Darragh O’Conaill
Irish black belt Darragh O'Conaill won the 2018 European No-Gi middleweight title and coaches at Nexus Academy in Spain.
Biography
Sources for this profile
GracieMag, Redacao Graciemag, 20 May 2014(opens in a new tab)
Rafael Lovato Jr. served as a mentor to O'Conaill, visiting his Dublin academy four times, while O'Conaill made three training trips to Lovato's gym in Oklahoma City.
Where in the source: Headline 'Irishman Darragh O'Conaill's Worlds requirement: "development of your mind and self-belief"' > passage on his work with Rafael Lovato Jr.
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O'Conaill was first introduced to jiu-jitsu at the age of sixteen by his secondary-school physical education teacher.
Where in the source: Headline 'Irishman Darragh O'Conaill's Worlds requirement: "development of your mind and self-belief"' > biographical introduction
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On what separates medallists at the World Championship, O'Conaill said: 'The ones who medal are those with the greatest will to win, the most self-belief.'
Where in the source: Headline 'Irishman Darragh O'Conaill's Worlds requirement: "development of your mind and self-belief"' > quoted passage on competition mindset
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O'Conaill said that after a school introduction around age sixteen, he returned to his former PE teacher's jiu-jitsu classes around 2007 after burning out on rugby.
Where in the source: Irishman Darragh O'Conaill's Worlds requirement > answer to 'How did you find Jiu-Jitsu': 'That was roughly 2007'
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In 2014 he said that, because Ireland's competition circuit was small, he initially travelled alone to compete in England and elsewhere in Europe.
Where in the source: Irishman Darragh O'Conaill's Worlds requirement > answer to 'How did you find Jiu-Jitsu': 'travel to England and around Europe alone'
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Attack The Back, Richard Presley, 10 April 2014(opens in a new tab)
Speaking in April 2014, O'Conaill said he had trained jiu-jitsu for seven years, and that his first three years were spent exclusively on no-gi before he began training in the gi.
Where in the source: Headline 'An interview with Irish brown belt Darragh O'Conaill' > answer on his training background and no-gi start
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O'Conaill named Saulo Ribeiro, Marcelo Garcia and Fernando 'Tererê' Augusto as his all-time favourite competitors, and Rafael Lovato Jr., Leandro Lo and Rodolfo Vieira among those he most enjoyed watching in 2014.
Where in the source: Headline 'An interview with Irish brown belt Darragh O'Conaill' > answer listing favourite competitors
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After competing in Lloyd Irvin's brown belt Kumite, O'Conaill said his Dublin academy 'has grown nearly twice the size and my team have won nearly every single team title in the country!'
Where in the source: Headline 'An interview with Irish brown belt Darragh O'Conaill' > answer on the effect of the Kumite on his academy
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O'Conaill received his brown belt from Saulo Ribeiro in the summer of 2011.
Where in the source: Headline 'An interview with Irish brown belt Darragh O'Conaill' > answer about his brown belt promotion
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O'Conaill played rugby from the age of eight until he was nineteen, then burned out on the sport and took up jiu-jitsu, saying: 'I wanted something to keep fit and still wanted to play a sport so i gave bjj a try!'
Where in the source: Headline 'An interview with Irish brown belt Darragh O'Conaill' > answer on how he came to jiu-jitsu
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FloGrappling athlete match database(opens in a new tab)
O'Conaill competed at the ADCC European Trials in 2017, losing to Oliver Taza by inside heel hook.
Where in the source: Profile 'Darragh O Conaill' > match history, 2017 row 'Loss to O. Taza (Inside Heel Hook), ADCC European Trials'
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O'Conaill won the American National No-Gi Championship in 2015 and is an EBI veteran, having competed at EBI 3 and EBI 11.
Where in the source: Profile 'Darragh O Conaill' > match history, 2015 rows for 'American National No-Gi Championship' and 'EBI 3', 2017 row for 'EBI 11'
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O'Conaill competed on the professional grappling circuit at Polaris 1, Polaris 3, Polaris 9 and Polaris Squads, and at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in 2019.
Where in the source: Profile 'Darragh O Conaill' > match history rows tagged 'Polaris 1', 'Polaris 3', 'Polaris 9', 'Polaris Squads' and '2019 Abu Dhabi World Professional'
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FloGrappling, 27 March 2018(opens in a new tab)
O'Conaill said the European No-Gi title had been a goal since he received his black belt, and called it 'probably the biggest win of my black belt career so far'.
Where in the source: Headline 'Darragh O'Conaill First Irishman To Become European Jiu-Jitsu Champion' > quoted reaction from O'Conaill
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Before that 2018 title O'Conaill had already medalled twice at the same event as a black belt, taking bronze in 2015 and silver in 2017, and had won the No-Gi Europeans twice as a brown belt.
Where in the source: Headline 'Darragh O'Conaill First Irishman To Become European Jiu-Jitsu Champion' > background paragraph on his previous medals at the event
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Darragh O'Conaill of Dublin became the first Irish person to win a gold medal in the adult black belt division at the IBJJF European No-Gi Championships, taking the middleweight title at the 2018 edition in Rome.
Where in the source: Headline 'Darragh O'Conaill First Irishman To Become European Jiu-Jitsu Champion' > opening paragraph
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FloGrappling describes O'Conaill as an Irish competitor from Dublin.
Where in the source: Darragh O'Conaill First Irishman To Become European Jiu-Jitsu Champion > 'An Irishman has taken gold'
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FloGrappling reports that O'Conaill finished Tuomas Ylinampa with a D'Arce choke in less than a minute in the 2018 European No-Gi middleweight final.
Where in the source: Darragh O'Conaill First Irishman To Become European Jiu-Jitsu Champion > final paragraph naming Ylinampa and darce finish
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Digitsu athlete profile(opens in a new tab)
O'Conaill was captain of the Team UK & Ireland squad at Polaris Squads.
Where in the source: Profile 'Darragh O'Conaill' > achievements list, 'Captain, Team UK & Ireland at Polaris Squads'
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FloGrappling, 23 January 2024(opens in a new tab)
O'Conaill coached a Masters blue belt student to victory at the 2024 IBJJF European Championships, filmed for a FloGrappling 'Mic'd Up' feature.
Where in the source: Video 'Darragh O'Conaill Coaches Masters Blue Belt To Victory At Euros | Mic'd Up' > title and description
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FloGrappling, Chase Smith, 11 May 2018(opens in a new tab)
O'Conaill is a black belt under Saulo and Alexandre 'Xande' Ribeiro.
Where in the source: Headline 'Road To Worlds Training Report: East Coast Jiu-Jitsu (Ireland)' > passage describing O'Conaill's rank and lineage
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A 2018 FloGrappling visit observed O'Conaill leading competition drills that began from standing, progressed through half-guard sweeps and top control, and ended with passing.
Where in the source: Road To Worlds Training Report: East Coast Jiu-Jitsu (Ireland) > 'The Drills' > 'first of three series ... starting from the feet'
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In May 2018, FloGrappling reported that O'Conaill was preparing to bring 14 students from his Dublin academy to the IBJJF World Championships in Long Beach later that month.
Where in the source: Road To Worlds Training Report: East Coast Jiu-Jitsu (Ireland) > pre-event paragraph on 14 students and Long Beach
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IBJJF, European No-Gi Championship 2012 results(opens in a new tab)
O'Conaill placed first in the adult brown-belt middleweight division at the 2012 European No-Gi Championship.
Where in the source: European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2012 > Male / Adult / Brown / Middle (175.60lb) > 1 Darragh Padraig O'Conaill
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IBJJF, European No-Gi Championship 2013 results(opens in a new tab)
He placed first in adult brown-belt medium heavyweight at the 2013 European No-Gi Championship.
Where in the source: European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2013 > Male / Adult / Brown / Medium Heavy (188.60lb) > 1 Darragh Padraig O'Conaill
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IBJJF, European No-Gi Championship 2014 results(opens in a new tab)
In 2014 he took second place in adult brown-belt middleweight at the European No-Gi Championship.
Where in the source: European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2014 > Male / Adult / Brown / Middle (175.60lb) > 2 Darragh Padraig O'Conaill
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IBJJF, European No-Gi Championship 2015 results(opens in a new tab)
He placed third in adult black-belt middleweight at the 2015 European No-Gi Championship.
Where in the source: European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2015 > Male / Adult / Black / Middle (79.50kg) > 3 Darragh Padraig O'Conaill
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IBJJF, American National No-Gi Championship 2015 results(opens in a new tab)
In 2015 he won the adult black-belt middleweight division at the American National No-Gi Championship.
Where in the source: American National IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2015 > Male / Adult / Black / Middle (175.60lb) > 1 Darragh Padraig O'Conaill
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IBJJF, European No-Gi Championship 2017 results(opens in a new tab)
He finished second in adult black-belt middleweight at the 2017 European No-Gi Championship, behind Isaque Bahiense Braz.
Where in the source: European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2017 > Male / Adult / Black / Middle (79.50kg) > 1 Isaque Bahiense Braz; 2 Darragh Padraig O'Conaill
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IBJJF, European No-Gi Championship 2018 results(opens in a new tab)
He won adult black-belt middleweight at the 2018 European No-Gi Championship; the results place Tuomas Ylinampa second.
Where in the source: European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2018 > Male / Adult / Black / Middle (79.50kg) > 1 Darragh Padraig O'Conaill; 2 Tuomas Ylinampa
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IBJJF, Dublin International Open 2023 results(opens in a new tab)
In 2023 he won the Master 2 black-belt middleweight division at the Dublin International Open in the gi.
Where in the source: Dublin International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 > Male / Master 2 / Black / Middle (82.30kg) > 1 Darragh Padraig O'Conaill
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IBJJF News, 2023 Dublin International Open report(opens in a new tab)
IBJJF's 2023 Dublin report describes O'Conaill as ECJJA's leader, competing for Master 2 middleweight gold while coaching children, adults and masters; the team won the gi and no-gi academy standings.
Where in the source: Dublin International Open Results: Espen Wins Middleweight Gold With All Submissions > opening paragraph; 2023 Dublin Open team results
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IBJJF, 2024 European gi Championship results(opens in a new tab)
At the 2024 European gi Championship he took first place in the Master 2 black-belt light division.
Where in the source: European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024 > Male / Master 2 / Black / Light (76.00kg) > 1 Darragh Padraig O'Conaill
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IBJJF, 2024 European No-Gi Championship results(opens in a new tab)
At the 2024 European No-Gi Championship he took first place in Master 2 black-belt middleweight.
Where in the source: European IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2024 > Male / Master 2 / Black / Middle (79.50kg) > 1 Darragh Padraig O'Conaill
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BJJ Heroes, Darragh O'Conaill biography(opens in a new tab)
BJJ Heroes names David Jones as O'Conaill's first jiu-jitsu coach and says Jones awarded him blue and purple belts.
Where in the source: Darragh O'Conaill Biography > 'first jiu-jitsu coach was David Jones'
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BJJ Heroes interview, 2021(opens in a new tab)
During Ireland's pandemic restrictions O'Conaill spent part of 2021 training in Rio de Janeiro, including at Fight Zone Academy, while preparing to captain Team UK and Ireland at Polaris Squads.
Where in the source: Overcoming Ireland's Mammoth Lockdown in Brazil and Preparing for Polaris > arrival in Rio 'midway through February 2021'; Team UK & IRE captain
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Nexus Academy, Spanish-language official site(opens in a new tab)
Nexus Academy's own website says Darragh O Conaill and Gabriela Fechter founded the academy in 2023 in Sant Joan d'Alacant, Spain.
Where in the source: Sobre Nexus > 'Nexus fue formado por Darragh O Conaill y Gabriela Fechter en 2023'; 'Situado en San Juan de Alacant'
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Checkmat Europe, Spain affiliation directory(opens in a new tab)
Checkmat Europe's Spanish affiliation list names Gabriela Fechter and Darragh O Conaill as head coaches of Nexus Academy.
Where in the source: Spain > Nexus Academy > 'Head Coach: Gabriela Fechter & Darragh O Conaill'
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FloGrappling, 2023(opens in a new tab)
FloGrappling reports that O'Conaill promoted Shay Montague to black belt after the 2023 World Championships.
Where in the source: Meet The New Class Of Black Belts After Worlds 2023 > Shay Montague | ECJJA > 'He was promoted by Darragh O'Conaill'
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IBJJF athlete database(opens in a new tab)
The IBJJF athlete register lists Darragh O'Conaill as a black belt.
Where in the source: Athlete Results > Darragh O'Conaill > 'black'
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Setanta MMA Show episode description, 23 September 2014(opens in a new tab)
A Setanta MMA Show episode published 23 September 2014 describes O'Conaill as a black belt and East Coast Jiu Jitsu head coach, and says its interview covers his path to black belt.
Where in the source: Ep57 Colin Byrne, Darragh OConaill & Cathal Pendred > 9/23/2014; Description > 'At 60mins' and 'BJJ black belt'
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