BJJ Mental Models
295 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 191 ratingsExplore the conceptual side of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Black belt Steve Kwan and a slate of expert guests discuss the mental models, or universal principles, behind the gentle art.
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Episodes
Ep. 281: Safe Stacking, feat. Mike "Dr. Kickass" Piekarski
April 22, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 41.5 MBThis week we're joined again by Dr. Mike Piekarski! Better known as "Doctor Kickass" on Instagram, Mike is a BJJ black belt under Henry Akins and is a Doctor of Physical Therapy. In this episode, we discuss ways to safely apply the stack pass and reduce your risk of injury while defending it. Follow Mike on social: https://www.instagram.com/doctor_kickass https://www.facebook.com/mike.piekarski.50 Work with Mike: https://linktr.ee/doctor_kickass Mental models discussed in this episode: ...
Ep. 280: Simplifying the Art, feat. Giles Garcia
April 15, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 62.1 MBThis week we're joined by Giles Garcia! Giles is the head coach at Ronin Grappling in Glasgow, Scotland. In this episode, Giles explains why it's so important that coaches help their students simplify their thinking surrounding Jiu-Jitsu. Follow Giles on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/el_guanche Train with Giles at Ronin Grappling: https://roningrappling.com/ Learn from Giles online at BJJ Codex: https://www.bjjcodex.com/ Resources discussed in this episode: White Belt Survival ...
Ep. 279: Passing Strategies, feat. Stuart Cooper
April 08, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 42 MBThis week we're joined by Stuart Cooper! Stuart is best known for his incredible Jiu-Jitsu documentaries, but he's also an outstanding black belt with a deadly guard passing game. In this episode, Stuart joins us to discuss some of the best styles and strategies for passing the guard. Follow Stuart on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stuartcooperfilms Subscribe to Stuart's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/stuartcooperfilms Support Stuart's work on Patreon: https://www.p...
BONUS: Grappling With Confidence, feat. Jozef Chen
April 02, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 44.4 MBWe're giving you a bonus episode because yesterday's release was an April Fools' Day joke. 🤣 This episode is the second in a new BJJ Mental Models Premium series: Grappling With Confidence. In this episode, we're joined by breakout star and 2023 ADCC European champion Jozef Chen! Jozef discusses the importance of confidence for building resilience, the challenges faced by high-profile grapplers, and strategies for compartmentalization. Follow Jozef on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com...
Ep. 278: Offensive BJJ, feat. Priit Mihkelson
April 01, 2024 07:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MBThis week we're joined again by Priit Mihkelson, formerly of Defensive BJJ! In this episode, Priit shares some shocking news: he is abandoning his study of defensive Jiu-Jitsu. We discuss Priit's new focus on 100% offensive BJJ, including topics such as: flash submissions, attacking from inside the guard, winning by injury stoppage, and biting mechanics. Follow Priit on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priit_mihkelson Sign up for Defensive BJJ (soon to be rebranded Offensive BJJ): ht...
Ep. 277: The Jiu-Jitsu "Happy Pill," feat. Mike Jaramillo
March 25, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 42.7 MBThis week we're joined by Mike Jaramillo! Mike is John Danaher's first black belt and the advanced no gi instructor at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York. In this episode, Mike discusses Jiu-Jitsu's power as a "happy pill" to enhance mental health, combat depression, and bring people together. Follow Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikejaramillo_bjj Follow The Happy Pill Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehappypillproject Support The Happy Pill Project: ht...
BONUS: Marcelo Garcia on The Highest Levels
March 21, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 66 MBThis episode was originally for BJJ Mental Models Premium subscribers, but you're getting it for free! The Highest Levels is a BJJMM Premium podcast on peak performance hosted by Emily Kwok and Joe Hannan. In this episode, Emily is joined by arguably the greatest pound-for-pound grappler in the history of the sport, Marcelo Garcia. I really don't have any words to describe this one - give it a listen. Follow Marcelo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcelogarciajiujitsu/ Follow E...
Ep. 276: Polarity Mapping, feat. Emily Kwok
March 18, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 40.8 MBThis week we're joined again by Emily Kwok! Emily is a peak performance consultant and multi-time BJJ black belt world champion representing Marcelo Garcia. In this episode, Emily introduces polarity mapping: a powerful tool for understanding nuance and breaking through either/or thinking. We discuss polarities in Jiu-Jitsu, such as: tension/slack, fast/slow, retraction/extension, holding on/letting go, and concepts/techniques. Emily's website: https://www.emilykwok.com/ Emily's Instagr...
Ep. 275: Submission Series: The Roadhouse Choke, feat. Rob Biernacki
March 11, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBThis week we're joined again by Rob Biernacki! Fresh off winning his first world championship at 2023 IBJJF No Gi Worlds in the masters 4 black belt middleweight division, Rob joins us to unveil a new submission he's been developing for the past year: the roadhouse choke. It's a modified throat post choke that Rob recently used successfully in competition, and it's surprisingly legal under most rulesets. Watch Rob's demonstration of the roadhouse choke: https://youtu.be/5-WKLUfG2H4 Watch...
Getting the most from BJJ Mental Models
March 06, 2024 01:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBWe make a LOT of educational Jiu-Jitsu content here at BJJ Mental Models! Whether you're into our free resources or a BJJMM Premium subscriber, here's a playbook on how to best use ALL our content to become a better grappler. Watch this on YouTube to see the visuals: https://youtu.be/4vbreoHjVR8 Here's a link to the course mentioned in this episode: https://bit.ly/436VPrb Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium! If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium mem...
Ep. 274: How Coaches Communicate, feat. David Porter
March 04, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBThis week we're joined by David Porter! David is a black belt under Pedro Sauer and manages XCAL Martial Arts in Ashburn, Virginia. In this episode, David discusses the importance of choosing your coaching language carefully. David shares best practices such as: focusing on evergreen mechanics, clarity in language, aligning with student goals, avoiding complacency, and naming conventions. Follow David on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanky_mongoose Train with David at XCAL: http...
Ep. 273: Position as Submission, feat. Sebastian Brosche
February 26, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 44.2 MBThis week we're joined by black belt and Yoga for BJJ founder Sebastian Brosche! Sebastian joins us to break down one of our favorite strategies: position as submission. The meta is increasingly evolving to appreciate the importance of submission-level pressure. In this episode, we explain why that is and how to do it. Follow Sebastian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogaforbjj Subscribe to Yoga for BJJ on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/yogaforbjj Join Yoga for BJJ: http...
Ep. 272: Common Jiu-Jitsu Mistakes, feat. Matt Kwan
February 19, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 49.6 MBThis week, Brother Matt joins us again to break down common Jiu-Jitsu mistakes such as failing to regulate tension, failing to fight for the inside channel, failing to manage the distance, failing to set goals, believing your coach knows everything, and failing to clear your trademark with JT Torres. Follow Matt on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onguardbjj Join the On Guard BJJ Online Academy: https://onguardbjj.com/p/online Resources mentioned in this episode: The Fastest Way: To ...
Ep. 271: High-Functioning Anxiety in BJJ, feat. Kristina Barlaan
February 12, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 44.2 MBThis week we're joined again by Kristina Barlaan! Kristina is a black belt under Caio Terra, and is a passionate advocate for mental health in the Jiu-Jitsu community. In this episode, Kristina joins us to speak candidly about her personal experiences with high-functioning anxiety as a Jiu-Jitsu coach and athlete. Follow Kristina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kbjiujitsu Email Kristina: [email protected] Connect with Erin Herle for mental performance coaching: https://er...
Ep. 270: The 3 Joint Rule, feat. Jeff Shaw
February 05, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 49.8 MBThis week we're joined again by Jeff Shaw! Jeff is the head instructor at Bellingham BJJ and the co-creator of the "Creating Gym Culture" series on BJJ Mental Models Premium. In this episode, Jeff joins us to break down the 3 Joint Rule: a critical mental model for understanding how to control your opponent's limbs. Follow Jeff and Bellingham BJJ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffmshaw https://www.instagram.com/bellinghambjj Train with Jeff at Bellingham BJJ: https://bellingham...
Ep. 269: Position Series: The Honey Badger, feat. Josh "Kintanon" Wentworth
January 29, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 44.9 MBThis week we're joined again by Josh "Kintanon" Wentworth! Josh joins us to break down a powerful and underloved position: the honey badger. This is effectively when you "turtle" inside your opponent's guard and dig for a double under or stack pass. It's an amazing tactic for opening and passing the guard, especially against larger opponents. Follow Josh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apexconyers/ Argue with Josh on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/kintanon Train with Josh ...
Ep. 268: When to Optimize, feat. Edwin "Junny" Ocasio
January 22, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 46.1 MBThis week we're joined by Edwin "Junny" Ocasio! Fresh off his first world championship win, Junny joins us to expand on a conversation he had with Emily Kwok on The Highest Levels (an ongoing BJJMM Premium podcast). In this episode, Junny explains how he thinks about optimization, when to dig deeper into optimizing an area of his game, and how to avoid over-optimizing. Follow Junny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junny_bjj Subscribe to Junny's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube...
Ep. 267: Jiu-Jitsu Mythbusting, feat. Greg Souders
January 15, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 47.4 MBThis week we're joined again by Greg Souders! In this episode, Greg joins us to bust some common Jiu-Jitsu myths, including: the "win or learn" debate, why teaching with "training wheels" doesn't work, the problem with instructionals, and whether belts matter. Follow Greg and Standard Jiu-Jitsu on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gdsouders https://www.instagram.com/standardjiujitsu Resources discussed in this episode: BJJMM Ep. 203: Evidence-Based Coaching, feat. Greg Souders https:/...
Ep. 266: From Student to Teacher, feat. Alec Baulding
January 08, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 46.3 MBThis week we're joined by Alec Baulding! Alec is a black belt under Romero Cavalcanti, an accomplished competitor, and a reputed YouTube content creator. In this episode, Alec shares his thoughts on the journey from Jiu-Jitsu student to teacher. Subscribe to Alec's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AlecBaulding Follow Alec on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alecbaulding Get Alec's instructionals on his website and BJJ Fanatics: https://www.alecbaulding.com/ https://bjjfana...
Ep. 265: Mental Toughness, feat. Erin Herle
January 01, 2024 08:00 - 1 hour - 42.7 MBThis week we're joined again by Erin Herle! Erin is a black belt under Rubens Charles "Cobrinha" and is the founder of #SubmitTheStigma. She's also a mental performance consultant with a Master of Science in Sport and Performance Psychology, which is relevant to our topic of conversation today. In this episode, Erin talks about mental toughness. She explains how mental toughness is an attribute you can train, how many people define it incorrectly, and what to expect when you work with a ...
Ep. 264: Teaching Submissions First, feat. Priit Mihkelson
December 25, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 48.9 MBThis week we're joined again by Priit Mihkelson! In this episode, Priit reveals something surprising about the way he runs his gym: he teaches submissions first! This is pretty funny and surprising coming from "the Defensive BJJ guy," but there's a good reason why he does things this way. Listen to learn why. Follow Priit on social: https://www.facebook.com/priit.mihkelson https://www.instagram.com/priit_mihkelson Learn from Priit on Defensive BJJ: https://www.defensivebjj.com/ Mental ...
Ep. 263: The Knee Slice, feat. Heather Morgan
December 18, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 41.9 MBThis week we're joined by Heather Morgan! Heather is a BJJ black belt under André Galvão and a prominent online instructor. In this episode, Heather discusses how she attacks from her favorite guard pass: the knee slice. Follow Heather on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_morganbjj/ Subscribe to Heather on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CaptMorgan0820 Check out Heather's knee slice course: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/kneecutcrashcourse Mental models discussed in this e...
Ep. 262: Gamification, feat. Rob Biernacki
December 11, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 50.5 MBThis week we're joined again by Rob Biernacki! In this episode, Rob talks about the concept of gamification, how it optimizes learning, and how both students and coaches can gamify Jiu-Jitsu. Keep an eye on Grapplearts for Rob's upcoming gamification instructional: https://grapplearts.com/ Learn from Rob at BJJ Concepts: https://bjjconcepts.net/ Follow Rob on Instagram: https://instagram.com/islandtopteam Train with Rob at Island Top Team: https://islandtopteam.com/ Resources mentione...
Ep. 261: Business, Balance, and BJJ, feat. Victor Hugo
December 04, 2023 08:00 - 53 minutes - 36.5 MBThis week we're joined by Victor Hugo! Victor is a black belt under the Ribeiro brothers and a multi-time ultra heavyweight world champion. He's also an accomplished businessperson, being both the head coach at Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu in Lake Travis and the founder of several online Jiu-Jitsu brands. In this episode, the big man shares some incredible insights on the intersections between the worlds of business and BJJ. Victor explains how he balances all these projects, how his businesses ...
Ep. 260: Ecological Dynamics for Pragmatists, feat. Scott Sievewright
November 27, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 50.2 MBThis week we're joined by Scott Sievewright! Scott is the head coach at Primal MKE in Milwaukee and the host of the Primal MMA Coaching Podcast. In this episode, Scott shares his pragmatic take on ecological dynamics for beginners and coaches alike. It's a great gentle introduction to eco, covering topics such as: how eco differs from traditional methods, the importance of making mistakes, and why we shouldn't be afraid of developing bad habits. Follow Scott and Primal MKE on Instagram: ...
Ep. 259: Training with Giants, feat. Dorothy Dao
November 20, 2023 08:00 - 59 minutes - 40.6 MBThis week we're joined by Dorothy Dao! Dorothy is a competition black belt now training under the Mendes brothers out of AOJ in Costa Mesa, California. Previously Dorothy had trained mostly with larger partners, but at AOJ she's found an elite competition team within her own weight class. In this episode, Dorothy shares how she's found success training with both much larger partners and also competitive athletes her own size. Follow Dorothy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/not_dor...
Ep. 258: Self-Organization, feat. Lachlan Giles
November 13, 2023 08:00 - 53 minutes - 36.9 MBThis week we're joined again by Lachlan Giles! In this episode, Lachlan talks about the philosophy of self-organization, where students take ownership of their own learning journey. We also touch on use cases for Lachlan's amazing platform SUBMETA and his thoughts on ecological dynamics in BJJ. Learn with Lachlan on SUBMETA: https://submeta.io/ Follow Lachlan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lachlan_giles/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Self-Organization https://bjjmen...
Ep. 257: Mindset for Betas, feat. Rob Biernacki
November 06, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 45.7 MBThis week we're joined again by Rob Biernacki! Rob is fresh off an amazing performance at ADCC Open Canada 2023, where he won gold in the Masters division and Island Top Team took the #1 overall adult team rating. What makes this so impressive is that in addition to being a small team, they're also mostly hobbyists. In this episode, Rob breaks down his competition mindset: a rejection of the "alpha" tropes we see all over social media. Rob's approach is about trusting in your training, b...
Ep. 256: Rolling Back Takes, feat. Stephan Kesting
October 30, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 47.4 MBThis week we're joined again by Stephan Kesting! In this episode, the legendary Grapplearts instructor breaks down key concepts from his latest instructional, Rolling Backtakes for Everyone. Follow Stephan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting/ Resources mentioned in this episode: The Dope Mount, The Easiest Way to Get to the Mount —Stephan Kesting https://youtu.be/hhZx5ZFhSQw Rolling Backtakes for Everyone, by Stephan Kesting https://www.grapplearts.com/rolling-backta...
Ep. 255: Blending Judo/Wrestling/BJJ, feat. Chris Wojcik
October 23, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 42.4 MBThis week we're joined by Chris Wojcik! Chris is a black belt under Jeff Serafin, an accomplished competitor, and the writer of the popular BJJ newsletter The Grappler's Diary. In this episode, Chris talks about the evolving standup game in competition Jiu-Jitsu, involving a hybrid of wrestling, Judo, and BJJ. Subscribe to the Grappler's Diary on Substack: https://chrismwojcik.substack.com/ Get Chris' free ebook: https://christophermwojcik.com/learn-bjj-faster/ Follow Chris on Instagra...
Ep. 254: Impostor Syndrome, feat. Drew "Darce_Knight" Foster
October 16, 2023 07:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MBThis week we're joined again by Drew Foster! Drew Foster is a black belt instructor at Elevate MMA in North Carolina, the host of The Neon Belly Podcast, and a frequent contributor on /r/bjj under the alias Darce_Knight. In this episode, Drew discusses a topic we've wanted to get into for a long time: impostor syndrome. Oxford Dictionary defines impostor syndrome as "the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's o...
Ep. 253: Finding Your Why, feat. Joe Hannan
October 09, 2023 07:00 - 58 minutes - 40 MBIn this episode, we're joined by Joe Hannan! Joe is a BJJ black belt under Emily Kwok, the founder of BJJ Meditations, and the co-host of The Highest Levels on BJJ Mental Models Premium. In this episode, Joe discusses the importance of finding meaning in your Jiu-Jitsu journey. Follow Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bjj_meditations/ Listen to the BJJ Meditations Podcast: https://www.bjjmeditations.com/podcast Subscribe to BJJ Meditations on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/...
Ep. 252: Ecological Drilling for Snobs, feat. Matt Kwan
October 02, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 49.5 MBIn this episode, Brother Matt joins us to discuss his coaching experience with ecological dynamics and drilling. We also get into whether the discourse surrounding the ecological approach in Jiu-Jitsu is productive or toxic. Check out The Essential Jiu-Jitsu Podcast with Brother Matt: https://ejjp.show/ Subscribe to EJJP on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheEssentialJiuJitsuPodcast Check out the On Guard online academy: https://onguardbjj.com/ Zara Can Do Jiu-Jitsu: https://amzn.to/46tAC...
Ep. 251: The Ladder System for Guard Passing, feat. Kristian Woodmansee
September 25, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 44.8 MBThis week we're joined by Kristian Woodmansee! Kristian is a black belt under André Galvão, the founder of Logic BJJ Online, and the head instructor at Logic Philly. In this episode, Kristian explains his ladder system for guard passing: a simple concept that helps anyone better understand best practices for passing the guard. Follow Kristian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/logicbjjonline/ Subscribe to Logic BJJ Online: https://logicbjjonline.com/ Train with Kristian at Logic Ph...
Ep. 250: Work-Life Balance, feat. Riley Stearns
September 18, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 41.5 MBThis week we're joined by Riley Stearns! Riley is a BJJ black belt under Shawn Williams, and a film director best known for The Art of Self-Defense, starring Jesse Eisenberg. In this episode, Riley shares his advice on achieving work-life balance, and how to maximize your enjoyment of Jiu-Jitsu without letting it take over your life. Follow Riley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rileystearns/ Check out Riley's Jiu-Jitsu project, Hobbyist: https://www.instagram.com/hobbyistinc/ Wa...
Ep. 249: Creating Luck, feat. Wesley "LambySeries" Seek
September 11, 2023 07:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MB"I truly believe I can create luck." That's something you'll hear if you listen to interviews with Wesley Seek. Wesley, better known by his handle LambySeries - or Lamby for short - is a world-class competitive card gamer, previously achieving Grandmaster status in Hearthstone and currently considered the best Marvel Snap player in the world. This episode serves two purposes. First, to feed Steve's crippling Marvel Snap addiction. And second, to give Lamby a platform to share his sport-agn...
Ep. 248: The Closed Loop Strategy, feat. Shawn Williams
September 04, 2023 07:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBThis week we're joined by Shawn Williams! Shawn is a black belt under Renzo Gracie, and is both a renowned competitor and teacher. In this episode, Shawn Williams explains his "closed loop" strategy for Jiu-Jitsu, wherein you're always advancing without compromising position. Follow Shawn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnwilliamsbjj/ Visit Shawn's website: https://shawnwilliamsbjj.tv/ Visit Shawn's digital academy: https://jiujitsuedu.com/ Buy Shawn's instructionals: https:...
Ep. 247: The Importance of Wrestling, feat. Anthony Birchak
August 28, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 43.7 MBThis week we're joined by Anthony "El Toro" Birchak! Anthony is a UFC, Bellator, and Rizin MMA veteran, as well as a BJJ black belt under Casey Halstead. In this episode, Anthony draws on his wrestling background to explain the importance of wrestling, both mentally and technically, in Jiu-Jitsu. Follow Anthony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abirchakmma/ Follow Anthony on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnthonyBirchak/ Train with Anthony at 10th Planet Tucson: https://www.10...
Ep. 246: Keep it Playful, feat. Alexander Darwin
August 21, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 43.1 MBThis week we're joined by Alexander Darwin! Alexander is a black belt at Boston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is best known as the author of the BJJ-inspired sci-fi/fantasy novel, The Combat Codes. In this episode, Alexander talks about the ethos of keeping it playful: a statement we've all heard before, but also a philosophy that significantly increases your enjoyment of — and performance in — Jiu-Jitsu over the long term. Follow Alexander and The Combat Codes on social: https://www.instagram....
Ep. 245: Overcoming Obstacles, feat. Shama Ko
August 14, 2023 07:00 - 58 minutes - 40 MBThis week we're joined by Shama Ko! Shama is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Penny Thomas and is best known for her role as Program Director at Girls in Gis. In this episode, Shama shares advice on the obstacles we encounter in our Jiu-Jitsu journey, and the power of community in overcoming them. Follow Shama on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamasko/ Visit the Girls in Gis website: https://www.girls-in-gis.com/ Follow Girls in Gis on social: https://www.instagram.com/girl...
Ep. 244: Lean Learning, feat. Shanti Abelha
August 07, 2023 07:00 - 54 minutes - 37.8 MBThis week we're joined by Shanti Abelha! Shanti is a multi-time black belt world champion, management consultant, and head coach at Hive BJJ in Copenhagen. In this episode, Shanti draws upon her business management experience to introduce lean methodologies and explain how they can transfer to skill development in BJJ. Follow Shanti on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shantibjj/ Train with Shanti at Hive BJJ: https://hivebjj.com/ Resources discussed in this episode: Toyota Kata, fe...
Ep. 243: Overcoming Trauma Through Jiu-Jitsu, feat. David Figueroa-Martinez
July 31, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBThis week we're joined by David Figueroa-Martinez! David is a black belt, instructor, and writer training out of Gracie La Mesa in California. In this episode, David discusses how Jiu-Jitsu, while not a replacement for therapy, can still be a powerful tool for assisting in trauma recovery. Follow David on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dfm.2099/ David's website: https://dfm2099.me/ Dawnbreakers BJJ: https://www.dawnbreakersbjj.com/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Mindfu...
Ep. 242: Position Series: The Lockdown, feat. Brandon Mccaghren
July 24, 2023 07:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MBThis week we're joined again by Brandon Mccaghren! In this episode, Brandon breaks down the concepts behind an essential 10th Planet guard: the lockdown. Follow Brandon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonmc.ninja/ Subscribe to Brandon's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@brandonmcninja Get Brandon's lockdown instructional at BMAC academy: https://bmac.mykajabi.com/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Prevention Over Cure https://bjjmentalmodels.com/prevention-ov...
Ep. 241: The Confident Mind, feat. Nate Zinsser
July 17, 2023 07:00 - 54 minutes - 37.2 MBThis week we're joined by Dr. Nate Zinsser! Nate shares the confidence-building guidance from his essential book, The Confident Mind. Get Nate's book, The Confident Mind: https://www.natezinsser.com/book Nate's website: https://www.natezinsser.com/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Growth Mindset https://bjjmentalmodels.com/growth-mindset/ Mental Gatekeeping https://bjjmentalmodels.com/mental-gatekeeping/ Self-Competition https://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-competition/ Habits Ov...
Ep. 240: Position Series: Sideways Open Guard, feat. Priit Mihkelson
July 10, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 41.7 MBThis week we're joined by Priit Mihkelson! In this episode, Priit explains recent developments in what he calls "sideways open guard:" a supine guard where your body is tilted to the side. It's an emerging position being used by competitors such as Lachlan Giles. Follow Priit on social: https://www.instagram.com/priit_mihkelson/ https://www.facebook.com/priit.mihkelson/ Sideways Open Guard — BJJ Fanatics: https://bit.ly/46HGUFi Defensive BJJ: https://www.defensivebjj.com/ Resources ref...
Ep. 239: BJJ Careers for Regular People, feat. Greg Sirico
July 03, 2023 07:00 - 59 minutes - 41.1 MBThis week we're joined by Greg Sirico! Greg is a Marcelo Garcia black belt and is the head instructor at Odyssey BJJ in Atlanta, Georgia. In this episode, Greg explains how regular folks who aren't BJJ celebrities or world champions can build successful and thriving Jiu-Jitsu careers. Follow Greg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregsirico/ Follow Odyssey BJJ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/odysseyjiujitsu/ Odyssey BJJ website: https://odysseybjj.com/ Mental models discu...
Ep. 238: Performance Nutrition for Regular People, feat. Steph Gaudreau
June 26, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 50 MBThis week we're joined by Steph Gaudreau! Steph is a popular strength coach, performance nutritionist, and Jiu-Jitsu athlete. In this episode, Steph shares her playbook on performance nutrition for "regular people:" those of us who train for fun and not as a profession. Follow Steph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steph_gaudreau/ Steph's website: https://www.stephgaudreau.com/ Listen to Steph on the Fuel Your Strength Podcast: https://www.stephgaudreau.com/fuel-your-strength-pod...
Ep. 237: Losing Yourself, feat. Mandy Schneider
June 19, 2023 07:00 - 55 minutes - 38 MBThis week we're joined by Mandy Schneider! Mandy is an up-and-coming young competitive Jiu-Jitsu athlete training out of Dallas, Texas. Despite her young age, she's no stranger to adversity: Mandy has been very vocal about her personal experiences with the dark side of Jiu-Jitsu, including her battles with predatory instructors and mental health. Recently, Mandy shared that she "lost sight of herself for awhile" due to the pressures from full-time competition and her personal life. In th...
Ep. 236: Empathy, feat. Valerie Worthington
June 12, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 44.3 MBThis week we're joined again by Valerie "Valhalla" Worthington! In addition to being a black belt and OG in women's BJJ, Valerie holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and teaches coaching at Saybrook University. In this episode, Valerie explains the importance of empathetic thinking for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coaches and students alike. Follow Valerie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worthingtonvalerie/ Email Valerie: [email protected] Resources discussed in this episo...
Ep. 235: Bad Marriage Jiu-Jitsu, feat. Gant Grimes
June 05, 2023 07:00 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBThis week we're joined by Gant Grimes! Gant is a black belt training out of Red River Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Wichita Falls, Texas. He holds black belts in BJJ, JJJ, and Judo, and has 30 years of martial arts experience. In this episode, Gant shares his belief that good Jiu-Jitsu looks like a bad marriage: know what makes them happy, and take it away. Contact Gant: [email protected] Mental models discussed in this episode: Theory of Alignment https://bjjmentalmodels.com/theory-of-alig...