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Sobriety Journey: Martial Artist's Unique Challenge
22 Jul
Summary
- Martial arts coach is nine months into sobriety.
- Addiction battled alongside past 'proper partying'.
- Daughter participates in sport despite health odds.

Clayton Chamberlain, a martial arts coach from Bristol, is celebrating nine months of sobriety after a long battle with alcohol and drug addiction. He described his past as involving extensive partying in international destinations.
Chamberlain, 45, explained that drinking and drug use began in his teenage years, offering him a perceived escape from problems. He runs a Brazilian jiu-jitsu club in Bristol with his brother, a sport also practiced by his 11-year-old daughter, who has a remarkable survival story from birth.
He felt compelled to change his life, stating, "I was super depressed and I needed to turn my life around." He found that alcohol used to calm his fast-thinking mind and help him focus, but the habit resurfaced after competitions as a coping mechanism.