JOSH WOODBOURNE | A PRAETORIAN MMA SUCCESS STORY

Today, Josh Woodbourne is one of the most recognisable faces at Praetorian MMA.

He is a successful Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor, a blue belt, a respected coach and someone many of our younger students look up to. If you walk into one of our Kids and Teens BJJ classes, there is a good chance you will find Josh teaching techniques, helping students improve and passing on lessons he has learned through his own journey.

What makes that remarkable is where his story began.

THE BOY WHO WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR

When Josh first walked through the doors of Praetorian MMA in the summer of 2023, very few people would have predicted where he would be just a few years later.

Josh was born with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), a condition which later developed into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). Throughout his childhood there were periods where fatigue significantly affected his daily life. At times he required a wheelchair or assistance getting around, and many of the things most young people take for granted were considerably more difficult.

Alongside the physical challenges came many of the social challenges that often follow. Confidence was low. Conversations were difficult. Like many young people who feel different from those around them, Josh experienced bullying and struggled to find where he fitted in.

By the time he arrived at Praetorian MMA, he had already fought battles that most people would never see.

When Josh first entered the gym, he hid behind his mum. He was recovering from a broken arm and only wanted to do boxing. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was not what had brought him through the door and, by his own admission, he was not particularly fond of Head Coach Martyn Styler either.

Getting more than a few words out of him was difficult. The shy teenager who walked through the door in 2023 bears very little resemblance to the confident young man standing on the mats today.

PATIENCE, SUPPORT AND BELIEF

Yet even then, there were signs of potential.

Behind the quiet personality was somebody who simply needed patience, support, opportunity and belief.

Martyn saw something in Josh that many others had overlooked. Long before the medals arrived, before the rankings, before the coaching and before the success, somebody believed Josh was capable of far more than he believed himself.

Whilst progress was often gradual, Martyn continued investing time into Josh both on and off the mats. Extra training sessions, competition preparation, travelling to events, private coaching and countless conversations gradually built a relationship that would become one of the defining factors in Josh's development.

That relationship still exists today. Years later, Josh and Martyn still spend additional time training together whenever opportunities allow, continuing to develop skills, solve problems and work towards future goals.

FINDING BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU

As the months passed, Josh began training more regularly and started discovering Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Training sessions became habits. Habits became routines. Routines became a lifestyle.

The more he trained, the more confidence he gained. The more confidence he gained, the more he began to change.

One of the first major milestones came when Josh entered his first Grapplers Industries competition. Competing in the 14-15 year old division, he earned a bronze medal.

Compared to the achievements that would follow, it was a modest result.

For Josh, however, it was proof. Proof that he belonged. Proof that he could compete. Proof that all the hard work was leading somewhere.

THE CLUB EVOLVES

Around this time, Praetorian MMA itself was evolving.

In January 2024, Rob Goodson joined the coaching team and immediately began raising the standard of the club's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fundamentals. Rob's attention to detail, emphasis on pressure, positioning and strong basics had a significant impact throughout the programme.

Many of the fundamentals visible in Josh's Jiu Jitsu today were refined during this period.

As Josh continued developing, so did the people around him.

FAMILY SUPPORT

One of the greatest strengths of Josh's journey has been the support network surrounding him.

His mum and dad have supported him every step of the way. They encouraged him when confidence was low, travelled to competitions, celebrated victories and helped him through setbacks.

His dad also began training himself and, on many occasions, the two have trained alongside one another.

That shared journey has created memories and experiences that extend far beyond medals and competition results. It is another reminder that combat sports often become something much bigger than simply learning techniques.

THE PRAETORIAN WAY

What makes Josh's story special is that it was never about one person.

Whilst Josh would be the first person to tell you that Martyn is his coach, his journey has been supported by family, teammates, coaches and friends who all played their part.

His family supported him. His teammates pushed him. Rob helped strengthen his foundations. The wider coaching team invested in him. Most importantly, Josh continued showing up.

Again and again. Day after day. Week after week.

This is the same message we talk about in Why Consistency Beats Talent. Talent can help, but consistency changes people.

COMPETITION SUCCESS

As his confidence grew, so did his success.

Over a fourteen-month period, Josh entered sixteen competitions. He became a familiar face on the competition circuit, regularly testing himself against some of the best young grapplers in the country.

He also appeared on numerous Tanto Events, gaining valuable experience under pressure and continuing to develop as both an athlete and a person.

For many young athletes, sixteen competitions in fourteen months would be considered an ambitious schedule. For someone who had spent part of his childhood struggling with the effects of CFS and ME, it highlighted just how remarkable his transformation had become.

The results were exceptional.

By the end of the season, Josh had finished ranked number one in the United Kingdom in Gi competition through Grapplers Industries.

He also finished ranked number three in the United Kingdom in NoGi competition and achieved a position inside the top fifteen competitors worldwide within the organisation's rankings.

Yet the medals only tell part of the story. This is why competition matters at Praetorian MMA, and why we continue to encourage students to test themselves when the time is right.

PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER

One of the biggest advantages Josh has benefited from throughout his journey has been being part of something bigger than a single club.

Through Praetorian MMA's relationship with Odyssey Combat Club, Josh has had opportunities to attend seminars, private training sessions and small group coaching opportunities under Trevor Chamberlain and the wider Odyssey team.

These experiences exposed him to different ideas, different training partners and different perspectives.

The support extended beyond the training room.

At competitions around the country, Trevor has often stepped in to coach and support Praetorian MMA athletes from the sidelines. Whether representing Praetorian MMA or another Odyssey Combat Club team, everyone shares the same objective: helping athletes become the best version of themselves.

That wider support network has played an important role in Josh's development and highlights one of the greatest strengths of being part of a wider affiliation.

Success is rarely achieved alone. Behind every medal, ranking and achievement is a team of people helping make it possible.

EARNING HIS BLUE BELT

One of the proudest moments in Josh's journey came when he was awarded his blue belt.

For those outside Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a belt may simply look like a piece of coloured fabric. Within the sport, it represents years of consistency, perseverance, learning and personal growth.

Watching Josh receive his blue belt was about far more than recognising competition success.

It was recognition of the person he had become.

FROM STUDENT TO COACH

Yet perhaps Josh's greatest achievement happened away from competition.

The same teenager who once struggled to hold a conversation now stands in front of classes teaching others.

Initially brought in to help assist with younger students, Josh quickly demonstrated a natural ability to coach. His technical understanding, patience and genuine desire to help others improve made him an instant success with both students and parents.

Over time, his responsibilities grew. Today, he teaches classes in his own right.

The students trust him. Parents respect him. The younger members of the club look up to him.

In many ways, that transformation is even more impressive than any medal he has won.

Before turning eighteen, Josh added another major milestone by entering a UMAC competition and winning his first championship belt after claiming victory in the Absolute division.

It was another reminder of just how far he had come.

THE NEXT CHAPTER

Yet Josh's story is still being written.

Towards the end of 2025, Nathan Johnstone joined the Praetorian MMA coaching team, bringing with him a wealth of experience as a first-degree black belt, successful competitor and mixed martial artist. His arrival has added another level of technical depth to the programme and is helping shape the next phase of Josh's development.

Working alongside Martyn, Nathan and the wider coaching team, Josh is now developing his striking, wrestling and MMA skills with the long-term goal of stepping into the cage for his first amateur mixed martial arts contest.

Whether that happens in 2026 or later remains to be seen.

What is certain is that the young man who walked into the gym in 2023 is almost unrecognisable today.

The teenager hiding behind his mum has become a competitor, a coach, a role model and an important part of the Praetorian MMA family.

Most importantly, it is about what can happen when a young person finally begins to believe in themselves.

Josh Woodbourne's journey is far from finished, but it is already one of the greatest success stories in Praetorian MMA's history.