This 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...
Jun 19, 2023•55 min•Ep. 237
This 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...
Jun 12, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 236
This 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-alignment...
Jun 05, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 235
This week we're joined again by Jon Thomas! In this episode, Jon draws on his guard expertise to share mental models and best practices for gripfighting from the bottom. Follow Jon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonthomasbjj/ Subscribe to Jon's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JonThomasBJJ Check out Jon's website for instructionals: https://www.jonthomasbjj.com/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Controlling the Distance https://bjjmentalmodels.com/controll...
May 29, 2023•56 min•Ep. 234
Welcome to a BRAND NEW podcast for BJJ Mental Models Premium subscribers! Going forward you'll need to be a BJJMM Premium subscriber to get this podcast, but we're giving you this first episode for free! We're proud to introduce "Less Impressed More Instructionals," a new premium podcast by Jake Luigi. Jake is the mind behind Less Impressed More Involved, arguably the best analytical BJJ resource on YouTube. Once per month, Jake will give you his full recap on the instru...
May 24, 2023•22 min
This week we're joined again by Chris "The Villain" Paines! Chris is a BJJ Globetrotter and a black belt under Priit Mihkelson. In this week's episode, Chris shares his strategies for gripfighting from the top. Watch Chris' viral YouTube video, "How to Defend Everything:" https://youtu.be/BWitv9AKoNU Buy Chris' instructionals on BJJ Fanatics: https://bit.ly/43bQXzW Follow Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisvillainbjj/ Subscribe to Chris on ...
May 22, 2023•2 hr 33 min•Ep. 233
This week we're joined by Josh "Kintanon" Wentworth! Josh is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, the head instructor at Apex MMA in Georgia, and a longtime presence on forums like Bullshido and Reddit. Josh is a small guy in a gym full of giants, and normally competes at light featherweight. In this episode, Josh shares concepts and strategies for smaller grapplers who want to be effective against much larger opponents. Troll Josh on Reddit: https://reddit.com/u/kintanon Train with ...
May 15, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 232
This week we're joined by James "300" Foster! James is a 3x black belt masters world champion, 4th degree black belt under Giva Santana, and the head coach at Foster Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He's also a big boy! In this episode, James shares mental models and training strategies for larger grapplers. Follow James on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james300foster/ Subscribe to James' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@James300Foster Train with James: http://foster...
May 08, 2023•59 min•Ep. 231
This week we're joined again by Mike Mahaffey! In addition to being "the Old Bastard Jiu-Jitsu guy," Mike is a black belt under Chris Haueter. In this episode, Mike shares how all of us (especially us older grapplers) can reduce our risk of injury while remaining effective at Jiu-Jitsu. Follow Mike on Instagram: https://instagram.com/oldbastardbjj/ Listen to Mike's prior appearance on BJJMM: https://bjj.plus/191 Mental models discussed in this episode: Short-Term / Long-Term ...
May 01, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 230
This week we're joined again by fan-favorite Emily Kwok! Emily is a 4x black belt world champion (2x adult, 2x masters) and a black belt under Marcelo Garcia. In this episode, Emily explains how a mindset of abundance (as opposed to scarcity) is essential not just for our individual development, but also the development of the entire sport. Follow Emily on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilykwokbjj/ Connect with Emily for coaching: https://www.emilykwok.com/ Mental models discussed i...
Apr 24, 2023•2 hr 30 min•Ep. 229
This week we're joined by two living legends requiring no introduction: Dominyka Obelenyte and Rafael Lovato Jr.! Both multi-time world champions in their own right, Dominyka and Rafael lead an awesome panel conversation about how each generation of Jiu-Jitsu athletes inspires the next. Follow Dominyka on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/domdabomburmom/ Follow Rafael Lovato Jr. on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovatojrbjj/ Learn from Rafael Lovato Jr. on his site, Timeless Jiu-Ji...
Apr 17, 2023•2 hr 36 min•Ep. 228
This week we're joined by Josh McKinney! Josh is a coach at HeadnodHQ in Illinois and a black belt under Kyle Watson. In this episode, Josh talks about "designated winners," a collaborative training concept he popularized which has come up on BJJ Mental Models recently. Listen to Josh's podcast, the I Suck At Jiu-Jitsu Show: https://anchor.fm/isuckatjiujitsushow Train with Josh at HeadnodHQ in Illinois: https://headnodhq.com/ Follow Josh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.co...
Apr 10, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 227
This week we're joined again by two fan favorites, Rob Biernacki and Stephan Kesting! In this episode, Rob and Stephan discuss the evolving landscape of the leglock game and how things have changed in the past few years. Get Rob & Stephan's new instructional, Cutting Edge Leglocks: https://www.grapplearts.com/cutting-edge-leglocks/ Follow Rob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islandtopteam/ Follow Stephan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting/ Check out the ...
Apr 03, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 226
In this special episode, we're joined again by fan-favorite Rob Biernacki to announce his exciting new course. Follow Rob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islandtopteam/ 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 strategy courseware, and working with us to opti...
Apr 01, 2023•16 min•Ep. 225
This week we're joined again by Brother Matt! We have a great chat on mental models and strategies regarding waypoints, j-points, and positional camping. Zara Can Do Jiu Jitsu! by Matt Kwan: https://amzn.to/3Z7kR6e On Guard BJJ Online Academy: https://onguardbjj.com/p/online-academy Resources mentioned in this episode: Less Impressed More Involved — YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@LIMIBJJ Less Impressed More Half Guard Passing https://limibjj.mykajabi.com/ Jozef Chen on Instagram https://w...
Mar 27, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 224
This week we're joined by Thomas Rozdzynski! Thomas is the Head Instructor at RŌL Academy in Illinois, and is the host of the RŌL Radio podcast. In this episode, Thomas draws on his experience as a coach to teach how other coaches can maximize the success of their students. Follow Thomas on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozdzynskibjj/ Listen to Thomas on the RŌL Radio podcast: https://www.therolradio.com/ Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium! If you love the podc...
Mar 20, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 223
This week we're joined by Eli Knight! Eli is a black belt under Royce Gracie and is a prolific online BJJ instructor. In this episode, Eli breaks down concepts behind an underloved aspect of Jiu-Jitsu: compression locks. Follow Eli on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knight_jiu_jitsu_/ Subscribe to Eli on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KnightJiuJitsu Get Eli's Compression Locks instructional on BJJ Fanatics: https://bjjfanatics.com/products/crushing-compression-locks-by-eli-kni...
Mar 13, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 222
This week we're joined by Jozef Chen! Jozef is a member of the B Team and has been a BJJ Mental Models community member since the early days. Jozef is also known for how rapidly he developed his skillset as a Jiu-Jitsu athlete. In this episode, Jozef shares his method, with some great insights into Josh Waitzkin's work, growth versus performance, innovators versus honers, competitive esports, and other cool avenues you might not have considered in your learning journey. Follow Jozef on...
Mar 06, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 221
In this special bonus episode, Andrew Wiltse from Daisy Fresh and Wiltse Bros BJJ joins us for a raw and transparent conversation about mental health, the future of Jiu-Jitsu, and how we can best support our athletes. Wiltse Bros. on BJJ Fanatics: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_andrew-wiltse Wiltse Bros. on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WiltseBrothersBJJ Wiltse Bros. on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/WiltseBrothersBJJ/ Resource mentioned in this episode: ...
Mar 04, 2023•57 min
This week we're joined by Rachel Ranschau! Rachel is a black belt under André Galvão and an avid Jiu-Jitsu note-taker. In this episode, Rachel shares her approach to note-taking, and explains how it accelerates information retention and skill development. Follow Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelranschau/ Check out Rachel's Jiu Jitsu X instructional, Systematically Starting Sleeves: https://bit.ly/3Z6nwgA Mental models discussed in this episode: Effortful Retrieval h...
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 220
This week we're joined by Jake Luigi! Jake is best known as the creator of the hugely popular BJJ YouTube channel, Less Impressed More Involved. In this episode, Jake explains his analytical approach, which he used to create one of the most essential Jiu-Jitsu resources on YouTube. A great listen for anyone interested in research and tape study. Jake's YouTube channel - Less Impressed More Involved: https://www.youtube.com/@LIMIBJJ Jake's podcast - 1-800-BJJ-HELP: https://1800bjjh...
Feb 20, 2023•59 min•Ep. 219
This week we're joined by Amanda Bruse! Amanda is a new black belt under André Galvão, and just joined the BJJ Mental Models review team! In this episode, Amanda provides some great perspective on how competitors can navigate competition anxiety. Follow Amanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandabruse.bjj/ Book referenced on the podcast: Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi https://amzn.to/3W8v8xs Mental models discussed in this episode: Growth Fr...
Feb 13, 2023•59 min•Ep. 218
This week we're joined again by BJJMM team member and fan favorite Margot Ciccarelli! They call her "The Nomadic Mars" for a reason: Margot has lived the nomadic lifestyle and has trained at gyms all around the world. In this episode, Margot shares her tips for becoming a world-class athlete from anywhere in the world. Follow Margot on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margotciccarelli/ Get coaching from Margot: https://margotciccarelli.com/ Mental models discussed in this epis...
Feb 06, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 217
This week we're joined by Taylor Biagi! Taylor is the founder and head instructor at Taylor Biagi Jiu Jitsu in Chicago. In this episode, Steve and Taylor talk about how instructors learn, and how their learning journey is different from that of a student. Follow Taylor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorbiagibjj/ Taylor's website: https://taylorbiagijiujitsu.com/ Taylor's email: [email protected] Resources referenced in this podcast: The Danaher Diaries, by H...
Jan 30, 2023•54 min•Ep. 216
This week we're joined by Jorgen Matsi! Jorgen is an Estonian BJJ black belt with a background in sports psychology. In this episode, Jorgen explains how coaches and students can use incentive systems and triggers to direct skill development. Book referenced in this episode: Applying Educational Psychology in Coaching Athletes, by Jeffrey J. Huber https://amzn.to/3H6ZsUU Watch Jorgen teach on BJJ Globetrotters in Action: https://bit.ly/3ZIm1q4 Follow Jorgen on social media: https://www.inst...
Jan 23, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 215
This week we're joined by Justin Su'a! Justin is the Head of Mental Performance with the Tampa Bay Rays. In this episode, Justin draws on his world-class experience to discuss how coaches can help their athletes achieve peak performance. Follow Justin on social media: https://www.instagram.com/justinsua/ https://twitter.com/Justinsua https://www.facebook.com/justin.sua/ Books discussed in this episode: Mindset, by Carol Dweck https://amzn.to/3IJEXyE Flow, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi htt...
Jan 16, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 214
This week we're joined by Lyzz "Daemonette" Mitrovic! Fresh off winning gold in black belt masters at the 2022 IBJJF Worlds, Lyzz joins us to talk about something she (and all of us, really) battle with: perfectionism. Follow Lyzz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ms_daemonette/ Follow Lyzz on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ekfoster Mental models discussed in this episode: Consistency https://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistency/ Do What Works https://bjjmentalmodels.com/do-w...
Jan 09, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 213
This week we’re joined by Jordan Preisinger! Jordan is a BJJ black belt best known for his YouTube channel, Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu. In this episode, Jordan shares his thoughts on scrambles, and how to do them safely. Subscribe to Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JordanTeachesJiujitsu Listen to Jordan's podcast, Talk-Jitsu: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1992689 Follow Jordan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanteachesjiujitsu/ Mental models discussed in t...
Jan 02, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 212
This week we’re joined by Adam Haidary! Adam is the co-founder of Effective Fitness Combatives and the creator of the popular Instagram account PolicePosts. In this episode, Adam shares how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be integrated with law enforcement officer (LEO) training. Effective Fitness Combatives website: https://www.efcombatives.com/ Effective Fitness Combatives on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/efcombatives PolicePosts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/policeposts Effective Fit...
Dec 26, 2022•55 min•Ep. 211
This week we’re joined again by Dr. David Ley! Dr. Ley is a Gracie Barra black belt and a leading psychotherapist in New Mexico. In this episode, Dr. Ley gives us a primer on cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is an effective tool for treating anxiety, depression, and many mental health disorders. It’s also a great tool for general lifestyle and mindset improvement, and in this episode Dr. Ley shares some advice on how CBT can be beneficial to grapplers. Follow D...
Dec 19, 2022•54 min•Ep. 210
