Mick Aldridge on Bringing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Ireland

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron Murphy sits down with Mick Aldridge, a black belt and head coach of Athy Jiu-Jitsu, who was among the people who helped establish Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Ireland. Mick traces his journey back to how he first discovered the sport and his trips to California to train with Rickson Gracie, describing how the Gracie family welcomed the Athy contingent and treated them as family during their visits.

Mick shares stories from the early Irish martial arts scene, including an occasion when a martial artist walked into the gym to challenge one of his students, convinced his own discipline was superior to Jiu-Jitsu. These accounts give a picture of just how different the landscape was before social media and online instructionals transformed how the sport is learned and shared.

The conversation also covers how Irish BJJ has grown over the decades, with Mick reflecting on how the standard of grappling has changed since he started. He explains the philosophy behind his coaching approach, summed up as "No Space. No Peace.", and how he uses pressure, angles and positional control to deny an opponent room to move.

Aaron and Mick also discuss longevity in the sport. Rory McCann is said to have called Mick the "king of staying on the mats", and Mick talks through the mindset that has kept him training for decades while others have drifted away, before looking ahead to where he thinks Irish BJJ is heading next.

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