Irisney de Lima, more commonly known as ‘Galera’, has established himself as a dominant force on the West Cork Jiu-Jitsu scene. Originally from Brazil, Galera has brought his passion, skill and discipline to the local martial arts community in Ireland, earning a strong reputation as a competitor and dedicated coach. With multiple championship titles to his name, he has not only showcased his technical excellence on the mat but has also been inspiring the next generation of athletes at his Studio Galera in Bandon where he teaches and trains those of all ages writes Niamh Coughlan.
Galera grew up in a small town called Fazenda Nova, located in the state of Goiás, Brazil. He lived there until the age of seventeen. “Growing up, I was actively involved in a variety of sports and extracurricular activities. Capoeira was my main passion, which I started at the age of 12 and began teaching at 18. Alongside Capoeira, I participated in all the sports available during my school years, such as soccer, basketball, and running. Staying active and being part of different teams was something I truly enjoyed.” He then moved to Goiânia, the capital of Goiás, where he stayed until 2008. That same year, he made the decision to move to Ireland.
“My earliest memory of being involved in MMA was during college when they organised a tournament that brought together practitioners from various martial arts disciplines. It was an incredible experience and gave me the chance to see how different styles came together in competition.” However, it was in Cork that Galera experienced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) for the first time.
“As for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, my first experience was when I started training at the age of 30 right here in Cork. Within just a few months, I was already competing, which marked the beginning of an exciting journey in the sport.”
Having arrived in Ireland, he spent six years working in a meat factory while teaching Capoeira in Bandon, Kinsale, Skibbereen, UCC, and at the Cope Foundation. Once he started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), the vision of building something bigger began to take shape. In 2016 he opened his own training centre where he began to teach BJJ, Gymnastics, and Capoeira. ‘It was a gradual process, but my passion for teaching and helping others has always been the driving force behind my success.’
Galera’s biggest achievement in his career so far includes winning two gold medals in the Black Belt division at the World Police and Fire Games in 2022. He also won a gold medal at the European Masters GI in 2022, and two gold medals at the European Masters No-Gi in both 2022 and 2023. Additionally, he has had success at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, earning gold at Blue Belt, Purple Belt, and two silver medals at Brown Belt. He has also earned three European titles at Brown Belt. Over the past 10 years, the martial artist has accumulated over 120 medals in his career.
Winning the European Championships at almost every belt, from Blue to Black, is an incredible achievement. “Each victory felt special but winning a Black Belt was the best feeling by far. It was the result of years of hard work, sacrifice, and growth, and the sense of accomplishment was unlike anything I had experienced before.”
The World Championships in Abu Dhabi stands out. “I had some incredibly tough fights leading up to the final, and I was there on my own, without a coach or friends to support me. My opponent, on the other hand, had more than 50 people cheering and screaming for him. The fight lasted less than a minute, and I was able to catch him with a baseball choke, putting him to sleep. The arena went completely silent in shock – it was a surreal and unforgettable moment that I’ll never forget.”
To Galera, discipline is the foundation of all sports. “When combined with the right mindset and determination, it becomes a key component not just in athletic success, but in life.’ His daily routine is structured in a way that allows him to dedicate time to his passion of BJJ and weightlifting, while also factoring in teaching hours, his profession as a fire-fighter, family and leisure time.
A week in the life of Galera is structured around his passion, taking in classes and training – which includes weight lifting, drill techniques and sparring – and also fitting in his work as a retained firefighter at Bandon fire station when he is not on the mat.
“My training split remains consistent throughout the year, as I follow the same programme to maintain a solid foundation. However, I adjust my diet in the last 30 days leading up to an important tournament to optimise my performance,” he shares. “In addition to this, he likes to make small adjustments to his routine when recovering from injuries.
A healthy balance between professional life, career goals, and sport is essential for Galera. “I have incredible support from my wife, who grew up with her brothers involved in wrestling and other martial arts and understands the lifestyle. Her support makes everything much easier. My wife and kids are with me at the studio every day, and they’re also training in gymnastics and BJJ. Outside of the studio, we make time for activities like hosting BBQs, travelling, and fishing. Many of my friends are involved in the sport as well, so it’s easy to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle while staying connected with my family and friends.”
The black belt coach believes key strengths as an athlete are discipline, a growth mindset, and hard work. “Discipline keeps me consistent in my training and lifestyle, the growth mindset helps me embrace challenges and constantly improve, and hard work ensures I put in the effort needed to reach my goals. I strive to be a better father and a better coach, and seeing my students progress is a huge source of motivation. Watching them grow and achieve their goals fuels my own drive to continually get better.”
Growing up, there were several athletes which stood out to Galera. One of the most influential was Mestre Pequines, a Capoeira athlete. He also admired UFC fighter Royler Gracie.
“One of the biggest challenges young athletes face today, especially in Ireland, is the lack of recognition for BJJ by the governing bodies, which makes it difficult to secure support for emerging talent. Beyond that, I believe the mindset is a major obstacle. There are so many distractions, particularly online, that can take young athletes’ focus away from their goals. Issues like drinking, diet, and maintaining discipline also play a big role in hindering their progress.”
Studio Galera is in the heart of Bandon, where Galera spends most of his time with his students. “I believe in pushing them to be their best, while always fostering a positive and supportive environment. In addition to my coaching, I’ve recently taken on the role of organising BJJ competitions in Cork, alongside other coaches in the area. We’re planning four events this year, with the first one happening on February 16. I’m really excited about this because I see a real need for high-quality competitions in Ireland, especially in Cork, to help our athletes grow and gain the experience they need.”
As a retained firefighter at Bandon Fire Station, balancing two work commitments is a challenging task. Galera is on call for seven days, followed by seven days off. This year marks his fifth year there, proudly standing as the first foreign firefighter at the station.
“I’m lucky to have a great support system in place. My students are incredibly supportive and step in to cover classes whenever I get a call during training. My colleagues at the fire station are also flexible, and we adjust our schedules to make it possible for me to travel to Cork for training.”
Kids and young adults are regulars to the studio for practicing gymnastics and mixed martial arts (MMA). “My favourite part is seeing their progress over time. It’s amazing to watch kids come in with shyness or limitations, and then see their confidence grow as they improve. The interactions and life skills they learn on the mats are incredibly rewarding.”
Other sports tend to take precedence over martial arts in Ireland. ‘I do feel some limitations when it comes to dedication to the sport, especially being based in Ireland. Currently, BJJ isn’t officially recognised by the governing bodies here, which means there’s a lack of support for upcoming athletes. In some countries, there are national teams where athletes receive financial support based on their achievements, but here in Ireland, we don’t have that same structure. However, we’re fortunate to have a strong community that actively supports athletes, from raising funds through events to providing encouragement for young athletes who are starting out. The community really helps bridge the gap and keep the sport growing.”
Galera still has goals to achieve in his sporting career. ‘My main personal goal is to achieve one more title, but outside of that, my focus is on coaching and developing my athletes. I’m also fortunate to have strong support from the community and my coworkers, which helps me stay grounded and motivated.
I have a strong desire to improve every day. I strive to be a better father and a better coach, and seeing my students progress is a huge source of motivation. Watching them grow and achieve their goals fuels my own drive to continually get better.”
Studio Galera’s socials and schedules can be found on his Instagram, ‘Studiogalera’, Facebook and at www.studiogalera.com.