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
This week we're joined by Sheena Osborne! Sheena is an advanced care paramedic and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. In this episode, Sheena shares highlights from the stress management program she teaches to her fellow first responders. It's a great dive into human factors, stress response, and performance in stressful situations. Follow Sheena on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheena_osborne/ Follow Sheena on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheena.osborne.7 Headspace video ref...
Dec 12, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 209
This week we're joined again by fan-favorite Robert Degle! In this episode, Robert brings both his Jiu-Jitsu and philosophy backgrounds to the table to discuss some of the trickier questions around rules and ethics. What is stalling, and should there be rules against it? Is it acceptable to apply submissions with the intent to injure your opponent? And what changes could we make to the Jiu-Jitsu rulesets to be more in line with the spirit of the sport? Robert Degle's Instagram: https:/...
Dec 05, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 208
This week we’re joined by Kabir Bath! Kabir is a black belt under Rafael Lovato Jr., the Head of International at the Lovato Jiu-Jitsu Association, and the head instructor at Kaboom BJJ. Kabir’s gym is best known for its Kaboom Kids BJJ program, with currently over 300 child enrolments and still growing. In this episode, Kabir shares his framework for building a top-quality kids program that integrates best practices from ecological psychology and business administration. This episode is a must-...
Nov 28, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 207
This week we’re joined again by Dr. Rob Gray! Rob is an Associate Professor of Human Systems Engineering at Arizona State University, the host of the Perception & Action Podcast, and the author of How We Learn to Move: A Revolution in the Way We Coach & Practice Sports Skills. In this episode, Rob provides an introduction to the material covered in How We Learn to Move. We have a great conversation about ecological dynamics, the constraints-led approach, differential learning, and other ...
Nov 21, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 206
This week we're joined by Tum Energia! Thomas Voorn, better known by his nickname Tum Energia, is a BJJ black belt and the founder of Energia Martial Arts. In this episode, Tum explains the concept of psychological safety: a key tactic for building a culture where your students aren't afraid to show vulnerability and ask questions. Follow Tum on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tumenergia/ Subscribe to Tum on YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/EnergiaMartialArts Check out Energia Fight...
Nov 14, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 205
This week we're joined by Brother Matt Kwan and Alex Simoes! Alex is the CEO of Tekneek, and Brother Matt is Brother Matt. In this episode, we talk about how recent advances in coaching technology can benefit everyone, from students to coaches. Email Alex to create your Tekneek account: [email protected] Check out the On Guard BJJ online academy: https://onguardbjj.com/p/online-academy Mental models discussed in this episode: Feedback Loop https://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loop/ Microtrans...
Nov 07, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 204
This week we're joined by Greg Souders! Greg is the head coach at Standard Jiu-Jitsu. In this episode, Greg explains how we can integrate coaching best practices from other sports into Jiu-Jitsu. Email Greg: [email protected] Follow Greg on social: https://www.facebook.com/standardjiujitsu https://www.instagram.com/standardjiujitsu/ Train with Greg at Standard Jiu-Jitsu: https://standardjiujitsu.com/ Greg's resource recommendations: Introduction to Ecological Psychology, by Jul...
Oct 31, 2022•54 min•Ep. 203
This week we’re joined by Amy Campo! Hot off taking gold at ADCC 2022, Amy joins us to discuss her process for breaking through personal limits. A great and inspiring conversation on structuring your training camp, maximizing the use of your team, and how to believe in yourself. Follow Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amycampofighter/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Intention https://bjjmentalmodels.com/intention/ Train With Purpose https://bjjmentalmodels.com/train-with-purp...
Oct 24, 2022•43 min•Ep. 202
This week we're joined by Brianna Ste-Marie! Fresh off her amazing performance at ADCC 2022, Brianna joins us to break down one of her signature positions: the closed guard. Follow Brianna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannasm/ Get Brianna's English instructionals on Jiu Jitsu X: https://jiujitsux.com/profile/brianna-ste-marie/ Get Brianna's French instructionals on Leclerc Jiu Jitsu: https://www.leclercjiujitsu.com/courses/Brianna Mental models discussed in this episo...
Oct 17, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 201
Episode 200 is a very special milestone, and requires a very special guest: Claudia do Val! Claudia is a 3x black belt world champion and is considered one of the best of her generation. If you follow Claudia's story, you probably know she went public two years ago with a very personal and traumatic story. That trauma, combined with the harassment she's received since, has completely changed her relationship with Jiu-Jitsu. In this episode, Claudia speaks about what she's experien...
Oct 10, 2022•58 min•Ep. 200
This week we're joined by Shane McCarthy! Shane is an instructor at Princeton BJJ and a newly minted black belt under Emily Kwok. In this episode, Shane shares best practices for taking ownership of your Jiu-Jitsu skill development. Follow Shane on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wakaflakashane/ Listen to Shane's podcast, Tinfoil Mat: https://anchor.fm/collin-wiemer/ Train with Shane at Princeton BJJ: https://www.princetonbjj.com/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Train Wit...
Oct 03, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 199
This week we're joined by Dr. Clayton Green! Clayton is a board-certified dermatologist, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Rochester, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. This episode is THE definitive resource for skincare and skin issues in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Topics covered include: cleaning the gym, hygiene, staph, ringworm, psoriasis, eczema, acne, sensitive skin, excessive bruising, the ideal skincare routine for grapplers, how to wash your gi, and training wit...
Sep 26, 2022•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 198
This week we're joined by Roxanne Modafferi! Roxanne is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, retired UFC fighter, and true women's MMA pioneer. Known as "The Happy Warrior," Roxanne joins us to discuss the Happy Warrior Philosophy, and how we can stay positive even in the face of adversity and loss. Follow Roxanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roxyfighter/ Get Roxanne's books: Memoirs Of A Happy Warrior https://amzn.to/3qCFQ1E Memoirs of a Happy Warrior II: Challe...
Sep 19, 2022•56 min•Ep. 197
This week we're joined by Adam Benayoun! Adam is a Ryan Hall black belt and is the head instructor at Black Cat Jiu Jitsu in Springfield, Virginia. Adam's got an upcoming K Guard instructional with BJJ Fanatics, and in this week's episode, he breaks down the core concepts for playing this versatile guard. Adam's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adambenayoun/ Black Cat Jiu Jitsu: https://blackcatjiujitsu.com/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Mirrored Stances https:...
Sep 12, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 196
This week we're joined again by Dominyka Obelenyte! Dom is a Marcelo Garcia black belt, and a 10x overall world champion, with 4 of those wins at black belt. Dom is currently recovering from knee surgery, and in this episode she shares her best practices for maximizing the value of your idle time. Dom's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/domdabomburmom/ Dom's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/domdabomburmom Mental models discussed in this episode: Investing in Loss https://bjjmentalmo...
Sep 05, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 195
This week we're joined by Darin Conner DeAngelis! Darin won IBJJF world champions at blue and purple belt, but as a black belt he's decided to step away from his original goal of being a professional competitor. In this episode, Darin explains to us how re-evaluating his life led him to abandon his goal of being a professional competitor, and what listeners could do if they're experiencing a similar "Jiu-Jitsu existential crisis." Darin's Instagram: https://instagra...
Aug 29, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 194
This week we're joined again by Oliver Taza! Oliver is actually the first guest we ever had on BJJ Mental Models, so it's great to have him back. Oliver and his team are actively preparing for ADCC, and in this episode of BJJ Mental Models, Oliver generously shares key concepts for standup in an ADCC-like environment. Oliver’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/tazagarami/ Oliver's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oliver.taza.1 Mental models discussed in this episode: 3 Joint Rule...
Aug 22, 2022•58 min•Ep. 193
This week we're joined again by Mike "Doctor Kickass" Piekarski! Mike is both a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and a physical therapist. In this episode, Mike provides general guidance on how BJJ athletes can safely return to sport after an injury or layoff. Mike's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor_kickass/ Mike's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctorkickassDPT Mental models discussed in this episode: Stress and Recovery https://bjjmentalmodels.com/stress-a...
Aug 15, 2022•56 min•Ep. 192
This week we're joined by Mike Mahaffey! Mike is a black belt under Chris Haueter, and is a certified Old Bastard. In this week's episode, Mike breaks down the tenets to "Old Bastard Jiu-Jitsu": the old-school style where you give them nothing, minimize movement, and crush them with pressure. Mike Mahaffey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xibalba1972/ Magic BJJ website: https://magicbjj.com/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Path of Least Resistance https://bjjm...
Aug 08, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 191
This week we're joined again by 3x world champ and Marcelo Garcia black belt, Emily Kwok! Fresh off winning the 2022 Pans, Emily joins us to talk about what it's like to compete after the age of 40. A great chat about what competition looks like as you get older, take on more responsibilities, become more concerned about your health, and achieve a broader life perspective. Emily's website: https://emilykwok.com/ Emily’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/emilykwokbjj/ Emily's p...
Aug 01, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 190
This week we're joined by Sonia Sillan! Sonia is a black belt under Hannette Staack and is the owner of Combat Arts Academy of Seattle. In this episode, Sonia shares her honest advice on how to build a BJJ business. Topics include financing, business partners, affiliations, customer onboarding, customer contracts, trial classes, class safety, and volunteers vs. employees. Sonia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soniasillan/ Combat Arts Academy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/...
Jul 25, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 189
This week we're joined again by Malachy Friedman! Malachy breaks down mental models for the knee shield half guard. Get Malachy's knee shield instructionals on Jiu Jitsu X: https://jiujitsux.com/profile/malachyf/ Malachy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malachyfriedman/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Controlling the Distance https://bjjmentalmodels.com/controlling-the-distance/ Predictable Responses https://bjjmentalmodels.com/predictable-responses/ Funneling https...
Jul 18, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 188
This week we're joined by Ryan Hurst! Ryan is the head coach at GMB Fitness, the creators of the popular Elements program for strength & flexibility. In this episode, Ryan introduces GMB's concepts for expanding your range of motion, shares tips on injury prevention, and explains why most BJJ warmups are suboptimal. GMB on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GMBFitnessSkills GMB's Website: https://gmb.io/ GMB on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gmbfitness/ Contact GMB: info...
Jul 11, 2022•59 min•Ep. 187
This week we're joined by Micah Brakefield! Micah holds dual BJJ black belts under Don Whitefield and Nabil Salameh, and is the head coach at 10th Planet Etobicoke. Micah joins us to discuss the importance of unorthodoxy and creativity in Jiu-Jitsu. Micah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micahbrakefield/ Micah’s Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/micahbrakefield/ Train with Micah at 10th Planet Etobicoke: https://10thplanetetobicoke.com/ Mental models discussed in this episode: ...
Jul 04, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 186
This week we're joined again by Rob Biernacki! Following up on a previous episode, Rob introduces Island Top Team's proprietary system for constraint-based training. He calls it "F**k Your Jiu-Jitsu," because he's Rob Biernacki, so of course he does. FYJJ has four categories: sweeping, passing, top control, and submission control. BJJ Concepts: https://bjjconcepts.net/ Rob on Instagram: https://instagram.com/islandtopteam/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Constra...
Jun 27, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 185
This week we're joined by Robert Drysdale! Robert brings his extensive experience, both as an elite grappler and historian, to discuss the BJJ "generation gap" and how he's witnessed the art evolve. A really insightful conversation about the importance of history, the evolution of coaching, how rulesets have changed the sport, and fundamentals vs. trends. Opening Closed Guard - the book & film: https://www.closedguardfilm.com/ Robert's Instagram: https://www.instagra...
Jun 20, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 184
This week we're joined again by Matt Kirtley! Matt, better known by his internet handle Aesopian, is a lead moderator on Reddit's /r/bjj and an instructor at Inverted Gear Academy. During the day, he's also a web development and search engine optimization (SEO) specialist. In this episode, Matt draws on his BJJ and SEO experience to share some website best practices for BJJ gyms. We talk about website hosting services, gym management software, email, digital security, hiring a dev...
Jun 13, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 183
This week we're joined by Brandon Mccaghren! Brandon is a 10th Planet black belt under Eddie Bravo and the head instructor at 10th Planet Decatur. In this episode, Brandon explains the concepts behind the rubber guard, how it integrates into a more conventional gameplan, and why we haven't seen much rubber guard success in high-level competition. Brandon's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonmc.ninja/ Rubber Guard: The Meathook by Brandon McCaghren — BJJ Fanatics: https://...
Jun 06, 2022•58 min•Ep. 182
