Club: Kinetic BJJ – Antrim, Northern Ireland
Belt: Black+
I bring a combination of operational leadership, grassroots development, and event delivery within the Northern Irish BJJ community.
Professionally, I have held senior leadership roles where I implemented and maintained multiple ISO standards, giving me a strong foundation in governance, structure, and continuous improvement. Alongside this, I have been running my own academy for the past seven years, developing both child and adult students from beginner level through to active practitioners.
I have also organised six successful regional Jiu-Jitsu competitions, which have given me practical experience in athlete engagement, event logistics, and building participation within the local community.
Vision for Developing BJJ within Northern Ireland
My vision is to support the structured and sustainable growth of BJJ throughout Northern Ireland by making it more accessible, consistent, and professionally supported. At present, BJJ within Northern Ireland is growing but remains somewhat fragmented. There is a significant opportunity to:
- increase participation at beginner level
- improve retention through better onboarding pathways
- create more consistent standards across academies and events
- strengthen the connection between grassroots training and competition pathways
Long term, I believe BJJ within Northern Ireland should be positioned not only as a competitive sport, but as a widely accessible activity that contributes to health, confidence, and community development.
To support this vision, my focus would be on three key areas:
1. Grassroots Growth & Accessibility
- Promote beginner-friendly entry points such as workshops and structured introduction programmes
- Support academies in improving retention through clear development pathways
- Encourage outreach into workplaces, universities, and community groups
2. Standardisation & Professionalisation
- Apply structured systems to improve consistency in areas such as safeguarding, coaching standards, and event delivery
- Support the development of clear operational frameworks that academies and event organisers can follow
3. Competition & Community Development
- Continue to develop well-run, accessible competitions that encourage participation at all levels
- Use events not just for competition, but as a tool to build community and visibility for the sport
- Overall, my approach is to combine practical experience from running an academy and events with structured leadership principles to support the long-term, sustainable development of BJJ within Northern Ireland.
Qualifications/ relevant professional experience
- 9 years coaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
- 7 years running an academy.
- Senior manager by profession with experience in governance, creating structures, implementing change and driving continuous improvement across organisations.
- Developed into 6 x regional events across NI in collaboration with other academy owners.
Social Media
Instagram – @Martyb87 @Kineticbjj @Tridentgrappling
Facebook – Marty Brammeld