King Charles Champions Jiu Jitsu During Hammersmith Visit

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Monarch given white belt at the Roger Gracie Academy

The King chatted with people working with the charity REORG. Picture: @RoyalFamily

June 28, 2026

King Charles has lauded the benefits of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu during visit to Hammersmith charity supporting veterans and emergency workers

The monarch spent last Wednesday morning (24 June) at the Roger Gracie Academy on Glenthorne Road learning how Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is helping military personnel, veterans and emergency service workers rebuild confidence, resilience and community through the charity REORG. The visit brought together leading figures from the martial art, serving and ex-service personnel, and even a few well-known faces from the sport’s growing UK scene.

His Majesty joined a discussion with REORG students to hear how training has supported those facing physical, social and mental challenges. He watched demonstrations on the mats, met Academy students, presented a black belt to a REORG team member — and was himself presented with a white belt, the traditional starting point for anyone entering the sport.

The King suggested that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu could play a wider role in supporting young people, particularly those facing difficult circumstances. Among those training during the visit was rapper Tinie Tempah, who told His Majesty he had taken up the sport on the recommendation of actor Tom Hardy. Tempah later said the King had raised the idea of using Jiu Jitsu to help children and teenagers.

“He was basically saying that he’s been wanting to champion this in some capacity for ages,” Tempah said. “He has been talking to Idris [Elba] about it, and maybe I could be of service in some capacity. Because he wants to use it to help young people, and I said to him that that is basically my ambition.”

Tempah described how the martial art had “changed my life”, giving him discipline, father-figure role models and a global community — and how his two young daughters now “love it so much”.

When the King arrived, he spoke with serving and ex-service personnel, a firefighter and others who have benefited from REORG’s programmes. The charity, founded by Sam Sheriff, uses Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to support those dealing with trauma, isolation or the transition out of service life. His Majesty joked, “I’m too old to learn these things,” before watching students train and meeting instructors.

Before leaving, the King presented a black belt to a REORG recipient and was gifted his own white belt.

The King appeared delighted after being presented with his white belt. Picture: @RoyalFamily

Roger Gracie, a ten-time world champion and grandson of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu founder Carlos Gracie, described the visit as a landmark moment for the sport.

“This was a very historical day, not just for us here but for all of Jiu Jitsu,” he said. “For our community and for everybody who has ever trained to better themselves. To have the King attend our academy was a great honour. Our sport embodies everything about the community. People come here to train and to celebrate the human spirit and it reflects in everyone around them.”

 

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