Tucked away on Brighton’s St James’s Street is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym where empowerment and community collide.
Elements Martial Arts was founded by Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and head coach Yousuf, who has impressive credentials that include 19 years’ competitive grappling and 17 years’ teaching experience. He is also a multiple times national champion and European gold at black belt. Needless to say, members are in safe hands.
We caught up with Yousuf to find out more about his inspiring story. “I actually started quite late in life,” Yousuf explains. “I was never good at sports as a kid, but I wanted to be. Then in my twenties, my wife was pregnant with our daughter, and I had this sudden urgency to get fit, be stronger and know how to protect myself.”
His first brush with martial arts was through MMA, but it was a rough start. “In my first class, someone dislocated their shoulder. I thought, I can’t do this. If I get injured, I can’t work.” But fate had other plans. After reading an article in a local magazine, he was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) – a discipline that relies on grappling, leverage and technique rather than striking.
“It just clicked,” he recalls. “There was this one moment in class when the coach gave me a compliment and I thought maybe I can do this. It felt like a game, like playing chess with my body. It challenged me mentally and physically in a way nothing else had.”
Soon, training became a core part of his life. “It helped me build confidence, stay fit, and it massively supported my mental health,” he says. “You can’t think about anything else when someone’s trying to strangle you, in a good way! It forces you into the moment. That’s why so many people say it’s like therapy.”
Elements officially opened its doors in 2012, starting in Hove before relocating to Brighton. But Yousuf’s vision wasn’t just about teaching techniques, it was about cultivating a sense of belonging. “I always struggled to feel connected growing up,” he says. “So, when I started the gym, I knew I wanted everyone who walked in to feel welcomed. That sense of inclusivity was non-negotiable.”
While many martial arts gyms can feel intimidating to newcomers, Elements prides itself on being accessible. From the branding to the atmosphere, every detail is designed to encourage people of all backgrounds to walk through the door and feel like they belong. “We don’t have a shopfront,” Yousuf says, “so, our website and Instagram are our windows to the world. We’re constantly trying to show the real, human side of the gym because we are just people, doing something we love, together.”
One of the most distinctive aspects of Elements is its dedication to families, particularly kids. Yousuf introduced children’s classes in 2012, inspired by his own children, who began training at just four and five years old. “They weren’t world champions or anything, but they enjoyed it, and that was the point. I never pushed them. But I watched as their confidence grew, especially my daughter’s. It helped her in school, in social settings, everywhere,” he says.
Elements offers kids’ classes in Brighton on Wednesdays and Sundays, and in Haywards Heath on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Classes are grouped by age (five to eight years and nine to teen), and older teens often transition into the adult classes, allowing for long-term progression.
Kids’ memberships start at £49/month, with an unlimited training option at £79. “It’s about commitment,” Yousuf says. “Pay-as-you-go doesn’t give kids that same sense of routine and responsibility.”
One of the gym’s newest and most heartwarming developments is the introduction of mixed parent-and-child classes. “It started almost by accident,” Yousuf explains. “Some of the parents who train with us were sitting on the sidelines while their kids were in class.
One of our coaches said, why not just let them join in? And it worked!” Held on Sunday mornings in Brighton, these sessions offer a unique bonding experience for families. “It’s not just about fitness, it’s about sharing something, building trust and having fun together. For some families, it’s their first shared hobby.”
Beyond the family focus, Elements offers over 20 beginner-focused classes every week across both sites, with sessions running in the morning, afternoon and evening.
For Elements members, the goal isn’t just to train as fighters. It’s to be part of a connected community, one joint lock at a time. At the end of the day, it’s not about who’s toughest, It’s about showing up, learning something new and feeling like you’re part of something.
