Sam Kaye has come up with a great project: Disabled BJJ UK. His goal is develop Jiu-Jitsu among disabled people and organize a disabled BJJ tournament. He spoke to BJJ Eastern Europe about his Jiu-Jitsu journey and goals:

1. Hi Sam, can you please introduce yourself to the BJJ Community of Eastern Europe? 

Hi BJJEE, my name is Sam Kaye, I am a Blue Belt out of Gracie Barra Preston. I train under my Instructors Lucio Sergio Dos Santos, Matthew Callaghan and Paul Hartley. I also run my own small club In Kendal in the Lake district. I didn’t compete a lot at white belt so didn’t do much their. However since getting my blue belt I have earnt a few medals, most recently bronze at Grapple Nation-uk and bronze Gi and Silver No gi at the manchester bjj open.
2. How did you start training?

I started training 3 years ago after a long stint as a top level disabled swimmer. Firstly I trained with 2 blue belts at the time Alex Tweedie and Ricardo De Souza. They started ‘Lakes BJJ’ with the permission of our Professor Paul Hartley. And when they moved away I took over. I carried the club on and get one of my professors down at least once a month. There is no need to tell your fans that, like Everyone else, I became addicted to jiu jitsu and just wanted to train all the time.
3. Please tell us more about your project for disabled BJJ practicioners.

I decided to start up Disabled BJJ UK because I wanted to widen the spectrum of competitive athletes. In Jiu Jitsu. Most of us follow the quote ‘Jiu Jitsu for Everyone’ but how true is it? I want to be the reason that jiu jitsu truly is for everyone. I find I am a very competitive person anyway so I don’t mind roughing it up with you able bodied folk. But a lot of Disabled people won’t do that. They won’t have the confidence. I want to help give these guys a platform to show there skills as well. Obviously, to do this I need to get more disabled people into Jiu Jitsu. So currently I am trying to get in touch with companies that work with amputees etc and encourage them to come to specific ‘Jiu Jitsu for disabled’ seminars that will eventually be starting around England.

4. Please tell us more about how you adapt your BJJ game to make the most of your disability.

With regards to how I alter my game I should explain my disability a bit more. My right arm is deformed. I have no elbow, limited muscle growth, 2 fingers and very limited movement in my wrist. So I have no grip and a very weak ‘hook’ however it is good for pushing away and creating distance. And because it is locked straight it is very difficult to arm bar and near impossible to omoplata or Kimura. I tend to use distance a lot. Relying primarily on my legs and left hand grip. I try to use open guard as opposed to close guard and as most chokes involve 2 arms. I’m more likely to be seen attacking armbar omoplata triangles or foot locks. It sometimes takes a lot of thought but I can always work around techniques.
5. What do you think of disable BJJ athletes such Nick Newell or Jean Jacques Machado.

I idolise those guys. They really break down barriers and they have a real competive streak in them to Do what they do. I would love to train with both of them given the opportunity. I’m hoping to eventually get Nick Newell to come and tour the UK doing a few seminars for a week or two.
6. What is next for you and your team in 2014?

Well we’re all training hard. I have an MMA fight coming up on the 21st of June on FCC 10. If anyone would like to come along you can get tickets off the FCC website or contact me directly. Hopefully we will have a good first few disabled bjj fights in June at the Midlands open in Birmingham. But as long as I keep training and moving up the blue belt ladder I’ll be happy.
7. If you want to thank somebody or sponsors, feel free
If anyone is interested or knows someone with a disability that would like to compete please visit the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DisabledBJJUK and I feel honoured to be part of a great team at GB Preston I get all the support I could ask for off those guys and especially off my Professors Lucio Sergio Dos Santos Matthew Callaghan and Paul Hartley. They are true gentlemen and I couldn’t do what I do without them. I would also like to thank www.adversityfightwear.com they have sponsored me and have some really cool stuff. Especially they new range of t shirts so check them out! Finally, thank you BJJ Eastern Europe for helping me promote the cause.

Check out BJJ black belt & one armed fighter Nick Newell’s highlight: