Meet our coaches

All of our coaches are insured and have an Enhanced DBS check.
Each coach also agrees to follow our Coaches Code of Conduct.

Head coach Max Bickerton

Max Bickerton

Max is our team’s founder and head coach. He holds a BJJ black belt and is one of the top competitive grapplers in the UK.

Max has been coaching for over seven years now and is continuously studying and refining his teaching methods to help you progress faster.

Max is always looking to understand his students’ needs. As such, he is keen to receive feedback from all of his students (both positive and constructive feedback). He aims to be as approachable as possible, so feel free to pull him to one side before or after class if there’s ever anything you’d like to discuss.

Coach Fiona Mortell

Fiona Mortell

Fiona is the coordinator of our children’s programme and coaches both children’s and adults’ classes. She holds a black belt in BJJ and is an active competitor on the European grappling scene.

Fiona has four years of experience coaching grappling and is looking to foster a respectful and inclusive training environment for everyone at Grapple Collective.

Ellis Rumble

Ellis is a brown belt in BJJ with over 8 years of experience. Having formerly run his own club in his hometown, Ellis has now moved to London and Grapple Collective to pursue a career as a professional grappler.

While still pursuing his own goals as a competitor, Ellis takes pride in coaching and developing students of all levels. Ellis is passionate about helping students achieve their individual jiu-jitsu goals. He is happy to offer support to those who approach the sport as a fun hobby or more competitively.

theo lloyd

Theo coaches children’s and adults’ classes. He holds a brown belt in BJJ and is an active competitor on the UK grappling scene.

Theo juggles his training with his demanding work life and understands how to make the most of training around the other demands of life. He’s known for his attention to detail and a technical submission-orientated approach to grappling.