I started training MMA back in my university days, at the world renowed Leicester Shootfighters under Nathan “Levo” Leverton. I realised early on into my journey that striking was not going to be a strong point for me, as I was lucky enough to be beaten up by the likes of Dan Hardy, Andre Winner, and Jimmy Wallhead, and so I began to develop a passion for the grappling aspects of martial arts.

For a few years that focus was entirely in a no-gi / wrestling setting, but I happened upon a gi seminar that was being taught by one Royce Gracie. I was lucky enough to be awarded my blue belt by him at that seminar, and I was hooked on the gi game from then on too!

When my student days were over, and I returned home to London, I wanted to find a place to continue training, and after a short spell at London Shootfighters (as was the logical step at the time) I found the commute was too long to sustain, and so I started training at a smaller club in London Bridge, which was at the time Brazilian Top Team, under Eduardo Carriello and Ze Marcello.

I continued to train under Eduardo, being awarded all subsequent belts by him, including my black belt in November 2016. I have been teaching classes since my purple belt days, and was lucky enough to have those mentioned above, as well as numerous other great mentors and coaches to help develop my knowledge and coaching style along the way.

In my younger years, I loved competing – I had some success… I had lots of setbacks; but I always loved the process and nature of jiu jitsu and grappling meaning that you always learned and developed some positives, regardless of the outcome of a match.

When the time came to become a real adult, house and job commitments brought me out to Essex. I trained and still maintain good relationships with a couple of academies that I trained with for a time, but I had always wanted to run my own sessions, with my own set of ideals and focus, and out of those aspirations Unity was born.