WORLD CHAMPS TAKE TO THE MAT AT SILVERBACK ACADEMY
‘BRAZILIAN Jiu Jitsu is putting yourself in uncomfortable situations; but it’s about making yourself comfortable in those uncomfortable situations, and that’s a great skill to apply to life in general.’
TREVOR Sweeney of Silverback Jiu Jitsu Academy, which has it’s new home in the Allied Hub in Whitemill, is a passionate guy. Minutes into speaking to him, this becomes evident. He speaks of his vision to foster a sense of community around the club and how it functions just as much to give lads a place to talk and look after their mental health as to learn martial arts.
With this ethos weighing heavily on everything Trevor and John Keeling do in the gym, it caught the attention of two of the foremost exponents of jiu jitsu in the world, Caio
Terra and Mikey Musumeci, who chose the small club in the model county to be their only Irish demonstration on a European Tour from their native Brazil.
Students travelled to Wexford from gyms across the country and even came from as far as the UK to see the Caio (a 12 time world champion) and Mikey (four time world champion) roll on the mat.
Trevor is a student of the now infamous Straight Blast Gym (SBG) in Dublin, rising from the same stable as the likes of Conor McGregor and Paddy Holohan. However, he says it was never the bright lights and ‘bullsh*t’ that interested him, but rather helping out young guys who need an outlet.
‘I would’ve been older than the likes of McGregor and Holohan, and I think maybe it was because I was a bit older that lads used to come to me after training and open up to me about things that were going on at home or that,’ he said.
‘Eight years ago we opened up in Wexford and moved around a few different places. The approach has stayed the same though. Lads come in here and I’ll throw my arms around them and ask them how’s school, or how’s the family. It’s turned into the sort of place where lads can just come and let off a bit of steam. Obviously they get their martial arts training too, but it’s about getting their self esteem up and opening up as well.’
Now operating from the Allied Hub, sharing with Mick Kelly’s kettlebells club and Valhalla Thai Boxing Club, the trio have also installed a chill-out room where clubmates, parents and whoever else can meet and have a chat.
It’s a refreshing approach and Trevor says they cater for all sorts of people.
‘We have people from every background up here and of all fitness levels,’ he says.
‘It’s really human chess and you can get as much or as little from it as you want.’
On the day of the big demonstration, people travelled from all over and it felt like the culmination of a long journey for Trevor as no fewer than seven blackbelts took to the mat at the gym.
The Brazilian duo imparted some expert advice to those in attendance and were impressed with the atmosphere that Trevor and John are trying to build around the club. With some 25 members and growing, the club are hopeful that this is just one of many big days to come as they continue to bolster their ranks.