D'Juan Owens got off a plane from his third trip to Uganda teaching MMA, jiujitsu and self defense and came right to the studio to talk to us about using art to combat gender-based violence, break down Jordan Rinaldi's submission win at last night's UFC Mexico City, and remember his trip to Senegal with Isaac July Jr. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside Fight Co.! Register online at usgrappling.com, and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best prod...
Aug 06, 2017•1 hr 3 min
We are in the midst of competition season, and Submission Only Raleigh from US Grappling gave us the chance to bring you lots of voices of local competitors. You'll hear from Eric DeVere, who lost 110 pounds doing jiujitsu and brought home two gold medals; Jordan Wise, who loves nogi; the participants in an hour-long match; and David Porter, who joins us live in studio to talk about the black belt division and tell epic stories of PokemonGoFest in Chicago, explaining how The Art of War applies t...
Jul 30, 2017•1 hr 3 min
What if you could travel, surf and train jiu jitsu for the rest of your life? And what if, by building a for-profit business with a new economic model, you could help other people live that lifestyle, too? That's one of the dreams of the Kekoa Collective, a business rooted in Hawaii, but with big plans to make a splash across the jiujitsu world. We talked with founders Dewey Doan and Aubrey Koenig and recent partner Jeffrey Huang about Kekoa's vision, its innovative revenue sharing model designe...
Jul 23, 2017•51 min
Daniel Sandlin earned his black belt this week: he joins us to explain how the Marine Corps martial arts program compares to training jiu-jitsu, what the black belt means to him, whether a sport jiujitsu practitioner is generally adept at self defense, and the story behind his promotion ceremony -- including the first emotions he felt upon receiving the belt, which may surprise you. He also shares with us his plans for his first black belt competition, his favorite rulesets, and more. Plus, lear...
Jul 16, 2017•1 hr 3 min
Black belt Marcela Sorrentino Lawton began jiujitsu 20 years ago. She talks with Lourdes about the changes she’s seen, What she thinks about women-only classes, or classes for smaller people, and how they do it at the De La Riva academy in Rio, how she met her husband Jarod Lawton when training at American Top Team, what her favorite Toro Cup match was -- and whether she might compete at the next one! She also talked to us about the difference between training in Florida and training in Maine, h...
Jul 09, 2017•59 min
We've always believed in the power of jiujitsu to change lives for the better -- and to bring people together across the lines that often divide us. RefugeeJitsu, a program in Charlotte founded by Renzo Gracie brown belt and Bible teacher J.M. Smith, is proving it. Every week a group of kids from all around the world, from different cultures and faith traditions, meets to train -- and learning jiujitsu together is having a tangible impact on their lives and the lives of others in the community. ...
Jul 02, 2017•30 min
Kristin DeBruycker joins us to talk the early days of women's MMA, her first Muay Thai fight, and training Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with Pedro Sauer -- plus, why you shouldn't wear white or fight without health insurance. Also, Moises Antonio Lopez -- the Honey Badger -- stops by to talk about his footlock seminar at Elevate MMA, how he ended up training with Robert Drysdale and what he learned most from him, balancing training with family and work, and much more. Plus, we recap US Grappling Richmond, a...
Jun 25, 2017•1 hr 4 min
Packed show this week, featuring pre- and post-match interviews with Toro Cup competitors Adli Edwards, Summer Carpenter, Chelsea Kurtzman and CJ Murdock -- plus a long featured interview with two-time Toro Cup winner Sa'idah Durkee and her coach, Isaac July, Jr.! Also, we announce some details about upcoming events, including a special show and a seminar you shouldn't miss. If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Mark Cukro, Cody Maltais, Karl K...
Jun 18, 2017•1 hr 1 min
The biggest and best Toro Cup yet featured 20 matches and 16 submissions. Jeff and Lourdes recap the whole card, including a featured talk with Nicky Ryan and Ethan Crelinsten, where we ask them about their biggest wins, toughest training partners, the most important thing they've learned from John Danaher (and whether they've ever seen him without a rash guard), the key to hitting triangles, Paul from the Mat Tricks Podcast's cats, and whether you'll see them competing in the gi soon -- and the...
Jun 11, 2017•1 hr 17 min
It's time to recap the locals' performance at the Mundials, and to preview next week's Toro Cup 7 -- the biggest Toro Cup yet, to benefit the Women's Center of Raleigh! Plus, Betsy gets off on a rant about the IBJJF, and Fletcher the bloodhound joins us in studio to try to rein us in. Also, we break some special news about exciting events next week. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside Fight Co.! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete at US Grappling Rich...
Jun 05, 2017•1 hr 1 min
Not one but TWO legends of jiujitsu are on the show this week. Our featured interview guest is Pedro Sauer, the legendary 8th Degree Red/Black Belt Instructor under Helio Gracie and Rickson Gracie. We cover a lot of ground, including: the first time he met Helio Gracie; his time living in Rickson Gracie's garage with Luis "Limao" Heredia, and how he wound up in Utah and now Virginia; How his famous fight with Mr. Utah came to be (and he tells us at least one detail about that fight that I'd neve...
May 28, 2017•1 hr 2 min
Who should I watch at the Mundials, the jiujitsu world championship coming up in 10 days? If I can't go in person, how can I watch and follow along? We have you covered with a preview, where we highlight the local competitors to watch at EVERY belt level. Plus, Jeff shows you his nerdy method to make sure you don't miss a minute of the action and you get the latest results even if you can't attend! (Check that out at https://dirtywhitebelt.com/2017/05/21/how-to-watch-the-ibjjf-mundials-and-who-t...
May 21, 2017•1 hr
Jiu-jitsu is part of the fabric of Jay Yovanovich's being. The new Pendergrass Academy black belt started his journey almost 17 years ago, and along the way he's become a core part of the Carolina scene and embedded in jiujitsu culture all over. He talked to us about what the black belt means to him, about the training partners who were there at the beginning (some of whom are still around), and about why jiujitsu is an expression of your personality. We also talked about BJJ culture, including ...
May 12, 2017•58 min
BONUS episode! Two interviews with elite level competitors, including Norwegian #jiujitsu artist Ida Fløisvik, the reigning IBJJF New York Open black belt Absolute champion and Edwin "Junny" Ocasio of Unity BJJ, one of the best purple belt jiujitsu #athletes competing today. We're excited to bring you these interviews, and we're going to continue to focus on the Carolinas and beyond, bringing the best folks we can find on the show to support East Coast BJJ. Norwegian Ida Fløisvik is the reigning...
May 06, 2017•35 min
Everyone remembers their first time competing at a jiujitsu tournament! We talked to people from white to black belt about their first tournament -- and followed Betsy through her first-ever jiujitsu competition, at US Grappling Charlotte at the Europa Games. Voices you'll hear: Black belts Caitlin Huggins and Samantha Faulhaber, brown belt Mary Holmes, purple belt Betty Broadhurst, and blue belt Heather Kasey, Plus, we got some great bonus content, including VIDEO from many of these first match...
May 03, 2017•58 min
Excited to see Next Level Fight Club's #NLFC7? You will be after this interview with Adli Edwards, pro fighter, all-American wrestler, jiujitsu artist since the age of 14. We welcome Trevor Hayes back to the studio to break down Adli's training and the fight card! Ticket information in the comments. You can get your tickets from Adli (or another fighter on the card), or get them online now at www.nextlevelfightclub.com/tickets. Use the code "Edwards" so Adli gets credit for the tickets. Thanks a...
Apr 30, 2017•1 hr 1 min
One of the best nogi competitors in the world, Garry Tonon, joins us to talk about what medals matter most to him, the main mistakes leg lockers make, about his match against CJ Murdock, about what he’d tell himself as a blue belt, and exactly how much power he gains from his facial hair. Lourdes interviewed Garry on the mats at Renzo Gracie Manhattan! We also recap US Grappling Charlotte, and Jeff does brief interviews with veteran competitors David Porter and Andrew Bitner, along with first-ti...
Apr 23, 2017•46 min
Jake Whitfield's stack pass is dangerous, and he taught a popular seminar earlier this year teaching you how to do it. Now, his April 29 seminar at Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is all about how to *defend* the stack pass! He shares with us some details in advance about the most common mistakes people make while defending the pass, talks about teaching kids jiujitsu, discussing who should call themselves a "competitor," and more -- including some pro wrestling history and wrasslin' podcast in-jok...
Apr 16, 2017•1 hr 1 min
Two outstanding local performers from the weekend call in to break down their efforts! James Quigg wins his 3rd pro MMA fight, against his toughest opponent yet, by TKO in the 1st, and Josh Murdock wins bronze at the NY Open after winning two adult brown belt matches. Both guys are introspective and thoughtful about their performances, martial arts and the future, so check it out! Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, Cageside Fight Co. and the Armbar Box! Register online at ...
Apr 09, 2017•36 min
Royce Gracie black belt Seth Shamp, owner of Triangle Jiu-Jitsu in Durham (and Jeff's instructor), talks self-defense, the process of teaching and learning -- and explains why you shouldn't hate on those guys who take home medals when their tournament divisions are empty. Plus, Seth flips the script on Jeff and starts asking some questions of his own! We also welcome a new sponsor, The Armbar Box: go to http://www.armbarbox.com/dwb for a chance to win a free new gi. Arm Bar Box is a subscription...
Apr 02, 2017•1 hr 3 min
Seph Smith of Upstream BJJ has trained and competed at the highest level, and now has his own school in Richmond, Virginia. Seph taught a well-attended, well-received leglock seminar in Durham this weekend, and he joined us to talk about ideal training methods, footlocks, the best and toughest people he's trained with, why he identifies with sloths (and whether he identifies more with two- or three-toed sloths), why mayonnaise is the grossest, who his favorite jiujitsu athletes to watch are, and...
Mar 26, 2017•1 hr
This week's guest is Julia from the Jiu Jiu BJJ blog.! Blogging about jiujitsu since 2010, she's got great stories about training in Korea, starting BJJ without an athletic background, blogging as community practice, nerd culture and more. She and Jeff also tell the dual story of the same dude stealing blog content from both of the. Plus, she was rocking the Toro BJJ #gameofchokes shirt during the interview, so that's righteous. Check out her blog at http://jiujiubjj.com/! Does posting the show ...
Mar 16, 2017•1 hr 2 min
Dave Camarillo is one of the world's most respected martial arts instructors, and when the man behind Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu visits North Carolina, a few things are certain: the NC jiujitsu community will learn a lot, we're going to have a great time, and Dave and Jason Culbreth will spend much of that time giving each other a hard time in hilarious fashion. I first trained with Dave a little more than 5 years ago, and after a private session, we had the occasion to talk about martial arts, fitness...
Mar 10, 2017•1 hr 3 min
Yoga and jiujitsu go together like a collar and a choke. We do three interviews tackling this from different angles: Heather Kasey trains at Chapel Hill Gracie Jiu-Jitsu & teaches yoga at @Franklin Street Yoga Center; Yoga for BJJ's Sebastian Broche and Miha Perhavec have the premier website for yoga routines optimized for jiujitsu; and Martha Bartlett Catz is a yoga teacher with 20 years of experience who is now a white belt training at Gracie Raleigh and Royce Gracie Jiu Jitsu - Goldsboro,...
Mar 04, 2017•1 hr 26 min
Dominyka Obelenyte has won double gold -- weight and absolute -- at the past two black belt world championships. She hasn't lost in more than two years. We brought her in for two days of outstanding seminars, and here we talk to her about her technique for stopping the adrenaline dump, her series of matches with Mackenzie Dern, who her toughest opponents have been, what it was like fighting Gabi Garcia, the #EqualPayForBJJ movement, and -- most importantly -- her favorite Studio Ghibli films and...
Feb 22, 2017•1 hr 4 min
In this special, extra-long bonus episode, we talk to competitors, coaches, charity beneficiaries, hosts, sponsors and more folks involved with Toro Cup! You'll hear from: * Nico Ball of Terere Kids Project on what favela jiu-jitsu is all about, and why the money you donated at Toro Cup made a difference; * Nathaniel Hunt from Pendegrass and Maggie McDowell immediately after their matches, as well as Chelsea Kurtzman and Laurie Porsch, immediately after their match talking about how it went -- a...
Feb 16, 2017•1 hr 15 min
The biggest, best Toro Cup yet brought the local grappling tournament close to $10,000 raised for charity! We break down the event with Pedro Sauer black belt David Porter, winner of his black belt match, and play an interview with BETA Academy's Nakapan Phungephorn, victor in the main event. Plus, we shout out the best finishes and top matches from the 22-fight card, and remind you that YOU, yes YOU, should come to the Dominyka Obelenyte seminar next Friday and Saturday! Register at dirtywhite....
Feb 12, 2017•1 hr 1 min
Gold medalist from this past weekend's UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation Pro event in Orlando, John "Bagels" Telford, joins us to talk about his wins, his upcoming competition schedule, and the matchmaking process for Toro Cup 6 on Feb. 11. We preview the 20+ matches and discuss why Bryce Lighthall's dog Spike is probably responsible for Bagels' win. Plus, find out how YOU can get on Toro Cup!
Feb 02, 2017•1 hr
We recap Next Level Fight Club's best card yet by highlighting four incredible finishes. We talk with Chris Herd, whose 13-second knockout was one of the night's most memorable, interview Cody Maltais, who guillotined his opponent in his return to the cage after a two-year absence, and shout out a few other insane finishes (like Allen Crowder's crazy slam knockout and Anthony Wright's guillotining his opponent to sleep). It's also the return of Trevor Hayes, who cornered two fighters on this car...
Jan 29, 2017•1 hr 1 min
Brad Acosta of TFTC Academy trains, teaches and competes often -- and his next superfight is Feb. 11 at Toro Cup 6! We talk about how he got started, advice he has for blue belts, his career as a professional soccer player, memorable matches and all the various reasons Road House is the best movie of all time. Upcoming events: Next Level Fight Club is this weekend in Raleigh. Toro Cup is Feb. 11 at Cageside Fight Co/Triangle Jiujitsu, and you can show up to see Brad's match against Wes Claytor. ...
Jan 23, 2017•1 hr 1 min
