Shawn Murphy
BJJ TrainerHow did you get involved in BJJ and martial arts?
I was involved in martial arts as a young kid but stopped in my teens. After a few friends kept talking about BJJ I decided to give it a go and have never looked back.
What experience do you have in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
I have been training for a few years now, mostly in the GI up until the last 12 months. I competed only a few times, but I have won Gold or Silver each time (so far!)
What attracted you to coaching kids’ Jiu-Jitsu specifically?
It’s so rewarding to see young kids getting better at something challenging and pushing themselves to succeed. It’s a huge privilege for me to be a part of their journey and helping them achieve their goals. Jiu-jitsu is something that should be shared, for everyone to enjoy!
What is your teaching philosophy when working with young students?
Looking after our training partners is my number 1 focus for all the kids. I know how daunting it can be for some kids to begin training, the safer and more welcome everyone feels the more fun everyone is going to have!
How do you build confidence and technical skill in children as they progress?
Every time someone finally “gets it” after trying again and again there’s always lots of high fives going around and big smiles from everyone! Only once the students are ready do they progress to learning more skills so no one feels like they are under too much pressure.
What strategies do you use to make classes engaging yet disciplined?
We usually focus on drilling the techniques for most of the class so the kids have more time to practice what we learnt. And at the end we usually do some wrestling based games to have some fun while getting to try out our skills too.
In your view, what are the biggest benefits of BJJ for kids?
Doing something physically and mentally challenging that they can see themselves getting better and better at with time and effort, is a skill that will translate to every aspect of their lives as they grow up. It’s also a great way to get them off the couches and screens for a while!
What advice would you give to a parent whose child is just starting BJJ?
Just keep showing up, consistency is key! Theres also plenty of drills and exercises I give the kids they can do at home easily which will help them build their confidence and skills when it comes to class time too.
Do you offer any other classes or training styles (e.g. no-gi, adult classes)?
We are focusing heavily on GI training for the kids, because it easily translates to no-gi and the kids can also easily see their progression with belts and stripes as we go.
I also step in and help run the adults BJJ classes when the Vanilla Gorilla (Jarryd) isn’t available! 😄
What are your personal goals as a coach this year?
My goals for this year are to build every student’s skills and confidence as best as possible while keeping the gym a fun place where people are excited to come!

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