Grand Opening Success - E17 BJJ Weekly Newsletter 02/06/2026
- e17bjj
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Hey team,
What a weekend.
A huge thank you to everyone who came down to our Grand Opening on Saturday. We had around 100 people through the doors across the day, with the mats packed, plenty of rolling, lots of chatting, and a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish.
The weather certainly helped, but more than anything it was great to see so many members, friends, family and visitors all enjoying the space together. A few months ago this was an empty industrial unit with a lot of work ahead of it. Seeing it full of people enjoying themselves, training and celebrating what we've built together was a really special moment.
Thank you to everyone who helped behind the scenes, everyone who attended, and everyone who continues to support E17 BJJ. It was a brilliant day and hopefully the first of many.
I'll be away this week and part of next week, but you'll be in great hands while I'm gone.
This Week's Focus
Gi Fundamentals with Juan and Richard (Monday & Wednesday)
You'll be looking at half guard this week, with Juan taking the lead and showing you his favourite position. Expect plenty of details on controlling the position, staying connected to your partner and creating opportunities to sweep or attack.
No Gi Fundamentals with Hugo and Juan (Tuesday & Thursday)
We'll continue working with the high knee shield, first looking at how it can be used defensively to create space and prevent pressure, before switching gears and using it offensively through clamp guard submissions and half butterfly sweeps.
Gi Fundamentals with Hugo (Tuesday & Thursday)
You'll continue addressing guards and working through some of the lower body guards, including X Guard and Single Leg X. These positions are fantastic for controlling balance, creating sweeps and opening up transitions to other attacks.
Teens with Hugo and Juan
The focus this week will be outside passing, with the goal of working around the legs, establishing north-south control and looking at submission opportunities from there.
Gi Mixed with Christopher Macken
The focus will carry on from last week, looking at Butterfly Guard to Single Leg X and X Guard.
Judo
To be announced in class.
Wrestling for BJJ with Mehmet
This week you'll be looking at Russian ties, exploring entries into the position and the various attacks, transitions and takedown opportunities that open up from there.
Next Event: Summer Grading
Our next big event is the Summer Grading.
This is always one of my favourite days of the year. It's a chance to recognise all the hard work you've been putting in on the mats and celebrate the progress you've made over the last few months.
Initially we had this scheduled for 13th June, but due to a competition that week, will will be moving to a week further, and will now be taking place on 20th June
New Merch Has Dropped
We've got some fresh E17 gear available in the gym!
New white summer t-shirts
Black t-shirts
More colourways arriving soon
All t-shirts are £20 and available in the gym now.
Tip of the Week
"The Rule of 10,000"
Most techniques don't fail because they're bad techniques. They fail because we haven't spent enough time with them yet.
The first few reps feel awkward. The next few dozen start to feel familiar. A few hundred reps later, you're beginning to understand the timing. Eventually you stop thinking about the move itself and start reacting to your partner's reactions.
That's when Jiu Jitsu starts becoming your own.
One of the best ways to speed up this process is by collecting more quality repetitions. Open mats are a fantastic opportunity for this. Grab a training partner and drill something you've been working on. Put yourself back into a position from class and see how people react. Ask questions when something isn't working.
You don't always need more techniques. Often you just need more time with the ones you already know.
And remember, repetitions aren't just physical. Being mindful during training, paying attention to what caused a sweep to fail, why a pass worked, or how someone escaped your position are all valuable reps too.
Trust the process, keep showing up, and keep collecting reps.
See you on the mats!
-Mouncif
E17 BJJ
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