A massive crowd of more than 1,000 people gathered at Exeter’s Powderham Castle on Sunday to participate in a Brazilian jiu-jitsu training session led by legendary BJJ black belt Braulio Estima. The event, held as part of Bear Grylls’s “Gone Wild Festival,” aimed to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest such training session while also raising awareness and funds for Reorg, a charity that helps military personnel and veterans through the practice of jiu-jitsu.

While the organizers had hoped to see over 2,500 people on the mats to break the world record, the final count of 1,040 participants fell short of the mark. The current official record for the largest Brazilian jiu-jitsu lesson was set by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, with 2,700 participants across multiple venues. A previous record was also set by the UAE with 2,481 participants in a single venue in Abu Dhabi in 2015.

Despite not clinching the world record, Braulio Estima remained optimistic and proud of the turnout. “It’s an amazing achievement,” he said. “It’s not number one in the world… guess what? It’s the number one in Europe.” The event marks a significant milestone for the sport in the UK and Europe, highlighting its growing popularity and the power of its community.

The training session was more than just a record attempt; it was a powerful show of support for a worthy cause. Reorg uses jiu-jitsu to help veterans and service members with physical and mental injuries, providing them with a community and a path to recovery. The participants’ presence on the mats, training alongside each other, underscored the solidarity and shared purpose of the jiu-jitsu community. The event’s success has raised a substantial amount for Reorg and has introduced the sport to a wider audience, promising a bright future for jiu-jitsu in the region.