CHIP COFFEY

Chip and Alan Belcher after a training session

Chip Coffey was born and raised in Barnesville, Georgia (a small town in the center of the state) the oldest of 4 brothers. Sports were a part of his life from an early age. He played football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and just about anything else that would quench his thirst for competition. Although Chip’s school was without a wrestling team, he had the advantage of having a wrestling coach at home. In his high school career, Chip’s father, Thomas Coffey, was an accomplished high school wrestler in New Jersey at 157lbs. As you can imagine, he started teaching Chip and his brothers the fundamentals of wrestling from an early age. Chip and his brothers would try to best their father in wrestling matches in their backyard, but as Chip recalls, they never did get the best of him. His father’s desire for his sons to be active and competitive paved the way toward Chip’s initiation into the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at age 17. From then on, Chip found his love for a sport that has no comparison.

Shortly after graduating from high-school, Chip joined the Navy and was selected to serve his first 2 years in the Ceremonial Honor Guard in Washington DC. In the Honor Guard, Chip performed in over 1200 Full Honors Military Funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. While in Washington, Chip also performed ceremonies at the White House and at the Pentagon. Even when Chip’s service placed constraints on his schedule, he would make the time to train in BJJ at different gyms, and cross train in Boxing on base and at other places in the DC area.

In 2004, after his duty in DC, he was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl where he was able to get back into BJJ full swing under mentor and friend Larry Shealy. It was in Jacksonville that Chip started to develop his unique teaching style and where he got his start as an instructor at Jacksonville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Chip’s teaching style and philosophy are geared towards anyone wanting to learn. He encourages his students to, above all else, enjoy the life changing benefits of the sport. Whether a student decides to compete or not, he supports all of his students, whatever the goal.

Chip training with Todd Duffee (Fastest KO in UFC history) and UFC veteran and MMA legend Roan "Jucao" Carneiro

Chip training with UFC middleweight
contender Brian Stan and UFC veteran Junior Assuncao

After his duties in Jacksonville, Chip returned to his hometown and started teaching inside a stucco building beside his house .He knew he would have to start small, being fresh out of the military. Chip worked as a laborer on a brick and block mason crew. During the day he hauled brick and block and at night he taught BJJ, while training 5 days a week. Although this little building had no heat, no air and no windows (they were busted out), his desire to teach was too strong to stop. After more than a year in this building, interest in training began to grow in town. Along with a friend Chip opened Barnesville Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Now back in his home state of Georgia, Chip turned over his training, and came under the tutelage of 2x Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Roberto Traven.

Chip with Professor Traven

Chip working his striking with Manu Ntoh

In 2009, Chip turned his gym in Barnesville over to one of his purple belts and decided to progress personally as an athlete and take his training to a new level. He loaded his car and moved north to Atlanta. When he first arrived in Atlanta, Master Traven brought him in to run the NO-Gi Jiu-Jitsu program at Unit2 Fitness, Master Traven's main academy. While there Chip met and trained with some of the top level fighters in the Atlanta area. In training he realized he also needed great striking to complement his ground game. This prompted his decision to start training under 6x Muay Thai World Champion Manu Ntoh.

Over the course of 11 years Chip has competed all over the U.S. and even in Brazil. In 2010, Chip along with partner Chad Hullander opened Coffey Brazilian Jiu-JItsu and Fitness in Cartersville GA. Aside from teaching at his own gym, he was brought in by Ultimate Fighting Championship Middleweight, Brian " The All American" Stann, to run his BJJ program at Warrior Legion MMA in Alpharetta GA. Chip was also appointed by Master Traven to be head of Affiliate Relations. Chip's job within the association is to reach out to new affiliates who are interested in becoming a part of Team Roberto Traven.

Chips accomplishments

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Roberto " Spider" Traven
• Pro-Am Champion
• Naga Champion
• Casca Grossa Champion
• 2x Master BJJ Tournament Champion
• 2nd place US Nationals
• 2nd place GA Grappling Championships
• 2nd place Jackson Fight Night Tournament
• 3rd place Abu Dhabi World Pro US Trials Brown/Black Belt Adult Division
• 2010 3rd place BJJ Pan American Championships Brown Belt Adult Division
• 2009 Quarter-finalist Pan American Championships Brown Belt Absolute Adult Division
• 2009 Quarter-Finalist World Championship Brown Belt Adult Division

Chip made his Professional MMA debut in January of 2010 and has a record of 1-0. He continues to teach at his gym in Cartersville, and is now focusing his personal training toward his MMA career.

Chip's first Pro MMA Fight ended in just 45 seconds!

Chip's daughter Lanier in her first Jiu Jitsu class