About Craig Ewers Academy
The Craig Ewers Academy coaching team are all experienced competitors within their respective disciplines, with many competing Internationally.
The Academy has produced & overseen the development of domestic & International champions in many disciplines including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), Judo & Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
Craig Ewers
HEAD COACH Craig Ewers has over 30 years experience of training and competing in judo and Brazilian jiu jitsu. Craig is a 5th dan black belt in judo and 1st degree black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu.
Representing Wales national judo team, Craig has won numerous medals at international competitions. Craig was also head coach of the Welsh national judo team from 2009 - 2015.
Craig is also an active Brazilian jiu jitsu competitor with recent wins at Polaris Pro and medals at NAGA Championships.
Craig is currently the coach for UFC athlete and former Cage Warriors double champion Mason Jones (10-1-1).
ATHLETIC CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
BJJ - Polaris Pro 12 Winner (2019)
BJJ - Polaris Pro 10 Winner (2019)
BJJ - NAGA European Champion (2017)
BJJ - 6 x NAGA Expert Winner (2016-2019)
Judo - Commonwealth Champion (2004 & 2006)
Judo - 5 x European Cup Medalist (2001-2006)
Judo - 1st Matsumae Cup Denmark (2009)
Judo - 2nd Tre-Torri International Italy (2006)
Judo - 5th ‘XXIV Universiade Bangkok’ (2007)
Judo - 5th - XVII Commonwealth Games (2002)
Judo - 7th World Cup Rome (2005)
Judo - 9th – 'XXIV' World Championships (2005)
COACHING CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Judo - Head Coach, Wales (2009-2015).
Judo - XX CWG (2014), WAL first ever Gold in sport of Judo & 4th on medal table.
Judo - Medal winners at European Cups (u18, u21 & Senior Age); medallist at IJF World Cup, Grand Prix & Grand Slam level events.
MMA - Mason Jones (UFC Pro 10-1), Josh Hudson (IMMAF European medalist 2018).
BJJ - Medallists at European Championship level in IBJJF & NAGA. Polaris Pro (Eoghan O'Flanagan 2018).
Josh Hudson
Josh 'Hollywood' Hudson is one of the assistant coaches at the academy.
Sporting an amateur MMA record of 9-4 Josh is the 2018 Bronze Medalist at the IMMAF European MMA Championships & the current Cage Warriors Wales Welterweight Amateur title holder.
Josh’s martial arts background runs deep with both a black belt in Judo & purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Josh has picked up a number of tournament wins outside of MMA, including 1st Place at Blue Belt at the NAGA European Champs; NAGA German Open; NAGA Ireland Open & NAGA British Open.
Mason Jones
Mason 'The Dragon' Jones is a lightweight fighter currently recently signed to the UFC, the Worlds Premier MMA promotion & sports a Professional record of 10-1-1.
This in addition to a Professional boxing record of 3-0 & an extensive record in Judo (Black Belt) & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Brown Belt).
In Judo, Mason was a British Cadet Champion & medalled at the Dutch Open u21 & Commonwealth Senior Championships.
Oli Cole
WRESTLING COACH
Oli Cole brings a wealth of experience to the CEA coaching team having represented Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Games; a multiple time British national medallist, Oli is aiming to represent Wales again at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Ieuan MacKenzie
CHILDRENS CLASSES
Ieuan assists on all of our children’s classes; holding blue belts in both Judo & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Ieuan is also an active MMA competitor; having represented Wales at the 2019 IMMAF European Championships.
Joe Orrey
MMA COACH
With an extensive professional MMA background; Joe brings a wealth of experience to the MMA classes at CEA; Joe is well versed in all areas of MMA & is also one of the head coaches at CEA Barry.