King Charles III shared a lighthearted moment during a visit to a leading Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy when he received his own white belt. The King smiled widely, held the belt aloft, and waved it as the crowd applauded the impromptu gesture.
King Charles broke into a broad smile after being presented with a white jiu-jitsu belt
Wearing bright blue disposable covers over his leather shoes, King Charles III watched students of all skill levels demonstrate their techniques at the Roger Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy in Hammersmith. King Charles III, who served aboard HMS Bronington during his naval career from 1971 to 1976, said the demonstrations reminded him of playing tug-of-war in the Navy. He told the students, “It’s almost like you’re in a tug-of-war. We used to do that on HMS Bronington, but the rope was tied round the stern so you couldn’t see the other team. It was like a pulley system that never ended.”
Charles also met members of REORG, a charity founded in 2017 that promotes Brazilian jiu-jitsu among serving military personnel, veterans, emergency service workers, and others facing physical, mental, and social challenges. The organization was established by Royal Marines veteran and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt holder Sam Sheriff MBE, who introduced the King to several participants whose lives have been transformed through the sport.
Former Royal Marine commando Mark Ormrod MBE also spoke with Charles about how Brazilian jiu-jitsu has helped him and many other veterans rebuild confidence and find a renewed sense of purpose after military service. One of the highlights of the visit came when Charles surprised Roger Gracie with a ceremonial black belt promotion. Sam Sheriff praised Gracie’s years of dedication, explaining that reaching black belt status in Brazilian jiu-jitsu is an achievement attained by only a small number of practitioners because it typically requires between 10 and 15 years of consistent training.
