LAST month, Harlow Jiu-Jitsu Club, took the British National Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Birmingham by storm, bringing home three gold medals and two bronze medals in a variety of categories.

Emilia Vuilliamy reflects on a very successful weekend.

“I was lucky enough to spectate the entire event, spending most of the day screaming on the sidelines as the club I’ve been a part of for fourteen years showed everyone what being a member of Harlow Jiu-Jitsu Club means.

The support I saw from the club was nothing short of incredible, as were the fearless martial artists who competed and represented us in competition with clubs from all over the country.

Sensei Luke Shipwright, the third dan head of the club, brought home another one of his signature golds in continuous fighting, as well as a bronze in random attacks.

Elena Vulliamy, junior black belt, also scored a gold in continuous fighting, and a bronze in random attacks, despite having to compete in the adult category. And Nicolette Krazjewska got the gold in her random attacks category.

As someone who has competed before, I can safely say that it is no easy feat to walk into that hall, surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands, of people who train with the same passion for the sport that you do, knowing that you not only represent yourself, but your club as well. Everyone who competed from Harlow Jiu-Jitsu on that weekend did the club proud, regardless of whether they walked out of those halls with a medal around their neck or not.

Whether they’d been training for twenty years, or five years, they stepped onto those mats and everyone knew that they belonged to a club to be proud of. Despite being one of the smallest clubs competing, we certainly made sure to make up for what we lacked in numbers with noise.

Cheers and claps fuelled by a sense of family unique to our club filled the hall for the entire day, leaving behind the echoes of victory celebrations that no one expected from our local martial arts club.

I wish words could do more justice just how fantastic an event it was to witness and how unbelievably proud everyone who competed should be. For a local club to turn the British National Championships into an exhibition of the talent, determination and drive that can be found in our dojo three times a week at the GPCA, is something that should be celebrated. Well done to the British National Champions of 2022.

For more information about Harlow Jiu-Jitsu, follow our Instagram: @harlowjiujitsu where we regularly post updates about the club, all our fantastic members and give everyone the opportunity to be part of something truly amazing.

Luke Shipwright (middle), gold in continuous fighting
Elena Vulliamy (middle), gold in continuous fighting
Nicolette Krazjewska (middle), gold in random attacks