Daniel Wilson, Kids Martial Arts Coach

Daniel Wilson

I began my martial arts journey in the late 1980s with local kids' karate classes and developed a passion for training on a family-owned heavy bag. My formal grappling experience started in 1997 with Judo and Japanese Jujutsu, which I practiced throughout college and sporadically during the 2000s. After being inspired by the UFC and a personal encounter on BART in 2011, I immersed myself in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) for self-defense, primarily training No-Gi under the Ralph Gracie network until COVID-19. I now explore various disciplines, including Kenpo Karate, Thai Boxing, self-defense seminars, and traditional Gracie gyms, holding a purple belt awarded by Coach David in 2023.

I began coaching in the mid-2010s by helping new students, running "Open Mats," leading self-defense classes, and coordinating seminars. My coaching career at Mindset started in mid-2023 when I was invited by Coach David to lead Sunday classes. I enjoy witnessing students' growth, especially when they apply core principles in practice. In my classes, students can expect a focus on foundational safety and techniques, light workouts, and a repetition of ~50 techniques and 6 principles in a loop. I teach Foundations Jiu Jitsu and Self Defense on Sundays, and occasionally substitute in other classes.