Coaches

Our coaches provide instruction, guidance, coaching, and counseling. We lead by direct example, sweating with you and proving it can be done. We will push you, make you sweat, demand improvement, and applaud progress. We will give you the honest and expert advice and feedback that suits your particular needs.

Coach Qualifications

What qualifies a coach at Austin Jiu-Jitsu? Our coaches are required to have:

• Lengthy, accomplished, documented and diverse experience in self-defense training. Lengthy means more than just years of training. It means decades of documented training. Accomplished means more than attainment of rank, it means mastery. Diverse means much more than a deep understanding of a single facet of the multifaceted world of martial arts, it means experience in several diverse self defense systems and sports culminating in a more complete understanding of the spectrum of possibilities.
• Proven results in state, national and international-level competition.
• Experience in instructing in multiple systems of self defense or wrestling with adults and children.
• Coaching experience for martial arts or wrestling competitors.
• A continuing interest in growing their own martial arts training and progress.
• A genuine interest in sharing their knowledge and aptitude for conveying complex and technical self-defense techniques to people of all ages and skill levels. This includes a nurturing patience for those students who need it mixed with a demand for growth and top performance.
• An lifestyle that leads by example with a passion for excellence.

About David Thomas

Read a bio about David Thomas, founder and Head Coach of Austin Jiu Jitsu.

Read praise about David Thomas from students, parents, and coaches.

Read articles written by David Thomas: Analysis of Essential Training Concepts

Read David's blog Jits Happens: A Grappler's Blog