Shinbudo London Grappling Club

Shinbudo London Grappling Club was established in 2014 by Glenn Spiers, a 6th dan and Level 4 coach under the British Judo Association, who has been the driving force behind the club’s growth from its humble beginnings with just four children and a handful of old mats. Glenn’s experience as a full-time professional judo coach spans many of London’s respected clubs, including Carlson Gracie London, where he also trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and holds a brown belt. His teaching style is known for its focus on technical rigour, competitive yet friendly sparring, and a deep commitment to developing well-rounded grapplers. Training at Shinbudo London Grappling Club centres around both judo and BJJ, with classes open to adults and children in the South Hampstead and St John’s Wood area. The club’s philosophy is to test everything in live situations, blending technical instruction with plenty of sparring against resisting partners. Members are encouraged to train across all offered grappling arts, including sambo and wrestling when available, in order to develop broad skills and avoid early specialisation—particularly for younger students. The club is multicultural, informal and welcoming, with a strong local identity rooted in its diverse London community. Classes take place in the Alexandra and Ainsworth Tenants Hall, a unique brutalist building fitted out with high-quality Dollamur tatami, crash mats, grappling dummies and a climbing rope. The club runs regular sessions for both juniors and adults, supervised by qualified instructors and volunteers. BJJ sessions are led by Leo Negao, a black belt under Romero “Jacaré” Cavalcanti and a four-time World Champion, who brings both traditional Carlson Gracie pressure-based techniques and modern approaches to his teaching. Visitors are welcome to join or observe a class, and the club remains committed to providing a safe, well-equipped space for grapplers of all backgrounds in London.

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