In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron chats with David Coelho, a 1st Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and head coach of Maze BJJ. David shares his journey into BJJ, from his early days on the mats to establishing a thriving gym in Ireland. David delves into his philosophy that BJJ transcends physicality, cultivating a stronger mind, body, and soul. David recounts his first steps in Ireland, prioritising his Gi above all else in his luggage, and how BJJ became his lifeline, fostering meaningful friendships in a new country. We explore his competitive spirit, emphasizing the importance of competition for personal growth and team camaraderie. David provides invaluable advice for accelerating your BJJ progress, cultivating a lifelong love for the sport, and offers his perspective on the exciting future of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Chapters ➡

00:00 - 5:55 Intro & David's BJJ Origin Story

5:56 - 9:20 BJJ in Ireland vs BJJ in Brazil

9:21 - 12:21 Moving to Ireland

12:22 - 14:14 Irish BJJ Community

14:15 - 15:50 Cold Irish Weather

15:51 - 19:00 David's Most Rewarding BJJ Moment

19:01 -20:41 Next Generation & Coaching Kids

20:42 - 23:41 Opening Maze BJJ

23:42 - 26:45 Competition Focus for Students

26:36 - 27:03 Aaron recalling his first competition

27:04 - 28:35 Learning from Competition

28:36 - 31:49 Team Support at Competitions

31:50 - 38:50 Structuring Your Own Training

38:51 - 39:29 Asking Questions to Progress

39:30 - 41:10 Vision for Maze BJJ

41:11 - 43:19 Advice for Enjoying your BJJ Journey

43:20 - 46:27 BJJ Friends and Enjoyment

46:28 - 49:06 Hardest Belt for David

49:07 - 52:10 Future of BJJ

52:11 - 54:51 Wrapping up the episode

Make sure to follow David on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/david.mazebjj/

Make sure to check out Maze BJJ if you're around Athlone https://www.instagram.com/maze.bjj/ https://www.mazebjj.com

Make sure to check out David's sponsor, Monkey Hands, use the discount code "MAZEBJJ" for 15% off!! https://monkeyhands.co https://www.instagram.com/monkeyhands.co/

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