Cwmbran Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club has found a new permanent home in the town.
The club was set up about six years ago and moved around various venues as it’s grown and attracted more members.
They now train in the community hall next to St David’s RC Church in Pontnewydd. The entrance to the car park is off Avondale Road, opposite the Texaco garage.
Adrian Thomas, club coach, said: “We’re a non-profit. We just do this for the sport.
“I took it over from our head coach down Newport MMA about six years ago. We run it to just get people into juj-itsu.
“We’ve bounced around. We started in Fairwater leisure Centre, then we moved to Goode’s , then we moved to Cocker Avenue community centre, then Blenheim [Primary] School and now here.
“So we’ve got here now on a permanent basis. We’ve outgrown spaces.
“It’s been shut for ten years. It’s church-owned, so we’ve got the lease in place, and then we’ve had to do everything from scratch.
Sports Wales grants
“The feedback has been really, really good. We had funding from Sport Wales to get all new mats, all new wall pads, and everything, which was really great.
“They’re [members] all happy that everything is brand-new. It will give us a chance now to expand on classes and that sort of thing.”
He explained how Brazilian jiu-jitsu attracts members who love the sport for different reasons.
Adrian said: “You can approach it [Brazilian jiu-jitsu] from various different aspects. You know we’ve got some people here who like to compete, and you know they go and travel around and compete, [and win] medals and that sort of thing, and there’s some people who just come for the fun, for a bit of exercise.
‘…best way to get fit’
“I’ve always said if you can do something that’s exercise but don’t realise you’re exercising, that’s the best way to get fit.
“So they come, they have fun, they’re all friends.”
The club’s current training sessions are Monday: children 6pm to 7pm, and adults from 7pm, Wednesday: children 6pm to 7pm, and adults from 7pm, and a beginners’ class at 7pm every Thursday.
Adrian encouraged new members to either call into a training session, wear something comfortable, and bring a drink, or message the club on social media with any questions.
The first class is free.
Where is Cwmbran Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
This Google Map shows the entrance to the car park.