10/04/2026
True Grips – True Lineage
The friendship. The journey. The lineage that shaped everything.
Coach – Mentor – Brother 👊🥋🔥
I first met Ben Poppleton back in 2005, not long after he made UK history — becoming the first British black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr.
At that time, BJJ in the UK was still in its infancy. A handful of clubs. A few raw training spaces. And a small group of people who knew this was something special.
Our training ground?
A shed at the bottom of Ben’s garden in Rossington, Doncaster.
No frills. Just mats, hard rounds, and a fire to learn.
That place became Gracie Barra Yorkshire… and later Gordo Jiu Jitsu Doncaster.
From student and coach… to friends… to brothers.
Decades of training, lessons, setbacks, growth, and loyalty.
In 2007, I travelled to Brazil with Ben — training at the legendary Gracie Barra HQ in Barra da Tijuca.
It was on that trip I had the honour of meeting and training with Gordo himself — in his home, upstairs above the family living space. No flash. Just heart, history, and Jiu Jitsu.
This is what lineage means.
Carlos Gracie Jr & Gordo → Ben Poppleton → Me → True Grips
Not just techniques…
Values. Standards. Culture. Respect. Legacy.
And now that lineage lives on through True Grips Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Built on what came before…
But evolving into something of our own.
If you’ve been thinking about starting… this is your sign.
We’re currently welcoming new students — complete beginners to experienced grapplers.
Free trial sessions available.
Come and experience it for yourself.
One Team. One Mat. All In. 👊
