Done

David Jones

Long Post but I guess it will become clear.



Following several pieces of medical advice regarding my back and shoulder/sternum issues, I have decided to call time on my BJJ activities for the foreseeable future. My job as a teacher of Physical Education means I have to be able to move and be comfortable on my feet for most of the day and I therefore must sacrifice the one activity that has brought me more happiness than anything else. My decision was finalised when recently teaching in Belfast at Kyoujin I once again pinched the nerve in my back and was unable to stand up straight for a week and needed a month of physio. That only used to ever happen while rolling and now that it occurs during teaching, is just too much. I haven't rolled consistently since march 2009, and to be only able to teach was bad enough but now that is out, I no longer wish to put myself at risk of further injury that could jeopardise my professional career. As a piece of advice, I'm now reaping the results of a teenage obsession with getting big at all costs, having a big bench, squat and deadlift etc and the results are muscular and now skeletal imbalances that may never be corrected. If I could travel back in time, I would do minimal weights, bodyweight stuff and YOGA and lots of it.

I have had an amazing journey with BJJ and martial arts in general and I have had the opportunity to travel,meet,train with and fight some of the best people and friends on the planet too many to mention but you know who you are. I will continue to show an interest in the sport and I hope that promoters will still allow me to referee their shows, something I really enjoy doing.

Now I will be handing over the reigns of Next Generation to Darragh O Conaill. Darragh has trained with me since he was in 4th Year in school and following his SCT rugby year he dedicated himself to BJJ with the same passion I did when I started. He is developing into an excellent teacher, competitor and BJJ practitioner, I know the club will be in safe hands and the level of competence in all who attend classes at NG will only improve. Next Generation will also offer GI classes and NOGI classes and I would like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best in the future.

A couple of pieces of throwaway advice from someone who has trained in a lot of places..

• keep drilling,keep rolling, keep competing, keep the mind open and the ego in check, BJJ was Japanese Jiu Jitsu refined for the streets of Brazil, keep in mind that the techniques should be practiced with that in mind....a fight...that doesn't mean you have to kill your training partners,(quite the opposite is preferable!) but while you are trying to hit the latest deep half guard sweep from youtube, bear in mind could I do this while getting punched, elbowed or head butted in the face. BJJ for me was always about that, which is why it has been a privilege to train with Chris all these years, because his game was simple yet so effective.

• When someone comes to teach a seminar even if they demonstrate something you already know, have the manners and respect to drill it repeatedly, don't show your seminar buddies 5 variations of said technique or sit around with the attitude " next technique please"

• The best and the worst thing was being promoted by Chris. In fact I would love to see grappling in it purest form, no belts or bull****. Having a higher grade means you never ever get to roll smooth again with 99% of people. You are their target, they will do everything to tap you, and that's I'm afraid where in the latter years my injuries have occurred and it has in some respects taken the fun out of it for me. It is human nature to have an ego and be competitive, but there is a time and a place. Ranking systems are also a human want, to be recognised and validated for what you can do. I would however much prefer to see a situation like "that guy is better than me at grappling, I will go and learn from him" it is far more appealing to me. If the time came where I could roll again, I would find a club while on holiday and go in anonymous and just roll the way it used to be.

• To newbies, go learn from a reputable club, it will save you so much time in the long run. There is a greater choice than 12 years ago when I started, but that doesnt always mean a good thing.

I'm going to attend my physio, do my stretches, attend yoga religiously and who knows I might pop down sometime in the future to your club for a light roll. Thanks to everyone I have met, fought and trained with in one of the best sports on the planet. To all the mma fighters I will hopefully be asked to continue to look after your safety in the cage, refereeing is one of my favourite things to do.

With that in mind, I have had a lot of people come through the doors of Next Generation over the last 8 years. It is however the guys who have stepped into the cage to represent NG that I would like to extend special thanks, To Paul O Connor, Andy O Connor, Owen Dempsey, Darragh O Conaill, Chad Biddle, Philip Scollard, Joe Ruddock, Joe Cunnane, Juan Cullen, Justin Doyle, Charles Flemming, Richie Ivory, Dean Barry, Neil O Hara Andy Thompson and Kevin Murdock. It has been my pleasure to coach and corner for you win lose or draw and you have always represented NG well.

Jiu Jitsu has been a lifestyle I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of and I will miss it greatly, but life goes on.

Thanks to those who were a part of my journey.

David Jones

Your mind can only hold one thought at a time. Make it a positive and constructive one.

H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Chris89

Everyone at NG and anyone involved in MMA in ireland owes you a lot Dave.

Sorry to hear about this, and thanks for everything over the last few years.

Chris

arybvtcw0eolkf

Dave I don't know you, we've never met or trained together. However since the old Irmac forum, your postings here and various other forum & Irish Fighter I've grown to have a lot of respect for you.

Best of luck in the future.

Performance Martial Arts

Having not met u in person I can say I've only heard great things about you. Sorry to hear about your injurys and I hope it works out for you. As for Irish bjj and mma I think you will be missed and this is a sad day for the sport but I'm sure you have handed the reigns over to another great guy. I wish you the very best in the future and I wish ng the same.

Michael

EnjoyChoke

This is like hearing someone died
Thanks for your help in the building of irish BJJ Dave, for the comps you ran, they were some of the best and for being a player/coach the rest of us could look up to. All the best for the future.
NG is in great hands with Darragh.
Tom.

NG-DOC

Trevor Wonderful Oasis wrote: »

Dave I don't know you, we've never met or trained together. However since the old Irmac forum, your postings here and various other forum & Irish Fighter I've grown to have a lot of respect for you.

Best of luck in the future.

Dave undoubtedly knows how eternally grateful i am to him and for everything he has done for me, in the past, present and no doubt in the future. Regardless i would like to use this forum to publicly thank him

Dave was and still is one of the original pioneers of both irish mma and bjj. i have no doubt will be remembered for years to come for what he has contributed to the scene both now and in future years as one of the most experienced and respecetd referees.

From everyone who has ever trained at next generation, thank you endlessly for all the hours you dedicated to improving us as students, driving us half way across the country to fight and compete, pushing us as hard (and often harder ) as we needed and above all else always having our backs win lose or draw. you have been an inspiration to everyone both as a teacher and a person and we wish you every success in the future and hope you will still drop in every so often to say hello

it's been an honor and a privilege mate.

Marty Mc

Dave,

A very classy post.

im sincerely sorry to hear that injury has ended your ablility to train. You are one of the few guys that i can remember seeing at every competition that i have attended always cornering your guys and showing great support win, lose or draw.

Darragh best of luck with the new venture. Im sure Next Gen will be in great hands with you and your great attitude towards competing.

The Shane

Sorry to hear that Dave. Terrible way to have to leave it.

The NG lads are lucky to have Darragh to step up, but they are some big shoes to fill.

Good luck to you and Darragh.

Shane.

Ramunas

Bad to hear about this Dave. Hope in future things will change to good and you'll be able roll and train again .

wingnut4

aww this is really sad and a pity. Take care and look after your body, its a very mature and hard decision

Sid_Justice

Thanks Dave for all the effort you put in, into your own club and the scene in general. Always a pleasure to roll with someone from NG long may that trend continue. Good luck to Darragh and the rest of the crew in NG.

Kevin

RearNakedJim

As mentioned, this is like someone has died, I would also like to thank dave for everything over the years.

Dave WHEN your a bit better, let me know and i'll be over for a no ego very light roll.

Also good luck to Darragh and NG, and i look forward to seeing Dave reffing for many years to come.

Jim

SBG Ireland

dunno what to say....loss of one of my first training partners

come over to me anytime for an 'old guy no ego roll around' anytime!

Clive

Dave, enjoy a well deserved retirement, your health has to come first.

I remember one of my first classes was one you taught in the shed after coming back from a summer over with Chris. I still bust out that banana split sometimes!

The old King of the Mat series still stand as some of the best, most enjoyable tournaments I've ever been to.

I hope to see you refereeing for many years to come - the best ref in the country, IMO. Even if I've disagreed with your calls on occasion, I always know they were made straight down the middle with safety in mind.

vasch_ro

Best wishes Dave, I have really enjoyed rolling with you over the years and I have to say you were always a gentleman right from that very first tentative phone call I made to you enquiring about the club, best wishes with your health and future,
John Fitz

Jason McCabe

Very sorry to hear that Dave.

I sort of feel your pain, literally. Had a bad year with injuries which is very frustrating.

Wish you all the best in the future.

Barry.Oglesby

Well, that's ruined my day. Grim news.

Dave you've been a great, honest and trustworthy member of the mixed martial arts and BJJ community for as long as I've been involved and although your involvment will be curtailed now, I hope you continue to be as such in the future as a referee. I can count on my fingers the amount of guys in this game that I trust to call it as they see it and you're one of them.

Hopefully you can rehab that back and return sometime to the mats.

Barry

Liam_B

Sorry to hear about the bad news Dave!! Forced to make a decision like that for your own health , but a wise one.
At least you'll know your Gym will be in Good hands with Darragh. Best of Luck with the career Dave.

hiromatsu22

So gutted by this news. I was a bit in shock last night so didn't get to appropriately thank you for everything you've done for me in my BJJ journey so far, and for my club which has massively benefitted from joining up with Next Generation. I have gained first hand experience of how frustrating injury followed by injury can be over the last year or so and completely understand the necessity to make this decision. It is still depressing news though...

Good luck with whatever you choose to do in the future and I hope that you will be able to come back for some light rolling at some stage. I know that NG is in good hands with Darragh and look forward to continuing to train with and learn from him. NG Clondalkin and I will continue to provide whatever support that we can

TEAM RYANO

Dave
What can I say
Really enjoyed the early years rolling
In st Andrews with you Jk and the guys
It was an honour to train with you
Maybe you could help out of the mat with
Promoting bjj in Ireland
Cheers
Best of luck in the future
From andy and all at team ryano

mmaireland.com

They say you can judge a teacher by the nature of his students mate. And I've never met someone from NG that I don't like and respect. Hope you'll still be in the cage calling the shots mate. I second Barry's sentiment; there are a hand full that can be trusted to put the fighters first with consistency and integrity. Terrible news mate. Can't imagine how you must be feeling.

colinlaird000

Sad news Dave :mad: I can't imagine how frustrating that must be. I don't know if I would have the maturity to give it all up when the doctor told me, and I think that day isn't that far away. I shall be looking for local yoga clubs in the immediate future!

I hope you continue to be involved with the "scene" in some form or another. I'm sure Peter will repeat my sentiments that it has always been a pleasure to have you up in Belfast.

I hope everything goes well for you off the mat.

And good luck Darragh! Big shoes to fill.

crosdad

A sad day for irish martial arts, but the club will be in great hands with darragh. thanks for all the great comps over the years and for being a pioneer of irish mma. i have most respect for guys like yourself who got into mma when mma wasnt exactly 'cool' like today. fairplay

Tim_Murphy

Sad news indeed.

The seminar you gave in Point Blank was one of best I've been to over the last while (even if you did pick on me for most of it ) so I can only imagine how bumming out your students are over this.

yomchi

Sorry to hear that mate, no doubt you'll bring your enthusiasm and positivity down a new avenue

Valmont

Good luck with your journey, Dave. I'll have fond if painful memories of the old Thursday night fight classes in Loughlinstown. Good times.

Emmet C.

:(

Jesus.

Where to start.

I'm absolutely gutted. But seeing as I've had my own injury nightmare the last 3 months I can relate and as such I would first of all offer my sympathies.

I've been posting off a mobile phone the last few days and as such have only stumbled across this a few hours ago and had to take a bit of time to absorb it first. My own injury problems have kept me out of Next Gen since last June, so I've been completely out of the loop on this.

To say I'm shocked and disappointed is an understatement. I want to take this opportunity to thank you Dave for coaching me from the very beginning. I owe everything I know in the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to you, and I like to think I know a decent amount at this stage, and yet you've forgotten more than I know! It was a pleasure getting schooled everytime I rolled with you! From the old days down in Loughlinstown all the way to our new home in Monkstown, I loved every minute of it.

I took the step to test myself in the cage last November and the training, support and selflessness which I received from Dave was second to none and is something I'll never forget, and I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you again for this and for all the training over the years.

Best of luck with your future endeavors Dave, no doubt you'll be a success wherever you go and with whatever you do, I have no doubt of that at all.

And best of luck to Darragh, the club is in good hands and I'm looking forward to getting healthy and training there under the new regime and helping to keep NG alive and strong.

Your Kung Fu is no good here!


Neil

MaeveD

Sorry to hear that Dave..... good luck with the yoga practice, you'll be doing the 3rd series in no time!

dunkamania

Dave,

Absolutely devastated after reading your post.
Your contribution to the growth of BJJ/MMA in Ireland has been enormous over the years.

I don’t doubt that you have made the right decision, and I wish all the best for you in the future.

Hopefully our paths will cross again, and sooner rather than later.

David

weemate

never thought I would see the day this would happen.You are without doubt the friendliest and most humble coach I have trained with in Ireland.Only interested in the art and not the spotlight or cash.I count it as a privelage to have had you teach at my class as do all my students.Irish grappling will not know what they have missed when your retirement sinks in.

Jason McCabe

Again its sad that someone with so much knowledge has to move on.

That knowledge filters out accross the country like ripples in a pond.

Even though I don't know you that well it is indeed a sad loss.

Francis Galvin

sorry to hear it dave, i remember the days in rathfarnham like it was yesterday with urself, rob byrne, jk, peter d, john d, dave roche and andy

i think u showed me my first ever heel hook:)


best of luck for the future mate

eoghan.geraghty

Really sad to hear this Dave, you'll never be a stranger on the bjj/mma scene

David Jones

Thanks for all the messages, PM's, emails etc, Im not dead though, far from it! I will still be keeping tabs on BJJ via boards and if anyone needs help with a bjj event, you only have to drop me an email, text or call. The good news is that my reffing schedule filling up so thats a big positive for me.

I have known about this for up to two years, just been putting it off, so while its a shock to some its not to me.

So cheer yourselves up and get to training!

Ill be watching.