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Combat Base

@dcurrie66

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17 years. 6,205 days. Thousands of rounds.

On Thursday night, something truly special happened. One month before my 50th birthday, I was awarded my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. 🥋✨

There aren’t many projects in life that require a 17-year "loading phase" just to reach the baseline level of knowledge. You see it in medical degrees or a PhD—and BJJ is no different. It is a masterclass in patience, resilience, and survival.

This belt isn't just a rank; it's a testament to a long, winding road. One of our toughest chapters was surviving COVID. We lost the majority of our members, and we had to rebuild the gym, the network, and our community from the absolute ground up. But through it all, I am deeply proud to say I have followed the Combat Base lineage all the way from White Belt to Black Belt. Loyalty and Integrity above everything. 🤝🔥

A journey like this is never walked alone.

Deepest thanks to Darren & Helen Currie for being incredible coaches, guides, and mentors along the way. Thank you also to Danny Mitchell, Josh Dilcock, Roberto Barberio, Marc Thompson, Adam Kayoom, Chris Haueter, and the many others who poured their knowledge into me.

To my amazing members and students at Chokdee Martial Arts Academy—thank you for pushing me, trusting me, and showing up.

And finally, none of this would be possible without the unwavering, continued support of my partner in business and in life, my wife, Jo Cadden. Thank you for all your support.

Ive tried to plug in some approximate dates to add context to this story. From back in my late judo days to present.

They say the Black Belt is just the beginning. The baseline is set. Now, the real next journey starts.

Here we go for the next phase. 🚀

#BJJBlackBelt #CombatBase #ChokdeeAcademy #JiuJitsuLife #LoyaltyAndIntegrity

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Last night york had the honour of hosting @dcurrie66 regional combat base seminar and it didn’t disappoint! Not only did we learn to destroy the establishment, 3 new combat base black belts were awarded … and you know a combat base black belt doesn’t come easy 😅 massive congrats to the guys from @smoothfloacademy & @tsg.brid on their black belts and a huge well done to our head coach @richcadden on being awarded his black belt 🥋 thank you to all that came & supported and to all 3 new combat base black belts heading back to their gyms today to carry on delivering the best Brazilian jiu jitsu around 🤙🏻 thanks to @duncanwarrenrix & @trixagencyuk for the reel best in the business🙏@combatbasewakefield @combatbasedewsbury @combatbaseleeds @avtmmaleeds @tsg.brid @combatbasehull #fyp #brazilianjiujitsu #combatbase #york #bjj

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Fantastic turn out from all the combat base gyms … honoured to host this amazing seminar with @dcurrie66 🤙🏻 @combatbasewakefield @combatbasehull @combatbaseleeds @smoothfloacademy @avtmmaleeds @combatbasedewsbury #fyp #combatbase #brazilianjiujítsu #york

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To celebrate 1 year of @combatbasewakefield, we have head coaches, and founders of Combat Base, Helen and Darren Currie (@dcurrie66 ) into deliver, what will be one of only a handful of seminars they deliver this year.

STRICTLY LIMITED MAT SPACE - You must book your place in advance.

CBW monthly members: Free
Combat Base affiliates : £20
Other guests £25

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🚨 NORTH & EAST YORKSHIRE UNITE: THE COMBAT BASE MASTERCLASS 🚨

Grapplers of Yorkshire, clear your calendars. We are bringing the region’s gyms together for an unprecedented evening of world-class Jiu-Jitsu.

At Chokdee Academy in York, we are hosting a 2-hour masterclass led by the ultimate husband-and-wife pioneer duo of British BJJ: Darren & Helen Currie.

As the head coaches and founders of Combat Base UK and Combat Base Worldwide, Darren and Helen have shaped the landscape of UK grappling since January 2000. This is your chance to learn directly from Chris Haueter lineage black belts—including Helen Currie, the UK's first-ever female BJJ Black Belt.

Whether you want to sharpen your tournament game, tighten your fundamentals, or network with the best practitioners across North and East Yorkshire, this mat is where you need to be.

📅 THE DETAILS

When: Thursday, July 16th

Time: 6:30 PM until 8:30 / 9:00 PM (2+ hours of world-class instruction & rolling)

Where: Chokdee Academy, Unit 24 Rose Ave, Nether Poppleton, York YO26 6RR

Eligibility: Open to all affiliations, belt levels, and academies.

💰 THE INVESTMENT

We are keeping this accessible to ensure the entire Yorkshire community can share the mats:

Combat Base Members: £20

Non-Members / Guests: £25

⚠️ STRICTLY LIMITED MAT SPACE: To maintain the quality of instruction and ensure everyone gets ample training room on the Chokdee mats, spaces are capped. This will sell out.

📲 HOW TO BOOK

Secure your spot immediately. Drop a message to your coach, DM this page, or contact Chokdee Academy directly to get your name on the register.

Let's share some knowledge, bridge the regional gap, and elevate Yorkshire Jiu-Jitsu together. See you on the mats! 🥋🔥

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Very special night tonight as NGT Combatbase got to award Mike Ng @lightng1971 his 1st stripe on his black bell signifying 3 years as an active Black Belt with the blessing of Darren & Helen Currie, head coaches of Combat Base Uk

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Bit of fun for the last Thursday of the month!
Think Street, Train Sport, Practise Art! #combatbase @chrishaueter96 @dcurrie66

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Must be Christmas,well done everyone who got promoted 💪👏🥋

#combatbase #brazilianjiujitsu
#bjj #jiujitsu

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Did not expect this at all. Promoted to Combat base blue belt. Been a crazy 2 year to say the least. 1 Gold 4 Silvers and 2 DNP. Broken ribs - torn shoulder - black eyes - numerous bust nose. Honour to receive the belt whilst Darren and Helen were down tonight. Big thanks to everyone for pushing me every session. Wouldn't be possible without the right dance partners. 🟦🟦⬛️🟦

Big congrats to all the newly promoted black belts aswell thoroughly deserved.

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Technique evolves but history matters. Darren Currie talking on the history of the footlock.

@dcurrie66
@bjjmonkey

#BJJ #Footlock #FootlockHistory #DarrenCurrie #JiuJitsuCulture #GrapplingKnowledge
#BJJTechnique #LegLockGame #JiuJitsuLife #BJJCommunity #CombatSportsUK
#TechniqueTuesday #MartialArtsHistory #GrapplingArts #BJJReels #NoGiJiuJitsu
#VideographerLife #DocumentTheJourney #BehindTheTechnique #CreativeInCombat
#UKBJJ #BJJEducation

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