He won gold at the IBJJF European NoGi Championship in Rome

Joe Trickey, a 17-year-old from Bristol, has become a European Champion. He won gold at the IBJJF European NoGi Championship in Rome on 1 November 2026. Joe trains at Aftermath BJJ Knowle on Filwood Broadway and at Kin JJ. He competed in the Juvenile 2 male blue belt featherweight division and won all three of his matches. He won his quarter-final by submission. His semi-final opponent was disqualified for fleeing the mat area while caught in a submission. Joe then won the final by submission to take the title. Joe started Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of eight. He needed an outlet and struggled with traditional ball sports, and nine years on he's one of the best in Europe in his division. The title adds to an impressive record. Joe won bronze at the 2023 IBJJF European Gi Championship. In 2026 he has won several IBJJF Opens in both Gi and NoGi, and he is a six-time NAGA Expert Division Champion. Joe said: "Winning this European title is just one step in a much longer journey. It means a huge amount to me because of the work I've put into achieving this goal. I've worked hard to dial in every aspect of my preparation, from nutrition, sleep and strength and conditioning to developing my actual skills on the mats. I'm proud of what I've achieved, but I'm already looking towards what's next."

Joe's mum said: "At seventeen, most kids are figuring out who they want to be, but Joe is already showing the world exactly what he is made of. Becoming the IBJJF European Champion has left us absolutely speechless.

"He has been training since he was eight years old, and taking him to his first ever BJJ class is the best thing we did. We are incredibly proud of the champion he is on the mats, but even prouder of the young man he is becoming every single day, travelling the world and following his passion and dreams." Nick Jordan, head coach at Aftermath BJJ Knowle, said: "We're all incredibly proud of Joe. He's been on the mats since he was eight, and he's the hardest-working person in the room. Winning a European title takes years of dedication, and he's earned every bit of it.

"He's a brilliant example to our kids' classes of what you can achieve with hard work. Bring on Vegas!" Next up, Joe will compete at the IBJJF NoGi World Championships in Las Vegas in December 2026.