I talk to Luke Martin from Sydney West Martial Arts, Luke has been on the podcast several times before, and this marks ten years since he began his journey of bringing the world-class Danaher grappling system to his gym in Penrith. We discuss his team’s recent participation in the ADCC World Championships, how his coaching philosophy has evolved over the decade, and his new online training platform Sydney West Online which shares his systematic approach to teaching jiu-jitsu. We also explore his thoughts on the ecological approach to coaching, his process for developing high-level athletes, and how he’s now attracting international talent to train at his academy.
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ADCC Experience
Luke discusses taking three athletes to the recent ADCC World Championships, which he describes as “the biggest event in history.” He explains how his gym had multiple athletes qualify through trials, with Jeremy receiving a late invite. Luke emphasises how proud he is of his team, noting that having three athletes from a single Australian gym at this prestigious event is a significant achievement.
Training Methodology
Luke details his training methodology, explaining that ADCC remains their primary focus year-round, with adjustments in intensity and technique selection as competitions approach. Unlike many coaches who compartmentalise Jiu-Jitsu instruction into weekly blocks (e.g., a week of guard passing, then a week of submissions), Luke prefers teaching different aspects of Jiu-Jitsu daily to ensure all skills are covered regularly without any area going “cold” for too long.
Coaching Philosophy
A significant portion of the conversation covers Luke’s evolution as a coach. He describes how he initially lacked the technical knowledge to achieve his goal of building Australia’s best Jiu-Jitsu team. This led him to seek out John Danaher’s instruction, first through in-person training at Renzo Gracie’s academy in New York in 2017, then through weekly online private lessons with Jason Rau (one of Danaher’s students).
Luke emphasises that effective coaching requires both technical knowledge and the ability to impart that knowledge effectively to students. He believes this combination is rare, which explains why there aren’t many coaches consistently producing high-level athletes “from scratch.”
Team Building
Luke discusses how he’s built a strong team culture at Sydney West. He rejects the traditional hierarchical approach of many martial arts academies, instead fostering an environment where respect is earned rather than demanded. This has created a genuine team dynamic where athletes support each other, rather than a “cult-like” loyalty to a gym or coach.
Sydney West Online
Luke introduces his new online coaching platform, Sydney West Online, which launched a week before the interview. He explains that unlike instructionals that simply demonstrate techniques, his platform shares the complete training system that has produced results for his team. It includes all-levels classes, advanced classes, daily Q&A sessions, and rolling footage of his top athletes.
The “Ecological Approach” Debate
When prompted by Sonny, Luke shares his critical views on the “ecological approach” to teaching Jiu-Jitsu, which emphasises guided discovery through games rather than direct instruction. Luke argues that while this approach might benefit advanced practitioners, it lacks proven results compared to more structured teaching methods. He prefers to stick with approaches that have demonstrated success at the highest levels.
Resources
Quotes
“That’s something I picked up from Danaher a few years ago. I recognized that. Wait a sec. He’s not programming a week at a time. He’s doing day by day.”
“Once you get to a point of mastery, you can really start to elongate. The way you take on information and practice information.”
“I have to say that condensing everything down into the direction that I’m speaking about now is giving me, I think, generally better results than my peers around me at a faster rate.”
