Dave Weston

Dave Weston began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey in 2011 under Neil Simkin at Simkin Martial Arts in Walsall, training primarily under Carl Holmes, whose influence helped shape the strong fundamentals and technical discipline that remain at the core of Dave’s style today. In 2014, he earned his blue belt from Neil, marking the beginning of what would become a lifelong commitment to Jiu-Jitsu.

After a career move to Birmingham in 2015, Dave joined Gracie Barra Birmingham under Braulio Estima, training when possible despite a demanding schedule. In 2016, he moved to Gracie Barra Halesowen to train under Stu Gwilt and Tim Cash, where under Tim’s guidance he refined his technical game and developed the style he’s now known for. During this period, he began coaching kids’ classes and received his purple belt in 2017 from Stu. A year later, he won the British Open in 2018 before leaving to establish Black Country Jiu-Jitsu.

At Black Country Jiu-Jitsu, Dave made tremendous progress, embracing a relentless training ethos that pushed both himself and his students to new levels. He earned his brown belt in 2020 and his black belt in 2022 from Ben Poppleton, debuting on GrappleFest 11 in 2022 and returning to the show in successive years. Competing extensively at brown and black belt, Dave has faced some of Europe’s top grapplers, and is known for securing numerous lightning-fast submission victories across major shows and tournaments. His aggressive, submission-focused approach has become a defining feature of his career.

In 2025, Dave was awarded his first-degree black belt, marking another milestone in a journey built on hard work, consistency, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of Jiu-Jitsu.