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Conrad Roberts

Conrad Roberts led his academy’s move from Gracie Barra to independent Summit, seeking broader training opportunities.

Biography

Conrad Roberts founded Summit Grappling Academy and serves as its head coach. The school dates his Brazilian jiu-jitsu training to 2015 and identifies preparing competitors as his particular responsibility. The academy opened as Gracie Barra Isle of Man in 2018. In November 2022, Roberts accompanied the squad to Rome. Describing camps he devised for the competitors, he credited Mark Franklin, Callum Perry and Rob Matthews for their coaching contributions, alongside Dan Bonett’s strength and conditioning programming and Gianni Fabrizio’s nutrition input. In February 2024, discussing the academy’s independence as Summit, Roberts acknowledged what the Gracie Barra network had helped it achieve. He wanted greater flexibility to broaden the grappling disciplines available and offer more training opportunities. Summit’s own program description assesses students through attitude, understanding and regular attendance, recognizing that people progress at different rates. In an April 2024 Manx Radio report, Roberts and Hayley Curtis linked the academy’s competition progress to its community spirit and social environment. The school was then preparing for the British Open and inviting adults and juniors to trial sessions. The academy’s development also became a project with a training partner. According to DotPerformance’s written production account, Roberts approached longtime friend Andy Orton about making a school film. The resulting documentary followed Summit from a garage group to a purpose-built academy and accompanied its team at the British Open. In his 2026 UKBJJA candidacy statement, Roberts described himself as the Isle of Man’s first BJJ competitor and first black belt. A former Special Branch detective, he connected that work with his approach to governance and safeguarding. His proposed priorities included clear standards, routes for developing athletes, mentoring for coaches, local events and access for people of different ages and backgrounds. The association announced his election as its Isle of Man councillor in June 2026.

Sources for this profile

  • UKBJJA, 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • In his 2026 UKBJJA statement, Roberts traced Summit to his garage and described himself as the island’s first BJJ competitor and black belt. A former Special Branch detective, he connected that work with governance and safeguarding. His priorities were standards, athlete pathways, coach mentoring, local events and wider access.

      Where in the source: Candidate statement.

      Accessed:

  • Summit Grappling Academy.(opens in a new tab)

    • Summit names Roberts its founder, head coach and black belt, dating his BJJ start to 2015. He leads its competition programme. The school assesses attitude, understanding and regular attendance, allowing different progress rates.

      Where in the source: Coaching.

      Accessed:

  • Isle of Man Today, 2022.(opens in a new tab)

    • In November 2022, Roberts accompanied his squad to Rome and described competition camps he devised. He credited coaches Mark Franklin, Callum Perry and Rob Matthews, strength-and-conditioning work by Dan Bonett, and nutrition input from Gianni Fabrizio.

      Where in the source: Roberts’s comments.

      Accessed:

  • Isle of Man Today, 2024.(opens in a new tab)

    • The academy opened as Gracie Barra Isle of Man in 2018. Discussing its 2024 independence as Summit, owner and head coach Roberts appreciated the network’s earlier help while seeking flexibility to broaden grappling disciplines and training opportunities.

      Where in the source: Roberts.

      Accessed:

  • Manx Radio, April 2024.(opens in a new tab)

    • In April 2024, head coach Roberts and Hayley Curtis linked Summit’s competition progress with community spirit and its social environment, as the academy prepared for the British Open and offered junior and adult trial sessions.

      Where in the source: Academy.

      Accessed:

  • DotPerformance.(opens in a new tab)

    • DotPerformance’s written production account says Roberts approached longtime friend and training partner Andy Orton about an academy film. It became a documentary following Summit’s development from a garage group to a purpose-built academy and its team at the British Open.

      Where in the source: Film account.

      Accessed:

  • UKBJJA, June 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • UKBJJA announced Roberts’s election as Isle of Man councillor in June 2026.

      Where in the source: Council results.

      Accessed:

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Open lineage