This 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 Philly...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 251
This 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/ W...
Sep 18, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 250
"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 ...
Sep 11, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 249
This 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&apos...
Sep 04, 2023•56 min•Ep. 248
This 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://...
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 247
This 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.instagr...
Aug 21, 2023•1 hr 3 min
This 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/girlsing...
Aug 14, 2023•58 min•Ep. 245
This 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, feat. M...
Aug 07, 2023•55 min•Ep. 244
This 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: Mindful...
Jul 31, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 243
This 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/preventi...
Jul 24, 2023•57 min•Ep. 242
This 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...
Jul 17, 2023•54 min•Ep. 241
This 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/ Res...
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 240
This 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...
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 239
This 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-s...
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 238
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•1 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•1 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•1 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
