about Nomad Jiu Jitsu Sheffield

Why Nomad?

"The name Nomad came from my own experience of Jiu Jitsu. I’ve been lucky enough to train in different places around the world and, wherever I’ve been, I’ve usually found a gym, a good group of people and somewhere that feels like home for the time I’m there.

That’s the environment I want at Nomad. We’re part of the Northern Alliance, a group of like-minded gyms with an open approach to training. Whether you’re a permanent member, completely new to Jiu Jitsu or just visiting for a week, you’re welcome on our mats.

Nomad is about good Jiu Jitsu, good people, and a place where anyone can feel at home."

James Boyle

INDEPENDENT & COMMUNITY-DRIVEN

Nomad is a small, independent, community-driven BJJ academy. We're not part of a big franchise, so we're able to build the gym around the people who actually train here. That means a more relaxed culture, a personal approach to coaching and the freedom to do things in a way that works for our members.

How we coach

We don't follow a fixed syllabus or rigid formula where every student has to learn the same thing in the same way. Our classes are shaped around the people on the mats, their experience and what they're working towards. There isn't one right way to progress in BJJ.

Flexible memberships

We don't believe people should be tied into long-term contracts. Our memberships are month to month and can be cancelled at any time, with no joining fees or hidden costs. Life changes, and your membership should be able to change with it.

No mandatory uniform

You don't have to wear Nomad-branded kit to train here. We don't force members to buy our Gi, rash guards or other merchandise. All we require is that you wear any suitable, clean Gi or No-Gi clothing that you're comfortable training in.

Open approach to training

We don't have rules about where our members can train. Every gym has different coaches, training partners and approaches, and there's always something to learn from spending time on different mats.

Train your way

At Nomad our members respect that everyone trains for different reasons. You can train at your own pace and in a way that works for you. While we encourage competition and provide plenty of support for anyone who wants to compete, it doesn't define our gym.
There's no expectation to compete or engage in any hard sparring if that isn't what you want out of YOUR training.

OUR VALUES

Inclusion

Community

Wellness

Growth

Jiu Jitsu is for everyone. We’re committed to welcoming people of all ages, genders, religious and cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities and experience levels, and people from groups that are often under-represented in martial arts. We’re LGBTQ+ friendly and support people with disabilities and SEND, adapting where we can to make the sport more accessible.

The people you train with become a big part of BJJ. We want Nomad to have a strong team spirit, where people look out for their teammates, welcome new members and enjoy training together. And it doesn't have to stop when the round ends - the friendships and social side of Jiu Jitsu are a big part of what makes training enjoyable.

James is passionate about the benefits of Jiu Jitsu beyond learning the sport itself. It's a great way to improve your fitness, strength and mobility, but it can also do a lot for your mental wellbeing. Getting on the mats gives you something to focus on, gets you moving and gives you a chance to switch off from everything else for a while.

Jiu Jitsu is a constant learning process. We encourage a growth mindset - focusing on progress rather than expecting to get everything right straight away.

That builds resilience, patience and the ability to stay calm when things aren't going your way. Those are useful skills on the mats, but they're pretty useful away from them too.

meet our Head coach, james

Nomad Jiu Jitsu is led by 3rd Degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt James Boyle, who has been training and teaching BJJ for more than 20 years.

James started training at 17 after being introduced to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by his cousin, Paul Chapman, who was training under Neil Owen. Neil became James' first instructor and has remained an important influence throughout his BJJ career.

James started teaching when he was 20, working with both adults and children. He quickly realised that teaching was something he was naturally good at and genuinely enjoyed. Patience, communication and being able to break down techniques clearly have always been a big part of his coaching style.

He set up his first BJJ club, Infinity Martial Arts in Chesterfield 2015 (which later became 53 Degrees). In 2018, he opened the first Nomad Jiu Jitsu academy in Worksop. From there, Nomad expanded, and now he also runs a second academy in Kimberworth, Rotherham, on the edge of Sheffield.

Over the years, James has taught everyone from complete beginners through to experienced competitors and MMA fighters.

International competitor and coach

Alongside James' long history of training and coaching, James has competed extensively in both local and international BJJ tournaments. He also holds a 5–2 amateur MMA record.

Some of his most notable competition achievements include:

Double Gold – Gold Coast Open, Australia 2016
Gold – Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, London 2018 (Masters)
No-Gi British Champion, 2018 (Masters)

James has travelled the world to compete - but he's also travelled to share his BJJ skills and has taught seminars across Europe and Australasia, both independently and alongside Neil Owen. James' expertise and long-standing involvement in the sport have enabled him to build strong connections within the wider BJJ community.

northern alliance

Become part of a wider BJJ network

Nomad is part of Northern Alliance, a group of BJJ clubs based in the north of England connected through our coaching lineage and a shared approach to training.

The affiliation is headed by Neil Owen, who has been a key figure in the UK BJJ scene for decades. Neil has been a big influence on James' own Jiu Jitsu and coaching, and the two have continued to train and teach together over the years. Neil is also part of the Ryan Gracie lineage, giving Nomad a direct connection to the founders of BJJ.

For our members, being part of Northern Alliance means having access to a wider BJJ community outside our own academy. There are opportunities to cross-train at affiliated gyms, attend seminars, training camps and events, and meet plenty of other people who train Jiu Jitsu. We regularly get together for events such as the annual York Camp, bringing coaches and students from across the network together on the mats.