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About


Gracie Barra Channel Islands is a Brazillian Jiu Jitsu Academy based in Jersey & Guernsey in the Channel Islands which is affiliated to Gracie Barra under Braulio Estima.

It is headed by brown belts Rob Staples & Andrew Toporis (Topo), both of whom started training in BJJ in 1998 and were promoted to blue belts in October 2001 by Mauricio Motto Gomes (Roger Gracies father).
In October 2005 Rob was awarded his purple belt by Mauricio Motto Gomes, Topo was awareded his purple belt the following April by Braulio Estima.
Braulio Estima  awarded both Rob and Topo their brown belts in March 2009.

Both Rob & Andrew have many years martial arts experience and are black belts in other disciplines and winners of many tournaments including World Champions in Sports Jiu Jitsu at individual and team level.

The academy has many  dedicated students in both Jersey and Guernsey with several of the Guernsey crew making their way to Jersey every time one of the black belts such as Roger Gracie, Braulio Estimo, Mauricio Gomes come over to hold private lessons and seminars.

The Guernsey club is headed by Chris Goldsbrough who Started training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2000 and was promoted to blue belt in March 2003 by Mauricio Motto Gomes then in 2006 was awarded his purple belt by Braulio Estima.

Chris, along with Dave Hyatt are run kick boxing classes as well as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes and also have a dedicated group of students who have also excelled in competition.

Gracie Barra Channel Islands is very fortunate to have a very close relationship with Gracie Barra and manages to get World Champions coming to our academy to teach on a pretty regular basis.

During these lessons, you may pick private lessons or seminar classes and can include gi and no-gi.

If ever you are in Jersey or Guernsey, pop into the academy if you wish to train.  We usually have spare gi’s if you don’t have one with you…..Everyone is welcome.

Finally, if you are a Facebook user, please check out our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu group and join by clicking the link http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35945724023

Also, please sign up for our newsletter by leaving details in the box provided at the top of the page. Once again, any time we have important information, we will send it directly to your email in box.

See you on the mat