The first ever Adaptive Jiujitsu Summit is happening right now in North Carolina: 7 disabled grapplers (the X-Men of Adaptive Grappling) have united to spread the art and their technique. We have a group conversation about wow they came together; how training with each other is invaluable but watching each other roll is useful, too; why having an adaptive athlete in your gym helps everyone; what to look for in an academy if you’re an adaptive athlete; how adaptive training changes both the athle...
Feb 25, 2018•1 hr 17 min
Gracie Raleigh's Andrew Bitner is a successful competitive brown belt and one of the area's most rigorous students of competition footage. Listen to his methods for breaking down techniques in use by the top competitors today, hear about how he started his journey, about who the best teachers he's been around are, and how teaching is a change of pace. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Raleigh on March 3 --...
Feb 18, 2018•1 hr 7 min
Miha Perhavec -- one of the world's top brown belts -- is traveling around the world for a year. He stopped by the triangle for a week to train with us, teach a seminar, and talk about why Yoga For BJJ is great, why Kit Dale knows nothing about kombucha, and about how mental toughness can power you through broken bones. There are several stories here you don't want to miss. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete i...
Feb 10, 2018•1 hr
Our guest this week is the gold medal winner in the IBJJF Atlanta Open's featherweight master one division! It was CJ Murdock's first ever IBJJF tournament, and we talk to him about how surreal the experience was, about the meaning behind his tattoos, why Cobrinha and Megaton are role models, amazing, about training with super-tough brother Josh Murdock, about goals to become a world champion, training with Roberto Traven and much more. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, a...
Feb 04, 2018•1 hr 5 min
Two terrific interviews this week! The legendary Joe Moreira checks in to talk about his time training with Rubao Carioca, John Schell's black belt and the key to a great stack pass. Then, a featured interview with multiple-time black belt world champion Leo Nogueira from Alliance. He tells us about the one win he's most proud of; how he got his blue belt in just three months, and his advice for current today's blue belts; the most important thing he's learned from Romero Jacare; what training w...
Jan 28, 2018•43 min
Former co-host Trevor Hayes has a new gym, Chance Muay Thai Academy! His fighter Roland Mizell makes his debut this Feb. 10 at the Lightning Strikes even at the Durham Armory. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Raleigh on March 3 -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cod...
Jan 21, 2018•1 hr 4 min
The 2018 podcast season starts with a bang, as Jiujiteiro of the Year John Schell joins Vernon Kirk in the studio to talk about the Jan. 27 benefit seminar featuring the legendary Joe Moreira! That seminar at Schell Shock BJJ will help offset medical expenses for Prof. Rubao Carioca. We also tell some hilarious stories of training, top pressure and competitions, with notes on John's upcoming Feb. 11 seminar at Elevate MMA as well. Register for the seminar and contribute to the GoFundMe here! htt...
Jan 13, 2018•45 min
It's been an amazing week for Raquel Pa'aluhi Canuto & Renato Canuto: after a stellar performance at KASAI Pro, they both won black belt gold at Nogi Worlds! Lourdes talks with each of them -- and talks to Kasai silver medalist Celso Vinicius and bronze winner Gianni Grippo as well. Grippo talks about the Berimbolo haters, whether he'll do MMA, competing in front of his parents and his lucky socks. We also talk with Junny Ocasio, who reflects on a performance that shows he can compete with t...
Dec 19, 2017•44 min
It's the moment we've been waiting for -- the first annual DWB Southeast Jiujitsu Awards! Lourdes and Jeff announce 10 awards, and read emails and voicemails of support for the candidates. Listen to this show to know who won Jiujiteiro & Jiujiteira of the Year, Match of the Year, Most Inspirational, Peoples' Choice, Tournament Coach of the Year and Self Defense Instructor of the Year. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.c...
Dec 17, 2017•1 hr 4 min
Veteran fighter and accomplished grappler Miguel Torres talks with Lourdes about a multitude of topics (including some breaking news). Learn about his experience with Traditional Martial Arts growing up; his' parents support, and the harrowing story of the first fight his mom watched; his thoughts on the IBJFF; when we'll see him compete again; training with Ricardo De La Riva & Carlson Gracie Sr., & who his Mr. Miyagi was; why he bonded with Carlson Gracie Sr.; helping out lower-income ...
Dec 14, 2017•33 min
Will Loushin joins us to talk about his journey through the Marine Coprs, MMA, nogi and gi jiujitsu, as a competitor and a coach to prominent kids competitors like Christina Linn. He also tells us stories of grappling with Ken Shamrock, Rich Franklin and Ryan Hall, as well as what it means to be nominated for the Coach of the Year Award. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Dec. 9 at Submission Only Richmond ...
Dec 10, 2017•1 hr 2 min
KASAI Grappling CEO Rich Byrne joins us to preview this weekend's Kasai Pro card, which features a who's who of jiujitsu -- Gordon Ryan, Yuri Simoes, and many more. We also talk to Rich about his own fascinating journey in jiujitsu, which includes the Fertitta Brothers, middle eastern royalty, Renzo Gracie and John Danaher. Learn what matches he's looking forward to most, and what tournament matchups he hopes happens in the 8-man tournament bracket. We also talk about what he thought of Junny Oc...
Dec 03, 2017•1 hr
We talk to two local grapplers who are also avid musicians, both blue belts: Rodney (Oak City Slums) and Henry (miniluv) talk beats, production, inspiration and the confluence of martial arts and performing arts. Plus, we play some songs and they make dope rolling playlists for the listeners. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Dec. 9 at Submission Only Richmond -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete,...
Nov 24, 2017•1 hr 4 min
Five time world champion and double gold Mundial winner Bernardo Faria joins us in studio for a great, wide-ranging conversation. Bernardo tells us who he considers the best competitor of all time (the answer may surprise you), what he learned from Fabio Gurgel and Marcelo Garcia, why entrepreneurs are drawn to jiujitsu, the difference wrestling made in his game, his thoughts on self defense and sport jiujitsu, the most common mistake most people make when doing the omoplata, and whether he's of...
Nov 19, 2017•1 hr 3 min
The great Cobrinha just won the Grand Slam, and took gold at his third ADCC in a row. He talked to us about what the honor he's proudest of is, the keys to longevity and success in jiujitsu, balancing family, teaching and training. Enjoy this special bonus show! Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Dec. 9 at Submission Only Richmond -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cage...
Nov 15, 2017•9 min
In Gordon Ryan's first ADCC, he won gold in his weight class and silver in absolute. At just 22 years old, he's cemented his status among the best nogi grapplers in the world -- and now he's headed to the gi divisions. We talk with him about who the toughest person he's ever rolled with is; who the best non-Danaher leg lock guy is, in his opinion -- and how far ahead the DDS is of everyone else in playing that game; and the real reason he incorporated strength training into his routine. Plus, we...
Nov 10, 2017•44 min
Dominyka Obelenyte, four time black belt world champion, is back in Durham teaching a seminar at Elevate MMA! We talk to Dom about the shoulder injury that's kept her off the competition mats (and why art is more dangerous to her than jiujitsu at this point). We also make plans for a Dom-designed DWB rashguard, the grappling camp in Virginia she's teaching next weekend, about equal pay for women in the BJJ world and much more. Plus, learn about her favorite grapplers of the moment to watch and a...
Nov 05, 2017•1 hr 5 min
Unity Jiujitsu's Junny Ocasio competes at light featherweight and walks around closer to 135 than 155 ... but he won the 155 pound qualifier to the KASAI Pro eight-man tournament on Dec. 9, where he'll compete against the likes of Garry Tonon, Gianni Grippo, AJ Agazarm and other elite competitors. We talked with Junny about his gold at Pans, his superfight win at Show the ART last night, his performance in the 16-man qualifying tournament to earn his spot, and his plan going into the exciting ev...
Oct 29, 2017•47 min
How are writing and fighting related? Jeff and Betsy talk with two romance novelists who have written a three-book series set in the world of MMA. We talk about how stereotyping fighters (and fans) is misleading, what Ultimate Fighter contestant inspired one of the protagonists (the answer will surprise you, striking vs. grappling and why neither writers nor fighters want to leave it up to the judges. We also update you on the Dirty White Belt Awards, and all the amazing nominees that have come ...
Oct 22, 2017•49 min
On his birthday weekend, Gustavo Machado black belt Greg Walker competed in the Toro Cup 8 main event and emerged victorious. We talked with Greg about the tightly-contested match, his journey to black belt, the way he balances training, competing and teaching, the toughest people he's rolled again, his wrestling background, his time in the Navy and his recent IBJJF gold medal performance -- along with his future goals. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! ...
Oct 15, 2017•1 hr 4 min
Samantha Faulhaber is a successful competitive black belt with a deep background in functional movement. Recently relocated to Durham, Sam talked to us about her Kinstretch classes at Elevate MMA and workshop Oct. 13 at Triangle Jiujitsu; about competing at Toro Cup 8 in a much-anticipated rematch with Caitlin Huggins; about people who use jiujitsu as a crutch rather than a tool; about living in a Flow state, about what it's like to go viral after a loss; and most importantly about jiujitsu hair...
Oct 08, 2017•1 hr 3 min
A year ago, Samantha Seff was recovering from her 5th knee surgery and wondering when (or if) she'd be able to get back in the cage. On Oct. 14, she's main eventing an MMA card and fighting for a title belt. We talk to Sami about the journey back, her brutal training regimen, advice for new competitors, Harry Potter socks, her supportive parents and brothers, and what it's like to date another high-level competitor while they're both training and competing. The new gi Jeff designed for Toro BJJ ...
Oct 01, 2017•1 hr 6 min
30 minutes after ADCC ends, we break down the matches and results! Plus, Caitlin Huggins calls in to recap the Atlanta Open -- including her own silver medal performance in the black belt absolute division. Plus, Jeff goes weekend-by-weekend to cover all the amazing events from now until November. Don't miss it! Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Oct. 21 at US Grappling in Chantilly, Virginia, and if you ne...
Sep 24, 2017•1 hr 1 min
You know Nakapan Phungephorn as a high-level jiujitsu black belt and Muay Thai practitioner, as well as the head of BETA Academy in DC. In three weeks, Nakapan returns to the MMA cage for the first time in 15 years. He talks to us about why he made this decision. about the trip to Thailand in 1994 that jumpstarted his Muay Thai career, about how he got the idea of opening a school from Leo Dalla, about martial arts politics, and why he's stopped eating meat. Plus, we talk to BETA Academy student...
Sep 17, 2017•1 hr 2 min
Jake Whitfield, owner of Gracie Jiu Jitsu Goldsboro and a black belt under Royce Gracie, is one of the foremost practitioners of and advocates for self defense training in the Carolinas. We sat down with Jake for a long conversation about the meaning of self defense, how it goes beyond techniques, what a lot of people (trained and otherwise) get wrong about it, and much more. Jake's techniques are proven in multiple competitive fighting formats: he's one of the areas most successful MMA fighters...
Sep 05, 2017•1 hr
If you're grateful for jiujitsu's global reach, you owe a bit of a debt to Dennis Asche. The founder of Connection Rio BJJ Hostel helped create a pipeline of Americans training in Rio Di Janeiro, learning and bringing their skills back home. Great Grappling instructor Jeremy Arel was one of the very first guests at the hostel, and when Dennis came to visit Great Grappling, Lourdes spoke with him about the original aim of Connection Rio, why the hostel is closed now and when it'll re-open, about ...
Sep 01, 2017•20 min
What a weekend! By our count 24 locals brought home almost 30 medals from the IBJJF Masters Worlds in Las Vegas. The complete list is below -- let us know if we missed anyone! On the new podcast we recap our favorite matches and shout out a bunch of medalists with black belt Caitlin Huggins. Plus, hear co-host and bronze medalist Lola Funki Munkii interviewed by Mari, one of the kids from Great Grappling. We also interview Bobby McMasters and Amanda McMasters, whose new school in Asheville is an...
Aug 27, 2017•1 hr 4 min
Richard Bresler was Rorion Gracie's first regular American student, which means he was really the first person in the United States to train Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He started training in July of 1979, 14 years before the first UFC. That means he has a litany of incredible stories, including some from when Chuck Norris invited Rorion to Las Vegas, and Richard was the only non-Gracie to make the trip.There are stories from early dojo challenge matches, including what happened when Judo Gene Lebell aske...
Aug 20, 2017•1 hr 5 min
This weekend Garry Tonon goes up against Dillon Danis at Polaris 5. While Matt Benyon from Polaris was in New York filming previews, Lourdes caught up with him. You can check out the event on UFC Fight Pass this weekend!
Aug 15, 2017•5 min
For our 100th show, we talked to a legend and a fourth-degree black belt student of that legend.. Ricardo de la Riva spoke with us about the guard that bears his name, training with Carlson Gracie, how he feels about the term "creonte" and much more. Vicente Junior, Master de la Riva and Jeff had a wide-ranging conversation over breakfast about the key to longevity in jiujitsu, who the best of all time is, and about VJ helping Master de la Riva train for his return to competition at 39 years old...
Aug 13, 2017•1 hr
