# Owen Livesey

> British Commonwealth Games judo champion turned BJJ black belt, ADCC veteran, Polaris title winner, and Carlson Gracie Hull coach.

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- **Last updated:** 2026-07-18

## Identity

- **Name:** Owen Livesey
- **Full name:** Owen Livesey
- **Belt:** black belt
- **Team:** Carlson Gracie Hull / Carlson Gracie Team
- **Nationality:** United Kingdom
- **Born:** 1991-08-03
- **Birthplace:** St Helens, Merseyside, England
- **Weight class:** Light heavyweight / heavyweight (Polaris 205 lb; ADCC -99 kg; judo -81 kg)

## Biography

Owen Livesey was born on August 3, 1991, in St Helens, Merseyside, England, and came to grappling through a deeply competitive British judo pathway. Before judo became his focus he played rugby league, including time around the St Helens rugby league system, then developed at SKK Judo Club under coaches including Peter Blood and Luke Preston. He earned his first dan in judo at 16 and later became a 2nd dan black belt, represented Great Britain and England internationally, and built the standing game that would make him one of Europe's most recognizable no-gi takedown specialists.

His peak judo result came at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he won England's -81 kg gold medal. British Judo's report described an all-England final against Tom Reed after Livesey had beaten John Muthee Kirimi, Boas Munyonga, and Jonah Burt on the way through the bracket. He also won senior British Judo Championship titles at half-middleweight and collected international medals before moving more of his competitive energy into submission grappling, catch wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and eventually professional MMA.

Livesey's BJJ and submission-grappling base formed around Carlson Gracie Hull, the academy he owns and coaches. Grappling Insider reported his June 2022 Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt promotion under Carlson Gracie Jr. after a run that included wins over Max Bickerton at Polaris 18, Freddie Vosgrone at Polaris 19, and Michael Pixley at GrappleFest 12, plus a finals appearance at the ADCC European Trials. His style carried the unmistakable stamp of high-level judo: foot sweeps, hip throws, body-lock entries, heavy top control, and a willingness to wrestle through long exchanges rather than concede guard.

The move onto bigger no-gi stages continued quickly. Livesey won the 2022 Snake Pit Catch Wrestling World Championship heavyweight division, entered the 2022 ADCC World Championship at -99 kg on short notice, and then beat ADCC veteran Josh Hinger by decision at Polaris 21. In 2023 he defeated former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman at Polaris 23 and fought Nick Rodriguez to a draw for Team Polaris at QUINTET4. At the 2024 Craig Jones Invitational he beat Mahamed Aly before losing to eventual champion Nick Rodriguez, and FloGrappling's records list his 2025 Polaris 33 submission win over Tommy Langaker by choke at 205 lb. Jits Magazine reported that arm-triangle finish as the victory that earned Livesey a Polaris title.

Alongside competition, Livesey has become a prominent British coaching voice through Carlson Gracie Hull and the Owen Livesey Grappling Academy. Podcast appearances and seminar listings consistently frame him as a bridge between elite judo and modern no-gi grappling, especially for athletes trying to improve wrestling, grip-fighting, and top pressure. His official Instagram, @owenlivesey, reflects that same focus with training clips, wrestling-up sequences, and coaching material tied to his academy work.

## Lineage

Carlos Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Carlson Gracie Jr. > Owen Livesey

## Instructors

- Carlson Gracie Jr.
- Peter Blood
- Luke Preston

## Signature techniques / game

- Foot sweeps
- Body-lock takedowns
- Judo hip throws and trips
- Wrestling up
- Top pressure and guard passing
- Arm-triangle choke
- Rolling Mizzou

## Major achievements

- Polaris 205 lb title winner (2025) - submitted Tommy Langaker by arm-triangle choke at Polaris 33
- 1st Place Commonwealth Games judo - men's -81 kg (2014, representing England)
- 1st Place Snake Pit Catch Wrestling World Championship - heavyweight / -100 kg (2022)
- ADCC World Championship competitor -99 kg (2022)
- 2nd Place ADCC European Trials (2022)
- Craig Jones Invitational 2024 heavyweight quarterfinalist - defeated Mahamed Aly by decision
- Polaris 23 superfight winner vs. Chris Weidman (2023)
- Polaris 21 superfight winner vs. Josh Hinger (2022)
- GrappleFest 12 winner vs. Michael Pixley (2022)
- Polaris wins over Max Bickerton and Freddie Vosgrone (2021-2022)
- British Judo Championships senior half-middleweight champion (2013, 2014, 2017)
- Professional MMA debut winner by first-round TKO vs. Liam Gregory (2021)

## Colored belt highlights

- Promoted to BJJ black belt by Carlson Gracie Jr. in June 2022 after success on Polaris, GrappleFest, and the ADCC European Trials circuit
- 1st Place Arnold UK No-Gi Invitational (2021)
- 1st Place Manchester BJJ247 Open (2020)

## Official / social links

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/owenlivesey/
- Website: https://www.owenliveseygrapplingacademy.co.uk/

## Sources

- [BJJ Heroes - ADCC 99KG division preview](https://www.bjjheroes.com/editorial/all-you-need-to-know-about-adcc-99kg-division)
- [BJJ Heroes - Polaris 21 results](https://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-news/polaris-21-results-hue-livesey-mathiesen-nicolini-robson-and-more-victorious-in-sardinia)
- [BJJ Heroes - Polaris 23 results](https://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-news/polaris-23-grand-prix-results)
- [FloGrappling - Owen Livesey](https://www.flograppling.com/people/6810496-owen-livesey)
- [Instagram - Owen Livesey](https://www.instagram.com/owenlivesey/)
- [Grappling Insider - Owen Livesey promoted to BJJ black belt](https://grapplinginsider.com/owen-livesey-promoted-to-bjj-black-belt/)
- [British Judo - 2014 Commonwealth Games report](https://www.britishjudo.org.uk/golden-day-for-england-while-scottish-veteran-clark-takes-swansong-commonwealth-games-title/)
- [Jits Magazine - Polaris 33 results](https://jitsmagazine.com/polaris-33-south-america-vs-asia-oceania-full-results-and-highlights/)
- [JudoInside - Owen Livesey](https://www.judoinside.com/judoka/46180/Owen_Livesey/judo-photos)
- [IJF - Owen Livesey pictures](https://www.ijf.org/judoka/1115/pictures)

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