Be part of an incredible journey and join the experience of a lifetime.
Jiu Jitsu is the fastest growing martial art in the world. It is a fun, sociable and a transformative experience for your body and mind. With ancient origins stemming from Buddhist monks, it known as 'Art Suave' or The Gentle Art’ as it focuses on self-protection with no striking and is based on the concept of using technique over size and strength. It challenges you with an unparallaled full body workout whilst encouraging you to live a positive and healthy lifestyle.
Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that is practised around the world by people of every age and every size, shape and ability. It is based on the principles of leverage and technique over brute strength and size, allowing a smaller, weaker person to defend themselves against a larger, stronger opponent. It is also a great way to get strong, mobile and fit, stay healthy and join a global community of people from all backgrounds.
Jiu Jitsu is one of life's most effective self development tools. It builds confidence by overcoming challenges, solving problems and gaining physical and mental resilience. It's community is friendly, welcoming and supportive. People make genuine connections through the sport wherever they travel, all over the world.
Training in Jiu Jitsu is the ultimate and unparalled full body workout which physically builds great posture, muscle quality, strength, endurance, flexibility, mobility and coordination. It also releases a wide range of feel good chemicals into your body whilst training.
Training in jiu jitsu prompts the release of the body's feel good chemicals boosting mood, motivation, social bonding, and cognition. It also helps you to remain calm under pressure whilst developing your critical thinking skills, a useful skill for any individual in any field.
At VAI, the foundations of our learning system come from over 14 years of training with the greatest BJJ fighter of all time, Roger Gracie - Professor to our Head Coach and Co-Founder, Carlos Santos. With over 20 years experience in martial arts training, he is an original second dan Gracie Black Belt and still studies and trains with Roger. He is a 3x IBJJF European champion, 3x IBJJF British Gi champion, 4x IBJJF British No Gi champion and Abu Dhabi World Professional Medalist. Our world class learning system innovatively expands Gracie Jiu Jitsu for modern living to encourage natural body movement and recovery, using exercises in capoeira, breathwork and meditation. We have created the most welcoming environment for you at VAI and warmly extend our invitation for you to embark on a journey of empowerment and healthy lifestyle.
Head Coach and Co-Founder
With over 20 years experience in martial arts training, Carlos is an original second dan Gracie Black Belt and still studies and trains with his Professor Roger Gracie. Born in Bahia, Brasil, Carlos is also a Capoeira Contra-Mestre and an avid competitor who continues to passionately study, practice and develop the art and philosophy of Jiu Jitsu. His purpose is to use the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to positivly transform people's lives and spread it's benefits around the world.
Co-Founder
Raised in London and born in Burma, Zinmar is an experienced brand, marketing and communications consultant with over 20 years experience developing global reach for clients and agencies including Adam & Eve DDB and Saatchi & Saatchi London. As a passionate practitioner of Jiu Jitsu and Eastern philosophies, her purpose is to connect the incredible benefits of the sport to new and wider audiences and to create a welcoming inclusive environment that is appealing and empowering for all.
Coach
Ali is a devoted Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and Coach with a journey spanning over 8 years in the art. He was awarded his Brown Belt by Roger Gracie and continues to train under him at Roger Gracie HQ. With a real passion for sharing the knowledge he’s attained, Ali deeply enjoys witnessing the transformation of novices into confident practitioners, guiding them through the early stages of their BJJ journey. Ali not only seeks to challenge himself but also motivates and inspires his students and fellow practitioners to step outside their comfort zone and pursue their own goals within the sport.
We are located in Twickenham, a beautiful and leafy suburb in the worlds most attractive city, London, UK. For the ultimate mat experience we operate out of two venues - the first is The Bu'sen Martial Arts School one of the most established dojos in the UK. The other is The Bu'sen Martial Arts and Sports Trust, Europe's newest and largest purpose built martial arts centre, a Japanese designed dojo with the UK's most high tech martial arts pneumatic mat. Our membership gives you access to both locations.
Location 1
The Bu’sen Martial Arts and Sports Trust, (opened in January 2023) is Europe's largest purpose built martial arts centre. Set within a Japanese designed eco friendly building, we invite you to experience mat heaven with a state of the art pneumatic judo mat designed for safe impact on a huge 24 x 12 metre area.Check out the website
Location 2
The Bu'sen Martial Arts School, 9 King Street,
Full of Boshido spirit and character, this is one of the first martial arts spaces in the UK.Check out the website
244 Stanley Road Teddington
9 King Street, Twickenham
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