At the time I was training with a coach that I had met through my university. He was a sports science lecturer as well as the coach of the jiu-jitsu club. He had a background in mixed rules fighting and was about as close to modern-day mixed martial artist as I could find in Nottingham back in 2002. He would often recount a wonderful story about how he respectfully called out Rickson Gracie, and the reply letter stated an unaffordable appearance fee which meant the fight never happened.
He was quite the character to say the least.
We trained in village halls, the university sports hall, badminton courts, and even a garage for a while.