Day one, the owner
Reiss teaches the Beginners classes himself, so you learn the basics properly from the very first session.
Your coaches
In your corner, every week.
Walking into your first class is nerve-racking. The person at the front of the room makes all the difference. At New School you learn from two world champions who still remember being the newest person on the mat, and who are there teaching you, every week.
2×IBJJF World Masters champion: Reiss
2023AJP World Pro champion: Leo
7/7Days a week on the mats
Owner & coach · Black belt
Reiss Bailey
“Jiu-jitsu is more than just a martial art. It's a transformative journey that teaches discipline, resilience and valuable life lessons.”
Reiss opened New School on Brixton Hill in November 2022 with one idea: build a gym where a nervous first-timer and a world-level competitor feel equally at home. He still teaches the Beginners classes himself, so the coach who welcomes you on day one is the owner.
He knows what it takes to keep showing up. He won his first world title as a brown belt, was promoted to black belt in front of the whole team in December 2024, then went back to the World Masters and won it again, at black belt. What he teaches you has been tested where it matters most.
- 2026IBJJF World MastersBlack belt, Master 2Gold
- 2025English OpenTeam title, New School BJJ BrixtonTeam champions
- 2024IBJJF World MastersBrown belt, Master 1Gold
- 2024IBJJF BrasileirosBrown belt, Master 1Gold
Head coach · Black belt
Leo Neves
Leo stepped onto the mats in Brazil at four years old and never really stepped off.
Jiu-jitsu has been his whole life. In 2023 he became AJP World Pro champion at brown belt in Abu Dhabi. He earned his black belt in 2024. In 2025 he moved to London and made New School his home, and in 2026 he took gold at black belt at the AJP Grand Slam in Moscow.
Now he leads our 7am Fundamentals and weekday Advanced classes. He's at his best breaking big moves into small details you can actually use, whether it's your first month or your tenth year.
- 2026AJP Grand Slam MoscowBlack belt, pro 69kgGold
- 2025–26IBJJF International OpensBlack belt, adult feather (London, Lisbon, Paris)Gold ×5
- 2023AJP Abu Dhabi World ProWorld Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, brown beltChampion
- 2022IBJJF Brasileiros (Brazilian Nationals)Purple belt, adult light featherGold
- 2019IBJJF Pan & European ChampionshipsJuvenile blue belt (European again in 2020)Gold
What it means for youChampions
Champions
who teach.
Plenty of great competitors can't teach. Ours are on the mats every week because they love helping you get better.
Tested at the top
What you're shown has worked against the best in the world, then broken down so it works for you.
In your corner
Gradings, your first competition, the tough weeks: your coaches are there for all of it.
Classes are also taught by our coaches Bernardo (kids and No-Gi) and Olly (No-Gi), who'll make you just as welcome from your very first session.
Your first class
Train with
Train with
champions.
Adults: a month of unlimited classes for £20. Kids: the first class is on us.