Our Instructors

David Tobin 2nd Degree Black Belt

Head Instructor - Havering Jiu Jitsu Academy

David Tobin is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black belt under Ben Poppleton and has been training for over 14 years. He became a full time Jiu Jitsu coach in 2019 and has since dedicated his life to his training and teaching of Jiu Jitsu.

Over the last 5 years David has rigorously studied the NOGI submission grappling side of the sport and is an active competitor in submission grappling at the elite level. He prides himself in keeping up to date with the evolution of the sport combining old school techniques with new school training methods.

Davids main influences in the sport are John Danaher, Gordan Ryan, Garry Tonon and Damian Mia

Dominic Erk Brown Belt

NOGI Coach - HJJA

Dom is a very well rounded Jiu Jitsu practitioner with plenty of mat time under his belt. He is known for his competitive style having competed regularly at the Advanced level. Dom favours NOGI submission grappling and has adapted a modern Jiu Jitsu style utilising upper and lower body attacks very well. His favourite technique is the guillotine choke. Dom often teaches in our Saturday morning session.

Chris Cummings Black Belt

Senior Instructor -Havering Jiu Jitsu Academy

Chris Cummings had his first real life experience with Bjj in late 2007 and found his home with Prof David in 2012. In Chris’s evolution he has developed a more holistic approach to Martial arts seeing it from a more philosophical and psychological perspective. Chris sees the general principles of Jiu Jitsu as an ethical structure for encouraging leadership qualities and character development. Chris earned his BJJ Black Belt from Ben Poppleton and David Tobin in 2018. He is very well known for his skill and finesse on the mat combined with speed and agility.