued his excellent run of form, winning his division and taking home gold as well.
A brilliant weekend for the coaching team and a reminder that the people teaching you every week are constantly working on improving their own games too.
This Week's Focus
Gi Fundamentals with Mouncif & Juan (Monday & Wednesday)
We'll be looking at closed guard and how we can use it to create a huge variety of attacks.
Closed guard remains one of the strongest positions in Jiu Jitsu when you understand how to break posture, off-balance your opponent and force reactions. We'll explore how different attacks connect together and how to keep your partner under pressure from the position.
Gi Fundamentals with Hugo & Ryan (Tuesday & Thursday)
These sessions will continue looking at outside passing, but now from a trouser grip perspective.
Expect to work through Torreandos, Cross Pant Passes and other passing systems that allow you to stay mobile while controlling the legs.
No Gi Fundamentals with Hugo & Ryan (Tuesday & Thursday)
This week we'll switch our attention to escapes, looking specifically at what to do when we find ourselves stuck underneath side control and mount.
Understanding how to stay safe, create frames and work our way back to stronger positions is a key part of developing confidence on the mats.
Teens with Ryan & Hugo
The teens class will continue developing key control concepts, including blocking the hip and controlling movement, before looking at finishing both the kimura and armbar from north-south.
GiNoGi with Christopher Macken
Friday's class is now Gi or No Gi, meaning you can train however you prefer.
Whether you choose to wear a Gi or not, Chris will be covering concepts and details that transfer across both styles and help improve your overall understanding of grappling.
Wrestling for BJJ with Mehmet
This week you'll continue looking at underhooks, building into body lock positions and exploring the attacks and opportunities that become available once you've established strong upper body control.
Hero HQ & Combat HQ
The kids have worked incredibly hard towards grading, so this week we'll take our foot off the gas a little.
Expect plenty of games, lots of sparring and plenty of fun, while still keeping everything centred around Jiu Jitsu.
Tip of the Week
Borrow, Don't Steal
When you roll with someone better than you, don't try to copy their entire game.
Instead, steal one thing.
Maybe it's a grip.
Maybe it's a guard retention movement.
Maybe it's how they finish a sweep.
Trying to copy everything at once usually leads to confusion. Borrowing one small detail and adding it to your own game leads to steady improvement.
By the end of the year, you'll have collected dozens of useful pieces from dozens of different training partners, and built a game that actually fits you.
See you on the mats!
-Mouncif
E17 BJJ
Comments