# ICON Jiu Jitsu > Watford, United Kingdom ## Overview **Name:** ICON Jiu Jitsu **Description:** ICON Jiu Jitsu Team has been training in Watford since 2010, providing world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction in a safe and relaxed environment. The academy is led by Professor Ze Marcello, a 6th Degree Black Belt under Sergio "Bolao" Souza and one of the highest ranked practitioners teaching in the UK. Ze has been teaching in the UK since 2002 after a successful professional competition career, winning tournaments across the world. The training philosophy at ICON Watford emphasizes effective technique, using balance, leverage, and timing to control and submit opponents regardless of size or strength. Whether training for competition, fitness, self-defense, or personal development, students benefit from decades of combined instructor experience and are part of a global Jiu-Jitsu family spanning UK, Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Algeria, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and USA. The coaching team includes Black Belt instructors Adriano Silva (3rd Degree), Rich Harris (1st Degree), and Marcus Lopes de Souza, along with Brown Belt instructor Leo Lopes de Souza. The academy welcomes all skill levels and spars every session, allowing techniques to be practiced against fully resisting opponents in a controlled, safe environment. Located at Anytime Fitness in Croxley Park, the academy provides a friendly atmosphere where beginners are always welcome. **Status:** Active ## Contact Information **Address:** Anytime Fitness - Croxley Park, Hatters Lane Watford WD18 8YR, United Kingdom **Phone:** 07810828052 **Email:** zemarcello@me.com **Website:** https://watfordbjj.co.uk/ **Social Media:** - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iconwatford/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iconwatford ## Hours of Operation - Monday: 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM - Tuesday: 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM - Wednesday: 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM - Thursday: 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM - Friday: 6:45 PM - 8:30 PM - Saturday: Closed - Sunday: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ## Pricing ### Monthly Membership - Adult: £90/month ## Instructors ### Zé Marcello - Black **Role:** Head Instructor **Bio:** José Marcello was born on March 17, 1971, in Niterói, a city located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. A physical person by nature, Marcello was very active while growing up practicing and competing in an array of sports such as volleyball, football (soccer), handball, athletics, snowboarding, and surfing, being particularly successful in the latter at a regional level. Not content with his busy sporting schedule, at the age of 12, Zé Marcello added karate to his weekly activities, another sport in which he competed extensively for the best part of 7 years. Jiu-Jitsu appeared in Marcello’s life by way of his surfing lifestyle. In December 1991, 20-year-old José started working at the Redley surf shop in Niterói. Coincidentally, two of his work buddies, “Marcão” and “Cicinho”, were avid BJJ practitioners and it was by their influence that Zé formally initiated his grappling journey in January 1992 at a local gym. Immediately drawn to jiu-jitsu, after just two months of training Zé Marcello entered his first inter-club tournament where he submitted a heavier blue belt, further cementing his love for the mats. From then, competing became a regular occurrence for José, who was particularly active in the local Liga Niteroiense de Jiu-Jitsu (LINJJI). A natural talent, Marcello earned his blue belt in just 6 months from coach Luiz Paulo, an instructor with whom José worked up until his brown belt. The Niterói native would later go on to train with one of Rio de Janeiro’s legendary black belts, Sérgio “Bolão” from whom he earned his black belt in December of 1997, in a ceremony led by the late Carlson Gracie . HELPING DEVELOP JIU-JITSU IN EUROPE Zé Marcello is recognized in Europe as one of the pioneers for jiu-jitsu, a work he started back in 1998. That year Marcello taught his first workshop in Biarritz (France) after an invitation from his student, Yannick Beven. After that initial contact with the Old Continent, Marcello started visiting and touring across several other European Countries teaching jiu-jitsu for a few months out of every year. While maintaining his yearly European tour, in 2006 Zé Marcello moved to England where he started a network of jiu-jitsu academies, beginning in Slough and Milton Keynes, areas and later spreading to Watford, Luton, Peterborough, Norwick, Eastbourne, and even venturing to Northern Ireland (Belfast). In 2012 José was able to combine two of his favorite activities, jiu-jitsu, and surfing after he received an invitation to lead a jiu-jitsu academy inside one of the biggest surf-shops in Europe, Quiksilver Boardriders. A business located in one of the most important surf spots in Europe, Ericeira in Portugal. The Brazilian coach remained on the Portuguese coast for two years, setting the groundwork for his affiliate before returning to the UK. THE CREATION OF ICON BJJ A name that is strongly linked with the Zé Marcello brand is Team Icon Jiu-Jitsu, a workgroup that is well recognized on European soil with over 100 affiliated gyms. The team was created in 2010 by Zé Marcello and his students Anderson Pereira, Alexandre Izidro, Jean Pierre, Berilo Junior as well as Marcello’s longtime friend Sérgio Vita. This flag was raised with the intention of having all these coaches’ students competing under the same shield, much like the instructors had competed for the same team back in Brazil. ### Adriano Silva - Black **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Adriano Silva was born on the 17th of August, 1978 in the town of Marília, State of Sao Paulo – Brazil. He started training Jiu Jitsu in 1996 when he was 16 years old in the town of Garça where his family lived. He did not know what BJJ was at the time, but he decided to give it a go after an invitation was issued by a close friend. His first coach was professor Garcia, a Marcelo Behring student. His tuition under Garcia was short as the coach moved to Rio de Janeiro (where he was originally from). Adriano then sought out a different master and he found it in Helio Oshiwa. Adriano Silva continued training with Mr Oshiwa until 1999. He was a blue belt by then, but he went to the state capital Sao Paulo to study (Adriano is a bachelor in Sports Science) and ended joining the Octavio de Almeida Junior team, one of the oldest Jiu Jitsu academies in the state. It was Octavio de Almeida who awarded Adriano his black belt in 2003. He would later join the Barbosinha, a team led by Marco Barbosa and one of the strongest organizations in Brazil. Adriano Silva vs Regis Lebri (Final of the Masters 2008) Adriano Silva vs Juarez (World Cup CBJJE 2010) Adriano Silva vs Chico Mendes ### Marcus Lopes de Souza - Black **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt ### Rich Harris - Black **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** 1st Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt ### Leo Lopes de Souza - Brown **Role:** Assistant **Bio:** Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt ## Programs ### Gi Training **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** Gi required **Description:** Traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training in kimono (gi), focusing on technique, leverage, and control **Classes:** ### No-Gi Training **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Grappling without the gi in shorts and t-shirt, similar to MMA training, emphasizing wrestling and submission techniques **Classes:** --- **Last Updated:** March 01, 2026 **Data Source:** BJJ.Space (https://bjj.space/gyms/united-kingdom/england/watford/icon-jiu-jitsu)