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/p...
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•2 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
This week we're joined again by Josh "Kintanon" Wentworth from Apex MMA in Covington, Georgia! In this episode, Josh discusses "social contracts" in Jiu-Jitsu and how to break them. Social contracts are the unwritten rules we abide by, which often aren't actually rules. Social contracts can become invisible mental scripts and self-limiting habits that hold us back from our best performance in every roll. Follow Josh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apexconyer...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 324
In this week's mini-episode, we explain the concept of redundancies, or how to ensure you have backup options if your plan fails. There are two ways to create redundancies in your technique: by using multiple points of control, and by having a solid "plan B." 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 mem...
Feb 13, 2025•10 min
This week we're joined by a panel: Josh "Kintanon" Wentworth from Apex MMA and Jesse Walker from Rough Hands BJJ! In this episode, Josh and Jesse recap lessons learned from our most recent BJJ Mental Models camp in Georgia, and share best practices for running a collaborative camp and breaking from the traditional "one-man show" seminar structure. Follow Josh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apexconyers Train with Josh at Apex MMA in Covington, Georgia: https://ww...
Feb 10, 2025•57 min•Ep. 323
In this week's mini-episode, we explain the concept of placeholders. Think of positional advancement like climbing a ladder: one rung at a time, and never let go of both rungs at once! Don't abandon a point of control until you've got something equivalent or better. 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 prem...
Feb 06, 2025•7 min
This week we're joined by Marc Ste-Marie! Marc is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and the father of IBJJF "Queen" Brianna Ste-Marie. In this episode, Marc explains the concept of "technique zero," or how we can teach Jiu-Jitsu quicker by reverse engineering and mastering the point of entry. Follow Marc on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwiksub2021 Subscribe to Marc's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@marcstemarie6821 Resources discussed in this episod...
Feb 03, 2025•55 min•Ep. 322
In this week's mini-episode we explain the concept of surface area, or how much of your body is connected to your opponent when you apply force. You can create more pressure by applying maximal force through the smallest surface area. A classic example is the "shoulder of justice" side control crossface pin. We also discuss other benefits to minimizing surface area, and other types of pressure beyond the physics definition. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FR...
Jan 30, 2025•8 min
This week we're joined again by BJJ Mental Models sponsored athlete Chris Wojcik! In this episode, Chris breaks down the mechanics and meta relevance of his new signature move, the Woj Lock. Follow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrismwojcik Subscribe to Chris' newsletter, The Grappler's Diary: https://thegrapplersdiary.substack.com/ Buy Chris' book of the same name on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gc74Uh Buy Woj Lock the World on BJJ Fanatics: https://bit.ly/wojloc...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 321
In this week's mini-episode we explain ratchet control, a mental model that fine-tunes rotational submissions, especially the kimura. Ratchet control occurs when you force their limb into an "L" shape and rotate it like an Allen/hex key. 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...
Jan 23, 2025•6 min
This week we're joined by Scott Fritzinger! Scott is a BJJ black belt under Dave Camarillo and is the head instructor at Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu Academy Reno. In this episode, Scott discusses "the language of injury," or how our choice of words and delivery can change student behavior and influence the risk of injury in the gym. Follow Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu Academy Reno on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guerrillajjreno Train with Scott at Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu Academy Reno: https://...
Jan 20, 2025•52 min•Ep. 320
In this week's mini-episode we explain rotational control, a mental model that helps us better secure positions and complete submissions. Rotational control involves either preventing your opponent from rotating their torso, or allowing them to rotate so you can follow and improve your position. Achieving rotational control usually requires you to occupy their elbow-knee space along their torso, or restrict the movement of their far arm/leg so they can't spin. Get our Intro to Mechanic...
Jan 16, 2025•10 min
This week we're joined again by Eliot Marshall! Eliot is a BJJ black belt, retired UFC fighter, and owner of Easton Training Center in Colorado. In this episode, Eliot explains the 4 elements that every successful Jiu-Jitsu gym needs to nail: sales, marketing, product, and culture. Follow Eliot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firemarshall205 Train at Easton Training Center in Colorado: https://eastonbjj.com/ Grow your BJJ gym with Easton Online: https://www.easton.online/ Mental mod...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 319
In this week's mini-episode we explain waypoints, also known as "pitstops." Waypoints are positions of power where you are particularly well-trained, and feel comfortable that you can outgun your opponent due to experience and skill within the position. Waypoints aren't necessarily the common point-scoring positions, but can instead be "positions within positions" that occur along the way. Examples of common waypoints include the split squat, double unders, and tops...
Jan 09, 2025•7 min
This week we're joined again by Beatrice Jin! Beatrice is a black belt competitor and coach from Kogaion Academy in Arlington, Virginia. In this episode, we continue our conversation from Beatrice's last visit about how to "stop being nice" when sparring. Topics include the essential concepts of assertiveness and aggressiveness in BJJ, the cultural influences that shape one’s approach to the sport, the significance of a competitive mindset, the necessity of pushing personal b...
Jan 06, 2025•54 min•Ep. 318
In this week's mini-episode we explain tokui waza, a concept from Judo and traditional martial arts. Translating roughly to "favorited technique" or "special skill," tokui waza refers to the tendency of martial artists to develop and leverage a few techniques they're especially good at. Tokui waza is important to understand because it helps us break the misconception that the best in the world are good at everything. Much like the pro wrestlers, they develop "f...
Jan 02, 2025•7 min
