Sam Crook

Sam Michael Crook began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu career at Fightworx Academy in Torquay, training under Darren Yeoman. The southwest England gym laid the foundation for a decorated competitive career, with Crook demonstrating early international ambition by competing at the European Championship at purple belt in 2014.

In 2016, Crook relocated to London and joined Fightzone London — a move that sharpened his technical edge and elevated his competitive output. His training also extended to Checkmat, broadening his tactical repertoire and deepening his competitive network. That investment in development culminated in November 2018, when Marco Canha and Ricardo Vieira promoted him to black belt — a recognition of both his technical mastery and years of sustained competitive commitment.

On the domestic scene, Crook established himself as one of England's most consistent performers, accumulating ten British Championship titles across his career. That record speaks not to a single peak, but to a sustained dominance that defines elite-level competitors.

Beyond the mats, Crook pursued an academic path that sets him apart among elite BJJ practitioners. He studied physiotherapy at Brunel University, graduating with first-class honors — a rigorous qualification built on a deep understanding of human movement, injury mechanics, and rehabilitation science.

That academic grounding shapes his approach to the sport in meaningful ways. Where many competitors develop a feel for body mechanics through repetition alone, Crook brings a structured, evidence-informed perspective to how he trains, teaches, and manages his physical preparation. The combination of elite competition experience and formal sports science education is rare in BJJ, positioning him as a coach with both experiential depth and theoretical authority.

One of the most distinctive chapters in Crook's career unfolded far from the competition circuit. He traveled to Cameroon to work with the Francis Ngannou Foundation, coaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to underprivileged children in a country with limited exposure to the sport.

Teaching Through Martial Arts

His immediate focus centered on delivering practical skills and using martial arts as a vehicle for inspiration and personal development. The broader ambition, however, reached further — to grow the profile of both BJJ and MMA in Cameroon and lay the groundwork for producing high-level fighters from the region.

A Pattern of Humanitarian Involvement

The Cameroon chapter fit within a larger pattern of humanitarian engagement across Africa. Crook first traveled to Ghana in 2009, and later undertook volunteer work in Tanzania with Raleigh International. His time with the Francis Ngannou Foundation represented the most sustained of these commitments — a planned year in Cameroon that combined his passion for martial arts with a genuine drive to serve underserved communities.

Crook has since concluded his role with the Francis Ngannou Foundation, with his time in Cameroon standing as a defining chapter in a career never measured by competition results alone.

Following his work in Cameroon, Crook returned to the United Kingdom and took on the role of Head Coach at Flo Martial Arts in Plymouth. The position marks a new phase in his career — one focused on building and leading a BJJ program at a regional level within England.

The transition from international humanitarian coaching to a structured head coaching role reflects a consistent thread running through Crook's post-black belt career: a commitment to developing the sport and the people within it. At Flo Martial Arts, his competition pedigree, physiotherapy background, and international coaching experience converge in service of a growing Plymouth BJJ community.