Our Story
5th Element Jiu Jitsu Academy was founded in 2018 with three things in mind: to bring genuinely high-quality grappling to Durham, to build something with real community impact, and to create a pathway that takes anyone - from a nervous first-timer to a professional athlete - as far as they want to go.
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What makes this place different is the relationship between the team and the members we train. We have all grown around a shared way of doing things - most of the coaching team started here as a beginner. We all have a genuine understanding of what it feels like to start from nothing.
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The Grappling programme at 5th Element has been built from the ground up over years of full-time coaching. We have refined our classes to make sure every student learns in the right environment for their level. Every class covers standing work, guard work and pins. Techniques and sparring games are woven throughout. It's a system built to develop a well rounded understanding of the sport.
We are a Community Interest Company with the goal to make an impact on the people who walk through the door and on the wider Durham community around us. That means making the programme accessible to everyone, holding a genuine standard of care for every training partner, and building an environment where people from completely different walks of life train alongside each other without ego getting in the way.
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"Top coaches - really feel the team spirit when you walk through the door." - Libby, member
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"The coaching staff are all friendly and extremely professional - a place where egos don't exist." - Iain, member
What We Believe
5th Element was founded with a simple goal: to bring high quality grappling to Durham and inspire genuine positive change - on and off the mats.
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We believe that through training, students of all ages learn to handle pressure, manage emotions, sit with discomfort, and solve problems under stress. These aren't just martial arts skills, they're life skills.
Our Community
How We Train
Our programme is structured across age groups and skill levels so every student progresses at a manageable pace and gets the most from every session. Classes are never one-size-fits-all - they're built around where you are right now, with a clear path to where you're going next.
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We train in an inclusive environment with a studious approach. We foster a friendly atmosphere where members respect and look after each other.
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If you're coming for a trial or interested in joining as a member make sure to read our guide to training here:
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