SUBPOCALYPSE

CHARITY TOURNAMENT • KIDS GI • 16/05/2026

What a day. Subpocalypse returned to Norwich on 16 May and once again delivered everything that makes grassroots BJJ great. Fierce competition, genuine camaraderie and a room buzzing with the best kind of energy. This tournament raised money for Down Syndrome UK | Positive About Down Syndrome.

Strive sent a full squad and every single one of them left everything on the mat.

The Tournaments

  • 3 minute rounds, submission only
  • Fastest cumulative submission time wins the division
  • IBJJF submission rules throughout

The Charity

All proceeds to DSUK: Positive about Down syndrome. “A parent-led organisation providing honest support & expert resources to families & professionals, empowering every child w/ Down syndrome to thrive.” Every match fought on the day contributed to that mission.

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“What a positive atmosphere, thanks again from all at Strive.” Karl, Head Coach, Strive BJJ

Every young Strive athlete who stepped up on the day gave it their all. Special shoutouts to the following members, in no particular order: Benni, Sul, Eli, Isaac, Charlie, Guinevere, Jasmine, Matilda, Oakleigh, Zelda, Reggie, Bohdi, Henry, Teddy & Rufus.

None of this happens without the people who make it happen. A massive thank you to Simon for organising the event.

Thank you to all the local jits teams who came out, competed hard, and did it all with a smile. The Norwich BJJ community is something special.

Our own Head Coach Karl stepped up to help with reffing on the day and by all accounts had a great time doing it. That kind of involvement from coaches at every level is what makes these events feel like family.

And finally a huge, thank you to all the parents and guardians who gave up their Saturday to bring the kids along and cheer them on. We see you, and it genuinely makes all the difference.

Roll on the next one. OSS!

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Espen Mathiesen Seminar & Grading

SEMINAR • GRADING • SOCIAL • 01.03.2026

If you weren’t there, here’s what you missed: another brilliant day on the mats with great instruction, reaching milestones for our members, and a reminder of exactly why this community keeps growing.

On The Mat

We were honoured to host Espen Mathiesen from Mavericks JJ for what turned out to be a phenomenal seminar. Espen brought sharp technical detail and passion to every round.

Whether you’re a few months into your journey or years in, the sessions had something for everyone, with drilling that challenged, details that clicked, and the kind of energy that only comes from a great guest instructor.

Days like this are what Strive is all about, bringing world class knowledge to Norwich and investing in the growth of every person who walks through our doors.

The Grading

Seminars are a chance to learn but gradings are a chance to mark progress. Huge congratulations to everyone who earned new stripes or belts on the day.

After 10 years of dedication and showing up day after day, Coach Grace was promoted to brown belt. A decade of training, teaching, and giving everything to this sport and this community, continuing to champion women’s BJJ in the area.

A brown belt represents a level of technical understanding, consistency, and character that Grace has embodied, not just as a practitioner, but as a coach who has helped countless others.

This one meant a lot to all of us.

Congratulations, Coach Grace. Ten years in the making, and every second was worth it. 

Every promotion on the day represents hours of drilling, rolling, and showing up when it’s hard. You all earned it.

Events like this don’t happen without great people. A massive thank you to Espen for giving his time and knowledge so generously, to Scott Robinson for capturing the day beautifully, and to Big Napp Pizza for keeping everyone fuelled after a long day of training.

And most importantly, thank you to every single person who showed up. You’re what makes Strive, Strive.

Don’t Miss The Next One

Our seminars fill up fast. Follow us on social media to stay up to date with upcoming events, gradings, and open mat sessions.

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Strive 2025 Wrapped

09.01.2026


A celebration of one of our biggest and best years yet. We welcomed more new members than ever across our adult and kids’ programmes, building a stronger, more connected team. 

Thousands of hours were spent on the mats in gi, no gi, open mats, competition classes and kids’ sessions, all adding up to real growth, confidence and progress for everyone who trained with us.


One of the standout moments of the year was Head Coach Karl being awarded his black belt, a milestone that reflects years of dedication, leadership and technical excellence. His promotion set the tone for the whole academy, reminding us what’s possible through consistency, discipline and commitment to the art of jiu jitsu.




2025 also took Strive Norwich beyond the UK, with a team trip to Gothenburg, Sweden, to train with Jonathan Thomas, co-owner of the Mavericks affiliate. Training alongside international teammates brought new ideas, energy, and experience back to our mats, strengthening our connection to the wider jiu-jitsu community.


We were also honoured to host world class seminars from Jonathan Thomas and Espen Mattheisen, giving our students direct access to elite level knowledge and fresh perspectives. Alongside that, we celebrated promotions, stripes and belt advancements across every level, and our competitors represented Strive with pride at events around the country, bringing back medals, experience and valuable lessons.

Our kids’ programme continued to thrive, helping young students build confidence, focus and resilience, while the wider Strive community grew closer through daily training, competitions and shared goals. As we head into 2026, we’re excited for more classes, more competitors, more progress, and more people discovering what jiu-jitsu can do for their lives. Thank you to everyone who made 2025 unforgettable. Let’s keep striving. 

Celebrating Progress

14.10.2025

As summer winds down, our recent Jiu-Jitsu grading stands out as a testament to hard work, dedication, and community. Here, we celebrate not only the achievements of our Strive team but also the moments that made the day special.


The day began in high spirits with a seminar by Jonathan Thomas from Mavericks BJJ, our affiliation. We are very proud and lucky to work with world champion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu players to build upon our knowledge as a team.

For many, this grading represented months of commitment to refining techniques, sparring with peers, and pushing personal boundaries. Each belt symbolises more than just a new colour-it is a reflection of individual growth and perseverance.

Throughout the day Strive members showcased their skills in front of their peers with encouragement across the mat, highlighting the unity within our Jiu-Jitsu club.

“Hard to put into words what getting my blue belt means, completely unexpected. This sport has given me so much focus, drive, new abilities, challenges, a safe space and most importantly community and lifelong friends.”-Strive member

As the day concluded, the atmosphere shifted to celebration. The awarding of belts was met with enthusiastic applause.

Karl, the founder of Strive was awarded his black belt by Jonathan Thomas. Receiving his black belt wasn’t just a huge surprise and personal achievement but a testament to twenty years of dedication, discipline, and the will to continue learning.

As we reflect on the moments from this grading, we are filled with excitement for the future. Each student’s progress is a stepping stone for all of us, reminding us that the journey is ongoing.

We look forward to seeing our students continue to train, grow, and inspire each other in the months ahead. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of Strive so far.

Jonathan Thomas Seminar

21.07.2025

Jonathan Thomas is a BJJ Black Belt, IBJJF World Champion in Purple and Brown belts, and co-founder of Mavericks Jiu Jitsu, our affiliation.

This marked his second visit to our gym in Norwich, and it was just as inspiring as the first. He enthusiastically shared the innovative techniques he has been developing this year, leaving our team energised and eager to learn.

Coach Bryan had the opportunity to learn directly from Jonathan, continuously gaining new knowledge along the way.

A huge thank you to Big Nap Pizza Co. for providing the Strive crew with the delicious pizza and refreshing drinks we desperately needed!