Built By Experience

Hi, I’m Adam Gunning - a First Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, Qualified Strength & Conditioning coach, and the founder and head coach of Gorilla Grapplers in Portsmouth.

I’ve spent years on the mats, in the gym, and coaching athletes who love combat sports but don’t want their bodies destroyed by it.

Through my own training and coaching hundreds of students, one thing became clear:

Most strength training advice doesn’t understand jiu jitsu - and most jiu jitsu advice ignores strength altogether.

That gap is where I work.

My approach to strength & conditioning is simple:

• Support performance on the mats

• Reduce injuries and chronic pain

• Build strength that actually carries over to grappling

• Keep athletes training consistently for the long term

I’m not interested in chasing PB’s, bodybuilding aesthetics, or burning athletes into the ground. Everything I programme is built around the realities of combat sports - hard rounds, high training frequency, and the need to recover and show up again tomorrow.

As a gym owner, I see first-hand what works and what doesn’t. The methods I use aren’t theory - they’re pressure-tested daily by real grapplers balancing training, work, and life.

This programme exists to give athletes a clear, structured way to get stronger, stay healthier, and perform better on the mats without guesswork or unnecessary risk.

If you train jiu jitsu and want to do it for the long haul, you’re in the right place.

Strength & Conditioning for Combat Sports

Built properly. Delivered 01/08/2026.

High-quality strength & conditioning for BJJ is hard to find - not because it’s complicated, but because most programmes aren’t built around the realities of grappling.

This project is designed to change that.

Drawing on years of coaching at Gorilla Grapplers, competition experience, and working with athletes across all levels, this programme focuses on helping grapplers get stronger, more resilient, and more consistent on the mats - without burning out or breaking down.

The full programme is finalised. Now taking registrations of interest.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu places demands on the body that most strength & conditioning programmes simply aren’t built for.

Too often, grapplers are handed generic gym plans that ignore the realities of the sport - the fatigue of hard rounds, the stress on the joints, and the need to stay healthy while still progressing on the mats.

This programme exists to bridge that gap.

After years of coaching high-level competitors and everyday practitioners, it became clear that effective strength & conditioning for grappling isn’t about doing more - it’s about doing the right things, at the right time, for your stage of training.

Whether your goal is to compete at the highest level, train consistently without breaking down, or simply feel stronger and more capable on the mats, this system is built to support your Jiu Jitsu - not compete with it.

Two Ways to Train

Why this Programme Exists

The Performance Blueprint

A Repeatable one-off guide to training strength & conditioning alongside grappling

The Blueprint is for athletes who want clarity.

It lays out the principles, structure, and decision-making behind effective S&C for grapplers - so you understand how to train, when to push, and when to pull back.

You’ll learn:

• How to organise strength training around BJJ

• How to manage fatigue and recovery

• How to avoid common mistakes that stall progress or lead to injury

This is a practical framework you can apply immediately, whether you train recreationally or competitively.

Individual Programming

Strength & conditioning built specifically around you

This option is for athletes who want their training fully aligned with their goals, schedule, and limitations.

You’ll receive ongoing, personalised programming designed around:

• Your current training volume and intensity

• Your competitive ambitions (or lack of them)

• Your injury history and recovery capacity

Nothing generic. Nothing recycled.

Just intelligent, evolving programming that supports your Jiu Jitsu long term.

Included with this package you will receive

  • Free Consultation

  • 24/7 Support

  • GAS App Access

  • Personalised Workouts and Goal Setting

  • Regular Check In’s

  • Priority Bookings

  • Yes.

    The programme is appropriate for all levels - from beginners to experienced competitors. Exercises are selected and progressed in a way that prioritises good movement, joint health, and gradual strength development. You’ll choose loads and variations that suit your experience and current ability.

  • Most athletes train 3–4 strength sessions per week, alongside their regular BJJ training. The programme is designed to fit around jiu jitsu, not compete with it, and includes guidance on how to structure your week effectively.

  • No - if followed as intended.

    The programme uses controlled volume, auto-regulation, and sensible progressions. You should feel stronger and more resilient, not exhausted or beaten up for your next session on the mats.

  • No.

    The programme includes exercise options for full gyms, home gyms, and limited equipment setups. You’ll be able to select variations that fit what you have access to.

  • No.

    This programme is built specifically for Combat Sport Athletes. The goal is usable strength, durability, and performance carryover, not aesthetics or chasing maximal lifts.

  • Yes.

    Many athletes use this programme because they’ve had injuries. The training prioritises joint health, controlled loading, and intelligent exercise selection. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s adjusted - not forced.

  • No.

    This programme is for anyone who trains BJJ and wants to stay healthy and improve performance. Whether you compete or train purely for personal development, the structure and principles remain the same.

  • This programme is built by a BJJ black belt and gym owner, based on real-world experience coaching grapplers. It’s designed around the demands of Combat Sports - not adapted from general fitness templates.

  • After our consultation - Once you sign up, you’ll receive immediate access to the programme, including your weekly training schedule, exercise demos, and guidance on how to integrate it with your BJJ training.

  • Yes.

    The programme runs on a monthly subscription and can be cancelled at any time. 30 Days Notice Required.