LAW Catch Wrestling Club

London Amateur Wrestlers club was set up by Jek in early 1996 as an initiative to promote the close combat sport of grappling to all enthusiasts irrespectively. City University Amateur Wrestlers (CUAW) - set up 1998
Whilst at University, Jek together with 3 friends, 2 Freestylers and 1 Brazilian Jujitsu player used to meet up at the Uni’s Martial Arts hall during lunch break for friendly roll about using worn out mats. The student union advised funding can only be awarded to a recognised sport! In the uni bar, the guys went through the list of “approved recognised sports” from Fencing, Yoga, Judo, Jitsu, TaeKwando to Curling before Jek suggested Olympic wrestling as the nearest to what they’re all doing now, everyone agreed, so with clings of university beer and ale glasses together, started Britain’s first university wrestling club in City University, London, England, in June 1998. Birmingham Amateur Wrestlers (BAW) - set up in 1998/99
Set up on application by Steve. Unfortunately this group closed after two years. Kingsway College (KCAW) - set up in September 1999
Led by Alison Mahony, Sports Officer, KCAW was set up in August 1999. However due to Alison’s departure and the college’s disposal of its sports hall, this group is now closed. Manchester Amateur Wrestlers (MAW) - set up in April 2000
Our submission squad attended a few tournaments in Rochdale, Manchester on invite from David after which this group was set up. This group is now full and not accepting new members. This is where Jek was introduced to Catch wrestling's practical and effective wrestling techniques. City & Islington Amateur Wrestlers (CIAW) - set up in June 2002
Responding to several students from the college who had trained with Ozgun in Hackney, this group was set up. The group terminated when the students graduated to City University. Brighton Amateur Wrestlers (BAW) - set up in 2007
Bobby, a local Brighton lad contacted Jek about grappling in 2006 – after which both used to meet at Cheetahs for weekly grappling sessions. In late 2007 when interest in the group grew, Bobby contacted Deans leisure centre, starting regular weekly practice sessions. The club later moved to Whitehawk Youth Centre and again to Kicks Martial Arts centre. Thornton Heath, Croydon - LAW moved in September 2011
After many years at City University in Central London, LAW decided to move its London practices south of the river to Thornton Heath Leisure Centre. Brighton Amateur Wrestlers (BAW) closed temporarily 2012 - 2013
Due to loss of venue, the Brighton club closed for most of 2012 and 2013. Brighton Amateur Wrestlers (BAW) - restarted October 2013
Training in Brighton resumed in October 2013 at The Stables Boxing Gym and finally after corporate negotiation with Freedom leisure and Brighton & Hove City Council, LAW eventually moved into and is now permanently resident in Stanley Deason Leisure Centre, Wilsons Avenue, Brighton BN2 5PB with our own permanently matted studio. London Amateur Wrestlers (LAW) - close London practice on 28th March 2015
LAW wrestling club eventually had its final training session on 28th March 2015 in London and moved it’s main practice base to it’s Brighton venue. British Grappling Association (BGA) - set up 2001
The BGA was set up by LAW in liaison with our American colleagues in (WWB) and European neighbours (EGLSF) to coordinate resource in researching the fundamental guidelines and possibly competition rules for submission wrestling, in line with requests from FILA (Olympic Wrestling Association) investigating the possibility of including Submission wrestling into the Olympic wrestling repertoire. University Sussex Wrestling Club (USWc) - set up Nov 2019 - closed Feb 2020

In conjunction with a student from the University, an affiliated group was set up in order to facilitate our sport within this university community. However the group organiser disagreed with LAW’s management policies and safety remits, so LAW withdrew affiliation. LAW is now currently based in Brighton and hold our practices regularly at our home venue hosted in Stanley Deason Leisure Centre, Wilson Avenue, Brighton. LAW motto
- To promote the sport of wrestling & grappling to all enthusiasts irrespectively ...