Summer Rolling On 29/06/2026
- e17bjj
- Jun 29
- 4 min read
Hey team,
Welcome back to some slightly more normal weather!
It was brilliant to see so many of you on the mats last Monday and Tuesday despite the heat. There was a real buzz in the room and it was great seeing so many people determined to keep improving, even when the temperature was trying its best to keep everyone at home.
A little update from me, this will be my last week in the gym before I disappear for a little while. From Friday I'll be away getting married, followed by a couple of weeks away to celebrate and recharge.
Don't worry though, I've lined up some fantastic coaches to keep everything running smoothly while I'm away. From the 2nd until the 16th, Juan will also be away, but we've got some great cover in place so classes will continue as normal.
I'll do my best to keep the newsletters coming while I'm away, but if one arrives a day or two late, you'll know why!
Rip & Roll Camp - Morocco
23rd - 28th November
Bookings are open for our Rip & Roll Camp in Anza, Morocco!
This year's coaching line-up is our best yet, with four BJJ coaches, including myself, along with two female instructors, giving everyone the opportunity to learn from a variety of different styles and perspectives throughout the week.
A non exhaustive list of what you'll enjoy:
8+ BJJ seminars
Surf lessons
Yoga for BJJ
Guided meditation
Evening activities
An excursion to Tamri Dunes
Healthy locally sourced breakfasts and dinners
Airport transfers
Free BJJ laundry service
Rooftop sunsets
Plenty of time to relax and enjoy Morocco
As always, E17 BJJ members receive a special discounted price. I'll be mentioning the camp throughout the week, but if you're interested, come and have a chat with me in class or send me a message.
Tickets are already selling quickly this time around, so don't leave it too long if you'd like to join us.
This Week's Focus
Gi Fundamentals with Mouncif & Juan (Monday & Wednesday)
This week we'll begin looking at escaping closed guard and how we can immediately transition into effective guard passing.
Breaking the closed guard is often the hardest part. Once you've opened it safely, we'll explore how to maintain momentum and begin building strong passing sequences instead of resetting the exchange.
Gi Fundamentals with Hugo & Ryan (Tuesday & Thursday)
You'll continue exploring X Guard, this time looking at the wrestle-up, passing over into crab ride, and progressing to back takes.
These sessions are all about understanding how one position naturally flows into the next.
No Gi Fundamentals with Hugo & Ryan (Tuesday & Thursday)
Tuesday will be used to recap and sharpen the escapes you've been learning over the last few weeks, making sure the details are becoming second nature.
On Thursday we'll begin a brand new series looking at shin on shin, the first chapter of our open guard curriculum.
Wrestling for BJJ with Mehmet
This week Mehmet will be looking at body lock takedowns, covering how to enter safely, establish strong control and the different finishing options available once you've secured the position.
Gi / No Gi with Christopher Macken (Friday)
A reminder that Friday's class is open to both Gi and No Gi.
Train however you enjoy most and expect another technical, concept-driven session from Chris that applies regardless of what you're wearing.
Teens with Ryan & Hugo
The teens will continue building on their defensive foundations, developing confidence escaping bad positions and how to get back to places where they can control and attack
Hero HQ & Combat HQ
Our younger students will continue working on finishing the single leg takedown, learning how to safely bring their partner to the floor before connecting it into sparring.
We'll also continue developing escapes from bad positions so they become more confident when someone manages to pass their guard.
E17 x Arvo Sauna
We're really pleased to have partnered with Arvo, located just a 30-second walk from the gym.
All E17 BJJ members receive:
Your first sauna completely free
15% off all future sauna bookings
Simply use the discount code BJJFREE when booking, and when you arrive, show your E17 BJJ membership area on our website as proof of membership.
Recovery is just as important as training, and Arvo is a fantastic place to unwind after a hard session. If you haven't been yet, it's definitely worth checking out.
A full instagram post will go out this week regarding this!
Tip of the Week
Be Someone People Want To Train With
Technical ability is important but being a great training partner is just as important. This can come in many forms:
Helping newer members feel welcome.
Giving your partner good reactions when drilling.
Training hard, but always with control.
Celebrating other people's progress just as much as your own.
The strongest gyms aren't built by having the toughest people in the room. They're built by having people who make everyone else excited to come back and train again. Every person on the mat contributes to the culture of the gym so be someone people are happy to see when it's time to partner up!
See you on the mats!
-Mouncif
E17 BJJ
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