Emerald Grappling

In this special 2-year anniversary episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron is delighted to be joined by two of his own coaches from Lakeland Jiu Jitsu: Ruairi Keena and Dave Hynes. Ruairi, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, and Dave, a Brown Belt, share the story of their journeys through the sport. We explore the origins of Lakeland Jiu Jitsu, tracing its roots from the early days of Mulli...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron is joined by John Barry, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and the founder of the brand, Crank. John shares from his early days in the sport to his evolution into a black belt. The centrepiece of our discussion is the entrepreneurial hustle behind building Crank. John pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like to manage gear design, brand...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron is joined by the minds behind Ireland's newest invitational, The Money Pit: Rory McCann and Keith Jordan. Rory, a 10th Planet Black Belt, and Keith, a Brown Belt and founder of Jordan Fitness Tullow, catch us up on their respective journeys through the mats - from Rory’s pursuit of the 10th Planet system to Keith’s journey from bodybuildi...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron is joined by Shane Sweeney, the Head Coach of PSF Limerick and a purple belt under the legendary Heath Pedigo. As an IBJJF No-Gi World Champion and AJP Gi World Champion, Shane has medalled at nearly every major international tournament. He catches us up on his transition from a high-level rugby background into Jiu Jitsu. We discuss Shane’s t...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron takes the mic for his first ever solo episode, offering a behind the scenes and honest look at how he is approaching training and competition in 2026. He reflects on a tough return to competition last year, stepping onto the mats on just a few days’ notice after a two and a half year layoff and losing in under 20 seconds. Rather than avoiding...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron is joined by Oisin McCabe, the owner and Head Coach of Compound Martial Arts and a rare "triple threat" in the combat sports world. As a triple Black Belt in Karate, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (under Andy Ryan), Oisin brings a unique, multidisciplinary perspective to the mats. He catches us up on his martial arts origins, explain...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron is joined by returning guest David Zamora, a BJJ brown belt, the striking coach at Lakeland Jiu Jitsu, and one of the most active competitors on the circuit. David catches us up on his incredible run since his last appearance, which includes securing Quad Gold at the Galway International Open, a Gold and two Bronze medals at the ADCC Ireland...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron is joined by Kieran Davern, a 2nd degree black belt, the head coach of Éire Grapple, and the President of ADCC Ireland. Kieran shares his journey from starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2008 to becoming a prominent figure in the Irish grappling community, and a top-level competitor on prestigious stages like Polaris and Grapplefest. We discuss t...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron is joined by Ellie Hassell-Cramer, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt under Symmetry Jiu-Jitsu and the head coach of BJJ Gort. Originally from the United States, Ellie began training at just four years old alongside her parents, both third-degree black belts and academy owners, giving her a rare upbringing on the mats that continues to shape h...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron welcomes back Patrick Sheridan, a first-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, co-owner of Satori BJJ, and organiser behind SubOnly Events. Over a year since his last appearance, Pat updates us on his training, coaching, and involvement in Ireland’s growing jiu-jitsu scene. We discuss the Irish Defence Forces and Garda BJJ training sessions,...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron sits down with Barry Oglesby, a third-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, founder of Kyuzo Jiu Jitsu, and one of Ireland’s original BJJ black belts. Barry shares the story of his early beginnings in jiu-jitsu, transitioning from taekwondo and how training has changed since he began. Beyond the mats, Barry is also a driving force in the...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron is joined by Killian Lawlor, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt and the head coach of Barrog Jiu Jitsu. Fresh off his gold medal victory at the 2024 IBJJF NoGi European Championships and a recent bronze at the IBJJF Masters Europeans in the Gi, Killian offers an in-depth look into his preparation for these high-stakes competitions, breaking dow...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron is joined by Ryan Smyth, a 2nd-degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, two-time European Champion, and the head coach of Atlantic Jiu Jitsu in Sligo. Ryan shares his journey from first discovering BJJ to becoming a respected competitor and coach, and the evolution of his training philosophy over the years. As a dedicated instructor, Ryan di...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron chats with Lyndon Quinn, a BJJ Brown Belt and coach at Lakeland Jiu Jitsu in Mullingar. Lyndon shares the story of how he got started in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and reflects on what it’s like training under the guidance of his brother and head coach, Tyrone. We explore the stylistic differences between the two brothers on the mats and what sets t...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron sits down with Rowan Lovett, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and the driving force behind Monarch BJJ in Loughrea, Galway. Rowan recounts his intriguing start in BJJ following a striking incident and takes us through the momentous experience of his recent Black Belt promotion. Listeners will gain insight into the life lessons jiu-jitsu has i...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron chats with Lisa Houston, a Purple Belt and coach from SBG Strabane in Ireland. Lisa is a seasoned competitor, having graced the mats at the highest levels of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, including the IBJJF Worlds and ADCC. Despite coming from a pole dancing background with no prior combat experience, Lisa quickly became obsessed with BJJ. We delve i...

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 firs...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron chats with Timothy Kerins - a BJJ Brown Belt, coach and competitor representing SBG Killarney. Tim shares how he got started in the sport, how his game has evolved, and the challenges of dealing with imposter syndrome after earning a new belt. We dive into the origin of his nickname, "Two Medal Tim," the difficulties of finding matches as a M...

In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron chats with Jack Armstrong, a BJJ Brown Belt and active competitor representing SBG Ballina. Jack shares his journey in the sport, from his start in BJJ to competing on renowned shows like Grapple Kings and GrappleFest. We explore the winning culture at SBG Ballina, which has dominated the Galway International Open for 2 consecutive years, and...

In this episode of the  Emerald Grappling Podcast , Aaron chats with David Zamora , a BJJ purple belt, MMA fighter, and striking coach at Lakeland Jiu Jitsu. David shares his journey from starting BJJ as a hobby to becoming fully immersed in the sport. As an accomplished competitor, holding titles like the Irish National MMA Senior Lightweight Green Division Champion and an ADCC Ireland gold medal...

In this episode, Aaron sits down with Chris Brennan, the entrepreneur behind the popular BJJ and MMA fightwear brand Coffee&Kimuras. A BJJ purple belt, Chris shares his journey into the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and how his passion for the sport led to the creation of Coffee&Kimuras. He delves into the origins of the brand, the inspiration behind its unique name, and the process of brin...

In this episode, Aaron sits down with Patrick Sheridan, a BJJ black belt and co-owner of Satori – Academy of Excellence, which he runs with his brother John. Patrick shares his journey into BJJ, detailing how he and John started Satori and built it into a thriving academy. He recounts the incredible experience of bringing a team of young competitors to the UK to compete at the elite junior world c...

On this episode of the podcast, I spoke with Rosa Walsh, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt and a IBJJF No-Gi European Champion. Rosa has competed on shows such as GrappleFest, Grapple Kings, and Who's Number One. In this episode, we delve into: - Rosa's journey into BJJ and her brief MMA career - Evolution of the Irish BJJ scene- Importance of a supportive gym culture - Balancing personal growth an...

Welcome to the very first episode of The Emerald Grappling Podcast featuring Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Tyrone Quinn, head coach of Lakeland Jiu Jitsu. Tyrone shares his BJJ journey, insights on competition rulesets, and opinions on self-defense martial arts for street fights. Learn Tyrone's tips on technique learning and implementation in this insightful episode. Chapters ➡0:00 - 5:30 Int...