26/07/2026
Heya team,
On Friday a great friend and mentor of mine passed away.
Devoted Husband and Father to 5 beautiful boys.
Damian was the head coach and owner of our big brother club down at Gracie allegiance team nz hq in the Hawkes bay.
Not only was he a driving force of Jiu Jitsu in the Hawkes Bay, but a pillar of the community in which Jiu-Jitsu in New Zealand is built on.
A trailblazer in the early days of competition, and the first guy I got to know on the circuit back then, to extend his hand out to me as a brother, always willing to share his knowledge, not only to better my Jiu-Jitsu personally, but also Jiu-Jitsu as a whole.
To be in the same team/camp/family as Damian, meant so much to me.
He had an energy that would envelope, I would feel like I had been recharged, merely from his presence, but also from his passion of Jiu-Jitsu, his belief in me and everyone he encountered, and also his constant quest to be the best version of himself, his spirit and energy was infectous.
I will miss him, and I will never forget my big brofessor. 💔
