Damian joined Bairro along with teenage son in 2021. Although Damian started his martial arts journey 30 years earlier (1995), jiu-jitsu was an entirely new challenge. He and his son dove into training, attending classes together with increasing frequency until they were at the school nearly every day. Both loved the professional approach of the school and the welcoming community.

Damian (Dr Paton-Gay at work) is a general surgeon, trauma surgeon and critical care specialist. He is an educator with the University of Alberta, the Canadian Critical Care Society and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada focusing on resuscitation, crisis management and simulation based training. He applies the same learning and teaching principles from those roles to jiu-jitsu, making sure to use an organized approach to classes and a professional yet engaging approach to teaching and feedback.

In jiu-jitsu, Damian’s focus is on developing clear approaches and frameworks into which new skills can be incorporated. For his own development and for teaching, he makes sure that fundamental movements and principles are solid so that there is a strong foundation for new techniques and knowledge.

Outside of all that, Damian loves skiing, biking, motorcycles, racing cars, horses, his family and his dogs. He loves to chat about any of those or any other interest that someone brings up.