In this week's mini-episode we discuss the importance of controlled breathing when sparring. Managing your breath effectively creates a positive ripple effect in your Jiu-Jitsu performance by reducing anxiety, avoiding adrenaline dumping, and concealing your emotional state from your opponent. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Resources mentioned in this episode: Mini Ep. 55: Staying Loose https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161...
May 29, 2025•6 min
This week we're joined by Brennan Strimple! Brennan is the black belt head coach at RPMA (Rochester Phoenix Martial Arts). In this episode, Brennan shares his playbook for building a thriving kids' Jiu-Jitsu program, as well as leading the development of affordable kids' tournament circuits in the local community. Follow RPMA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rphxma Train at RPMA in Rochester, NY: https://rochesterjiujitsu.com/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Abundance Mindset htt...
May 26, 2025•51 min•Ep. 339
In this week's mini-episode we discuss the importance of staying loose when sparring. Being relaxed makes it easier to conserve energy, avoid being controlled, and conceal your intentions. There are times to be tense, such as when completing a throw or finishing a submission, but your "default mode" should be staying loose. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium! If you love the podcas...
May 22, 2025•5 min
This week we're joined by Timothy Lee Peterson! In this episode, Timothy explains why gaze tracking — or where your eyes are looking — is a surprisingly important aspect of Jiu-Jitsu. Follow Timothy on social media: https://www.instagram.com/timothyleepeterson https://www.threads.com/@timothyleepeterson Resources discussed in this episode: Free+Style: Maximize Sport and Life Performance with Four Basic Movements, by Carl Paoli https://www.amazon.com/dp/1628600209 Mental models discussed in this ...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 338
In this week's mini-episode we discuss controlling the distance, a key lesson in most martial arts, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As general advice, many instructors will coach you to close the distance when attacking and make space when defending. While this is often true, in this mini-episode we'll explore the exceptions to that rule and settle on a more general guideline for controlling the distance: find the distance where you can control them but they can't control you. Get our Intro to Me...
May 15, 2025•9 min
This week we're joined again by Charles Harriott! In this episode, Charles discusses the problem of "gatekeepers" in Jiu-Jitsu, or people who try to enforce their way of thinking over others. Charles explores how gatekeeping can shut down creativity, personal development, and fun. Follow Charles on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlesharriott Charles Harriott's website: https://charlesharriott.com/ Get Charles' instructionals on BJJ Fanatics: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/dvd/fight...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 337
In this week's mini-episode we discuss kuzushi, the Japanese concept of breaking balance! Kuzushi is critical in Judo, but it's just as important in Jiu-Jitsu — both standing and on the ground. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Resources discussed in this episode: Mini Ep. 51: Technique Chaining https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/17035097-mini-ep-51-technique-chaining Mini Ep. 52: Shifting Platforms https://podcast...
May 08, 2025•6 min
This week we're joined by the founders of Inverted Gear: Hillary Witt and Nelson Puentes! Three years ago, Hillary and Nelson took the Inverted Gear brand beyond Jiu-Jitsu equipment and opened a physical academy in Pennsylvania! In this episode, Hillary and Nelson share key lessons learned from their journey into academy ownership. Follow Inverted Gear on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invertedgear Train at Inverted Gear Academy in Bethlehem, PA: https://www.invertedgearacademy.com/ Shop I...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 336
In this week's mini-episode we discuss shifting platforms, wherein you as the bottom player use continuous movement to prevent your opponent from fully establishing their base on top of you. Moving away from big, explosive escape attempts and toward smaller, continuous movement makes a huge difference in your success from bottom positions. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium! If you...
May 01, 2025•11 min
This week we're joined again by Erin Herle! In this episode, Erin introduces the PLAY framework and explains why humor is a fundamental element of good culture and learning. Follow Erin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinherle/ Get Erin's new book, If You’re Not Laughing, You’re Losing: https://amzn.to/4jP5x8K Work with Erin: https://www.erinherle.com/ http://highmentalperformance.com/ Resources mentioned in this episode: Humor Styles Questionnaire, by Rod A. Martin, PhD: http...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 335
In this week's mini-episode we explain the importance of technique chaining, and why "Jiu-Jitsu is the space between the techniques." Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium! If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community...
Apr 24, 2025•10 min
This week we're joined by two BJJMM alumni: Josh Vogel and Dr. Mike Israetel! In this episode, Josh and Mike discuss the unique way they build gameplans at The Jiu-Jitsu Company. Follow Josh and Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshrvogel https://www.instagram.com/drmikeisraetel Subscribe to Josh and Mike on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thejiujitsucompany https://www.youtube.com/@RenaissancePeriodization Get Josh's instructional, 90 Day Project Based Jiu Jitsu: https:/...
Apr 21, 2025•57 min•Ep. 334
In this week's mini-episode we explain the phases of passing: disentangle, control, pass. Resources mentioned in this episode: Mini Ep. 49: Phases of Guard https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/16950582-mini-ep-49-phases-of-guard Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium! If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The pod...
Apr 17, 2025•9 min
This week we're joined by Nick Volpe! Nick is the black belt head coach at Dark Bear Jiu-Jitsu in Staten Island, New York. In this episode, Nick explains how he makes Jiu-Jitsu coaching accessible to students and coaches of all experience levels. Topics include: self-organized learning, teaching the "why" behind techniques, the importance of timing, creating objectives that guide student progress, and layered difficulties during live resistance training. Follow Nick on Instagram: ...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 333
In this week's mini-episode we explain the phases of guard, as taught by Rob Biernacki: engagement, maintenance, and retention. Resources mentioned in this episode: BJJMM Ep. 16: Guard Series: Engagement Phase https://bjj.plus/16 BJJMM Ep. 17: Guard Series: Engagement Phase https://bjj.plus/17 BJJMM Ep. 18: Guard Series: Engagement Phase https://bjj.plus/18 Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Don't forget to check out BJJ M...
Apr 10, 2025•12 min
This week we're joined by Mo Black! As of this writing, Mo is a reigning champion at Main Character Jiu-Jitsu and an instructor at Tabula Rasa BJJ in Colorado Springs. In this episode, Mo shares key concepts behind one of her favorite Jiu-Jitsu skills: half guard passing. Follow Mo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mo.jiujitsu Train with Mo at Tabula Rasa BJJ in Colorado: https://tabsbjj.com/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Predictable Responses https://bjjmentalmodels.com/pr...
Apr 07, 2025•59 min•Ep. 332
In this week's mini-episode we explain kaizen, a Japanese concept translating roughly to "continuous improvement." Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium! If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our s...
Apr 03, 2025•6 min
In this bonus emergency episode, we're joined by legendary Jiu-Jitsu instructor Stephan Kesting to discuss the immediate dangers of the lapel guard position, why it is so harmful, and why the IBJJF must ban it immediately. Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium! If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our st...
Apr 01, 2025•35 min•Ep. 331
This week we're joined by Noah Shaffner and Greg Souders from Standard Jiu-Jitsu in Maryland! Noah shares his unique perspective as a competitor trained exclusively under the constraints-led approach (CLA) since he began grappling in 2021, while Greg describes Noah's journey from his coach's perspective. Follow Noah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noahshaffner/ Follow Greg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gdsouders/ Train with Noah and Greg at Standard Jiu-Jitsu in ...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 330
In this week's mini-episode we explain investing in loss, a learning mindset often attributed to Tai Chi and other internal martial arts. In his excellent book The Art of Learning, Josh Waitzkin discusses the concept and its relevance to the martial arts. Investing in loss means reframing our thinking to view failure as an investment in our skill development, rather than as a loss. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Don't ...
Mar 27, 2025•7 min
This week we're joined by Paul Kindzia, a BJJ black belt under Emily Kwok training out of Atlanta, Georgia. Most notably, he's a "homeschooled" black belt who carved out his own path in the art. Paul now trains out of a private gym, "The Bunker," that he built in his home. In this episode, Paul discusses how "rolling from home" has allowed him to take total ownership of who he trains with and who he learns from. Visit Paul's website: https://thebalanc...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 329
In this week's mini-episode, we explain beginner's mind! Known in Zen Buddhism as shoshin (初心), beginner's mind is a concept present in belief systems, philosophies, psychology, and martial arts. It teaches us to approach every learning opportunity with the curiosity and humility of a beginner. It's a mindset that helps us shelf the ego, focus on skill development, and better enjoy our training. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmod...
Mar 20, 2025•8 min
This week we're joined by Dr. Michael Israetel! Mike is a PhD in sport physiology and newly minted Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Josh Vogel. In this episode, Mike teaches the intricacies of training intensity in Jiu-Jitsu. Topics include: the different intensity zones (light, moderate, and hard), their respective roles in skill acquisition, training intensity during competition preparation, training strategies among partners of varying skill levels, the significance of developing a f...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 328
In this week's mini-episode, we explain spaced repetition! This concept helps us set a dynamic schedule for how frequently we should review old material to maximize our ability to recall information. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium! If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – ...
Mar 13, 2025•10 min
In this episode, legendary Jiu-Jitsu instructor Stephan Kesting joins us to discuss the concept of perseverance. It's both a critical mental model for success in martial arts, and also the title of his new Amazon best-selling book, Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic. Stephan shares his remarkable journey following a health crisis that led to kidney failure and transplant in 2015, his 1000-mile solo canoe trip through the Canadian North, and how these journeys translated to learni...
Mar 10, 2025•57 min•Ep. 327
In this week's mini-episode, we explain effortful retrieval! It's a concept from cognitive psychology proposing we can improve our ability to recall information — a critical skill during live rolling — by creating a recall practice that forces our brains to work. For more information on effortful retrieval, check out: BJJMM Ep. 287: Automatic Grappling, feat. Cal McDonald https://bjj.plus/287 Effortful Retrieval — BJJ Mental Models database https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/effortful-ret...
Mar 06, 2025•9 min
This week we're joined again by Rob Biernacki! Rob shares advice for getting the most out of BJJ gym drop-ins, seminars, and camps. Topics include the importance of prior communication before attending, safety and etiquette during training, addressing issues with aggressive partners, the mindset needed to ensure a positive experience, and Island Top Team's visiting student program. Contact Rob regarding his visiting student program on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islandtopteam ...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 326
In this week's mini-episode, we explain interleaving! It's a concept proposing we learn faster by cycling through several topics rather than focusing on a single one at a time. For example, instead of training AAA BBB CCC, we would train ABC ABC ABC. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium! If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offeri...
Feb 27, 2025•7 min
This week we're joined again by Mike Mahaffey! Best known as the "Old Bastard BJJ" guy, Mike joins us to discuss economy of motion in Jiu-Jitsu. We define economy of motion as: All else being equal, prefer the option that requires less movement. We unpack why this mental model is important, and how more athletic grapplers can violate this concept in favor of a movement-based game. Follow Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oldbastardbjj Check out upcoming BJJMM camps and ...
Feb 24, 2025•56 min•Ep. 325
In this week's mini-episode, we explain body tethering! When you clamp onto your opponent as you would via closed guard or a triangle choke, make sure that YOU control THEIR body's alignment, not the other way around. If they still have alignment they can pick you up, stack you, or slam you, which are especially dangerous if you're smaller. Don't be a tetherball! Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Don't forg...
Feb 20, 2025•7 min
