If you are a fan of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), you may have heard of Tom Davey, a brown belt instructor from Australia who runs The Grappling Academy, an online platform that offers courses, videos and tips on BJJ and MMA. But who is Tom Davey and what makes him a unique and valuable source of knowledge for grapplers around the world? In this article, we will explore his background, his lineage, his students and his achievements as a BJJ practitioner and teacher.
Tom Davey grew up in Adelaide, South Australia, where he started martial arts at a Jeet Kune Do academy when he was young. After watching the first UFC event in 1993, he became fascinated by grappling and started learning some tricks from his instructor who trained with the Machado brothers and the Gracies in LA. He began formal BJJ classes in 2005 and also kept up his MMA training. He received his black belt in MMA under John Will, a pioneer of BJJ in Australia and a student of Rigan Machado. He also trained with Carlos Machado, the eldest of the Machado brothers and a coral belt under Rickson Gracie. Tom Davey is currently a brown belt under Carlos Machado and John Will.
Tom Davey’s lineage can be traced back to two of the most influential families in BJJ history: the Gracies and the Machados. Carlos Machado is a direct student of Rickson Gracie, who is widely regarded as one of the best BJJ fighters of all time and the son of Helio Gracie, the co-founder of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. John Will is a direct student of Rigan Machado, who is a nephew of Carlos Gracie Sr., the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and a cousin of Carlos Machado. Both Carlos Machado and Rigan Machado are 8th degree coral belts and have produced many world-class black belts in their own right.
Tom Davey has been teaching BJJ since 2006 and has helped many students improve their skills and achieve their goals. He runs his own gym in Adelaide where he teaches both BJJ and MMA classes. He also travels worldwide to compete and train with the top BJJ practitioners and shares his experiences and insights with his students. He has created The Grappling Academy, an online platform that offers courses on various topics such as guard protection, heel hooks, kimuras, leg locks and more. He also uploads videos on YouTube where he breaks down techniques into simple and easy-to-understand steps. He has over 18,000 students online who benefit from his clear and effective instruction.
Tom Davey is not only a great teacher but also a successful competitor. He has competed in many tournaments and events both locally and internationally. Some of his achievements include:
– IBJJF Pan Pacific Champion
– IBJJF Asian Open Champion
– ADCC Australian Trials Champion
– Multiple times Australian National Champion
– Multiple times South Australian State Champion
– Multiple times Submission Only Champion
– MMA record of 4-0
Tom Davey is a BJJ instructor who deserves your attention. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience that he generously shares with his students online and offline. He has a passion for grappling that is evident in his teaching style and his performance on the mats. He is a product of a prestigious lineage that traces back to the roots of BJJ. He is a role model for anyone who wants to learn, improve and enjoy BJJ.