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Samantha Lea Cook

“Sam”

Source: bjjheroes.com

British black belt Sam Cook pairs major international results with coaching and co-founding Royal Jiu Jitsu.

Biography

Samantha Lea Cook—also known as Sam Cook and presented by Royal Jiu Jitsu as Samantha Cook-Hill—is a British Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who has paired major competition results with academy leadership. Born in 1987 in Kingswood, near Bristol, Cook received her black belt from Marco Canha in June 2017. Her competitive record spans both sides of that promotion. The UKBJJA lists her as an IBJJF no-gi world champion at brown belt and, at black belt, the 2019 IBJJF European champion and a two-time IBJJF World medalist. It also credits her with winning the ADCC European Trials. Cook's work later expanded from competing into building a place to teach. In 2022, she and Bradley Hill co-founded Royal Jiu Jitsu. The academy lists Samantha Cook-Hill as a director and coach, while a 2025 UKBJJA instructor profile described her as Royal Jiu Jitsu Birmingham's head coach and still active as both a coach and competitor. Competition remains part of her story; Royal Jiu Jitsu places coaching beside it.

Sources for this profile

  • BJJ Heroes, Samantha Cook, accessed 8 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • Samantha Lea Cook is also known as Sam Cook.

      Where in the source: Samantha Cook — Full Name; Nickname: ‘Sam’

      Accessed:

    • Marco Canha promoted the British competitor to Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in June 2017.

      Where in the source: Biography — promotion by Canha during June 2017

      Accessed:

    • Cook was born in 1987 in Kingswood near Bristol, England.

      Where in the source: Biography opening — born ... 1987 in Kingswood

      Accessed:

  • Royal Jiu Jitsu, Meet the Team, accessed 8 September 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • Under the name Samantha Cook-Hill, she is a director and coach at Royal Jiu Jitsu, which she co-founded with Bradley Hill in 2022.

      Where in the source: Samantha Cook-Hill — Director and Coach; co-founded ... 2022

      Accessed:

  • UKBJJA, International Women's Day BJJ Event 2025, 19 February 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • In a 2025 instructor profile, the UKBJJA described Cook as Royal Jiu Jitsu Birmingham's head coach and an active coach and competitor.

      Where in the source: Samantha Cook — head coach at Royal Jiu Jitsu Birmingham

      Accessed:

    • The UKBJJA profile lists Cook as the 2019 IBJJF European champion, an ADCC European Trials winner, a two-time black-belt IBJJF World medalist and an IBJJF no-gi world champion at brown belt.

      Where in the source: Career Highlights — European Champion; ADCC European Trials Winner

      Accessed:

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