Twenty-two years a Royal Marines Commando, he served in every Commando Unit and every environment, from Arctic to jungle to desert, and became the first serving Royal Marine to earn a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt. While still serving, he founded REORG, a charity that uses BJJ to support military, emergency services and veterans through recovery and transition.
Sam first came across Buffalo in 1999, on a member of his training team, long before he knew it as 'warmers kit', or the 'Kabul pashmina'. Below, he talks about wet and dry routine, the first time a dry Buffalo shirt met a very wet patrol, and how he got BJJ recognised as an official Corps sport.
Where did you serve in the military?
During my 22 year career I was fortunate enough to travel the world and serve in all environments from Arctic, Jungle and Desert.
During my 22 year career I was fortunate enough to travel the world and serve in all environments from Arctic, Jungle and Desert.
What did you do?
I was a Royal Marines Commando and specialised as a Physical Training Instructor. I had the privilege of serving in every Commando Unit during my career.
I was a Royal Marines Commando and specialised as a Physical Training Instructor. I had the privilege of serving in every Commando Unit during my career.
How old were you when you signed up?
19.
19.
When did you first hear about Buffalo?
One of my training team had one in Commando Training, 1999.
One of my training team had one in Commando Training, 1999.
Tell us about how the military refer to it?
Warmers Kit. I have also heard it referred to as a 'Kabul pashmina'.
Warmers Kit. I have also heard it referred to as a 'Kabul pashmina'.
Why is Buffalo so unique?
Certainly when I bought mine, there was simply nothing else like it, the water resistant outer and the fleece lining, with the zips on the sides for ease of getting on and off.
Certainly when I bought mine, there was simply nothing else like it, the water resistant outer and the fleece lining, with the zips on the sides for ease of getting on and off.
How important is kit for a soldier?
And any Buffalo stories you could share?
Yes absolutely! Firstly "Kit" to a soldier is everything, it's your lifeline not just to the operational success of your mission but to survival! Without the correct kit in the environments we operate in things can go wrong very quickly.
Yes absolutely! Firstly "Kit" to a soldier is everything, it's your lifeline not just to the operational success of your mission but to survival! Without the correct kit in the environments we operate in things can go wrong very quickly.
I have many experiences but the one that is at the forefront of my mind is probably my first! For all those who have served in the military and more specifically in the field, everyone has their own memories of wet and dry routine! This is what's taught and ingrained from a very young age. The kit you patrol in will inevitably get wet, this is known as your wet kit, and when you get back from a patrol and administrate yourself, you get your head down in your slug (sleep in sleeping bag).
Then you must take your wet kit off completely and don your dry kit that's packed away in your bergan. When you get out of your slug and go back on patrol or on sentry duty the nice warm dry kit comes off and you put back on the cold, gritty, wet kit.
This in itself is like a Commando Test but it's just bread and butter stuff as a soldier. Now my first outing in the field with my new Buffalo Shirt, I returned to the harbour position after a patrol, it's winter, raining, we are all completely drenched from sweat and the elements. After stripping out of the horrible cold, wet, gritty kit, I pulled my canoe bag from my bergan containing my sealed waterproofed Buffalo, as I slipped it on over my head the feeling of the warm fleece material on my torso is simply indescribable, and brings instant relief and happiness.
In the most extreme situations the smallest of acts can bring the deepest rewards.
How much flexibility do you have to choose your own pieces?
Once passed out of training, you have lots of flexibility, as long as it's green or black then it's generally good to go but it can be Unit specific.
Once passed out of training, you have lots of flexibility, as long as it's green or black then it's generally good to go but it can be Unit specific.
How do you pay for extra kit?
Comes out of your own pocket, everyone gets issued kit but we all prefer to get our own personal kit that will ultimately improve our quality of life whilst in the field.
Comes out of your own pocket, everyone gets issued kit but we all prefer to get our own personal kit that will ultimately improve our quality of life whilst in the field.
Any suggestions for us at Buffalo HQ?
Having not visited I wouldn't know but would love to visit one day and would absolutely offer some advice to help and support.
Having not visited I wouldn't know but would love to visit one day and would absolutely offer some advice to help and support.
You are the first serving black belt in the Royal Marines?
Yes, that's correct.
Yes, that's correct.
What is Royal Marines BJJ?
BJJ is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a ground-based fighting system. A series of techniques, developed so a smaller weaker person can defeat a bigger stronger aggressor through superior knowledge and technique. I discovered BJJ in 2004 whilst serving in the Royal Marines on a Close Combat Instructors Course at the Commando Training Centre.
On behalf of all the team at Buffalo Systems and our community, thank you Sam for sharing your story. It's inspirational.
I quickly realised that all Royal Marines needed this Art, not just from an operational standpoint but from the physical and psychological benefits that came with it. I took on the task of attempting to get BJJ recognised as an official Corps Sport, after many obstacles and challenges I eventually received permission from the Deputy Commandant General of the Royal Marines to run BJJ as a trial sport for 12 months. In 12 months it grew to the most popular sport in the Corps, more Royal Marines doing BJJ than any other sport across the Commando Units.
I finished as the Head of Close Combat and was awarded my Black Belt in 2019. I now use the experience and knowledge I gained to help the men and women of our Military, Emergency Services and Veteran community by introducing them to Jiu Jitsu through our fully funded programs provided by REORG Charity, these have proved to be life changing and in some cases life saving.
Steel & Grit celebrates Buffalo's DNA. Its mission is to bring our community together and celebrate the people who have done extraordinary things. To share your story, email info@buffalosystems.co.uk
