Dr. Wendy Rouse is a historian who has studied the origin of the women's self defense movement, as well as early jiu-jitsu in America -- including how President Theodore Roosevelt played a role in changing perceptions of this new-to-Americans art as an "unmanly" art. She's a professor of history at San Jose State University and the author of a book and many articles on these subjects. Check out some of the materials we reference in the conversation, including Dr. Rouse's article "Jiujitsuing Unc...
May 22, 2020•42 min
It's a time of upheaval and uncertainty in the jiujitsu community. We talked to four academy owners (five including Jeff) from both coasts and a wide range of experiences about how they're responding to the crisis -- by serving students in new ways and thinking about supporting the BJJ community at large. Our panel included James Foster (Foster Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, open 17+ years), Cody Maltais (Elevate MMA Academy, open 4 years), Hillary VanOrnum (Unicorn Jiujitsu, open 10 months) and Cindy Hal...
Mar 22, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Ever wanted window inside a black belt test? A few months ago, Jeff -- and two other brown belts from his school -- were told to be prepared for anything on Dec. 15. Betsy talked to each of them before, during and afterward. Check this show out for an inside look at one of the most important days in a jiu-jitsu journey. Thanks as always to our sponsors! US Grappling comes to Atlantic City, NJ on April 4, Richmond VA on April 2, and Greensboro NC on May 2. Support the tournament that's by grapple...
Jan 07, 2020•36 min
Oliver Taza is already one of the best no-gi grapplers in the world just 7 years after starting jiujitsu. He talks with us about how great instruction contributes to his success, about the mental and physical challenge of recovering from ACL surgery, about the similarities and differences between Firas Zahabi and John Danaher, and much more. We also talk about the new podcast he's launched with Pierre-Olivier LeClerc, the Off Balance podcast, which you can check out wherever you get your podcast...
Dec 21, 2019•49 min
Felicia Oh is a legend of jiu-jitsu, the sixth woman outside of Brazil to earn a black belt -- but her origin story in the art involves the Y2K scare, the LA Marathon and Rudy Fischmann. The masters world champion and ADCC silver medalist talks to us about what training with Jean-Jacques Machado and Eddie Bravo was like, and how 10th Planet came about; about starting at 33 years old and becoming an elite grappler, competing against all-time-greats like Leticia Ribeiro, Megumi Fujii and more; nea...
Jun 23, 2019•55 min
One of our first guests, Andrew Smith, returns to discuss how project — an online learning site called BJJ Path. Listen for details on how you can get a deal on the site. We also discuss best practices for learning jiujitsu, including why drilling classes are great.
Mar 29, 2019•42 min
You first heard from adaptive athlete Jess Munter a year ago, on the "Adaptive X-Men" episode. A lot has changed in a year, and Jess just notched a landmark win. We talked to her right after. Huge thanks to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ and Cageside MMA! Register online for 2019 tournaments at usgrappling.com, and remember that black belts compete for free. If you need gear to compete, the best products, prices and customer service can be found at cageside.com and torobjj.com.
Mar 05, 2019•8 min
Cindy "Sleeper" Hales is one of the first ever women to earn a black belt in jiu-jitsu, and is opening her own school in Lynnwood, Washington, this spring. One of the famous "dirty dozen" first 12 women black belts, Cindy talked with Jeff & Lourdes about jiu-jitsu history, training philosophy and vegan straight edge punk rock, among other things. Plus, we got to talk about Bikini Kill. Check out Cindy on instagram at @sleeper96! Huge thanks to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ and Cagesid...
Mar 03, 2019•45 min
Special show: It's the 2018 Dirty White Belt Awards! We tell you who our distinguished panel of 7 judges voted for, and we play your voicemails about some of the winners and honorable mentions. Plus, an interview with Show the Art Finishers winner Austin "DuckJitsu" Daffron, who has a busy 2019 planned. A longer post will follow on the blog detailing the winners. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ and Cageside MMA!
Jan 14, 2019•48 min
It's the final show of 2018! At Toro Cup 12, Lourdes interviews four young women who represent the future of grappling -- and the present as well, since all four competed on the superfight card. That card raised funds for the family of Rudy Fischmann, a member of the jiu-jitsu community who is battling brain cancer. You can support the Fischmanns' Fight here: https://www.gofundme.com/the-fischmanns-fight Huge thanks to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ and Cageside MMA! Register online for 20...
Dec 13, 2018•27 min
Were you at Toro Cup 11? Lourdes did a bunch of interviews with competitors -- and with the people behind MMA For Africa, the beneficiary of the charity event. Hear about what inspired them, the centuries old Senegalese wrestling style that may be helping BJJ evolve, the possibility of African athletes on Toro Cup, and how YOU can volunteer to help. Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Sep. 29 in Virginia Beach, or in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 27. Both are Submission Only tournaments --...
Sep 23, 2018•24 min
Hey grapplers, have you ever wondered what the best way to prevent skin infections is? How soon you need to shower after training, and what soap to use? Hey gym owners: want to know a few small, important steps you can take to keep your mats safer? Dr. Azam Anwar joins us to answer listener questions about just that! After Dr. Anwar's battle with MRSA 10 years ago, he was inspired to figure out ways to prevent this from happening to others. His team developed a product called CLn BodyWash, which...
Sep 15, 2018•53 min
It's hard to make great radio while you're competing on the big stage, but twin sisters Chela & Maylin Tu did just that while Chela was getting a bronze at masters worlds! You should hear the segment they produced -- especially if you're a jiujitsu competitor whose loved ones don't understand it. We also do a long, featured interview with Austin Daffron, an active purple belt competitor in the Northwest whose jiujitsu travels are taking him to Switzerland. Register online at usgrappling.com ...
Aug 31, 2018•44 min
Solo moms. Mothers by choice. Parenthood changes everything -- eventually, even the world. This is our entry for KCRW's #RadioRace 2018. Original music provided by the Better Made and Voluptuous Panic.
Aug 26, 2018•4 min
Sarah Kurchak is one of the most interesting writers about fight culture. Her introduction to this world came when she competed in a professional pillow fighting league -- and you’ll learn what black belt world champion ALSO competed in that league. We also talk about Sarah’s entry into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and muay thai, what she thinks is the most vital storytelling currently happening -- professional wrestling -- and her advice for autistic people who train jiu-jitsu, and for their training pa...
Jul 22, 2018•1 hr 4 min
Jamil Hill-Taylor is a rising star in the jiu-jitsu world. He’s young, he’s talented, he’s now a black belt world champion -- and he’s just getting started. When he was at Checkmat Charlotte for a seminar this past week, Lourdes took the chance to interview the soon-to-be graduate of Howard University about his proudest achievement so far, his toughest competition at worlds, and what he really thinks about yoga. They also discuss the woman black belt teammate that he thinks is the *next* world c...
Jul 15, 2018•37 min
James “300” Foster is a renaissance man, a lover of jiu-jitsu, art, charity work, and open-minded attitudes. I met him at his academy in Kent, Washington, where he hosted 10th Planet athletes Nathan Orchard and Phill Schwartz for a joint seminar. He walked in carrying a Chewbacca lunchbox and I knew this was going to be a great conversation. He’s also an accomplished competitor, having won the black belt master world championship. We talked about that, about how marketing labels can undermine th...
Jul 08, 2018•53 min
At IBJJF worlds, we talk to Gustavo Dantas, the BJJ Mental Coach, about the high-level performance coaching he provides, his jiu-jitsu non-profit, and the top mental mistakes competitors make. Check out his work at https://www.thebjjmentalcoach.com/. We also catch up with purple belt competitors Bryce Lighthall of Alliance, who trains under Bruno Malfacine, and Ryan Homer of Diego Bispo Academy. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA -- and welcome to our late...
Jul 01, 2018•1 hr
After 10 events, Toro Cup has put on hundreds of matches and raised more than $17,500 for charity. We offer a recap, including interviews with competitors Deandre Corbe, Evan Arredondo, Christina Linn, Terah Heiber and Aren Besson -- and a fascinating group conversation with Lourdes, Amber Agee, Caitlin Huggins, Chrissy Linzy and Samantha Seff! Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA -- and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything ...
Jun 24, 2018•54 min
You probably know Robert Drysdale because he’s one of the most accomplished grapplers of his generation, having won both the IBJJF world championship and the ADCC absolute championship. What you might not know is that he’s a trained historian. And his project Closed Guard: The Movie, is going to be the first comprehensive film that tackles Brazilian jiu-jitsu history from a scholarly perspective. At the world championships this year, we sat down outside the Walter Pyramid with him to talk about ...
Jun 16, 2018•43 min
Listening to American Olympic judo silver medalist and BJJ black belt Travis Stevens will make you want to get up at 5 a.m. and train five times a day. He talks to us about goal-setting, work ethic, and determination -- and recounts matches that are years in the past with an emotional resonance that suggests they happened yesterday. Listeners submitted dozens of questions for Travis, and he answered them all in the way you’d expect him to -- directly, thoughtfully, thoroughly. We go over his tho...
Jun 10, 2018•41 min
Everyone dreams of making the podium at the World Championships. In this episode, we talk to two competitors from North Carolina who did just that -- Sabrina Wright, a purple belt who trains with Lucas Lepri in Charlotte, and Kim Rice, a brown belt who has steadily worked toward this moment for years. PLUS, Victor Estima crashes the podcast! This is the first in a series of perhaps 5 shows about the Worlds, and you don't want to miss any of them -- so please subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundc...
Jun 04, 2018•21 min
Dr. Jose Tufy Cairus, a historian and professor at Brazil's Federal Institute of Santa Catarina, is one of the few scholars studying Brazilian jiu-jitsu jistory. Cairus' father was involved with Brazilian judo for decades, and the author himself trained with Carlson Gracie -- something you'll hear all about in this interview! You'll learn what he things the biggest misconceptions about BJJ history are; who the first Japanese person to teach Kodokan Judo in Brazil was; who the first woman to trai...
May 28, 2018•1 hr 51 min
Rob the Lord Humongous is back in studio! Visiting from Germany, Rob Austin from the Big Jiu-Jitsu Show talks with us about his MMA fight, balancing training and relationships, tag team jiu-jitsu (really!) and how pro wrestling interfaces with BJJ. That's not a work or a rib. The show also features our first (and second) Randy "Macho Man" Savage impersonation. RIP. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Columbi...
May 14, 2018•1 hr 13 min
Hannette Staack is one of the absolute best ever, and a powerful positive force in jiu-jitsu. We were lucky enough to visit her Chicago school and have a conversation with her about a wide array of topics. We were GOING to go down to once every two weeks, and we probably still will, but we wanted to get this out to remind you to register for US Grappling Richmond. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Richmond...
Apr 24, 2018•28 min
Wes Claytor is a competitive brown belt training with the dapper bunch of killers at Gracie Raleigh. He has a passion for the charity Tap Cancer Out. In this interview he explains why, and how you can get involved! Plus, learn what it's like to learn from Brandon Garner and train with beasts like Andrew Bitner and Evan Arredondo, hear about that time Wes smashed Jeff during a tournament, and check out our brief Toro Cup recap! Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cagesid...
Apr 15, 2018•1 hr 13 min
"When jiu-jitsu as a whole grows, everybody benefits." These are words from Mark Cukro, a black belt and well-respected instructor at Integrated Martial Arts who also has a background in filipino martial arts, muay Thai, catch wrestling and more! He’s this week’s guest. Learn about how to get better at blue belt and beyond, the difference between being an instructor and a student, what martial arts complement Brazilian jiu-jitsu the best, and more! Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling,...
Apr 08, 2018•1 hr 6 min
The team at US Grappling join us to talk about the early days -- running a tournament in a bar! -- and the growth that has created the largest tournaments in their history. Hear stories of Seph Smith in a Billy Blanks t-shirt, what their favorite destinations are, and how to get them to come to YOUR town. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Greensboro coming up -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, ...
Mar 25, 2018•1 hr 3 min
Heather Kasey is a mainstay of the local jiujitsu scene and yoga community, as well as founder of a non-profit elephant conservation organization. Now, she can add "Pans Silver Medalist" to those titles! We walk through the local results and Heather talks us through her matches and her trip to train with the Mendes Brothers, as well as revealing what it's like to train with Mary Holmes and be coached by the Culbreths. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Re...
Mar 12, 2018•58 min
Black belt Samantha Faulhaber went 4-1 with four submission wins at US Grappling Raleigh. We recap US Grappling's largest event ever -- 550 competitors! -- with the Elevate MMA competitor, who also talks with us about her techniques for post-tournament recovery using Kinstretch. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Richmond, Virginia Beach, or Greensboro coming up -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete...
Mar 04, 2018•1 hr 5 min
