#8 David Coelho: Moving to Ireland, Starting Maze BJJ & Learning from Competition

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/ If you enjoyed this episode of the podcast, please Like, Share and Subscribe! ✅