Athlete of the Month October 24': Phil Sheehan

Editor in Chief, Educator, Professional Spectator

Kristin Gordon

March 8, 2025

We would like to introduce our athlete of the month for October 2024, Jiu Jitsu practitioner and enthusiast, Phil Sheehan.

The Beginning

We hear many of our athletes talk about how they were inspired from a young age to practice their craft, but Phil’s story is a little different. Throughout high school, Phil was more involved in boy scouts and student government than he was in athletics. It was not until he went to college and saw an opportunity to try new things that he started to explore physical fitness.

Phil studied Criminal Justice and Homeland Security as well as Pre-Law. As a freshman, Phil began lifting weights and working out on a regular basis and really creating a routine out of it. From here, Phil began putting in a serious effort and began distance running with a group from his college. This led to completing The Mountain Goat Run, a 10 mile foot race which gained its name due to the 565 feet in elevation gain, 3 vigorous climbs, and 2 mile descent to the finish line which takes place in Syracuse, New York. This had Phil feeling inspired and open minded, so he decided to join a group which focused on triathlons and other endurance events.

As if that’s not a busy enough freshman year for one individual, Phil also decided to join the local fire department near his campus. It was when he was participating in this specific training that he realized how physical the job truly is. Being tasked with moving people around in full gear that were twice his size had him realize that being in shape served a real purpose. In high school, he looked at physical fitness as a way to look good, but his new found hobbies in college had showed him that there are so many more benefits to being physically fit, and thus, the motivation was there.

Transition Into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

In what free time Phil did have, he enjoyed winding down by watching some UFC. He was amazed at by the athletes and how they fought. He states, “It seemed so graceful and gentle almost”. He was drawn to the fact that it was almost like a chess match, using an arsenal of techniques and strategies to beat your opponent. While Phil was not the type to get into fights growing up, he also saw the practicality of having the ability to defend yourself should you need to.

In 2010, he decided to try BJJ. He began training at Atlas Jiu Jitsu in Albany, New York when he was home from school between semesters in the winter and summer. While in college, Phil also picked up Yoga which he credits to helping him become more flexible which is an important ability in the sport of Jiu Jitsu.

Phil Sheehan Recieving His Blue Belt at Atlas Jiu Jitsu from Edward Anthony

Unfortunately, his first career kept him away from training to the degree he would have liked. His career demanded the ability to constantly travel for roughly 6 years, keeping him away from the mats and on the road. He would still make an effort whenever he could to drop into a class whenever he was working near different Jiu Jitsu academies.

In order to stay engaged and keep his technique fresh, he bought some mats, padded some walls, and turned his garage into a training area. This would help him to practice his craft and he would train with his brother or friends occasionally, but he was itching to get back into a formal Jiu Jitsu academy.

Now, Phil is back at his home academy of Atlas Jiu Jitsu, and continues to train and compete regularly to this day.

Where is Our Athlete Today?

Phil currently serves as a New York State Police Trooper. When asked if his BJJ training has helped him in his career, his answer was, absolutely. He states, “Functionally being able to safely control a combative person is essential. It’s a basic function of the job and not being able to do that is a disservice to your colleagues and to the public”.

“You’re not able to think that clearly by accident, it comes with a ton of exposure and practice.”
– Phil Sheehan

Phil continues to speak on how experience training in combative sports allows you to feel more comfortable being in someone’s personal space, or vice versa. “You don’t get that panic when someone steps to you. You are better able to think through the problem when involved in a physical altercation” Phil explains. This training has not only allowed Phil to serve his community, but he has since become a defensive tactics instructor for new recruits. He was able to speak on technique from his own personal exposure and experience.