2026-08-15

Alexander at the EK NOGI : Lisbon 2026

A travel diary. Alexander competes at the IBJJF European No-Gi Championship in Lisbon. We are not going to win. We just want to show up.

A travel diary. Alexander competes at the IBJJF European No-Gi Championship in Lisbon. We are not going to win. We just want to show up.

Timeline

Pre: Years of Training in Leuven
2 May 2026 , Top BJJ Kids Visit Brasa Limburg
28 June 2026 , Training at New Art Jiu-Jitsu, Wavre
Summer 2026 , Training at Impact Fight 84, Avignon
15 August 2026 , Training in Almere
17-21 August 2026 , Judo Summer Camp, Herentals
10-11 October 2026, Lisbon , IBJJF European No-Gi Championship

Pre: Years of Training in Leuven

This article documents Alexander's journey to the IBJJF European No-Gi Championship in Lisbon. We are building it as we go, adding chapters along the way: from years of training at home, to preparation camps, to the competition itself. Think of it as a travel diary in real time.

Alexander (11 years old, 36 kg, yellow-black belt in BJJ) trains at Brasa Belgium in Leuven, under the guidance of coach Wim Deputter. Alexander's weekly schedule:

BJJ: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday , 1 hour per session
Judo: Monday and Saturday (sometimes also Thursday)

Top achievements

🥇 Belgian Champion 2024 , Gi, Boys / Yellow / 8-9 yrs / -36 kg
🥇 Belgian Champion 2024 , No Gi, Boys / Yellow / 8-9 yrs / -36 kg
🥇 Lion Cub 4 (April 2025) , Gi, Boys / Yellow / -34 kg
🥈 No Gi Kids 2026 , Boys / Yellow / Juniors / -38.6 kg
🥈 Gi Kids Challenger 2026 , Boys / Feather III / -38.6 kg

On a regular basis, Alexander is also coached by Olympic bronze medalist Ilse Heylen (Wikipedia) and her husband and coach Olivier Berghmans. Ilse won bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Having access to that level of coaching is a privilege.

Judo stage with Ilse Heylen and Olivier Berghmans — *A judo stage with Ilse Heylen and Olivier Berghmans. Alexander is somewhere in that group of keen judoka.*

And this is what a medal AND a loss look like at a real tournament, the Nijmegen Open 2024:

Watch: Alexander at the Nijmegen Open 2024 (YouTube)

Alexander even got to interview Ilse himself. Here it is:

Watch: Alexander interviews Ilse Heylen (YouTube)

Full competition history on Smoothcomp

Along the way, Alexander has trained with some remarkable people. One of the highlights: a Belgian Para Commando (FLY) came to give a special training session at the club. Not your average Saturday class.

Alexander rolling with his brother Andreas on the mats — *The best training partner is a brother who also knows what he is doing.*

Belgian Para Commando giving a BJJ training session to the kids — *A Belgian Para Commando (FLY) facing the line-up. The kids were very attentive.*

Alexander receiving his yellow belt in Judo, Judoclub Leuven 2025 — *Alexander and his eager judo friend receiving their 5th kyu (yellow belt) at Judoclub Leuven. Both of them can't wait to compete in Judo.*

2 May 2026: Top BJJ Kids Visit Brasa Limburg

The Top BJJ kids made a trip to Brasa Limburg for a training day. The BJJ community is small, and connecting with clubs across Belgium is part of what makes the sport special.

Top BJJ kids and Brasa Limburg group photo on the mats — *2 May 2026 , Top BJJ kids visiting Brasa Limburg.*

28 June 2026: Training at New Art Jiu-Jitsu, Wavre

We also trained at the gym of Shai (New Art Jiu-Jitsu) in Wavre , a friend of our regular coach Wim Deputter. The Top BJJ kids came together for a No-Gi session, with strong kids from all over Belgium. Exactly the kind of preparation Alexander needed.

*Top BJJ kids No-Gi training at Shai's gym, Wavre.*

Summer 2026: Training at Impact Fight 84, Avignon

During our summer holiday in France, we drove to Avignon multiple times to train at Impact Fight 84. A great club with a warm welcome. Alexander trained with local kids and was coached by their instructor. A big thank you for the time, the coaching, and the mat space.

Alexander with the kids of Impact Fight 84, Avignon — *Training day at Impact Fight 84, Avignon. Good people, good mats.*

15 August 2026: Training in Almere

Leuven to Almere is 2.5 hours by car. We made the drive to train with the top BJJ kids from Top BJJ at DjoesFit. A strong session with strong kids, exactly the kind of preparation Alexander needed before Lisbon.

While Alexander trained, his mom and brother Andreas went cycling around the island, visiting a WWII bunker. Different kind of workout.

Alexander and kids with coach Joey at DjoesFit Fightclub Almere — *After the session at DjoesFit with coach Joey.*

17-21 August 2026: Judo Summer Camp, Herentals

Alexander joins a week-long judo training camp in Herentals (Monday to Friday), organised by Judo Vlaanderen. He went with his buddy, making it both a training week and a proper adventure. A full week of randori, breakfalls and mat time , not a bad way to sharpen the body and mind before a big competition.

Photos coming soon.

10-11 October 2026: IBJJF European No-Gi Championship, Lisbon

This is it. The IBJJF European Kids No-Gi Championship, held over two days at:

Complexo Municipal Esportivo do Casal Vistoso
R. João da Silva 20
Lisbon, 1900-271
Portugal

To be continued...

Written with assistance from Dobbie, Frederik's AI assistant.