TYNE VALLEY MARTIAL ARTS – REAL MARTIAL ARTS IN BELLINGHAM
Tyne Valley Martial Arts (TVMA) brings to the North Tynedale areas that cover Bellingham, Hexham, Kielder, Greenhaugh, Wark, Otterburn, Woodburn, Risdale and the other surrounding villages, a martial arts style which is the perfect blend of both traditional martial arts values that promote respect, discipline and personal fortitude with more modern combat sports practice that concentrates on fight effectiveness, competition and both physical and mental fitness.
Tyne Valley Martial Arts (TVMA) has three martial arts at it’s core:
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) – Often known as Gracie Jiu Jitsu, BJJ is a complex grappling system utilising take downs, pins, holds, chokes and joint locks. The sport side of BJJ has made it the fastest growing combat sport in the world today, however its value as a street defence system also should not be underestimated.
Muay Thai Boxing – A form of kickboxing from Thailand. Known for it’s brutal effectiveness, Muay Thai uses heavy kicks, knees, elbows and punches to combine into a powerful combat sports system.
Boxing – Whilst often not thought of as a martial art, the sweet science of pugilism is a must learn skill for any modern combat athlete. TVMA combines Western Pro boxing style as widely known in the UK with Eastern Chinese Boxing that utilises techniques long since made illegal in the sport famous in the West. Learning both sides of the Boxing coin gives the practitioner an advantageous skill set when facing opponents in sports or the street.
Our History
TVMA was founded by Alex Wright in 2019 after he moved house up to Bellingham from Gateshead on the basis of needing somewhere to train. Originally Alex joined with the local Muay Thai group ran by Rob Campbell but soon helped expand the group to include more boxing and Jiu Jitsu.
Bringing a wealth of knowledge from over 30 years of training and competing in various combat sports, Alex is also a well known figure in the martial arts world being affiliated with internationally known fight sports brand REVGEAR.
Alex held a Purple belt when he started the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes in Bellingham town hall but received his brown belt not long afterwards from International competitor, professor Angel Lopez.
Angel was travelling to compete in the now infamous Rollar BJJ Tournament in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Alex and Angel were already connected via Alex’s work with International Martial Arts brand REVGEAR, so the two had taken the opportunity to physically meet and then as all BJJ guys do trained together daily up until the tournament a week later. On the final day Angel spent in Newcastle he took the class and at the end of it awarded Alex his brown belt.
The rapidly expanding BJJ group in Bellingham later joined HALO Jiu Jitsu association and expanded to also include a kids program. After a couple of years as TVMA, the group decided the interest in Jiu Jitsu was so strong in the area that it made sense to fully convert to being HALO UK.
In 2023 Alex received his Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from Professor Lopez, fulfilling a lifelong ambition as well as giving the club its first legitimate black belt teacher.
The Bellingham based TVMA has had some esteemed visitors including 6th Dan Crezio De Souza, Jiu Jitsu champion Eli Braz, Robson Gracie, top UK competitor and black belt Liam Cann and of course our professor Angel Lopez.
The group has expanded to include local Kickboxing coach Jeff Lee who now runs a bustling stand up
Team on a Monday night.
Tyne Valley Martial Arts 
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