# Sam McNally

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## Overview

**Name:** Sam McNally


## Bio

Sam McNally was born in November 1994, in Dublin, the capital city of the Republic of Ireland.

Despite not being particularly sporty as a child, not in a competitive environment at least, McNally had a short-lived experience with martial arts through his high school which taught judo as a part of its sport’s curriculum. This episode drove Sam to look for grappling as an extra-curricular activity, finding what he was looking for in jiu-jitsu.

McNally joined Darragh O’Conaill’s school at the age of 16, the gym that would later become East Coast Jiu-Jitsu, one of the most prestigious grappling schools in Europe. Sam went from white to black belt under the guidance of O’Conaill, with his black belt promotion taking place on June 29, 2019,

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**Last Updated:** March 21, 2026

**Data Source:** BJJ.Space (https://bjj.space/people/sam-mcnally-f23b45ac54b0)