# Checkmat Nexus Alicante > Alicante, Spain ## Overview **Name:** Checkmat Nexus Alicante **Description:** Nexus Academy is a world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai academy located in Sant Joan D'Alacant, Alicante, Spain. Founded in 2023 by elite black belts Darragh O Conaill and Gabriela Fechter, Nexus represents the next chapter in European BJJ excellence. The academy is affiliated with Checkmat, one of the most successful competition teams in the world. Nexus Academy caters to all ages and skill levels, from complete beginners to experienced competitors. The academy offers an 8-week beginner program designed specifically for those new to martial arts, ensuring students start alongside others at the same level. The facility provides elite-level training combined with a fun and friendly atmosphere, making it accessible whether you're looking to compete at the highest level or simply seeking a new hobby. Led by head instructor Darragh O Conaill, a 3rd degree black belt and 4-time European Champion with 18 years of training experience, and co-founder Gabriela Fechter, a 2-time IBJJF World Champion who managed one of Rio de Janeiro's most famous academies, students receive instruction from some of Europe's most accomplished practitioners. The Muay Thai program is led by Jonathan Rodrigues from Rio de Janeiro, a World Champion who represented Brazil in Bangkok. The coaching team brings a wealth of competition experience and a proven track record of developing champions at all belt levels. **Status:** Active ## Contact Information **Address:** Carrer Navarregui 6 - Bajo, Sant Joan D'Alacant Alicante 03550, Spain **Phone:** +34 697 20 65 69 **Email:** nexusbjja@gmail.com **Website:** https://alicantebjj.com/ **Social Media:** - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nexusalicante/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nexusalicante/ ## Hours of Operation - Monday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM - Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM - Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM - Thursday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM - Friday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM - Sunday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM ## Pricing ## Instructors ### Darragh O Conaill - Black **Role:** Head Instructor **Bio:** From Dublin, Ireland, Darragh is a 4-time European Champion and 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He began training in 2006 when BJJ was still a very small sport in Ireland, regularly traveling to the USA and Brazil to receive the highest quality instruction. With 18 years of training experience, he has become a pioneer of Jiu-Jitsu in Ireland and one of Europe's top competitors. As a coach, Darragh has produced numerous European and World Champions at all belt levels, many of whom started training with him as complete beginners. He moved to Alicante in 2023 to open Nexus Academy and begin a new chapter in his career. ### Gabriela Fechter - Black **Role:** Head Instructor **Bio:** Gabriela Fechter was born on March 31, 1990, in São Paulo, Brazil, where she grew up. Highly engaged with sports from an early age, Gabriela started practicing gymnastics as a child, a sport she competed in, and remained active all the way through to adulthood. Fechter’s path crossed with that of jiu-jitsu at the age of 15, after watching a class that was taking place at her local gym. Although Gabi enjoyed grappling thoroughly, she prioritized her school, gymnastics and her work as an acrobat for a local circus company. This relegated jiu-jitsu practice to only a couple of sessions per week for a few years, a schedule that changed in 2013, when Fechter was already a purple belt. Opting to channel more of her energy towards academia (PE degree) freed some time for BJJ, subsequentially, gymnastics was placed on the backburner. The extra mat time meant Gabi could compete more regularly in jiu-jitsu, and indeed she did. Fechter became quite involved in the local circuit. On one of these comps, Fechter met Ricardo “Rico” Vieira , head coach of the famous Fight Zone academy in Rio de Janeiro, and co-founder of the Checkmat team. Seeing the level of athleticism and the potential of Fechter drove coach Vieira to invite her to come and train at Fight Zone, in Copacabana, where Rico had developed numerous high-level grapplers. The offer was accepted by Gabriela who transferred her school credits to a university in Rio to train with some of the best athletes in the world. Under the guidance of coach Ricardo, Gabriela’s jiu-jitsu career truly took a turn for the best. with gold medals in CBJJ and IBJJF’s top tournaments. Gabriela was also able to learn how to coach from Vieira, one of the most praised BJJ instructors in the world. and it was at Fight Zone that Fechter started coaching BJJ herself. First in a kids class, after this a women’s only class was placed under her leadership, and later, as a brown belt, taking control of the advanced classroom. The fact that Fechter was put in charge of one of the toughest teams in the country (a position shared with 2 of her peers), when her instructor, Ricardo Vieira. moved to Portugal (2017), meant Gabi was one of the very first women to take the lead of a high-level classroom in Rio de Janeiro. A landmark celebrated by BJJ Heroes in this article . On August 25 coach Rico Vieira promoted Gabi Fechter to black belt. ### Jonathan Rodrigues **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jonathan is Nexus Academy's Muay Thai instructor. Growing up in one of Rio's largest favelas, he learned the value and opportunities that martial arts can bring to one's life. Since 2012, Jonathan has fully dedicated himself to Muay Thai, competing extensively in Muay Thai, MMA, and Jiu-Jitsu. He traveled to Thailand to train and compete, representing Brazil at the World Championships in Bangkok where he won the title. He also holds two Brazilian national titles. Jonathan loves teaching students of all ages and skill levels, delivering fun and challenging classes while always eager to share the art that has given him so much in life. ## Programs ### BJJ Beginners (8-Week Course) **Skill Level:** Beginner **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** Gi required **Description:** 8-week beginner program designed specifically for those new to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Start alongside others at the same level with world-class instruction. Gi and belt included. **Classes:** ### BJJ All Levels **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** Gi required **Description:** Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training for all skill levels from white belt to black belt. Focus on technique, sparring, and competition preparation. **Classes:** ### Kids BJJ **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** kids **Gi Requirement:** Gi required **Description:** Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program for children. Perfect alternative to traditional team sports, focusing on exercise, discipline, respect, and fun. Free trial class available. **Classes:** ### Muay Thai Beginners (8-Week Course) **Skill Level:** Beginner **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** 8-week beginner program for Muay Thai. Learn to combine punches, kicks, elbows, and knees. Get fit, build strength, improve coordination, and gain confidence while learning a new skill. Gloves included. ### Muay Thai All Levels **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Muay Thai training for all experience levels. Learn the art of eight limbs with world-class instruction in a fun and friendly environment. **Classes:** --- **Last Updated:** March 03, 2026 **Data Source:** BJJ.Space (https://bjj.space/gyms/spain/alicante/checkmat-nexus-alicante)