Atlantic Regional Development Camp 2023

Canadian Armed Forces Grappling

(Atlantic Region)

We recently contacted the Atlantic Region Grappling Chief Official and BJJ Black Belt, James Locke to learn more in regards to the recent development camp at 12 Wing BJJ of Shearwater in May of 2023.

We wanted to share the remarkable success of the event and the growth of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu/Grappling within the CAF.  In particular, the sport/art in the Atlantic Canadian region.

The participation from local instructors and clubs with the recent seminar defines our BJJ Community, united and passionate.  

On hand for the seminar were as follows:

Gavin Tucker

- UFC Fighter -

- BJJ Black Belt - 

- Owner Tower 1 MMA -

 Josh Whalen   

- BJJ Black Belt -

- Co-owner/Founder The Halifax BJJ Society -

About the Event

James Locke:

For a long time in the Canadian Armed Forces, combat sports were mostly not authorized. In the last 20 years or so we got down to only Judo and TKD being represented at the international level by the military.

In 2013 we started a grass roots movement in the Army hosting a national Grappling, or military Combative Grappling, in Petawawa Ontario.

Since then we have made huge bounds and in 2020 Grappling was added as an official National sport for the CAF.

CAF Sports breaks Canada down into 4 regions. West, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic.

Prior to enabling a National tournament and the creation of a national rep team, each region must host a Regional Development Camp. This confirms there is enough interest in the Region, and builds the support systems to host larger tournaments.

This was our first CAF Grappling Atlantic Region Development Camp and we included a small tourney.

Next year will be hosted in Gagetown, NB. It will follow a similar format with a large regional tourney as the main event and some Development seminars afterwards (we did the seminars before as the main event).

Once all regions prove the concept, we will be able to have an official national tournament and create a rep team for international competition.

If any serving military are interested, send me a message. 

If any civilians or veterans want to be involved, send me a message.

Thanks for the interest!

In addition to inquiries for the Regional Development Camp, James may be contacted at james.locke@forces.gc.ca for any of the following:

• Club info for any bases across Canada
• Sports Grappling info
• Military Combative Grappling Event in Petawawa, ON

Event Highlights:

CAF BJJ Clubs (Atlantic)

For anyone interested in training at 12 Wing BJJ,  the club is open to the following: serving military members (reservists included); and veterans.  

For anyone outside of the qualifications above, paid memberships are available.

For more information including the club schedule, please see the links below:

For those in the New Brunswick region, please see the following link for additional information: