01/05/2026
Welcome Dale Clarke – Our New Fundamentals Coach at CGSC!
We’re excited to welcome Dale Clarke, better known on the mats as “Silver Fox,” as the new Fundamentals Coach at CGSC.
Dale brings a calm, technical approach & a wealth of experience built through years of consistent training across top gyms & strong lineages, making him a perfect fit for guiding students through the key building blocks of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Dale began his martial arts journey at Straight Blast Gym (SBG)Bedfordview, South Africa in 2018 under head coach Sergio De Freitas (founded by Matt Thornton) where he trained both Striking (Boxing & Kickboxing) & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, earning his Blue Belt in 2022.
Dale transitioned to East Rand Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Benoni) under Brandon Newman (affiliated with Draig Wales under Ash Williams Polaris 70kg Champion, ADCC EU Trials Champion, & current ONE FC competitor)
Since May 2024, Dale has been training here at Carlson Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu South Canterbury, previously under Rikki Swete & guided by Jose Gomes of Carlson Gracie New Zealand (Queenstown) where he earned his Purple Belt in September last year.
As a coach, Dale is focused on strong fundamentals, clean technique, & practical problem-solving—helping students build confidence through the “why” behind each movement. & if you’re wondering what to watch out for when rolling with him… his favourite submission is the infamous “Yarn to Death.” 😄
Off the mats, Dale is a husband, a father of two teenage sons, & a Chartered Management Accountant — bringing the same discipline & detail-oriented mindset to his coaching that he does to his profession.
You can catch Dale at 5:30pm on a Tuesday (No-Gi) & Thursday (Gi)
