Want to affiliate to/represent Combat Base?

Before you start to read the conditions below, a thought for you.

We are not one of the big organisations where you have to pay to affiliate, you are not buying into a franchise, we are not about the money, so what would you be able to offer us to help promote and grow the Combat Base group? You will have to pay with effort.

Affiliation is a 2 way street, what can we do for you and what can you do for us?

All questions I have been asked previously regarding affiliating to Combat Base so thought I would publish them so people know exactly what we are about. This is a work in progress and will continue to be updated as and when other issues are raised.

I have my own club and want to affiliate, what next?

Drop me a message or give me a call to discuss your requirements then you will need to have us over for a seminar at your own gym. It will only cost £250 for a 3 hours session; you may choose the subject of the seminar. This is so we can view the training environment to get a vibe of the group and make sure that we are consistent when it comes to training methodology.

I would recommend that you have us or any of the other CB coaches over at your gym at least once per year.

Starting in 2011 we will have instructor/coach only training sessions which EVERY instructor/coach should strive to attend. This is for our own training, to pass on knowledge to each other as we have different strengths within our group and to assist in bringing through the next generation of instructors/coaches/higher grades.

The main thing is, you should train at one of our gyms regularly and represent us as well as yourselves.

I don't have a BJJ program yet at my gym but want to introduce one, is that a problem?

No, we can actually assist you in setting up a prgramme and may be able to help install one of our coaches to work with you depending on location.

How much does it cost to affiliate?

It doesn’t cost anything directly, it is not like a franchise where you have to pay to use logos and names.

Other than that I just strongly urge that you get to train with Chris Haueter, our head coach, when he is over from USA. This helps keep all of us up to date and on the same page when it comes to training.

When I am happy with your group and you are integrated into our family then you can start using the name and logos.

So what do we get out of it?

All I want for Combat Base is a little acknowledgement, some support and for everyone to be inclusive.

The acknowledgement is just whenever you enter a grappling tourney whether it is BJJ, no gi, multi-style or whatever; you tag on the Combat Base name to your own team name if your team doesn’t already include Combat Base.

For example, John Smith has his own gym called Team John so when he enters the grappling tourney he enters as:

John Smith – Team John/Combat Base UK

For MMA just use your own gym name as Combat Base is only for BJJ unless you specifically want to use the name.

As for support, I strive to organise team training days, seminars, inter club competitions etc and need support to make this feasible. I know this will take a little promoting to your students but I think it is a small price to pay and will be well worth it.

The inclusion part is simple, communicate wherever possible with all the other coaches, let us know what you are organising whatever it may be. I know I have limited time so can’t always attend but by having communications with the other coaches you will have more possibilities to attend various things and invite other people to your things, it’s better for everyone all round.

I just ask that I am kept in the loop so I know what is happening.

We have Combat Base UK group on Facebook too that is strictly for our group, if you want to communicate to most people at once, use this resource.

To show your affiliation I would ask that everyone wears a Combat Base patch on the back of their gi, the patches are relatively inexpensive and are a nice touch to show your loyalty to your team. By all means have your own gym patch on there too.

A logo in your gym and the logo and link to our web site on your web site would be appreciated too. We can get banners, T-shirts etc if you wish.

What do I have to do to get a [coloured] belt?

Train hard, train smart and train as much as you can.

If you just concentrate on training the belts will follow but more importantly your performance and understanding of Jiu Jitsu will drastically improve.

At the moment Combat Base employs a ‘traditional’ grading system i.e. you train your butt off for years then someone just throws a belt at you and hence, you are promoted.

We have interclub competitions and regularly attend open competitions so winning a comp or 2 can assist in you getting graded.

Taking an example of a white belt who has been training for 12 months, he is beating all the other white belts in class with skill and even holding his own against some of the blue belts, there are 3 paths they could choose

1. Keep doing what they are doing in class and wait for the promotion to come whenever.

2. Enter the club championships and other competitions, show what they can do. It’s hard to argue against someone who just won their weight group plus maybe take on a higher grade too, see how they do there.

3. Avoid being graded, stay sandbagged and win back to back SENIs at white belt level for 6 straight years.

Finally, to grade in BJJ at Combat Base you must do gi. I’ve heard all the discussions about gi not helping you for no gi competition etc but I honestly think that if you just want to do no gi then you can’t be serious about grading in BJJ.
 
Might seem like I am stating the obvious but you are either doing BJJ or you are not.

NO GI = NO GRADE

How much is a grading?

Gradings are free as they are continual assessment and not a set exam as with a lot of other martial arts. The coach will promote you when they ‘feel’ you are ready. Please note that there is no set time when receiving belts, promotions are about performance not time served.

I have grades in another type of martial arts, does that count?

No, it doesn’t count in BJJ; everyone starts at white belt regardless of what you have done previously. If you are a Judo black belt, for example, you may have a lot of grappling experience then it might not take that long to get the first belt but everyone starts at white.

I have a grade in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from a different club, does that count?

If you are transferring from another club/association for whatever reason then the grades you have been awarded will be recognised by Combat Base if they are from a reputable, verifiable source. The grades will be checked.

It is highly unlikely that we would accept an online grade.

From that point, any other grade will have to be awarded by Combat Base and from no other source. 

I train at a few different gyms, what about belts from different places?

My rule of thumb is: If you train at a Combat Base gym and at another unaffiliated gym, Team X, for arguments sake then the following will apply:

1. If you train with us and also at Team X and you receive a blue belt from them then you will not usually be graded after that by Combat Base unless you stop training there and train with us predominantly.

2. If you are promoted to blue belt by Combat Base then get purple belt from Team X you will not usually be graded after that by Combat Base unless you stop training there and train with us predominantly.

3. If you are promoted to purple belt by Combat Base then get brown belt from Team X you will not usually be graded after that by Combat Base unless you stop training there and train with us predominantly.

4. If you have been promoted from blue through purple to brown with Combat Base, I hope loyalty prevails when the possibility of black belt arises.

I really want to discourage people from jumping from club to club chasing grades and completely missing the point.

Note: you can train at other gyms and be graded by other groups and still train with us, you just won’t be eligible for promotions from Combat Base. 

There will always be exceptions too, if you think you may fall into this group, speak to me.

Are there any requirements to teach/coach?

Yes, as an absolute minimum standard you must be an experienced blue belt and have express permission from the Combat Base black belts to teach. You must have adequate and relevant insurance.

Competitive experience would be preferred but not essential but I believe everyone should try competition of some sort at some point in order for you to be able to fully teach that aspect of it.

You will also have to train with a Combat Base gym regularly to improve your own performance level and to achieve a better understanding of the art itself to improve your teaching skills.

Anything else I need to know?

Yes, something vitally important. You will be joining Combat Base to benefit from the BJJ programme; we are not an association or governing body or anything like that.

If you are the instructor(s) who is enquiring about affiliating then I assume you will always act professionally as the responsibility for the everyday running of your club is solely down to YOU.

So ensure that you have:

* Professional indemnity insurance
* Member to member insurance
* Fully completed and signed application for membership forms that includes any medical conditions and history
* Up to date First Aider qualification
* A health, safety and welfare policy
* Regular risk assessments of the training area

Believe me; if anything happens in your club and the whole ‘no win, no fee’ mentality kicks in then you will be more than happy that you had made the effort. There can be no excuses for not having the above list as a minimum standard.

Any of these things I can advise you on but the buck stops with YOU.

Still interested?

Contact Darren on 07886 248624 or combatbase@hotmail.com for more information, to answer specific questions or to schedule a seminar.