Ben Poppleton Seminar & Summer Grading at Havering Jiu Jitsu Academy

At Havering Jiu Jitsu Academy, we’re committed to bringing the highest level of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction to our students. Last week, we were proud to welcome our head coach, Ben Poppleton, back to the academy for another outstanding seminar before concluding the evening with our Summer Grading.
Half Guard Passing with Ben Poppleton
Half guard is one of the most common positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and passing it consistently against experienced opponents requires more than just athleticism.
Ben spent the evening breaking down his proven approach to half guard passing, focusing on the concepts that make pressure passing effective at every level. Students learned how to neutralise frames, dominate head position, create relentless pressure and progress through each stage of the pass while limiting their opponent’s opportunities to recover.
Rather than teaching countless techniques, Ben demonstrated how understanding the underlying principles allows you to solve problems naturally as they arise during live sparring. These are the details that separate good grapplers from great ones.
Whether students were beginners or experienced competitors, everyone came away with practical knowledge they can immediately add to their game.
Summer Grading
Following the seminar, we held our Summer Grading, recognising students who have demonstrated consistent attendance, technical development, perseverance and the right attitude on the mats.
Congratulations to:
● Pascal – Promoted to Blue Belt
● Richie – Promoted to Purple Belt
● Billy Hedden – Promoted to Purple Belt
● Lewis – Promoted to Black Belt
Lewis’ promotion was an especially memorable moment. After years of dedication, loyalty and hard work, he received his black belt surrounded by teammates, family and our coaching team. His speech reflected the values we believe define great martial artists—commitment, humility and character.
Continuing a Strong Coaching Lineage
It was also a privilege to have Adam Edwards, David Tobin and Steve Brand alongside Ben, representing another generation of English-born Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts. As one of the longest-established Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academies in Havering and Essex, we’re incredibly proud of the coaching standards we’ve built and the environment we’ve created for our members.
Seminars like this are invaluable, not only for our students but also for our coaching team, ensuring we continue to develop and deliver the highest standard of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction.
A huge thank you to Ben for sharing his knowledge and to everyone who attended and made the evening another fantastic success.
Train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Havering
If you’re looking to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Havering, whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced grappler, we’d love to welcome you to Havering Jiu Jitsu Academy.
Our classes cater for adults and children of all experience levels in a friendly, supportive and professional environment.
Book your £1 trial today and discover why Havering Jiu Jitsu Academy has become one of Essex’s most established and respected Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu clubs.