Roll Deep BJJ makes history at UMAC Nottingham: Triple trophy haul
Roll Deep Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Beeston’s fastest-growing BJJ academy, has returned from the Ultimate Martial Arts Championship (UMAC) in Nottingham with three trophies in hand and a community spirit that no medal can fully capture. Competing for the first time as a team at UMAC, the academy claimed first place in both the Adults Gi and Adults NoGi categories, and third place in the Kids Gi, a landmark result that marks Roll Deep as a serious contender on the regional BJJ circuit.
A First-of-Its-Kind Result
The UMAC tournament, held at the Ultimate Martial Arts Championship venue in Nottingham, brought together academies from across the region to compete across gi and no-gi grappling divisions. Roll Deep entered athletes across multiple age groups and weight categories and delivered results that surpassed all expectations.
The academy’s podium finishes were:
• Best Academy – Adults Gi: 1st Place
• Best Academy – Adults NoGi: 1st Place
• Best Academy – Kids Gi: 3rd Place
It was the first time Roll Deep had competed at UMAC, making the clean sweep of the adult categories all the more remarkable.
The three UMAC trophies won by Roll Deep BJJ — back at the academy in Beeston.
More Than Medals: A Community Comes Together
What made the day truly special for the team was not just what happened on the mats. Families, friends, and supporters gathered in force to cheer on every athlete from the youngest kids competing in their first tournament to seasoned adult grapplers stepping up to represent the club.
“It was great to see all the kids, families, and adults coming together as a community not just for the trophies, but for each other.”
- Roll Deep BJJ Academy
That sense of shared purpose is central to what Roll Deep has built in Beeston. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is well-known for its technical depth, but the culture of mutual support and respect that surrounds it is equally important to the academy’s mission.
BJJ in Beeston: Why the Sport is Growing and Why Now is the Time to Start
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has seen a remarkable surge in popularity across the UK in recent years, and Beeston is no exception. Sometimes called “chess for the body,” BJJ is a martial art that rewards intelligence and technique over size and strength, making it accessible, and genuinely effective, for people of all ages, backgrounds, and fitness levels.
The benefits extend well beyond self-defence. Regular BJJ training is an excellent full-body workout, building functional strength, cardiovascular fitness, and flexibility. Equally important are the mental benefits: the problem-solving nature of live sparring, known as rolling, sharpens focus and builds resilience, while the academy environment provides structure, accountability, and a genuine social outlet.
For families in particular, BJJ offers a rare opportunity to train together. Roll Deep is proud to be one of the few local academies to run programmes for both children and adults, fostering the kind of intergenerational community on display at UMAC.
Ready to Start? The Beginners Course is Back Starting June 2026
Inspired by the team’s success, Roll Deep is inviting the Nottingham and Beeston community to step onto the mats with their upcoming Beginner BJJ Intensive Course - a six-week programme designed specifically for adults with no prior martial arts experience.