Emerald Grappling
#26 Mick Aldridge: The Man Who Helped Bring Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to Ireland!
How did Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu go from almost unknown to a thriving sport in Ireland?In this episode of the Emerald Grappling Podcast, Aaron is joined by Mick Aldridge, a black belt and head coach of Athy Jiu-Jitsu, and one of the men who helped establish Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Ireland.Mick takes us right back to the beginning of his Jiu-Jitsu journey, recalling how he first discovered BJJ and his experiences travelling to California to train with the legendary Rickson Gracie. Mick shares stories from his time training with Rickson and recalls how the Gracie family welcomed the Athy men into their gym and treated them like family during their visits.We then explore what the Irish martial arts scene looked like when BJJ was still in its infancy. Mick shares some brilliant stories from those early days, including the time a martial artist walked into the gym and challenged one of his students because he believed his own martial art was "better" than Jiu-Jitsu.Stories like these give a fascinating insight into just how different the Irish martial arts and BJJ landscape was before the explosion of social media, online instructionals and the modern grappling scene.We look at the growth of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Ireland and how the scene has evolved over the decades. Mick reflects on the changes he's witnessed, from the early days of Irish BJJ to the huge growth of the sport, and shares his thoughts on how the standard of Irish grappling today compares with when he first started.Mick also explains one of the philosophies that has become synonymous with his approach to Jiu-Jitsu: "No Space. No Peace." He breaks down what he means by using pressure, angles and positional control to systematically take away space from an opponent, leaving them with nowhere to move and, ultimately, "no peace."We also discuss the importance of longevity in Jiu-Jitsu. Rory McCann once described Mick as the "king of staying on the mats", and Mick explains the mindset and mentality that have allowed him to keep training for decades while so many others have come and gone.Finally, we look towards the future of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Ireland. Where is the sport heading? How will the next generation shape Irish grappling? And what does Mick think the future holds for BJJ in Ireland?A conversation about the history of Irish Jiu-Jitsu, Mick's experiences with Rickson Gracie and the Gracie family, the characters and stories from the early Irish scene, the evolution of the sport, pressure and control, longevity, and what it takes to stay on the mats for the long haul.⏱️ CHAPTERS FOLLOW MICK ALDRIDGE / ATHY JIU-JITSUInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/athyjiujitsu/ https://www.instagram.com/athyjiujitsu/ **FOLLOW EMERALD GRAPPLING**Instagram → @emeraldgrapplingTikTok → @emeraldgrappling **Like, Share & Subscribe for more Irish Jiu-Jitsu conversations!**#EmeraldGrapplingPodcast #MickAldridge #AthyJiuJitsu #RicksonGracie #GracieJiuJitsu #NoSpaceNoPeace #IrishBJJ #BJJIreland #BJJ #JiuJitsu #Grappling #IrishGrappling #BrazilianJiuJitsu #BJJHistory #BJJCommunity #BJJCoach #BJJBlackBelt #JiuJitsuMindset #BJJTraining #PressurePassing #PositionalControl #MartialArts #CombatSports #SubmissionGrappling
