Coach

Phil Ong began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey in 2012, inspired by his Brazilian roommate. What started as curiosity quickly turned into a long-term commitment to mastering the art. Over the years, Phil has developed a deep understanding of Jiu-Jitsu’s details and nuances, eventually earning his black belt under Professor Joe Thomas — a reflection of his consistency, technical growth, and dedication to the team.

With no significant martial arts background before stepping onto the mats, Phil built his game from the ground up. That experience shapes the way he approaches both training and teaching — he understands what it feels like to start fresh and work through every stage of development.

When it comes to technique, Phil appreciates efficiency and precision. He has a particular fondness for the Roger Gracie-style armbar — simple, fundamental, and brutally effective. As for guard? He jokes that he’s “too old for guard,” preferring pressure, control, and smart positioning over anything flashy.

What Phil loves most about coaching is finding different ways to make Jiu-Jitsu easy to understand. He recognizes that every student learns differently, and he takes pride in adapting his explanations to fit the individual in front of him. Whether it’s breaking down details step-by-step or reframing a concept entirely, his goal is always clarity.

He sums up his coaching philosophy in simple words:

"Let it go!"

By that, he means relax, trust the process, and don’t overcomplicate things. Jiu-Jitsu works best when you stop forcing it and start understanding it.

To anyone nervous about starting, Phil keeps it straightforward:

“You thought about doing it, so you might as well try it.”

For Phil, Union JJ is about community and friendship. The relationships built on the mats are what make the hard rounds worth it and what keep people coming back year after year.

What makes Union different? As he puts it — See above... The community speaks for itself.

At Union JJ, Phil represents steady growth, technical precision, and the reminder that sometimes the simplest approach is the most effective one.