John Kavanagh says that he would be 'honoured' to give Diarmuid Connolly a lesson in Brazilian jiu-jitsu should the Dublin footballer ever step through the door of his gym.
Connolly is currently serving a 12-week suspension for pushing linesman Ciaran Branigan during a Leinster Championship game earlier this month. That was a situation which saw Connolly being involved in a tussle with a number of Carlow players before he made minor physical contact with the official.
Speaking to the Herald, Conor McGregor's coach said that he believes some training in the discipline could help Connolly control his emotions during tense situations.
For players that would get caught up in the moment like that and shove an official, knowing very well what it leads to, it’s an automatic ban when you do that right, in GAA?
So he knew what the consequences were and yet couldn’t control himself, so I would definitely as a coach see that as a worrying trait.
I would definitely encourage him to do something about it. Training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, would that help? Maybe.
Kavanagh added that Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney, who has been a member of his gym for several years, has found Brazilian jiu-jitsu to be a useful tool.
Kieran said it is a great tool for learning how to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations and maybe that would help that player. But that’s between him and his coach.
