Coming Full Circle with Checkmat

BJJ Gateshead is proud to announce its official affiliation with Checkmat, marking a significant milestone in the academy’s journey and reinforcing its commitment to high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, strong fundamentals, and long-term development.

This affiliation is not a sudden change in direction, but the natural continuation of a philosophy that has been present since the academy’s foundations were formed.

Head Coach Michael Searle's connection to Checkmat predates the creation of BJJ Gateshead by many years. Early training trips to Rio de Janeiro in 2009 and 2011, including time spent at Fight Zone, played a pivotal role in shaping the technical and cultural approach that now defines the academy.

Those experiences emphasised:

• Structured classes

• Strong fundamentals

• Pressure-based Jiu-Jitsu

• Discipline, accountability, and respect

• Doing things properly, without shortcuts

These principles have remained central to how BJJ Gateshead trains, teaches, and develops its students.

Over time, Checkmat has grown into one of the world’s most respected Jiu-Jitsu teams, built by coaches and athletes who share those same values, prioritising fundamentals, long-term growth, and consistency over trends or quick wins.

The alignment between Checkmat and BJJ Gateshead is therefore rooted in shared standards, not branding.

BJJ Gateshead remains fully independent in spirit and identity, with a continued focus on serving its local community in the North East. The affiliation strengthens the academy by providing recognised lineage, structured support, and a formal connection to a global team whose philosophy has influenced its approach for over a decade.

Rather than representing a change, this affiliation reflects a return to the roots of what has always mattered: training properly, supporting one another, and building a sustainable, respectful Jiu-Jitsu culture.

In that sense, this step is not about looking forward to something new, but about coming full circle.

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BJJ Gateshead

Affiliated with Checkmat

Head Coach: Michael Searle, Black Belt