The Team
All our team have Enhanced DBS, Safeguard Training and First Aid
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Shanti is co-owner of Myriad. She received her Black Belt from Marco Canha in November 2024. She is passionate about female inclusion in BJJ and co-founded Women Who Fight, an organisation working to create more opportunities for women in the space.
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Will is co-owner of Myriad Jiu Jitsu and is passionate about creating an inclusive space for high level training. Whilst he continues to pursue his own goals as a competitor, Will takes pride in being the best coach he can be and helping students on their BJJ journey.
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My favourite technique is the Triangle.
My favourite thing about coaching is meeting new people and watching them improve over time
IMO, beginners struggle the most to control their energy output. Everyone experiences the ‘fight or flight’ mode when rolling for the first time. Learning to remain calm, and breathe under pressure is the first big hurdle for beginners.
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Joe is a Ross Nicholls Black Belt, and lifetime martial artist. He has wrestled at national level and competes in BJJ regularly. He is an experienced coach with over 13 years training BJJ.
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My favourite technique is a deadlift Armbar
My favourite thing about coaching is seeing the progress people make on and off the mats. Seeing techniques I've taught being used in sparring is really cool, but seeing people grow in confidence is really special.
I've found a lot of beginners would struggle with learning techniques without the "why". So I put a lot of emphasis on the concepts behind the techniques as well as why we would choose one option over another, instead of just teaching one technique then another. That and learning to be comfortable in uncomfortable positions. It can be tough getting mauled by higher belts every session, so letting the ego go and still turning up takes a lot of courage.
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Injana is a high level competitor and at only 22 is competing at ADCC 2026. She is a Max Bickerton Black Belt and brings her positive and enthusiastic energy to every class.
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Favourite technique: RNC (Rear Naked Choke)
My favourite thing about coaching is watching people improve every session whilst also having fun
I think beginners struggle the most with just starting the sport - it can look intimidating to start but always worth it
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Dan has 20 years experience training Judo and is a 2nd Dan. As a student of BJJ he understands how to strengthen your BJJ game with a Judo twist.
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The thing I like most about judo is that it’s a real game of chess and like BJJ, you constantly have to think 2 or 3 moves ahead - whilst your opponent is doing the same. It involves, movement, strength and balance, and I love the action-reaction elements.
I first tried judo when I was 8 or 9, but didn’t come back to it until I was almost 30. So doing a martial art as an older guy has definitely shaped my approach. Not having the speed and dexterity of a younger player, you have to focus on technique and strategy, which I like to think comes through in the way that I teach.
The thing I think most beginners struggle with in judo is relaxing, both in their gripping and when getting thrown. It feels counterintuitive to not block with a straight arm, but as soon as you get used to it, you really can start getting your throws to work more efficiently. And I promise, getting thrown hurts a lot less once you relax into it.
The thing I love about coaching is the look on someone’s face when they get a judo throw to work for the first time - it takes me right back to when I started, and that’s great.
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Chris has a 2nd Degree Black Belt from Marco Canha. Chris has 6 years of coaching as a Black Belt and competes internationally. His knowledge of BJJ is excellent and is always ready to help with specific questions
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Favourite Technique: X-Guard overhead sweep
Favourite thing about coaching: I love to see people develop and use techniques that I have taught them
I think beginners struggle the most with patience
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Natalia is a 3rd Degree BJJ Black Belt with 14 years coaching experience with children and adults.
As a mum to two young girls, she has a deep appreciation for how children learn, grow, and build confidence: “Being both a coach and a parent has shaped the way I teach - with patience, structure, and plenty of encouragement.”
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“What I love most about coaching is seeing how differently everyone learns and reacts. My goal is to help each student understand the logic behind Jiu-Jitsu rather than just memorising techniques. I want people to think, explore, ask questions, and build a game that works for them.
Favourite position: Shallow X-Guard combinations.
Favourite thing about coaching: Watching students achieve something they’ve been working towards, seeing that moment when everything finally clicks, and having a laugh together along the way.
I think one of the biggest challenges for beginners is feeling overwhelmed. There are so many techniques, positions, and opinions that it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters. As a coach, I see my job as taking that pressure away. I help students focus on the right things at the right time, so they can build solid fundamentals, enjoy the process, and keep progressing with confidence.
For me, Jiu-Jitsu isn’t about knowing the most techniques, it’s about understanding the principles behind them. Once you understand why something works, you can start being creative, solving problems, and making Jiu-Jitsu your own.”
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Molly is our fabulous Gym Administrator, helping run the show and being our main lady for communications. She is always happy to answer any questions.
Resident Acupuncturist
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Sarah is an Acupuncturist and Naturopath based in Honor Oak. She combines Western medical acupuncture, traditional acupuncture and electroacupuncture to help people manage pain, muscle tension and the aches and injuries that can come with an active lifestyle. Sarah has been running her own practice for five years and also teaches acupuncture at the College of Naturopathic Medicine.
As our resident acupuncturist, all our adult members get discounted treatments.
For more info and bookings click here.
Who is behind Myriad?
We are Will and Shanti and BJJ has been a shared passion for 8 years. BJJ has numerous benefits including building resilience, confidence and fitness through learning a powerful new skill.
We believe that these benefits of BJJ can be accessed by everyone. At Myriad we pursue an equitable learning environment, where we do our best to meet our students' individual needs, whilst maintaining a high level of BJJ.
At Myriad, our instructors share our ethos of high level instruction and inclusivity. Within our team are international competitors and instructors who have dedicated their professional lives to the sport.
Myriad is the home of Women Who Fight, an organisation working to elevate women and girls in BJJ, creating new opportunities to excel. As WF HQ, the principles governing Myriad are the same - mindful actions working to create an inclusive environment.
