Still Rolling - E17 BJJ Weekly Newsletter 13/07/2026
- e17bjj
- Jul 13
- 4 min read
Hey team,
No newsletter last week... I'm still away for a little while, but I couldn't leave you hanging for two weeks!
I'm sure many of you have seen the news about the huge fire in Walthamstow over the weekend. Thankfully, Ravenswood Collective wasn't affected, and E17 BJJ is completely unaffected, so all classes will be running as normal this week.
A massive thank you to everyone who has checked in and asked if the gym was okay. We really appreciate it.
New Intro to BJJ Classes
This week we'll be launching our brand new Intro to BJJ classes.
These sessions will run alongside our normal Gi Fundamentals classes from 18:15 - 19:15, giving complete beginners a dedicated environment to learn the basics before joining the main curriculum.
If you know anyone who's been saying they'd like to try Jiu Jitsu but has been a little nervous about starting, now is the perfect time to send them our way.
As always, they can come along for a free trial. The whole course is a rolling 4 weeks including up to 8 sessions (Monday and Wednesday) and can be joined at anytime - our intro offer for these are £49 for a month of access to them and a great way to gain confidence on the mats. As existing members, if you ever feel like you want to drop into one or 2 to polish up or understand thing a little better, you are also more than welcome to drop in.
Christopher Macken Outside Ashi Seminar - Friday 1st August
Quite a few of you have asked over the last few months about learning more leg locks and lower body entanglements.
Whilst these positions are far more common in No Gi, they're becoming increasingly important in all areas of grappling. Even if you don't plan on specialising in leg locks yourself, understanding these positions is essential so you know how to stay safe, recognise danger and understand what your opponent is trying to achieve.
Christopher Macken's Outside Ashi seminar is a fantastic opportunity to learn one of the most important leg entanglement positions from someone who uses it at a very high level.
If you've trained with Chris before, you'll already know what an excellent coach he is. He has a brilliant way of breaking down complicated positions into something everyone can understand, regardless of experience.
Whether you're completely new to leg locks or already have some experience, this seminar will give you a much better understanding of the position and the opportunities it creates.
Tickets are available now.
This Week's Focus
Gi Fundamentals with Ryan (Monday) & Jacob (Wednesday)
This week you'll be looking at attacking the turtle position, exploring how we can maintain pressure, break down our partner's defensive shell and transition into dominant positions and submissions.
No Gi Fundamentals with Hugo & Ryan (Tuesday & Thursday)
We'll continue working through X Guard, looking at a variety of sweeps before introducing the straight ankle lock and how the position naturally develops into attacking opportunities.
You'll also continue working with the crab ride, using it to chase the back and follow your partner as they attempt to escape.
Gi Fundamentals with Ryan & Hugo (Tuesday & Thursday)
You'll continue looking at spider guard, with a particular focus on using it as a gateway into other guards when the opportunity presents itself. As the week progresses, you'll also begin exploring lasso guard and how it connects naturally with the spider guard system.
Gi / No Gi with Christopher Macken (Friday)
As always, Friday's class is open to both Gi and No Gi students, so come however you prefer to train.
This week Chris will be looking at half guard passing, following on from the last few weeks spent exploring the Headquarters (HQ) position. You'll learn how to turn good passing positions into successful guard passes with Chris's usual attention to detail.
Wrestling for BJJ with Mehmet
This week Mehmet will be covering single leg takedowns, focusing on entries, finishes and how to build confidence attacking from standing.
It's been great seeing these classes continue to grow over the past few weeks. Whether your goal is to improve your takedowns or simply become harder to take down yourself, these sessions are a fantastic addition to your training.
Teens with Ryan & Hugo
The teens will finish off their escape series this week, focusing on armbar escapes and mount escapes.
Learning how to defend is every bit as important as learning how to attack, and building confidence in bad positions will make everyone much more relaxed and effective when sparring.
Hero HQ & Combat HQ
Our younger students will continue working on single leg takedowns, learning how to safely bring their partner to the floor before connecting those skills into sparring.
We'll also continue developing mount escapes, making sure everyone has the confidence and understanding to escape bad positions instead of feeling stuck underneath.
Tip of the Week
Ask "What if?"
One of the best ways to improve isn't by memorising more techniques, it's by becoming more curious.
What if they posture?
What if they step their leg back?
What if they don't react the way I expected?
The best grapplers don't just know techniques, they understand as many of the decisions that their opponents can choose to make after them.
Every technique you learn this week has a second, third and fourth chapter. Start asking "What if?" and you'll begin seeing Jiu Jitsu as a connected system rather than a collection of individual moves.
See you on the mats!
-Mouncif
E17 BJJ
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