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Black belt breakdown: how to avoid injuries after time off the mats
By Dr Marc Barton, chief instructor at Kingston Jiu Jitsu After more than a year of disruptions, we are finally daring to hope that jiu-jitsu life will get back to normal soon. But with so much time away from the mats, there are many pitfalls to avoid as you start...
3000ft rope climb was a painful challenge I won’t forget
By Sam Sheriff Some challenges are a lot tougher than you think they will be. But because they’re super tough, they end up being the most rewarding. Back in 2010 we were raising money to build a new memorial garden at 45 Commando to give the lads, family and friends...
‘Imagine swimming 1000 metres with one arm’
By Mark Ormrod MBE, REORG Trustee.Imagine swimming with both of your legs tied together and your dominant hand tied behind your back. That’s what it’s like for me. So I am not really sure what possessed me to pledge to swim 1000 metres in rough, open water. I used to...
'You'll always regret not training in the position you got injured in’
By Lawrence from Rolls and Rehab, injury rehabilitation therapist and mobility specialist Injury prevention is a commonly used term to describe the goal of training with the purpose to prevent injury in sport and daily life. It is worthwhile to understand what we must be aware of and adhere to...
Daily challenges are vital for building resilience
By Former Special Forces Sergeant Major Gaz Banford Human beings need daily challenges. We may dream of a life of leisure, but that’s all that really is, a dream. It is healthy for us to be challenged on a daily basis – we need it, and we thrive on it,...
‘I don’t want to relax, someone is sitting on my chest’
Juniour Mcilhiney is a former Royal Marines Commando who was hit by an IED on his second tour of Afghanistan, sustaining serious back injuries. After intensive rehabilitation he was medically discharged in 2015. A keen boxer since he was a child, Juniour’s injuries left him unable to train in the...
Specific strength training for Brazilian jiu-jitsu
By Lawrence from Rolls and Rehab, injury rehabilitation therapist and mobility specialist Being strong is a great advantage in jiu-jitsu, but is traditional strength training the best way to shore up your game? It is important to consider the limitations of certain exercises and whether they will help you achieve...
'Think 5k is easy? Try running it with your arse cheeks'
By Mark Ormrod MBE, REORG Trustee. Shaving off my hair and beard was phase one of my REORG fundraising drive, and I am very grateful to everyone that contributed. Phase two is not going to be quite so easy – I am going to do a 5K run. If you...
Battling terrifying Atlantic waves ‘like going for a row with friends’
For a lot of people, tackling ocean waves in a small rowing boat for six weeks is the stuff of nightmares. For four Royal Marines – two serving, two Veterans – it was the chance to do what they do best: work as a team and get through it, no...
I have seen how REORG is changing lives
By Mo Morris, Royal Marines Mental Health and Resilience Lead I remember when I stopped doing jiu-jitsu because I wanted to focus on playing rugby. I wanted to start training again, but as the days ticked past I found myself making excuses as to why I could not do jiu-jitsu...
Lockdowns hit martial arts gyms hit hard
The toll of the COVID-19 pandemic has been vast, and as we wait for the vaccine roll-outs to take effect, we all understand the need to stay safe. But during this whole timewhen we have been told to stay safe and socially distance, martial arts practitionershave been hit hard. No...
I could barely walk, now I compete in MMA
A couple of years ago Chris Hayes found himself at an all-time low. The former RoyalMarine had suffered years of mental health problems and had even attempted to takehis own life. Then a chance encounter with REORG founder Sam Sheriff completelyturned his life around. “I could barely walk,” Chris said....
‘Once a Royal Marine, always a Royal Marine’
When Royal Marine commando Mark Ormrod was injured on duty in Afghanistan, hethought his life was over. He stepped on an improvised explosive device in 2007 andlost both legs above the knee and his right arm above the elbow. He was very lucky to bealive, but devastated to be told he was...
How Brazilian jiu-jitsu transformed martial arts
The evolution of Brazilian jiu-jitsu The speed that Brazilian jiu-jitsu clubs have sprung up around the world over the last quarter of a century has been phenomenal. Originally a Japanese grappling art related to judo, old-school jiu-jitsu was adapted by some very tough Brazilians to become the devastating martial art...
Jiu-jitsu grandmaster Mauricio Gomes
Everyone at REORG owes a big debt to the Brazilian jiu-jitsu grandmaster Mauricio Gomes. The 8th degree coral belt did more than anyone else to help establish Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) through the United Kingdom in the early 2000s. Mauricio is also the father of Roger Gracie-Gomes, the REORG-supporting legend who is widely...