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Why ALBA does not rush belt promotions, and what our coaches actually look for before awarding one.

What Jiu Jitsu actually teaches beyond fighting: coordination, discipline, confidence, problem-solving and more, straight from ALBA's own coaching standard.

Professor Tom on Coaching, Opportunity, and Building Team ALBA's Next Generation Every academy talks about culture. Not every Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy can point to three coaches who grew up on the mats and never learned a bad habit anywhere else. That's exactly what's happening at Team ALBA, the Solihull-based BJJ academy led by Professor Tom, and it's no accident. From Pocket Money to a Coaching Career Elijah has been coaching at Team ALBA for a while now, fitting classes

Over the years, I’ve been asked the same question countless times: “Why do you still compete?” As the founder of A L B A Jiu Jitsu and head coach to hundreds of students across the UK, I could easily focus solely on coaching. Instead, I continue to step onto competition mats, test myself against high level opponents, and chase medals at every stage of my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey. The answer is simple. I believe a great coach should lead from the front. Why Competition Stil

Every month, on the first Saturday, something special happens at A L B A. Children travel from across the United Kingdom to step onto the mats together. Some arrive as teammates. Some arrive as future opponents. All arrive with the same goal: to improve. What started as a competition class has become something much bigger. Under the leadership of Professor Tom Bracher, the A L B A Kids Competition Class has become one of the most important dates in the calendar for young comp

At A L B A Jiu Jitsu, we are proud to work with people from all walks of life. From children taking their very first steps onto the mats, to adults looking to improve their fitness and confidence, through to athletes competing at the very highest levels of combat sports. One of those athletes is Leon Edwards. Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Birmingham, Leon has become one of the most successful mixed martial artists the United Kingdom has ever produced. His journey fr

People often ask me where the name A L B A came from, but the story of A L B A is about far more than a name. It is about building something that represents a belief, a standard and a vision for what Jiu Jitsu can be. For most of my life, Jiu Jitsu has been at the centre of everything I do. It has taught me discipline, resilience, humility and the value of consistent hard work. Through competition, coaching and years spent on the mats, I developed a clear understanding of wha