Dean Monks-Pettigrew

My journey into health and fitness began in 2006 when I started lifting weights to build strength and muscle for Football and Gaelic Football. What began as a way to enhance my athletic performance quickly evolved into a passion that led me to explore bodybuilding, powerlifting, gymnastics, and calisthenics. I became driven by a desire to fully understand how to optimize physical capabilities and push the limits of what my body could achieve.

In 2010, I took a significant step forward by earning a Level 5 qualification in Exercise and Fitness at Colaiste Ide, where I also completed the FAI Kickstart 1 & 2 football coaching courses. This journey led me all the way to Memphis, Tennessee, where I represented Colaiste Ide in a football tournament with hopes of securing a U.S. college scholarship. While offers came in from colleges in Georgia, Tennessee, and New York, the economic recession made these opportunities financially unfeasible.

After spending a year at the National College of Ireland studying for a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science. That summer I went to New York City on a J1 visa, working in the kitchen at Harlem Tavern alongside my father, I knew that a career in IT or as a chef wasn’t for me. That revelation brought me back to Dublin City University in 2011, where I became a certified Personal Trainer and Gym Instructor through Litton Lane Training, marking the true beginning of my career in the fitness industry. I started my journey at my uncle's personal training gym in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, where I built a dedicated clientele from the ground up. Week by week, my passion for helping others grew as I eventually conducted over 60 personal training sessions per week, guiding people toward their fitness goals with a focus on strength, mobility, and endurance.

In 2015, my journey took a transformative turn when I discovered Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) at the Republic of Jiu-Jitsu in Dublin. BJJ was more than just a martial art; it was a discipline that reshaped my mindset, teaching me humility, perseverance, and the importance of self-growth. Training at renowned gyms like Renzo Gracie Academy and Marcelo Garcia Jiu-Jitsu in New York City, I learned to confront insecurities I didn’t even know I had and shift my focus from comparison to personal development. 

By 2018, I had earned my Purple Belt and began teaching small group classes, using BJJ as a tool for self-improvement that could be applied beyond the mat. In 2021, my coach, 3rd-degree Black Belt Abnel Santos, promoted me to Black Belt—a milestone that marked the culmination of years of dedication and discipline in this life-changing martial art.

During this time, I also expanded my knowledge of the human body by becoming a Neuromuscular Physical Therapist and Orthopedic Sports Massage Therapist. I began incorporating principles of mobility, flexibility, and posture correction into my training methods, which led to significant pain relief and injury recovery for many of my clients.

Towards the end of 2016, my life took an unexpected turn. From the outside everything looked great I was achieving all the goals I'd set for myself and my career as a personal trainer was going brilliantly. However, after years of intense work, studying, and training, I hit a wall of complete burnout. I was exhausted, both physically and mentally, and felt trapped by my relentless schedule. In January 2017, I had lost all motivation and enthusiasm for life, leading me to the tough decision to give up my job and apartment to move home, essentially back to scratch. Many people close to me thought I was making a big mistake but they didn't understand the internal battles I was having every day just trying to get out of bed to face the day ahead. I'd become deeply depressed and giving everything up and moving home to focus on my physical and mental health was one of the best decisions I've ever made. 

During that period of recovery, I slept for hours on end, often bedridden, with no clear direction in sight. Searching for answers, I travelled to New York, Amsterdam, and New Zealand, where I explored shamanism and psychedelics like DMT, psilocybin, mescaline, MDMA, and LSD. These experiences profoundly shifted my perspective on life, leading me to a deeper understanding of the mind and sparking a renewed focus on self-mastery.

In 2017, as I re-entered the world of academia, I pursued a higher certificate in business and computers at Stillorgan College, graduating with distinction. During this period, yoga entered my life, I had suffered a crippling lower back while training BJJ which prevented me from training for over 3 months. I did rehab twice a day during this period and Yoga became a crucial part of my journey towards recovery and holistic health. Initially, I practiced Hot Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga. I eventually landed on Ashtanga Yoga at the Lotus Room in Skerries, leading me to want to become a Yoga teacher so I travelled to Arhanta Yoga Ashrams in the Netherlands where I completed 200-hour Hatha Yoga and a 50-hour Vinyasa course. My time spent living in an Ashram during this training period solidified my commitment to a disciplined lifestyle, focused on physical health and spiritual growth. 

Later in 2024, I expanded my knowledge with a 50-hour Yin Yoga course at the Suryalila Retreat Centre in Spain. Although I initially gravitated toward faster-paced styles of yoga, I eventually found balance in the slower, mindful practice of Hatha Yoga, which has become my primary focus as a teacher.

Returning to college as a mature student was a turning point in my journey. After graduating from the Business and Computers higher certificate I pursued a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Entrepreneurship at IADT Dun Laoghaire, where I graduated with distinction and was honoured with the prestigious Olivia Burke Award for Entrepreneurship. I continued my academic journey with a Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Entrepreneurship, further honing my skills in creating innovative business solutions to create an online business.

In 2023, I completed a Master's Degree in Strength and Conditioning at South East Technology University Carlow, graduating with first-class honors. My dissertation focused on the prevalence of injury in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, combining my passion for the sport with my commitment to advancing athletic performance and minimizing injury risks.

My journey into cold water therapy began in 2018, inspired by Rickson Gracie’s documentary "Choke" and the Wim Hof Method. I co-founded the ‘Sea Swim Society’ at IADT Dun Laoghaire, where we pushed our limits in the icy waters of the Irish Sea. Participating in Damian Browne’s ‘Freezbrury’ challenge tested my mental and physical resilience as we collectively raised over €35,000 for Pieta House through daily swims in freezing conditions.

During this time, I also embraced regular sauna use and participated in sweat lodge ceremonies, experiences that helped me cleanse and reset both body and mind. These practices became vital parts of my recovery routine, reinforcing my belief in the power of nature’s elements to restore and heal.

In 2021, my passion for a holistic approach to health, fitness, and wellness led to the creation of Lifestyle Monks School of Grappling, Yoga & Fitness, offering Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes, yoga classes and fitness classes in Rush, Co. Dublin. Lifestyle Monks embodies my philosophy of developing our mind, body, and soul through a balanced lifestyle to awaken our full potential. This venture represents my belief that true well-being comes from integrating physical training with mental and spiritual growth, guiding individuals toward a more fulfilling and purposeful life. This journey culminated in the launch of Awaken Fightwear in 2024, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu clothing brand inspired by my martial arts experience and my dedication to using training as a tool for self-mastery.