BJJ Mat Times

61: Justin Hoeppner: Creative Paths Through Art and Jiu-Jitsu

Ever wonder about the intertwining paths of creative passion and martial discipline?  From the mats of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the vulnerable showcase of a gallery wall, we traverse a diverse landscape of experiences, reflecting on the camaraderie and shared experiences that have shaped us along the way. This time around, we peel back the curtains on the struggle with self-promotion, examining the connections viewers forge with artwork and the tranquility that inspiration from nature can ins...

60: The Gentle Art of Injuries with Carlos, Todd, and No Chill Chris

Ever found yourself chuckling at the absurdities of growing older while training Jiu-Jitsu? That's where we're at, a bunch of mat-side philosophers sharing how we balance laughter, lessons, and ligaments in our latest episode.  We also delve into meatier topics of training strategies and the influence of age and injuries.  Our banter covers everything from the chess game of guard retention to the nitty-gritty of training routines that keep us on our toes – or, more accurately, our backs, de...

59: Michael Jackula

From the wrestling mats to Jiu-Jitsu, our latest guest, Michael Jackula, shares how he came to train at North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Michael's wrestling background offers a glimpse into how his wrestler background has enhanced his jiu-jitsu performance.  We also dive into the framework of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, Michael explains the connection between various MCMAP training and how that technique is progressed into a fighting sequence.  Thanks for joining us in the conversation, a...

58: Train the Basics Train for the Team

57: Danny Castro and Ed Lopez

Danny, Ed, and I got some great training in last weekend. We talked about how and when to use lasso guard and the benefits of using it to control the pace of a match. It was a good conversation about all things Jiu Jitsu! We hope you enjoy the episode! 

56: Adrian Gonzalez Part 2

55: Adrian Gonzalez Part 1

54: Chris Payne

This week we sat down with Chris Payne. Chris is a blue belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu and has been training with us for about a year and a half. Chris competed at Jiu Jitsu World League in San Diego this past weekend, and we talked about the training leading up to the comp and the action on the mats. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. 

53: Chance Snyder

Saturday was a special night! Chance Snyder took part in his first MMA fight and brought home the win! I am super excited we were able to get together and have this post fight conversation. We hope you enjoy it! 

52: On the Mats - Chris Drozd

In this On the Mats talk, Chris Drozd and I have a quick talk about leg locks and leg defense! We hope you enjoy the conversation! 

52: Chris Drozd On the Mats

In this On the Mats talk, Chris Drozd and I have a quick talk about leg locks and leg defense! We hope you enjoy the conversation! 

51: On the Mats - Jake Mapes

In this episode of On the Mats, Jake and I discuss competition and competition training. Thanks for listening!!! 

51: On the Mats with Jake Mapes

In this episode of On the Mats, Jake and I discuss competition and competition training. Thanks for listening!!! 

50: Todd Stedman

This week we talk with Todd Stedman. Todd is a purple belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu and has been training with us since roughly 2020. We cover the benefits of flow class, the feelings around transitioning from belt to belt, and the community we train in. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

49: Rebeka O'Keefe

This week we talk with Rebeka O’Keefe. Rebeka is a brown belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu and has been training with us since the gym first opened! Rebeka is a teacher specializing in German language instruction and can speak several languages! Rebeka and I talk about her training over the past ten years and how she maintains focus and continues training while working full-time and being a mother of two. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on th...

48: Chris Roberts

This week we talk with one of my close friends, Chris Roberts. Chris is a retired Navy Chief and retired police officer. We have been buddies for over a decade and we decided to get together and talk about his twenty years in the Navy and some of our conversations before he moves out of the Southern California area. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the show! 

47: Julio Valdez

This week we talk with Julio Valdez. Julio is a white belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu and has been training with us for about two years. He is also a Marine Corps Veteran, Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor, and high school wrestler! Julio and I talk about his service in the Marine Corps, how he found jiu jitsu, and what keeps him on the mats. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

46: On the Mats with Jessie Stedman

This is a quick talk we call On the Mats, where we talk live after training and have a shortened discussion about jiu jitsu. This installment is with North Coast purple belt Jessie Stedman. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

46: On the Mats - Jessie Stedman

This is a quick talk we call On the Mats, where we talk live after training and have a shortened discussion about jiu jitsu. This installment is with North Coast purple belt Jessie Stedman. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

45: Zack Kovacs

This week we talk with Zack Kovacs. Zack is a white belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu and has been training with us for about a year. He is also an Army Infantry Veteran and wrestler. His experience in Army combatives and years of wrestling make rounds with him a bit more challenging than the average white belt! We also talk about Zack's military service and how he found his way back to grappling after the Army. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see yo...

44: On the Mats - Carlos Perez

This is a quick talk we call On the Mats, where we talk live after training and have a shortened discussion about jiu jitsu. This installment is with North Coast brown belt Carlos Perez. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

44: On the Mats with Carlos Perez

This is a quick talk we call On the Mats, where we talk live after training and have a shortened discussion about jiu jitsu. This installment is with North Coast brown belt Carlos Perez. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

43: Ed Lopez

This week we talked with Ed Lopez, a purple belt training out of Halo Jiu Jitsu in Fresno, CA. Ted shares his experience of training and recovering as an older grappler and how to be effective on the mats. We also discuss the Halo team matches at Fight to Win and how the gym supports and competes at the event! Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

42: On the Mat with Terence DeToy

This is a quick talk we call On the Mats, where we talk live after training and have a shortened discussion about jiu jitsu. This installment is with North Coast black belt and instructor, Terence DeToy. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

41: On the Mats with Justin Hoeppner

This is a quick talk we call On the Mats, where we talk live after training and have a shortened discussion about jiu jitsu. This installment is with Justin Hoepner, a black belt, friend, and drilling partner training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

40: Ciara Gutierrez

This week we talked with Ciara Gutierrez, a blue belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Ciara brings a brightness to the gym, and we are lucky to have her with us! She shares her experience with sign language, multiple gyms, and life on the move over the past few years. Now that Ciara is back in Southern California, she is training, working, and furthering her education and career. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

39: Chris and Daniel - Hangin On 4 Dear Life Podcast

We talked with Chris and Daniel from the Hangin’ On 4 Dear Life Podcast this week. Chris and Daniel share their jiu jitsu experiences while training for the last six months and what it was like competing for the first time. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

38: Liane "Big Fight" Burchette

This week we talk with Liane Burchette, a purple belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Liane talks with us about training, life in the Navy, and training while deployed. We also talk about personal sacrifice with a career of military service and the difficulties of military life. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

37: On the Mat with Elky Mijo - Wes Drelleshak

Today we had a quick mini-cast with Elky Mijo about training and what has helped him in his jiu jitsu and his life. We hope you enjoy the conversation. 

36: On the Mat with Big Los and the Flow Class with Todd and Ray

A quick conversation with Big Los and Todd about the Flow Class and how it's helping our game. We hope you enjoy the shorter format in between longer interviews. 

35: Carly "The International Woman of Mystery" Drelleshak

This week we talked with Carly Drelleshak, a blue belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Carly shares a bit about her jiu jitsu journey and how the 75 Hard program has transformed her approach to setting goals and making changes in her life. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

Ep: 34 Jon Aasted

This week we talked with Jon Aasted, a blue belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Jon shares a bit about his background in law enforcement, the military, and battling cancer twice. Jon also talks about leaving jiu jitsu in 2018 and returning after a four year break. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

34: Jon Aasted

This week we talked with Jon Aasted, a blue belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Jon shares a bit about his background in law enforcement, the military, and battling cancer twice. Jon also talks about leaving jiu jitsu in 2018 and returning after a four year break. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

34: Jon Aasted

This week we talked with Jon Aasted, a blue belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Jon shares a bit about his background in law enforcement, the military, and battling cancer twice. Jon also talks about leaving jiu jitsu in 2018 and returning after a four year break. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

Ep: 33 Cody Guy

This week we talked with Cody Guy! Cody is a blue belt training out of Excel in Oceanside and is a frequent visitor to open mat at North Coast. Cody is also an amateur boxer with Nevarez Boxing and has around fifteen fights under his belt. Cody has a wealth of information to share about his training and what makes him successful in boxing and jiu jitsu. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

33: Cody Guy

This week we talked with Cody Guy! Cody is a blue belt training out of Excel in Oceanside and is a frequent visitor to open mat at North Coast. Cody is also an amateur boxer with Nevarez Boxing and has around fifteen fights under his belt. Cody has a wealth of information to share about his training and what makes him successful in boxing and jiu jitsu. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

32: Derek "The King of Cardio" McCartney

Derek and I talked about how he found jiu jitsu and some wild times on the mat this week. Derek has cardio for days and can push his training partners to their cardio limits. He competes frequently and always hits the mats with intensity and intent. We hope you enjoy the conversation.  Thanks 

32: Derek McCartney

Derek and I talked about how he found jiu jitsu and some wild times on the mat this week. Derek has cardio for days and can push his training partners to their cardio limits. He competes frequently and always hits the mats with intensity and intent. We hope you enjoy the conversation.  Thanks 

Ep: 30 Sean Fallon

This week we talked with Sean Fallon. If you are looking for a challenging and heavy round, look no further. Sean is one of the very first people I ever rolled with and helped introduce me to the world of jiu jitsu. He gives us his perspective on ego and how letting it go can help improve your game. We also talk about how some of the best rounds are flow rounds, where you get lots of movement and get into the flow state of mind. We hope you enjoy the conversation. 

31: Sean Fallon

This week we talked with Sean Fallon. If you are looking for a challenging and heavy round, look no further. Sean is one of the very first people I ever rolled with and helped introduce me to the world of jiu jitsu. He gives us his perspective on ego and how letting it go can help improve your game. We also talk about how some of the best rounds are flow rounds, where you get lots of movement and get into the flow state of mind. We hope you enjoy the conversation. 

31: Sean Fallon

This week we talked with Sean Fallon. If you are looking for a challenging and heavy round, look no further. Sean is one of the very first people I ever rolled with and helped introduce me to the world of jiu jitsu. He gives us his perspective on ego and how letting it go can help improve your game. We also talk about how some of the best rounds are flow rounds, where you get lots of movement and get into the flow state of mind. We hope you enjoy the conversation. 

30: Corey O'Keefe

This week we talked with Corey O’Keefe, a brown belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. I have known Corey since the beginning of my jiu jitsu journey, and he has been one of my training partners that has helped shape my game. Corey shares his story of getting started and insight on how to train in class and prepare for competition. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

29: Texas Ben Rodriguez

This week we are talking with Texas Ben Rodriguez. He is a blue belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu in Vista, CA. He has been one of my training partners for the last year or so, and unfortunately, he will be leaving us and moving on to the next phase in his life and career on the East Coast. I'm glad we had the opportunity to sit down and talk about how his Jiu Jitsu game has evolved during his time with North Coast and his plan to restart training once he gets settled in at his new ...

Ep. 29 Texas Ben Rodriguez

This week we are talking with Texas Ben Rodriguez. He is a blue belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu in Vista, CA. He has been one of my training partners for the last year or so, and unfortunately, he will be leaving us and moving on to the next phase in his life and career on the East Coast. I'm glad we had the opportunity to sit down and talk about how his Jiu Jitsu game has evolved during his time with North Coast and his plan to restart training once he gets settled in at his new ...

28: Shaun Skelton

This week we talk with Shaun Skelton, a purple belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Shaun takes some time to speak with us about his journey, his life, and his perspective on how we keep moving forward through hardship in life and on the mats. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

28: Shaun Skelton

This week we talk with Shaun Skelton, a purple belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Shaun takes some time to speak with us about his journey, his life, and his perspective on how we keep moving forward through hardship in life and on the mats. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

Ep: 28 Shaun Skelton

This week we talk with Shaun Skelton, a purple belt training out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu. Shaun takes some time to speak with us about his journey, his life, and his perspective on how we keep moving forward through hardship in life and on the mats. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. We will see you on the mats!!! 

27: Charles Bannerman

This week Charles and I talked about mindset, competition, and the benefits of jiu jitsu. We also spent much of our time talking about how helping others helps you. We hope you enjoy the conversation! 

Ep: 27 Charles Bannerman

This week Charles and I talked about mindset, competition, and the benefits of jiu jitsu. We also spent much of our time talking about how helping others helps you. We hope you enjoy the conversation! 

26: No Gi Billy

Today we talk with No Gi Billy out of North Coast Jiu Jitsu about his years training and what keeps him on the mats. We had a great conversation about transitioning from belt to belt, diet, and training outside of jiu jitsu. We hope you enjoy the discussion!