David Onuma

Born on September 25, 1967, in England, David Onuma discovered martial arts early and pursued them with singular focus. His first discipline was Kickboxing, introduced to him by his older brother during his pre-teens — a formative encounter that ignited a lifelong commitment to combat sports. Shortly after, he incorporated Wing Chun into his training, revealing a cross-training instinct that would come to define his entire career. By 1988, he had reached instructor level in both disciplines, establishing early on a pattern of pursuing genuine mastery rather than surface-level familiarity across multiple arts.

Onuma's martial education expanded under some of the most respected figures in the global combat sports community. He studied Filipino Martial Arts and Jeet Kune Do under the legendary Dan Inosanto, earning instructor credentials in both by 1999. A year prior, in 1998, he had already achieved instructor status in the Integrated Arts System under Terry Barnett, underscoring the breadth and pace of his development.

Subsequent years brought further certifications across complementary disciplines. In 2004, Onuma completed Combat Submission Wrestling (CSW) instructor training under Erik Paulson and was appointed United Kingdom representative for the system — a role that extended Paulson's American grappling methodology into Britain. In 2005, he added Maphilindo Silat instructor credentials under Dan Inosanto, and by 2008 had attained 3rd Degree Black Belt and full instructor status under the renowned Bob Breen.

Taken together, these certifications across striking arts, grappling systems, and weapons-based disciplines place Onuma among the most broadly credentialed martial artists in the United Kingdom.

David Onuma's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lineage traces through one of the art's most influential figures, forming the chain: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Ricardo De La Riva > David Onuma. His path to that lineage was gradual, shaped by study under several distinguished instructors across more than a decade of dedicated practice.

From Blue to Brown Belt

Onuma began his BJJ journey in 1998 under John Machado, receiving his blue belt from the Machado Brothers in 1999. He continued his development at the Alliance academy in London under Roger Brooking, earning his purple belt in 2005 from the Jacaré black belt. His brown belt was awarded personally by Ricardo Vieira — a meaningful recognition from a decorated competitor and instructor.

Black Belt and Rank Progression

In 2010, Onuma's black belt was conferred by Thiago Borges, acting on commission from Rodrigo Cabral. His progression continued steadily from there, culminating in promotion to 2nd Degree and then 3rd Degree Black Belt on October 5, 2018, by Mestre Ricardo De La Riva. The arc from black belt to 3rd degree spans nearly a decade of competitive achievement, instructional contribution, and service to the sport in the United Kingdom — a progression that reflects sustained excellence rather than mere longevity.

Across a competitive career spanning a full decade, David Onuma accumulated seven IBJJF European Championship titles — a record that speaks to his consistency, adaptability, and technical refinement at the highest levels of the sport.

Building a Championship Record Across Belt Levels

His European Championship journey began in 2008 with a title at purple belt in the Senior division. He followed with back-to-back European gold in 2009 and 2010 at brown belt in the Senior 2 division, demonstrating that his competitive excellence transcended any single belt level or age category. Transitioning to black belt competition, Onuma returned to the top of the podium with European titles in 2013 and 2014, then extended his championship run with further victories in 2016 and 2018. Onuma competes in the Peso Médio (82kg/181lbs) division.

The 2018 Milestone

The 2018 European title carries particular weight — it coincided with his promotion to 3rd Degree Black Belt by Ricardo De La Riva, making it a landmark year both competitively and in terms of rank recognition. The span from his first title in 2008 to his seventh in 2018 illustrates a rare competitive arc: a practitioner who succeeded across multiple belt levels and maintained championship-caliber performance deep into his black belt years, competing against progressively younger fields while continuing to earn gold.

Onuma operates under the banner of Combined Fighting Systems, an academy name that directly mirrors his personal martial arts philosophy. The name is deliberate — it reflects the integration of striking arts, grappling systems, and weapons-based disciplines, unified under a single instructional roof.

To his students, Onuma brings instructor-level credentials in Jeet Kune Do, Kickboxing, Maphilindo Silat, Combat Submission Wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, alongside his role as UK representative for Erik Paulson's CSW system. This combination of certifications gives Combined Fighting Systems a genuinely cross-disciplinary character that remains rare in the British martial arts landscape.

Known by the nickname 'Malandro' — a Portuguese term associated with cunning, cleverness, and artful skill — Onuma embodies the spirit of a practitioner who has spent decades not merely collecting credentials, but synthesizing them into a coherent and effective fighting philosophy.