When people hear the word affiliation, they often think of logos, grading systems, seminars and competition opportunities.
Whilst those things certainly have their place, our relationship with Odyssey Combat Hub has never been built on belts, certificates or what appears on the wall of the academy.
It has always been about people.
To understand why Odyssey means so much to Praetorian MMA, you have to go back long before Praetorian MMA ever existed.
Where It All Began
Originally, Odyssey Combat Hub was known as Phoenix MMA, led by head coach Jimmy Johnstone. Operating across Bournemouth, Southampton and Gosport, Phoenix became home to many of the people who still form the backbone of our club today.
Coaches and members including Nathan Johnstone, Rob Goodson, Jack Gover, Kieran Pugh, Alan and many others all shared their journey through Phoenix.
At the same time, a few miles down the road, Martyn Styler was operating from a very different environment.
The building housed a gym, a bar, a large martial arts training area and a separate function room used for a variety of purposes.
It was there that Martyn and Kieran first became friends.
One day, during a conversation, Kieran mentioned that the Phoenix building in Gosport was suffering from significant roof leaks and that they were considering their options.
Martyn's response was simple.
What followed was a meeting between Martyn and Jimmy that was supposed to last no more than a quick coffee.
Instead, it lasted four hours.
The two men spoke openly about martial arts, coaching, karate, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA, business, family, life experiences and the philosophies that shaped how they approached the world.
Both came from karate backgrounds, both had travelled unique paths through martial arts and both valued honesty and authenticity.
The conversation flowed naturally.
It was the beginning of a friendship that would go on to shape the future of both clubs.
Shortly afterwards, Phoenix Gosport moved into the building.
Weathering The Storm
Then COVID arrived.
Like many clubs across the country, the years that followed brought challenges nobody could have predicted. Lockdowns disrupted training, buildings were lost, plans changed and businesses fought to survive.
During this period Martyn moved locations multiple times whilst trying to keep martial arts alive and continue building a community.
Life has a habit of pulling people in different directions and, whilst there was never any animosity, Martyn and Jimmy spoke far less during this period as both navigated their own personal and professional challenges.
At the same time, Martyn was trying to rebuild Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA within the club. Different coaches came and went, but nothing quite seemed to fit.
Throughout those years, Kieran repeatedly offered the same advice.
For a long time, Martyn resisted. Starting again is rarely easy and pride can often make simple conversations feel much harder than they need to be.
Eventually, he picked up the phone.
Starting Again
Martyn travelled to Phoenix headquarters in Bournemouth and sat down with Jimmy once more.
Just as it had years earlier, the conversation flowed naturally.
After listening to everything that had happened, Jimmy gave a simple response.
Those few words changed everything.
Jimmy introduced Rob Goodson as the club's BJJ Head Coach. Ironically, Rob had previously taught classes on Jimmy's behalf at the original Stubbington venue, yet Rob and Martyn had never really spent time together.
That introduction would become one of the most important moments in the rebuilding process.
Through Rob came familiar faces.
Jack returned.
Nathan returned.
Alan returned.
Tom returned.
Many of the people who had helped build Phoenix Gosport years earlier found themselves reconnecting through a shared vision once again.
What looked from the outside like a fresh start was, in many ways, simply the continuation of a journey that had begun years before.
The Birth Of Praetorian MMA
As the club continued to rebuild, another important decision was made.
The existing branding no longer reflected the values, philosophy and identity that had developed through years of experience.
A new chapter was needed.
Praetorian MMA was born.
The name changed.
The branding evolved.
The vision became clearer.
The relationships remained exactly the same.
Throughout this period, Jimmy continued to support the club wherever he could. Whether through coaching, seminars, conversations over coffee, mentoring coaches or simply sitting down and putting the world to rights, his influence could be felt throughout the academy.
For many of us, he was more than a coach.
He was a mentor.
He was a friend.
Most importantly, he helped create a culture that still exists within our club today.
A culture built around loyalty, honesty, respect and looking after the people around you.
Continuing The Journey
Following Jimmy's passing, there was naturally a period of reflection.
Not simply about affiliations or coaching structures, but about people.
Jimmy had impacted countless lives through martial arts, friendship, mentorship and guidance. His influence could be found throughout gyms, competition mats and communities across the South Coast.
During this difficult period, Sarah Johnstone faced the enormous challenge of carrying the club forward whilst preserving everything that Phoenix had stood for.
The club would eventually move forward under a new identity, Odyssey Combat Hub, with Sarah at its heart, supported by Trevor Chamberlain as Head Coach and Nathan Johnstone continuing the work that had been such a significant part of his life.
For us, this was never simply about supporting an affiliation.
It was about supporting people.
Sarah has always treated us with kindness, honesty and respect. Through every conversation, every event and every challenge, she has remained someone we are proud to call a friend.
We want Odyssey to succeed because the people behind it matter to us.
That is the difference.
More Than Martial Arts
When the time came to decide the future of the affiliation, the conversation was deeply personal.
For Rob, it wasn't simply a professional decision.
It was about relationships.
It was about loyalty.
It was about choosing where he wanted to continue his journey.
Who did he trust?
Who did he want to work towards his black belt under?
Who shared the values that had guided him throughout his martial arts career?
The answer was clear.
Under the leadership of Trevor Chamberlain, with Sarah Johnstone guiding the club forward and Nathan Johnstone continuing alongside them, Odyssey Combat Hub remained home.
Rob had known Trevor for many years. He had watched Nathan grow from a young boy into the coach and martial artist he is today. The friendships built through years of training, travelling, competing and supporting one another could not simply be replaced.
The name may have changed from Phoenix MMA to Odyssey Combat Hub.
The people remained.
The values remained.
The culture remained.
What Odyssey Means To Praetorian MMA
When people ask why we are affiliated with Odyssey Combat Hub, the answer has very little to do with affiliations at all.
Of course there are grading pathways.
Of course there are opportunities to train together, compete together and learn from one another.
Those are benefits.
They are not the reason.
The reason is friendship.
The reason is loyalty.
The reason is brotherhood.
The reason is that martial arts should be about more than what happens on the mats.
At Praetorian MMA, we want people to find something that lasts beyond individual classes, beyond individual competitions and beyond individual achievements.
We want people to build friendships that survive difficult times.
We want people to support one another when life becomes challenging.
We want people to celebrate successes together and face setbacks together.
That culture was passed to us by the people who came before us.
It is something we intend to protect.
Odyssey Combat Hub is more than an affiliation because the people behind it have been part of our journey for many years.
The friendships, trust and loyalty built through Phoenix, and now Odyssey, have shaped Praetorian MMA in ways that cannot be measured by belts, grades or certificates.
We are proud to stand alongside Sarah, Trevor, Nathan and the wider Odyssey family as they continue to write the next chapter of that story.
Some relationships begin with a handshake.
Some begin with a conversation over coffee.
The best ones become family.
