Members are being offered the chance to try Brazilian jiu-jitsu, courtesy of Blesma’s reigning UK and World Para champion, Paul Skivington. Paul will be running a taster session during Members’ Weekend this summer, and the mat will be open to anyone who fancies giving the grappling martial art a try under his close supervision.
“There is no striking involved – it is about developing grappling skills,” said Paul, 47, who served with the Royal 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers before losing his left leg above the knee in a motorbike accident. “It is a fantastic sport, and I’ve got so much from it since I started six years ago. I’m keen to share my passion for jiu-jitsu with other Members, as I’m sure they’ll also get a lot from it."
“My message is: have a go at the training session. It’s about learning new skills, and the fitness from it is fantastic because it is so physically intense. The beauty is that it’s a very inclusive sport, and you can still enjoy it as an amputee. The session will be fun – you can start from a seated position and no one will get hurt. You can tap out at any time you feel uncomfortable, and I think many Members will be surprised by what they can get from it."
“The martial art has changed my life, and I’m grateful for the support I’ve had from Blesma to pursue it. Now I want to share that.”
Paul, who is from Dorset, is currently in training to defend his UK title in London and his double gold title at the 2025 World Championships in Abu Dhabi later this year.
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