The Combat Academy: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

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Huge congratulations to Brandon on his well deserved promotion to Blue Belt.

Promotions at The Combat Academy are based upon the following:
* Commitment to training
* Competition Performance
* Character (Adherence to the wisdom of Carlos Gracie).
* Contribution to the growth and development of Equipe TCA.

Brandon started training at the age of 5 and has attended over 2,000 lessons. From age 13, in addition to the junior classes, he started training with the adults. A regular in the evening classes, Brandon has also recently been attending the 06:00 classes.
His competition record is outstanding, European Champion (Gi and NoGi), British Open Champion (Gi and NoGi), National Champion (Gi and NoGi) are just some of the major titles he has won multiple times, along with countless medals at area events throughout the U.K.
Brandon is an assistant coach at some of the junior classes, helping to prepare the next generation to follow in his footsteps.
It has been an absolute pleasure to coach Brandon for all of these years, and this is a thoroughly well deserved promotion. The coaching team is looking forward to watching Brandon perform at his new belt level.

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Huge congratulations to Bex Mallon on her well deserved promotion to Blue Belt.

Promotions at Equipe TCA are based upon the following:
* Commitment to training.
* Competition Performance.
* Character.
* Contribution to the growth and development of Equipe TCA.

Bex trains several times a week and has amassed over 400 lessons.

The 2024 NoGi British Open was Bex first competition. An RNC submission in the straight final gave Bex the win and championship title.

At the 2025 BJJ British Open, with no one in her age category, Bex fought down an age in the M2 -79.3kg category.
A semi-final submission win and a points loss in the final secured the silver medal.

Two wins and the gold medal at the Hereford Open are also on her competition resume.

Bex is a tremendous asset to the team, often helping coach the Tiny Taz students and helping to run the Friday kickboxing class.

Bex was also the winner of the 2025 TCA female student of the year.

A thoroughly well-deserved promotion, the coaching team is looking forward to watching Bex at the new belt.

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Huge congratulations to Phil, on an amazing performance at the BJJ British Open.
With the possibility of only one other opponent in his age category, Phil was guaranteed a medal. Rather than take this option, Phil chose to challenge himself, and moved down three age categories to the purple belt Masters Absolute category, where there were 11 competitors!

In his first fight, Phil went into a 2-0 lead, before submitting his opponent with a foot lock at 1 minute 12, into the contest.

In the quarter-final, Phil submitted his opponent with a kimura, after just 31-seconds of the fight!

In the semi-final, Phil was under a lot of pressure, and found himself 0-6 down with time running out. With just 6-seconds remaining on the clock, Phil hit another foot-lock, to progress to the final.
In the final, Phil was defeated on points after the fight had gone the distance and so came away with an extremely hard earned silver medal.
Phil also moved down three age categories to compete in the masters -100kg category where he came away with a default bronze.

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Huge congratulations to Tom , on an amazing performance at the BJJ British Open.
Competing in the blue belt -94kg category, Tom defeated his first opponent 13-0, showcasing his top pressure game.
In the semi-final Tom submitted his opponent 1 minute 18 seconds into the contest, with a head and arm choke.
In the final, Tom raced to a 6-0 lead before again, finishing the fight with a figure 4 key-lock submission, at 1 minute 39.

Also representing the team, Max fought in the white belt +80kg category. Unfortunately he lost his first fight on points, after the fight went the distance.

As a judo black belt, Zack had to fight in the blue belt -88kg category. Unfortunately, Zack lost after he drew the eventual winner of the category, who defeated all four of his opponents by submission.