Coaches

meet our

Coaches

 

see when they are training

There’s no better friend than a fistful of power and knowledge!

Alex Owen

Founder & Head Coach

Lukasz Marcinkowski

Striking Coach

Ian Rossiter

DV8 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Head Coach

Lee 'Badger' Harvey

Boxing Coach

Jenny Line

MMA Beginners Coach

George Daly

MMA Beginners Coach

Charlotte Pundsack

UWCB Events Coach

Latest News from our Gym

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
DV8 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Checkmat Somerset) is now offering an opportunity for clubs to become affiliates and come under our umbrella. Although we have had affiliates for a few years now, with clubs we support in Devon and Somerset, we have never advertised this publicly and have only helped when friends have asked for support with seminars and gradings. We have noticed that some clubs struggle to progress due to not having access to higher grades who can promote and provide guidance when needed, or do not have the resources to affiliate to one of the larger teams. This is where we can assist. What makes us different? Basically we want to help and support you with the progress of your club and work mutually to promote BJJ positively. We don’t want to be involved with how you run your school, we want to help you take your school forward and not be held back. Although we want to help you grow your group you must support us in keeping your training and professional standards high. We have been let down in the past so standards have to be set and it needs to be an ongoing process. CONTACT US: If youre interested in becoming an affiliate and would like more information regarding this, please get in touch. Please note that Checkmat and DV8 BJJ are both copyrighted, you cannot use the names or logos. We have tried to summarise a few frequently asked questions below: How much does it cost to affiliate? It doesn’t cost anything directly but you will be expected to host team seminars and attend team training sessions. When you have been accepted you are integrated into our family and can then consider yourself affiliated. What do you get out of it? All we want is a little acknowledgement and for everyone to be inclusive. As for support, we strive to organise team training days and seminars/gradings. I have my own club and want to affiliate, what next? Drop Ian a message or give him a call to determine what you are looking for from the affiliation. I have a grade in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from a different club, will this be recognised? If you are transferring from another club/association for whatever reason then the grades you have been awarded will be recognised if they are from a reputable and verifiable source. The grades will obviously be checked. Are there any requirements to teach/coach? Yes, as a minimum standard you must be an experienced BJJ purple belt or have express permission from Ian to do so. You must also have adequate and relevant insurance. Is there anything else I need to know? You will be affiliating to benefit from our BJJ knowledge and experience. We are not an association so you are responsible for your own and teams actions. If you are the instructor who is enquiring about affiliating then we assume you will always act professionally, as the responsibility for the everyday running of your club is solely down to you. I dont have a BJJ program yet at my school but want to introduce one, what can I do? We can help you in setting up a programme and may be able to help install one of our coaches to work with you depending on your location. If not, we have a vast network of team mates and may be able to put you in contact with someone local who can assist.

DV8 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Checkmat Somerset) is now offering an opportunity for clubs to become affiliates and come under our umbrella. Although we have had affiliates for a few years now, with clubs we support in Devon and Somerset, we have never advertised this publicly and have only helped when friends have asked for support with seminars and gradings.

We have noticed that some clubs struggle to progress due to not having access to higher grades who can promote and provide guidance when needed, or do not have the resources to affiliate to one of the larger teams. This is where we can assist.

What makes us different?

Basically we want to help and support you with the progress of your club and work mutually to promote BJJ positively. We don’t want to be involved with how you run your school, we want to help you take your school forward and not be held back. Although we want to help you grow your group you must support us in keeping your training and professional standards high. We have been let down in the past so standards have to be set and it needs to be an ongoing process.

CONTACT US: If you're interested in becoming an affiliate and would like more information regarding this, please get in touch.

Please note that Checkmat and DV8 BJJ are both copyrighted, you cannot use the names or logos.

We have tried to summarise a few frequently asked questions below:

How much does it cost to affiliate?
It doesn’t cost anything directly but you will be expected to host team seminars and attend team training sessions. When you have been accepted you are integrated into our family and can then consider yourself affiliated.

What do you get out of it?
All we want is a little acknowledgement and for everyone to be inclusive. As for support, we strive to organise team training days and seminars/gradings.

I have my own club and want to affiliate, what next?
Drop Ian a message or give him a call to determine what you are looking for from the affiliation.

I have a grade in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from a different club, will this be recognised?
If you are transferring from another club/association for whatever reason then the grades you have been awarded will be recognised if they are from a reputable and verifiable source. The grades will obviously be checked.

Are there any requirements to teach/coach?
Yes, as a minimum standard you must be an experienced BJJ purple belt or have express permission from Ian to do so. You must also have adequate and relevant insurance.

Is there anything else I need to know?
You will be affiliating to benefit from our BJJ knowledge and experience. We are not an association so you are responsible for your own and teams actions. If you are the instructor who is enquiring about affiliating then we assume you will always act professionally, as the responsibility for the everyday running of your club is solely down to you.

I don't have a BJJ program yet at my school but want to introduce one, what can I do?
We can help you in setting up a programme and may be able to help install one of our coaches to work with you depending on your location. If not, we have a vast network of team mates and may be able to put you in contact with someone local who can assist. ... See MoreSee Less

  • Likes: 9
  • Shares: 2
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Just to let you know where we are at this present time with regard to resuming classes. UK Active recently confirmed that combat sports fall under the bracket as ‘must maintain social distancing’. A lot of martial arts schools are about to resume classes and many have focussed on a paragraph that says ‘social distancing must be maintained but where it isn’t, mitigating circumstances must be made’. This quote is largely aimed at staff working face to face and closely with people and not wrestling, punching or kicking each other. We’ve been asked why others are opening and why we aren’t so to provide a clear answer, we aren’t insured under current government rules and guidance and also in my opinion people will not want to pay to do BJJ solo drills for an extended period in marked out boxes separately from everyone else, its simply not Jiu Jitsu. Some gyms will ignore the guidelines and rules and we have no interest in what they are doing, we will remain closed until we are able to open safely, securely and legally. We will be back soon and stronger than ever but will do so with our students and the communities safety in mind first.

Just to let you know where we are at this present time with regard to resuming classes.

UK Active recently confirmed that combat sports fall under the bracket as ‘must maintain social distancing’.

A lot of martial arts schools are about to resume classes and many have focussed on a paragraph that says ‘social distancing must be maintained but where it isn’t, mitigating circumstances must be made’. This quote is largely aimed at staff working face to face and closely with people and not wrestling, punching or kicking each other.

We’ve been asked why others are opening and why we aren’t so to provide a clear answer, we aren’t insured under current government rules and guidance and also in my opinion people will not want to pay to do BJJ solo drills for an extended period in marked out boxes separately from everyone else, it's simply not Jiu Jitsu.

Some gyms will ignore the guidelines and rules and we have no interest in what they are doing, we will remain closed until we are able to open safely, securely and legally.

We will be back soon and stronger than ever but will do so with our students and the communities safety in mind first. ... See MoreSee Less

  • Likes: 17
  • Shares: 1
  • Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook

I applaud your optimism but not sure we'll be back soon if the Covidiot Government have their way, they are changing society for the worse over a flu bug.

Covid Safe martial arts instructor certification. If you think your instructor is going the extra mile to gain a qualification in how to protect your health and wellbeing when we return to training then dont be fooled if they are banding about this certificate, its at best misleading. Without reading any of the course work I went straight to the questions and scored 100% (30 out of 30) plus added to that you can change your answers if you get any wrong thus a guarantee of a pass certificate. This is not a mandated course and simply a free informational source to help those gain better understanding of the current situation which if you have been following news and guidance you will know anyway. In an industry that preaches respect, integrity and honesty its a sad to see so much deceit. https://www.openlearning.com/courses/covid-safe-martial-arts-school/?redirectTo=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.openlearning.com%2Fcourses%2Fcovid-safe-martial-arts-school%2FHomePage%2F

Covid Safe martial arts instructor certification.

If you think your "instructor" is going the extra mile to gain a qualification in how to protect your health and wellbeing when we return to training then don't be fooled if they are banding about this certificate, it's at best misleading.

Without reading any of the course work I went straight to the questions and scored 100% (30 out of 30) plus added to that you can change your answers if you get any wrong thus a guarantee of a pass certificate.

This is not a mandated course and simply a free informational source to help those gain better understanding of the current situation which if you have been following news and guidance you will know anyway.

In an industry that preaches respect, integrity and honesty it's a sad to see so much deceit.

https://openlearning.com/courses/… ... See MoreSee Less

  • Likes: 7
  • Shares: 1
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Load more