When Ludlow local Owain Williams opened Borderlands Grappling — the town’s first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) gym — in June 2024, some people weren’t so sure it would work.
Although BJJ is one of the fastest-growing martial arts in the world, the usual advice is to open a gym in an area with a dense population. The theory is, that the more people, the easier it is to get new students on the mats.
So, with a population of around 10,000 people, Ludlow seemed like an unlikely place for an up-and-coming combat sport to take hold.
But one year later, and with more students and classes than ever before, Borderlands Grappling is thriving.
“I’ve been incredibly lucky,” says Owain, a BJJ black belt with over 15 years on the mats. “So many amazing people have found the club and committed to it. They’re the reason we’ve grown.”
Owain founded Borderlands not just to teach grappling, but to build a community. “BJJ gave me structure and helped with my mental health — it gave me a sense of belonging,” he says. “I wanted to create a space where others could find the same.”
Not without its challenges
Getting started wasn’t easy.
“Finding the right venue was tough,” says Owain. “You need somewhere safe, affordable and with space to store a load of heavy mats. I reached out to every venue I could — eventually, Julian at Cast Iron Culture came to the rescue.”
Growing the club has brought its own hurdles, too. While many gyms see lots of trial students, few stick around — Owain found the opposite issue in Ludlow.
“We get fewer new faces than I expected,” he admits, “but our retention is ridiculously high. Once people try it, they usually love it.”
He credits that to the culture they’ve built: “I think people genuinely enjoy being here — it’s the community that keeps them coming back”
“It’s wild that even after a year, we still get new students who are only just hearing about us. It shows I’ve still got work to do getting the word out.”
What’s next for Borderlands?
As Borderlands Grappling enters its second year, plans are already in motion for more classes, more competitions, and to continue growing deeper roots in Ludlow.
Want to try it for yourself? You can visit Borderlands Grappling to book a free trial and find out more.