LINCOLN BJJ

Beginner-Friendly Academy

200+ Local Students Started Here

All Levels Welcome

ABOUT LINCOLN BJJ

Lincoln BJJ - A gym built around people, not just training.

We've been part of Lincoln's martial arts community since 2010. Here's what we're about.

Watch our video for a quick look inside Lincoln BJJ

This is the culture we've built at Lincoln BJJ - and why it matters.

Beginner-Friendly Martial Arts & BJJ in Lincoln

OUR STORY

Led by Experience - Built for People

Lincoln BJJ is led by Mark Hayes, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with over 40 years of martial arts experience.

When I started Lincoln BJJ at Strike Zone in 2010, I wanted to build something Lincoln didn't have, an authentic, legitimate BJJ school with real credentials and real coaching. We were the first established BJJ club in the city, and that still matters to me. What you learn here is the real thing, taught properly.

Lincoln BJJ wasn't my first school. I opened The Combat Zone in Sheffield in 1998 and The Sheffield Martial Arts Centre in 2006 - I still teach there today. By the time I brought BJJ to Lincoln, I'd already spent years building martial arts communities and understanding what makes a club work for real people, not just athletes.

My own BJJ journey started in 2008. I earned my black belt in September 2025 - 17 years of training alongside the people I teach. I know exactly what it feels like to be a beginner, to struggle with something new, and to gradually find that it clicks. That experience shapes how I coach.

Along the way I've trained under some of the most respected names in martial arts, Royce Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Guro Dan Inosanto, Sifu Richard Bustillo, GM Cacoy Canete and Rick Faye among them. I hold instructor certifications in JKD and Kali alongside my BJJ black belt.

"What I actually care about is the process. The journey. Watching people discover what they're capable of when they show up consistently and put the work in."

The moments I'm most proud of aren't competition results, though we have those too, including a World Championship title and multiple British titles in Eskrima. They're the people who came in lacking confidence and found themselves. The non-athletic people who surprised themselves with what their bodies could do. And the teenagers, watching them come in as kids and leave as young adults, with discipline, self-belief and a skill they'll carry for life. That's what Lincoln BJJ is really for.

MARK'S CREDENTIALS

Black Belt Karate and Kickboxing - 1986

Apprentice JKD/Kali Instructor under Sifu Richard Bustillo (IMB) 1999.

Associate JKD/Kali Instructor under Sifu Richard Bustillo (IMB) 2001

Full JKD/Kali Instructor under Sifu Richard Bustillo (IMB) - 2005

1st Dan Doce Pares Eskrima under GM Cacoy Canete - 2006

2nd Dan Doce Pares Eskrima under GM Cacoy Canete - 2007

JKD Apprentice Instructor and Kali Instructor under Guro Dan Inosanto - 2008

BJJ Blue Belt under Italo Ferreira - 2009

BJJ Purple Belt under José Henrique Leão Teixeira and Felipe De Souza - 2012

MKG Level 1 Instructor under Rick Faye - 2021

BJJ Brown Belt under Simon McGovern - 2022

MKG Level 1.1 Instructor under Rick Faye - 2025

BJJ Black Belt under Simon McGovern - September 2025

THE LINCOLN BJJ COMMUNITY

Part of the Team

Lincoln BJJ isn't just a place to train. It's a group of people who show up for each other every session.

Most of our members started exactly where you are now - unsure, a little nervous, wondering if it's for them. What they found was a room full of people who genuinely want to see each other improve.

You're not just joining a class - you're joining a team.

"The most welcoming friendly gym ever. Mark is incredibly knowledgeable and has a passion for teaching. I would recommend anyone of any age and gender to try BJJ - it honestly makes your life better."

Scott

Lincoln BJJ member

"Absolutely amazing place to train. Mark's a fantastic instructor, really welcoming. There's no egos, as soon as you join you feel very welcome. I've lost about 20 kilos since starting."

Martin

Lost 20kg since joining

"Can't recommend this place highly enough. I met Mark as an absolute beginner with zero martial arts experience. If you've never considered BJJ before, get down there and try it, you won't regret it."

Jim

Started with zero experience

Rated 5 stars on Google by local members in Lincoln

You Won’t Feel Out of Place Here

Walking into something new can feel intimidating. We know that. Most people who train with us felt exactly the same way before their first session.

That's why Lincoln BJJ is built the way it is, welcoming from day one, structured so you always know what to do, and coached by people who genuinely care about your progress rather than their own ego.

Most people who join Lincoln BJJ don't come from a martial arts background. They're busy with work and family, just looking for something that helps them feel fitter, more confident, and more in control. That's exactly who this is for.

You don't need to be fit.
You don't need experience.
You don't need to be "ready."
You just need to start - and we'll guide you every step of the way.

Ready to See What It's All About?

If anything on this page has resonated with you, the best thing to do is come and experience it for yourself.

Start with our beginner-friendly intro, five sessions for £9.99, starting every Monday. Walk in as a complete beginner, train with the team, and see how it feels.

No pressure, no commitment beyond the week itself. If it's for you, we'll be here. If you have any questions before you book, just get in touch, we're happy to talk it through.