Hi there! My name is Joseph Butler and I’m a BJJ coach at Kaizen Academy in Lancaster, UK, where I earned my black belt. This is a passion I somewhat stumbled into after graduating from the University of Manchester with a degree in Pharmacology and Physiology, followed by a brief stint in college and secondary school teaching. In my time at Kaizen I have won national titles at both purple and brown belt, as well as nogi Bronze at the IBJJF European Championships. Alongside my own training and competing, coaching our junior squad through thick and thin has actually been the most rewarding experience of this lifestyle. I have learned so much in striving to teach the kids vital lessons of resilience, tenacity, coolness under pressure and problem solving. I relish the continuing challenge of further discovering the best methods for imparting key concepts and ideas for grappling to young minds.
I have been fortunate enough to work with many wonderful and supportive parents who have become passionate about their child’s journey and are very keen for ways to help them along. The first few months of grappling are often some of the most difficult. Everything is new and confusing, the rules and goals seem unclear and rounds can be very unforgiving. One question I’ve come across time and time again is: “is there anything we can do to help them practice at home?”
To help supercharge this crucial early progress and bring parents more on board with their child’s journey, I have developed HGA as a useful resource for parents and their aspiring junior BJJ athletes. The aim is to help with getting the basics down as fast as possible, as well as giving their coach a springboard from which to move into more advanced topics with them faster. Crucially, HGA provides a fun activity to work through at home outside of gym hours! By covering the basics in a clear and concise way, with a mixture of easily repped drills and games, I can help you play a more active role in your child’s journey.
