Winning medals in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is a family affair for Lance Corporal (LCpl) James Calford, 21, and his dad Lance Sergeant (LSgt) Simeon Howells, 42.
Lance Corporal James Calford, standing along the mats before his match.
Lance Corporal Calford wins his match by a armbar submission.
Soldiers from across the British Army compete in the Army Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships,
Left to right: Picture of Lance Corporal Calford and his father Lance Sergeant Simeon Howells at the British Army Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
The young guardsman has just won two gold medals at the British Army Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships held at Aldershot.
Like Father, Like Son
These recent honours can now hang alongside his father's bronze medal won at the same competition nine years ago. James, who is currently in the white belt featherweight class, has been in 1st Battalion (Bn) Welsh Guards for three years. His father has served in the same regiment for the last 22 years.
I couldn't be prouder of him. Martial arts was part of James' upbringing. He would come with me to the gym and watch the grappling and now he's winning tournaments himself.
Recently added to the list of official British Army sports, BJJ is the largest and most popular martial art in the British Army and Defence.
Both men (dad cheering on from the sidelines) are looking exhausted but happy when LCpl Calford wins his class finals in a summation victory, where the opponent submits before the five-minute bout is over. The contest is in the Gi competition – done in traditional heavy duty cotton jacket and trousers with a coloured belt - which can get more technical than the no-Gi version in shorts and T-shirts.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which is a form of ground wrestling, relies on technique and biomechanical leverage to overcome disadvantages in size and strength.
"I couldn't be prouder of him," says LSgt Howells, as he hugs his son shortly before he goes up on the podium to receive his first gold medal of the day. "I have been doing martial arts, including jiu jitsu for over a decade and martial arts was part of James' upbringing. He would come with me to the gym and watch the grappling and now he's winning tournaments himself."
LSgt Howells lives in Windsor with his wife Kirsty and his two young sons including Osian aged 11 who is already showing an aptitude for boxing and mixed martial arts.
"I'm pretty happy about the results and want to get back to training as soon as possible so I can improve my technique and hopefully get a blue belt soon," says LCpl Calford who has a distinctive patient and methodical style which relentlessly overcomes his heavier opponents.
Having a father and son, from the same battalion, both competing at the Army Championships is simply brilliant. It perfectly captures the positive family impacts of military service and martial arts. It also reinforces that the Army and Jiu-Jitsu is open and accessible to a wide variety of people, regardless of age or ability.
Why BJJ Could Be Your Next Challenge
Grounded in technique rather than brute force, BJJ rewards the same qualities that define a great soldier — composure under pressure, strategic thinking, and the determination to keep going. With formal Army backing and a thriving competitive community, there has never been a better time to step onto the mat.
Colonel Shamus Kelly OBE, chair of the British Army Martial Arts Association, congratulated James on his achievement.
“Having a father and son, from the same battalion, both competing at the Army Championships is simply brilliant. It perfectly captures the positive family impacts of military service and martial arts. It also reinforces that the Army and Jiu-Jitsu is open and accessible to a wide variety of people, regardless of age or ability.”
