It’s been another busy and exciting time across Gracie Barra Harrogate, Apperley Bridge and York, with plenty to celebrate on and off the mats! From bringing our young students together for friendly competition and celebrating some fantastic performances at BJJ 247, to welcoming guest instructors and introducing new kids’ classes for 2027, there’s lots happening across our GBK community.
With Christmas celebrations just around the corner, there’s plenty more to look forward to, so read on for all the latest news, upcoming events and opportunities to get involved!
Kids Interclub at Gracie Barra York - 15th of November
We’re really excited to be bringing back our GBK Interclub, taking place on 15th November at Gracie Barra York!
With over 50 children expected to take part, it’s set to be a fantastic day filled with fun and friendly competition. The Interclub is a brilliant opportunity to bring our York, Harrogate and Apperley Bridge communities together, giving our young students the chance to step onto the mats, put their skills into practice and experience the excitement of competing in a friendly and supportive environment.
Whether it’s their first time taking part in a competition or they’re building on previous experience, the focus is on having fun, growing in confidence and celebrating everyone's progress. Most importantly, it’s about coming together as one GBK community, encouraging one another and creating a positive experience for all involved.
We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Gracie Barra York for what promises to be a brilliant day!
Professor Gareth Neale Seminar at Gracie Barra Apperley Bridge - 26th November
Following our Kids Interclub in York, we’re excited to welcome Professor Gareth Neale from Gracie Barra Neepsend, Sheffield, to Gracie Barra Apperley Bridge on 26th October for our Winter seminar.
Professor Gareth is a highly experienced 4th Degree Black Belt under Professor Victor Estima, bringing with him years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu knowledge, coaching experience and a wealth of expertise to share.
This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn from an experienced instructor, develop their technical understanding, pick up new skills and gain valuable insights that they can take back to their own training. Whether you're looking to refine your existing game, explore new techniques or simply learn from someone with a wealth of experience, there will be plenty to take away from the session.
We’re looking forward to welcoming Professor Gareth to Apperley Bridge and giving our students the opportunity to train, learn and grow together. This is one seminar you won't want to miss!
Book your tickets through the GymDesk app, or here
BJJ 247 - Congratulations to Everyone Who Took Part!
A huge well done to all of our members who stepped onto the mats and competed at BJJ 247 over the weekend!
It’s fantastic to see so many members representing their respective academies, putting their training into practice and showing the hard work, dedication and commitment they’ve been putting in during their classes.
Whether it was your first competition or you've competed before, getting out there and testing yourself takes a lot, so we're incredibly proud of everyone who took part. These experiences are such an important part of the BJJ journey, helping you to build confidence, discover weak spots and develop skills.
A special shout-out to everyone who represented our three academies:
From Gracie Barra Harrogate:
Harry, James, Matthew and Charles.
From Gracie Barra Apperley Bridge:
Cameron, Seyed, Arfan and Andrew.
From Gracie Barra York:
Liam, William, Oliver, Sam and Alastair.
We hope you all enjoyed the experience and are proud of what you achieved. Win or lose, every competition is an opportunity to learn, grow and come back stronger.
Thank you to everyone who competed, as well as the coaches, teammates and families who came along to show their support.
New GBK Classes at Gracie Barra York!
We’re expanding our kids’ timetable with some exciting new classes launching in January 2027! Whether your little one is taking their first steps on the mats or looking to develop their existing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills, there will be even more opportunities to learn, grow and have fun.
Tuesday Classes
Tiny Champions (Ages 3–4) | 4:00pm – 4:30pm
Little Champions 1 (Ages 5–6) | 4:35pm – 5:25pm
Advanced Kids No-Gi (Ages 7–14) | 5:30pm – 6:20pm For Grey & White belts and above.
Thursday Classes
Little Champions 2 (Ages 7–9) | 5:30pm – 6:20pm
These new sessions will give more children the opportunity to build confidence, develop coordination, learn new skills and make friends in a fun, supportive environment.
Christmas is Coming! Seminars and Get Togethers Incoming
Gracie Barra York will be kicking off the festivities on the 19th of December, starting with a seminar from Professor Luke from Harrogate, before moving on to a team social at the Old Grey Mare! Members from all clubs are welcome - More details to follow so keep your eyes peeled for more information.
Apperley Bridge will be celebrating Christmas a little later this year, with a social to follow the Empire Grappling: Yorkshire Winter Open on the 16th of January. More details to follow shortly.
In Harrogate, we’ll be rounding off our final session trip to Roosters after training - more details to follow soon.
See you on the mats!
Team GB HABY
