Most grapplers collect moves. DFM Coaching helps you build a game. Structure-driven BJJ instruction for adults who want to grow on the mats without quitting their jobs, their families, or their sanity to do it.
DFM Coaching | Bjj
Mastering The Gentle Art
DFM Coaching | San Diego, Ca
You know more techniques
than you can actually use.
My Experience
15 Years
On the mats and over a
decade as an instructor
3 Days
a week is all it took to reach black
belt, your schedule can work.
About Me
I am a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, instructor, and community builder dedicated to helping people train with clarity, intention, and grounded confidence. Through DFM Coaching, I teach classes, run workshops, and support students who want structure and direction in their Jiu-Jitsu journey.
I’m also the host of Tapped In: A Jiu-Jitsu Podcast and the writer behind DFM Coaching Blog, where I explore training, mindset, leadership, and the deeper human lessons we find on the mats. My work is rooted in discipline, emotional intelligence, and helping people grow without ego.
The Blog
The DFM Coaching Substack is a blog focused on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, mindset, and leadership, written for grapplers who want depth, clarity, and long term growth. It blends tactical insight with thoughtful reflection on training culture, personal development, and the human side of the art.
The publishing rhythm includes The Sunday Brief for reflective observations, Technique Tuesday for practical training concepts and techniques, and a full blog post every Thursday that dives deeper into strategy, structure, and lessons that carry beyond the mats.
The Podcast
Three episodes a week. 14 to 24 minutes each. Built for grapplers who train with purpose.
Hosted by David Figueroa-Martinez, BJJ Black Belt and coach, Tapped In goes beyond technique. Each episode explores the mental game, the mat culture, and the lifestyle that shapes who you become as a practitioner. Whether you are a White Belt finding your footing or a Purple Belt pushing through a plateau, this show meets you where you are.
Picture a mat side conversation with a friend.
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere you listen.
E146 | BJJ Guest Etiquette: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting New Gyms – Tapped In: A JiuJitsu Podcast
In this episode of Tapped In, David Figueroa Martinez breaks down the essential "unwritten rules" of being a respectful and mindful guest at a new Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy. Moving away from the "old school" mentality of intentional submission for rapport, David offers a modern, professional framework for contacting gyms, managing intensity, and representing your home association with class.3 Key TakeawaysPrioritize Communication: Always contact a gym at least a week in advance via social media or phone to discuss their specific uniform policies, drop-in fees, and schedule.The "Guest" Mindset: Approach every roll with a defensive, observant, and controlled intensity. Your goal is to learn and be a great training partner, not to "prove" your rank or dominate the mat.Professionalism is Your Uniform: Beyond just a clean Gi, being a good guest means showing up early, paying fees without being asked, and refraining from "side-coaching" or correcting the local instructors.Chapters & Timestamps00:00 – Introduction and the "Old School" vs. Modern Approach01:54 – Pre-Visit Checklist: Contacting the Gym & Uniform Policy04:09 – Logistics: Arrival Times, Waivers, and Drop-in Fees06:21 – Researching the School's Style (Gi vs. No-Gi focus)07:44 – Being a Representative of Your Home Academy09:25 – Calibrating Intensity: The Guest Mentality11:51 – Rolling Etiquette: Why Defense is Your Best Friend13:58 – The Golden Rule: Do Not Coach the Locals16:21 – Post-Session Gratitude: Reviews and Follow-ups18:18 – The Value of Diverse PerspectivesAre You You New To The Podcast? Start Here!DFM Coaching Skool CommunityJoin the freemium DFM Coaching Skool Community, the space where the conversation continues after the episode ends. Mindset tools, mat culture, and a community of grapplers who take the mental side seriously.👉 DFM Coaching | Bjj Skool Community.DFM Coaching In Person and Remote CoachingDFM Coaching works with recreational grapplers who want to get better and actually feel it. Remote coaching and in person seminars available.👉 DFM Coaching | BjjStay Connected🌐 www.DFMCoachingBjj.com📸 Instagram @DFMCoaching.Bjj▶️ YouTube @DFM2099DFM Coaching | Bjj Blog:Long-form storytelling, deep strategy, and the philosophy behind the fight:🌐 DFM Coaching Substack BlogAffiliate PartnerBJJ Mental Models has one of the deepest conceptual Jiu-Jitsu libraries out there. I use it. I recommend it.👉 Join BJJ Mental Models+(Code: FIGUEROAMARTINEZ)Help the Show GrowIf this episode gave you something, pass it on. Share it with a training partner, drop a review, or repost it to your story. That is how we keep the signal strong.Stay tapped in,David Figueroa-MartinezFounder, DFM Coaching BjjMentioned in this episode:DFM Coaching Bjj Skool community