Episodes

15h ago

Kurt joins us for the final episode of 2025! We talk about the potential alien craft near Earth, conspiracy theories, and how AI consistently fools Kurt on Instagram. Kurt also takes questions from the listeners and spreads Christmas cheer.

Dec 2

Jeff Curran returns to share what its like to start and run a grappling tournament from scratch and life after professional fighting. He also opens up about growing up in poverty and a violent home and how Jiu-Jitsu changed the direction of his life

Nov 18

Roberto Godoi returns to talk about competition for Masters athletes. He covers mindset, conditioning, tactics and conserving energy. He also explains how being "starstruck" when competing against a famous athlete is something to be completely avoided!

Nov 4

Shawn Melanson joins the show to talk about running a gym specifically for competitors, how anxiety has impacted him on and off the mats, and developing take downs. He also shows his impressive reptile collection (check out the video episode on YouTube)

Oct 14

Robert Drysdale joins the show to share his latest research on the history of BJJ. He also discusses the ways that commercialization has helped and hurt the art and his thoughts on professional grappling's influence on the culture and future of BJJ

Oct 1

Chris Wojcik joins the show to talk about goal setting, finding purpose, the value of regret and removing self-doubt from your mind. He also talks about his beginnings as a wrestler, his passion for writing and his recent performance at CJI 2!

Sep 16

Malachy Friedman returns to talk about his recent shift back into coaching high level athletes. He talks about competition mindset, how to gameplan for specific opponents and implementing your game intelligently.

Sep 2

Roy Dean returns to talk about ego-less training, the balance of ego for competitors and how to process losses in a healthy way. He also details his nomadic teaching lifestyle and talks about his recent trip to Japan, where he trained at the Kodokan!

Aug 19

Kurt is back! In this episode, Kurt responds to lots of questions from the listeners, we talk music and the passing of the legend Ozzy Osbourne, Kurt breaks out his Boston accent and he talks about his desire to start a new cooking show!

Aug 5

JFlo is back! In this episode he talks about building good habits on your feet. He shares valuable insights for older or injured grapplers that breaks the traditional Wrestling meta; to not fight for positions so hard and yet still be dangerous.

Jul 15

Rick Ellis joins the show to discuss Jiu-Jitsu for older guys! He talks about what your goals should be and reframing your mentality as you age on the mats. He also talks about pitfalls to avoid like not regulating your intensity and comparing to others

Jul 1

Renato Canuto joins the show fresh off his professional MMA debut! He talks about his experience stepping into the cage, balancing grappling competitions with his MMA training, and gives a detailed breakdown of the 100 men vs a gorilla question!

Jun 17

Eric Silver is one of the early Americans to study Jiu-Jitsu and one of the first to open a gym on the east coast. He talks about learning directly from Rickson Gracie, challenge matches, how to preserve energy as an older practitioner and Half Guard.

Jun 17

Living legend Murilo Bustamante joins the show to talk about his dedication to guiding the next generation of competitors and students. We discuss "old school" BJJ, creating pressure and surfing. Murilo also talks about learning to be patient as a coach.

May 20

Brian Glick returns to talk about the importance of strong communication skills as a teacher, the skill of simplifying complex concepts to make them more digestible and why he chose Judo over Wrestling for BJJ. He also breaks down escaping back control

May 6

Jason Rau returns to talk about growing his schools, the ethics and etiquette of filming training sessions, and how to track your own progress on the mats. He also gives a deep breakdown on his guard passing system!

Apr 15

Kyle "The Bull" Sleeman joins the show to talk about the BJJ scene in Canada, making competition second nature, developing a well rounded game and weight training for Jiu-Jitsu. He also details the road to becoming the #6 ranked athlete in his category!

Apr 1

Kurt is back! He talks about his health, lifting weights, "old guy" Jiu-Jitsu and conspiracy theories. He also takes questions from listeners, which include dealing with people who fight dirty, dealing with gym drama, dumb tattoos and learning to teach.

Mar 17

Matt Castaneda is a white belt who recently used Jiu-Jitsu he learned from BJJ Fanatics instructionals to defend himself and protect others from a violent attacker at his job. He shares the full story in detail!

Mar 3

Anthony Budion shares his story of training with prominent UFC fighters and his years with the NYPD, NYFD and USAF. He also shares insight on growing a school. Other topics include pizza, the heavyweight rodents of NY and using the Crabride for counters!

Feb 17

Tom DeBlass joins the show to talk about bullying, being consistent in training while battling depression, and some final thoughts on his recent debate about the Ecological approach in Jiu-Jitsu. He also gives some technical insight on Half Guard!

Feb 3

Charles Harriott returns to talk etiquette when visiting another school, the pros and cons of running a tournament, advice for future promoters, knee bars and how growing up in Florida has prepared him to battle some of nature's most deadly creatures!

Jan 20

Neil Melanson returns to talk about attacking structures in grappling, funky gyms he's visited and the origin of the K Guard. He also shares the story of dying and coming back to life recently. Other topics include Bigfoot, Mothman and predatory birds

Jan 7

David Petrone joins the show to talk about the increasing physical intensity seen in competitive grappling. Clubbing collar ties, neck cranks, smother chokes, and the psychological warfare side of grappling are all discussed in this episode!

Dec 16, 2024

Roger Machado joins the show to talk about the zen side of Jiu-Jitsu. Topics include ego-less training, mindful teaching and he explains how Yoga has had a dramatic impact not only on his body, but the way he approaches Jiu-Jitsu.

Dec 2, 2024

Tomer Alroy returns to discuss competition strategy and tactics. He also shares how a well-prepared competition training room should feel very much like the actual competition so that the athlete is completely prepared. He also discusses the mental game

Nov 18, 2024

John Machado joins the show to share his insights on what the "BJJ Lifestyle" means in modern times. He also shares stories from the old days in Rio De Janeiro as well as old stories from the early days in the US.

Nov 4, 2024

Robson Moura returns to talk about the keys to remaining consistent on the mats, finding motivation to train later in life and he hints at a possible return to competition!

Oct 21, 2024

Kurt is back! He gives an entertaining recap of the Olympics, ADCC and CJI. He also takes questions from listeners and talks metal bands, craziness in California and eating exotic animals.

Oct 15, 2024

ADCC Champ Adele Fornarino joins the show to share her story! Topics include advice for smaller grapplers, managing distance, competitive personality types and steroids in women's Jiu-Jitsu. She also discusses Fortnite and dangerous Aussie wildlife!

Sep 16, 2024

Flavio Canto joins the show to talk about overcoming losses, competing on the Olympic stage, how he benefited from learning Jiu-Jitsu during his Judo career and developing the Canto Choke. He also talks about his social project "Instituto Reacao"

Sep 2, 2024

Joel Tudor returns to talk about recently getting his Judo black belt and how the art has changed his perspective on grappling. He also talks about balance and injury prevention.

Aug 26, 2024

Silverfox is back! In this episode we discuss injury prevention, selecting your rolls, being mindful of training partners and using the armbar to its full potential! He also talks about the importance of instructors having the ability to read the room.

Aug 19, 2024

Henry Akins joins the show to talk about the importance of defense in your game. He covers several defensive categories and explains how ultimately, a solid defense allows you to be free in the way you express your Jiu-Jitsu.

Aug 12, 2024

Travis Stevens returns to talk about the current state of American Judo, his thoughts on BJJ athletes crossing over to Judo competition and the pros and cons of tradition in martial arts. He also talks about mindset and assessing your skills honestly.

Aug 5, 2024

Shintaro Higashi joins the show to talk about applying Judo techniques in No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu. He also explains how to train safely and "trade wins" for optimal results. He also discusses how to break the linear learning cycle commonly seen in BJJ

Jul 29, 2024

If you've ever considered opening your own gym, this episode is a must-listen! Master Fabio Gurgel shares knowledge he's collected from decades of running one of the largest teams in BJJ. He covers best practices, costs and income potential for gym owners

Jul 22, 2024

Rigan Machado joins the show to talk about Old School Jiu-Jitsu, the importance of keeping up with modern trends in the art and Jiu-Jitsu in film choreography. He also talks about what he feels BJJ needs to do to reach more mainstream viewers.

Jul 15, 2024

Shawn Williams returns to talk about ADCC vs CJI, the standards of a black belt, overcoming self-doubt and developing sliding skills. He also covers effective coaching methods and dives deep on the body lock!

Jul 8, 2024

Adam Wardzinski joins the show fresh off his history-making World Championship. He talks about the lifestyle and work ethic it took to achieve this accomplishment and he gives advice to aspiring future champions. He also talks about the Octopus Guard!

Jul 1, 2024

Kurt is back and in better shape than ever! He talks about lifting weights, setting up take downs, using swords in a street fight and CJI vs ADCC. He also takes questions from listeners and gives tips on fighting both wild animals and leg lockers!

Jun 24, 2024

Paul Schreiner joins the show to discuss the various methods that are being used to teach Jiu-Jitsu. He shares his thoughts on what has worked best for him and his students. We discuss the ecological approach and linear method and their differences

Jun 17, 2024

Rolles Gracie joins the show to talk about creating an environment that helps students learn faster, upper belts mentoring lower belts and his thoughts on the practice of testing for belts. He also gives advice for white belts.

Jun 10, 2024

Renato Canuto joins the show to talk about pay for Jiu-Jitsu athletes, his upcoming MMA debut and his open-minded approach to rolling and competing. He also dives deep on improving your armbar success rate and how to fix holes in your game!

Jun 3, 2024

Roy Dean returns to discuss the different levels of mastery that exist in Jiu-Jitsu that become more obvious as you pursue the art over time. Things like strategy, creating and recognizing traps and the importance of using Kazushi are all topics we cover!

May 27, 2024

Kurt is back to talk about how much AI is freaking him out, his thoughts on a possible global robot takeover and surgical bio-hacking upgrades that he is interested in getting. He also takes questions from the listeners about Jiu-Jitsu and anything else!

May 20, 2024

Yuri Simoes makes his long-awaited return to the show! He talks about what drives him to compete and how he processes losses as a highly competitive personality type. He also talks about assessing your performances honestly and he shares his unique phobia!

May 13, 2024

Malachy Friedman returns to discuss some of the common misinterpretations regarding what effective training is. He also explains how some of his injuries actually made him better on the mats. He also talks in depth about the student/teacher relationship

May 6, 2024

Giancarlo returns to talk about the importance of having clear aspirations as a Jiu-Jitsu student in order to reach your goals. He also explains that recreational practitioners can reach similar skill levels to elite athletes if they are consistent

Apr 29, 2024

Eli Knight returns to talk about overcoming frustrations in training. We all get stuck sometimes, Eli sheds some light on how to push through! He also talks about the fine line academy owners walk when giving life advice or guidance outside of Jiu-Jitsu

Apr 22, 2024

Michael Chu is a black belt under Clark Gracie with a very interesting life story. In this episode, he details how he went from being a police officer, to a federal inmate, to a Jiu-Jitsu school owner in Hawaii. He also gives tips on the rear triangle!

Apr 15, 2024

Lucas Pinheiro joins the show to tell his story of coming up from hardship to becoming a world champion! He explains how building a positive mindset in any circumstances he faced was crucial to his success. He also shares his pressure passing mindset!

Apr 8, 2024

Brian Glick talks about how personality types will influence the way we learn Jiu-Jitsu. He also explains why sometimes the people who seem the best suited to excel don't last. He also explains why you should train on days you aren't feeling your best!

Apr 1, 2024

Marcelo Garcia joins the show to reflect on surviving cancer, tips to train consistently, building a game that works in both Gi and No-Gi, pacing yourself in competition, and the future of Jiu-Jitsu. He also gives deep insight on the Butterfly Guard!

Mar 25, 2024

Kurt is back to talk about rolling with new tattoos, practical self defense skills, tasers and attack dogs, looting and creative robberies in San Francisco and his love/hate relationship with public nudity. He also takes questions from the listeners!

Mar 18, 2024

Robert Drysdale talks about the history and future of Jiu-Jitsu. From the history of the rules, to the conundrum of needing a sport to grow the art. He also explains why he feels submission only events and rule sets are a mistake for the growth of the art

Mar 11, 2024

Alec Baulding returns to talk about his recent decision to return to a student role instead of teaching, how to balance digital learning, how to process tapping higher ranks and Apple Vision for BJJ! He also talks about guard retention for short people.

Mar 4, 2024

Diego "Pato" Oliveira joins the show to share his very moving life story from leaving home at 15 to pursue Jiu-Jitsu, to training without food for days on end and how hunger led to his first sponsorship. Hear about his incredible journey to becoming a world champion!

Feb 26, 2024

Alex Enriquez joins the show to talk about pursuing Wrestling to improve her Jiu-Jitsu, becoming the team captain of an all-male team and how her drive to prove herself pushed her to break barriers. She also covers anti-wrestling for BJJ players!

Feb 19, 2024

Kurt is back to talk about rolling after surgery, amputations and bandit life in the Wild West, strategically crying from Half Guard, serial killers and mafia hit men. He also covers dealing with larger opponents and his hatred for handsome celebrities.

Feb 12, 2024

Kent Peters is back! He discusses terrible pre-training food, organic mat sanitizers that probably don't work, steroids and testosterone, managing a training room and wrist locks. Kent also shares how he recently almost lost a nipple due to a horse bite.

Feb 5, 2024

Jozef Chen joins the show to explain the importance of training with intent, how to process an instructional and the value of keeping a training journal. He also talks about getting jumped at a gym, Crocs, fanny packs, karaoke and fake Chinese food!

Jan 29, 2024

Owen Jones joins the show to talk about processing losses as a highly competitive person, facing weaknesses honestly, being patient with your development, his passion for video games and the fact that Jiu-Jitsu's talent pool is younger than ever!

Jan 22, 2024

Piter Frank joins the show to talk about succeeding with limited resources, building an offensive game and flying submissions. He also shares a candid story about getting through homelessness and a suicide attempt just before becoming a world champion

Jan 15, 2024

ADCC legend and UFC fighter Rani Yahya joins the show to talk about how BJJ helped him overcome ADD, training with Rickson Gracie, the early days of ADCC, statistics in Jiu-Jitsu and why they are important to analyze and using BJJ in MMA

Jan 8, 2024

Javi Vazquez joins the show to talk about surviving his recent battle with cancer, the power of understanding configurations, transitional wormholes, defending punches on the ground and the two controls in BJJ that change EVERYTHING.

Jan 1, 2024

Miko Hytonen joins the show for a very candid conversation about how Jiu-Jitsu saved him from his troubled past to become one of the top BJJ influencers. He talks about leaving gang life, growing his IG page and how to land chokes from everywhere!

Dec 25, 2023

Garry Tonon discusses why he's not a fan of the transactional mindset many students have towards their training, the danger of limiting techniques, bridging the gaps between different concepts and how mentorship changed the trajectory of his life.

Dec 18, 2023

Tarik Hopstock joins the show to explain how training as a juvenile in adult classes helped shape his game. He also talks about how he leads his students into the areas they need to improve upon and setting goals for technical development!

Dec 11, 2023

Owen Livesey joins the show to talk about how to fight on your feet more effectively. He explains that people often over-think things like hand fighting and he provides a simple way to think about winning the grip fight to score more take downs!

Dec 4, 2023

Dominique Bell joins the show to talk about going from the ARMY to fulltime Jiu-Jitsu athlete. He shares his thoughts on training, goal setting and injury prevention. He also talks with Ryan about knock-off cereal brands and his fear of roaches!

Nov 27, 2023

Neil Melanson returns to talk about setting traps in grappling, the value of creating dilemmas and why you should program sequences in your mind, especially for No-Gi. He also talks about controlling various body types and funny nicknames on the mats

Nov 20, 2023

2x NCAA Wrestling Champion Nick Gwiazdowski joins the show to talk about elite competition mindset, the utility of positive affirmations and why you MUST drill often to execute moves without thinking. He also describes the perfect cheeseburger!

Nov 13, 2023

Dallas Niles joins the show to talk about the fact that Jiu-Jitsu is hard, but he provides some tips for navigating the process easier to become an advanced student. He also talks about how his music background influenced the way he learns on the mats!

Nov 6, 2023

Malachy Friedman returns to talk about everything Blue Belts should know before receiving their purple belt. He also talks about the importance of promotion standards in the Jiu-Jitsu community and goes deep on superhero movie reviews with Ryan.

Oct 31, 2023

Kurt is back for another Halloween Special! He talks about scaring hallucinating hippies, haunted San Fransisco hotels, his personal UFO sightings and tactics for fighting bigfoot. He also reviews YouTube clips of cheesy horror films with Ryan.

Oct 23, 2023

Jason Rau joins the show to talk about the early days of the Danaher Death Squad, the growth of the Sub-Only Jiu-Jitsu competition scene, the best tips for improving leg locks, knowing your physical limits and his fear of large bugs!

Oct 16, 2023

On top of being a BJJ Black Belt, Cameron Shayne is the father of Mixed Movement Arts and a lifetime Yoga teacher. He talks about mobility for Jiu-Jitsu, finding purpose in your training, morality in martial arts and offsetting a sedentary lifestyle

Oct 9, 2023

Brian Littlefield is a Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and co-founder of Jocko Fuel. He discusses recovery and nutrition for Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, what real hydration is, maintaining cognitive energy and much more!

Oct 2, 2023

Sean Applegate returns to give a deep dive on being an effective coach to BJJ athletes. He identifies the difference between helpful and useless information during matches and the importance of learning the wheel completely before trying to reinvent it.

Sep 25, 2023

NAVY SEAL Masterchief Jason Henderson joins the show to talk about real-world self defense, the importance of emotional control during a fight, and BJJ for law enforcement. He also shares the powerful story that sparked his Jiu-Jitsu training

Sep 18, 2023

Rayron Gracie returns to discuss what he feels is the most efficient way to learn Jiu-Jitsu, how modern society can make it harder than ever for young athletes to stay focused and the importance of avoiding having to learn Jiu-Jitsu twice!

Sep 11, 2023

Michael Liera Jr joins the show for a very honest and candid discussion about some of the pitfalls Jiu-Jitsu athletes can face in their pursuit of a world championship. He also explains why he doesn't use a set curriculum when teaching.

Sep 4, 2023

Legendary Wrestler Kyle Dake joins the show for a very insightful conversation about self-discipline, embracing failure and why humility is a virtue that he thinks all athletes should seek. He also talks about take down entries and Single Legs

Aug 28, 2023

ADCC Champion Amy Campo joins the show to share her story. She also talks about understanding ranges in Jiu-Jitsu, the benefits of ice baths, her 2022 ADCC experience, knee slice passes and why she can never eat octopus again after a bad sushi experience

Aug 21, 2023

Gregor Gracie joins the show to talk about how to beat your opponent mentally, the keys to using BJJ well in MMA, and the importance of recognizing defense and escapes as two separate things.

Aug 14, 2023

Matt Guffey joins the show to discuss Strength and Conditioning for Jiu-Jitsu, mobility and longevity, injury management and strength misconceptions he commonly sees in BJJ.

Aug 7, 2023

Pete The Greek is back! We discuss wristlocks, BJJ for MMA, being a real-life superhero and Carlson Gracie's impact on the BJJ community. Pete also talks about recovery for older fellas and training smart!

Jul 31, 2023

In this special episode, Bernardo Faria sits down with Rayron Gracie for a discussion about his Jiu-Jitsu! Topics include not relying on your physical attributes, quality of training over quantity, recognizing margins of error in techniques and more!

Jul 24, 2023

Kurt is back! This time we discuss the absurd side of Jiu-Jitsu. Quirky students, delusional martial artists, dirty techniques people use and random crazy people invading the gym. Kurt also explains his pet peeves as a teacher.

Jul 17, 2023

Igor Tanabe joins the show and shares his story of being a successful juvenile athlete to becoming one of the fastest rising stars in Jiu-Jitsu. He talks about the importance of mindset and leaving your comfort zone to be your very best in competition.

Jul 10, 2023

Clark Gracie joins the show to talk about the importance of fundamentals and self defense curriculums and he gives a deep dive on Omoplatas! He also talks about how he had to learn to manage the pressure of being a Gracie as a young competitor.

Jul 3, 2023

Shintaro Higashi joins the show to share his deep knowledge about grip-fighting acquired through Judo. He explains how it correlates to Jiu-Jitsu and how you can drill for immediate results! He also covers foot sweeps and pattern recognition on the feet.

Jun 26, 2023

Richie "Boogeyman" Martinez joins the show to talk about how creativity can have a big influence on Jiu-Jitsu and why keeping an open mind is very important. He also gives great insight on the Rubber Guard and explains how anyone can use it effectively!

Jun 19, 2023

Justin Flores is an Olympic Judo Coach for Team USA, a decorated Judo champion, a BJJ black belt and a former D1 Wrestler. In this episode, he explains how to begin introducing Judo to your Jiu-Jitsu game, for both Gi and No-Gi.

Jun 12, 2023

Vlad Koulikov is a Black Belt in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a Master of Sport in Sambo and a Combat Wrestling champion. He explains how these styles intersect and how to blend them together for the ultimate take down blueprint!

Jun 5, 2023

Brian Glick joins the show to talk about survival in Jiu-Jitsu! He provides excellent insight to managing your ego, training smart, developing techniques and using the science of Jiu-Jitsu to prevail over monsters! He also explains the value of the Clamp!

May 29, 2023

Kurt is back! In this episode he talks about how Omoplatas are an underestimated technique in Jiu-Jitsu that can change your guard game. He also shares crazy stories about training with Ralph Gracie and he aggressively defends the existence of bigfoot.

May 22, 2023

Steffen Banta joins the show to share his story of working his way into the toughest training room he could find and developing into a decorated champion. He explains how holding himself to a higher standard was the key to his success.

May 15, 2023

Charles Harriott joins the show to talk about leaving corporate America behind to be a globetrotting Jiu-Jitsu instructor. He also talks about how almost anyone can safely use inversions in their game, and he explains the hierarchy of the Ninja Turtles

May 8, 2023

Gustavo Dantas joins the show to shed light on how Jiu-Jitsu can be used to impact the world in a positive way through social outreach programs. He describes the work he's done in the favelas of Brazil as well as struggling communities in the US!

May 1, 2023

Shawn Williams joins the show to discuss how to map out your Jiu-Jitsu game. He explains his "closed loop" concept that will allow you to systemize the techniques you're best at. Ryan and Shawn also go deep on zombie apocalypse survival strategies!

Apr 24, 2023

Zoltan Bathory is a BJJ and Judo black belt and the guitarist for the popular heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch. In this episode, we discuss staying consistent while balancing a hectic schedule. Zoltan also shares his very inspiring life story!

Apr 17, 2023

BJJ legend Robson Moura joins the show to talk about harnessing the science of Jiu-Jitsu! He explains the importance of a well-balanced game and the keys to defeating larger opponents as a smaller practitioner. He also reflects on his favorite match!

Apr 10, 2023

Zach Maslany joins the show to talk about guiding other through their Jiu-Jitsu journey! He discusses how the evolution of the sport has changed curriculums and he also talks about the importance of learning to escape leg locks early in your training!

Apr 3, 2023

Mike Bidwell joins the show to talk about managing ego and how failing to do so can disrupt your development in Jiu-Jitsu. He also talks about "Black Belt Ego" and how being mindful as an instructor is important to him to keep himself in check.

Mar 27, 2023

David Petrone joins the show to talk about blending Folkstyle and Catch Wrestling with Jiu-Jitsu. He explains the various ways you can level up your BJJ by adding things like cradles and pins. He also explains why Silver Surfer is an annoying superhero.

Mar 20, 2023

Chris Paines joins the show to talk about the importance of building a strong defense before anything in Jiu-Jitsu. He talks about positional escapes and preventive measures to avoid being caught in bad positions. He also shares his unique intro to BJJ!

Mar 13, 2023

Sebastian Brosche joins the show to talk about the incredible benefits that Yoga can provide for BJJ practitioners! He talks about the importance of remaining loose and limber to avoid injuries and how to design the best warmup for Jiu-Jitsu!

Mar 6, 2023

Eli Knight joins the show to talk about navigating Jiu-Jitsu politics, managing gym drama and why he doesn't use stripes on belts anymore. He also talks about the criteria used to promote people in BJJ and the "Ham Sandwich" technique he uses often.

Feb 27, 2023

Kurt details his recovery from double hip surgery and gives an honest assessment of his future in BJJ. He gives advice on coming back from time away and he also describes his idea to make looting a televised mainstream sport with a structured point system.

Feb 20, 2023

Charlie Vinch joins the show to discuss how striking can be easily added to your BJJ training to become proficient in self defense. He also talks about using verbal Jiu-Jitsu and how bullying doesn't only impact young people.

Feb 13, 2023

2022 ADCC Champion Giancarlo Bodoni joins the show to talk about how to become the best version of yourself on and off the mats! Topics include self confidence, discipline, mindset and technical development. He also gives insight on leg lock escapes!

Feb 6, 2023

Kaynan Duarte joins the show to talk about starting in a small town and working his way to the big leagues. He also discusses forgotten techniques, competition mindset and he gives technical insight on the Single Leg X Guard!

Jan 30, 2023

Kyle Boehm talks about being a lifelong athlete and which sports helped him get a jump start in Jiu-Jitsu. He also discusses managing ADD and social anxiety and his goal to return to MMA. He also talks about the several bad jobs he had before grappling

Jan 23, 2023

Jiu-Jitsu champion and Pro Surfing legend Joel Tudor joins the show to share his unique perspective on the sport. He talks about the cultural crossovers between BJJ and Surfing, balancing two sports and how to train for longevity by protecting your body.

Jan 16, 2023

"El Monstro" shares his personal story of hitting rock bottom before exploding into success. He also discusses the importance of feeding your brain positivity every day and why he likes Wrestling in the gi. He also breaks down his methods of passing guard

Jan 9, 2023

David Garmo joins the show to talk about using local tournaments as tune-up events, embracing the grind of being a full time Jiu-Jitsu athlete and his time spent training in Japan. He also proclaims the restaurant chain he feels has the best Ranch Dressing

Jan 2, 2023

Paul Schreiner joins the show to discuss the utility of private lessons, reverse engineering positions and the "zones" of Jiu-Jitsu. He also breaks down the hierarchy of techniques based on experience levels.

Dec 26, 2022

Dante Leon joins the show to discuss weight training for Jiu-Jitsu, learning to wrestle and taking your development into your own hands. He also reflects on ADCC and the huge growth of the sport!

Dec 19, 2022

Victor Estima joins the show to discuss overcoming setbacks in competition, building confidence in your game and the importance of not comparing yourself to others. He also provides great technical insight on the closed guard!

Dec 12, 2022

Azamat Hamzathanov joins the show to talks about how he built a massive Instagram following by showing daily Jiu-Jitsu techniques! He also discusses the importance of consistency, the correlation between chess and BJJ and nearly drowning in a river!

Dec 5, 2022

Nathan Mendelsohn joins the show to talk about managing negative thought patterns and the two different realms of the guard and why sleep is so important for athletes. He also talks about junk food, his new rap album and Tinder pickup lines!

Nov 28, 2022

Tomer Alroy is back to discuss developing strategy in competition, how to use drills effectively and the steps to improving a technique. He also talks about learning to be comfortable training take downs and training them safely.

Nov 21, 2022

Freddy Trillo is a former SWAT team member and a police defensive tactics instructor. He discusses how Jiu-Jitsu helped him during his time in Law Enforcement and why he feels BJJ is a good solution for many issues that exist in departments across the US

Nov 14, 2022

Sean Patrick Flanery joins the show to talk about how he found Jiu-Jitsu in the 90's, adapting BJJ into films and the vision behind his hit film Born a Champion. He also talks about the two types of martial artists there are.

Nov 7, 2022

Master Fabio Gurgel joins the show to talk about the two paths of growth in Jiu-Jitsu that need equal focus from the community. He also shares his opinion that the way BJJ is marketed should be reflective of the times and what new students are seeking

Oct 31, 2022

Paul Sharp is one of the US's most respected self defense experts. In this episode he talks about how his training saved him as an undercover narcotics agent and how he teaches Jiu-Jitsu to nurses and doctors to protect themselves from workplace violence!

Oct 24, 2022

Chris Haueter joins the show for a deep conversation about Jiu-Jitsu! He talks about his role as a "carrier of the art", human's primitive grappling instincts and how his approach to teaching changes depending on how his students learn!

Oct 17, 2022

UFC veteran Eliot Marshall joins the show to share insight on building a healthy culture within a gym, why first impressions are everything when a new student visits and what school owners can do to maximize their results with student retention and sales!

Oct 10, 2022

Its a HUGE HONOR to have Bernardo back to discuss the value of confidence as a competitor, BJJ for "old guys" and Bernardo opens up about how Jiu-Jitsu taught him more life skills than college did. He also talks about pursuing a mission of helping others.

Oct 3, 2022

Magid Hage joins the show to tell his story and share his unique perspective on Jiu-Jitsu. He talks about how having other hobbies outside Jiu-Jitsu like Surfing and Yoga have helped him on the mats. He also talks about building an unorthodox game!

Sep 26, 2022

Lachlan Giles is back! We discuss fatherhood, how Jiu-Jitsu fundamentals have changed with the sport's growth, how he guages a student's progress and the importance of having a plan in BJJ.

Sep 19, 2022

Kurt is back! This time we cover recent MMA fights, Brazilian TV shows and tattoo ideas. He also talks about 80's metal, strategies for battling cannibals and Jiu-Jitsu moves that work well in moshpits.

Sep 12, 2022

Roberto Jiminez joins the show to discuss his ADCC trials performance, the life of a young athlete, taking the road less-traveled in life, nutrition and the pride he takes in being a natural athlete!

Sep 5, 2022

Adam Wardzinski joins the show to talk about traveling to compete, applying Jiu-Jitsu to learn other things, being ambidextrous with your game and the sweeping mechanics you need to understand in BJJ!

Aug 29, 2022

Jeff Glover is back! We discuss overcoming larger opponents, declining rolls with people, learning to be aggressive and the Deep Half Guard! Other topics include Vlad The Impaler, zombie apocalypse plans and the strength of the Glover family facial hair.

Aug 22, 2022

Josh Cisneros joins the show to talk about his start in Jiu-Jitsu and how his Wrestling background helped him. He also talks about the importance of patience on the mats and his thoughts on ADCC, as well as a story of chasing down a hit-and-run offender!

Aug 15, 2022

Bruno Bastos joins the show to talk about guiding kids through Jiu-Jitsu, tough lessons learned on the mats and gives solid advice for future BJJ instructors. He also breaks down his "Bubble Theory" and explains how you can apply it to your game!

Aug 8, 2022

Stephen Whittier joins the show to discuss optimizing your Jiu-Jitsu after 40, the core principles of BJJ, the role of optimal alignment and understanding strength in context. He also explains the benefits of chasing knowledge rather than rank or titles

Aug 1, 2022

The Warmaster returns! This time we discuss the importance of setting boundaries as a coach, Josh explains why he prefers a smaller pool of students and he also talks about the value of a good ego. He also gives great technical insight on ankle locks!

Jul 25, 2022

Neil Melanson joins the show to share advice on figuring out your game, adapting techniques to your body type, getting the most out of training with anyone, and how nothing in grappling is new. He also shares stories of blowing up toilets in the NAVY!

Jul 18, 2022

Matt Brown joins the show to share his inspirational story. From overcoming drug use and surviving a heroin overdose, to becoming one of the UFC's most successful welterweights in history. He also talks about his unique start in MMA.

Jul 11, 2022

4x World Champion Tarsis Humphreys joins the show to talk about actively training your mindset, leg locks in the gi and finding your perfect training frequency. He also gives advice for BJJ athletes who want to cross over to MMA!

Jul 7, 2022

Legendary Wrestler and Coach, Wade Schalles joins the show to discuss why he teaches techniques in reverse, spinal manipulation to improve pins and how Jiu-Jitsu guys can use pins effectively. He also tells the story behind how he created the Spladle!

Jun 30, 2022

Silverfox is back! In this episode he discusses avoiding burnout in Jiu-Jitsu, the idea of building universal grips and he dives deep on his Split Guard system! He also gives advice to the 40+ crowd to train more efficiently!

Jun 23, 2022

Mason Fowler joins the show to talk about overcoming a troubled youth through sports and Jiu-Jitsu. He discusses learning in an unstructured enviornment and how competition exposes your true BJJ game. He also talks about his second passion, Call of Duty!

Jun 16, 2022

After nearly a year since his last appearance, Kurt joins the show to give an update about his health and recovery. Other topics include cheap food hacks. Waterworld apocalypse scenerios. He also gives advice on improving sweeps from guard.

Jun 9, 2022

John Combs joins the show to discuss pay vs prestige in BJJ events, why he eats fermented foods with every meal and finding the right environment for growth. He also gives some great technical insight on the guillotine, his highest percentage submission!

Jun 2, 2022

Travis Stevens joins the show and shares his frustrations with Judo in the US and what he feels the sport needs to continue to grow. He also talks about overcoming the fear of losing a how BJJ players should approach learning Judo effectively.

May 26, 2022

Ryan Gruhn joins the show to talk about his diverse MA background which includes full contact competitive stick fighting! Other topics include using BJJ for self defense when weapons are present and why he feels new BJJ students should compete right away!

May 19, 2022

Haisam Rida joins the show to share his story! Topics include immigrating from Ghana to Japan, training in Japanese academies, surviving the Fukushima disaster and navigating America's fast food choices. He also gives technical insight on the Kimura Trap!

May 12, 2022

In his first podcast interview ever, Bird explains the importance of skill tiers in training rooms, overcoming overthinking, commitment when attacking and managing your internal monologue. He also convinces Ryan that telekinesis is the best superpower!

May 5, 2022

Andrew Wiltse joins the show to sound off on PEDs in BJJ, harsh truths about BJJ for self defense and the importance of conditioning. He also opens up about mental health, his passion for literature and he dives deep on how to improve your back control!

Apr 28, 2022

Thomas Rozdzynski joins the show to discuss the art of teaching Jiu-Jitsu. Topics include gym culture, curriculums, mat fees and more. He also explains the importance of teaching the more "boring" parts of BJJ in a way that captivates your students.

Apr 21, 2022

Amanda "Tubby" Alequin joins the show to talk about learning to hit the mental switch in competition, building protocols from guard and the value of focusing on the mechanics of techniques. She also shares her opinion about equality in Women's Jiu-Jitsu!

Apr 14, 2022

Renato Canuto provides tremendous insight for all competitors! He talks about managing adrenaline dumps and fatigue, avoiding overthinking and how to develop a pre-competition routine. He also talks about overcoming losses and winning 2021 Worlds!

Apr 7, 2022

Roy Dean joins the show to talk about the pressures and expectations black belts carry, rank envy and keeping a student mindset. He also talks about designing and re-designing your game and his new film project with Jeff Glover.

Mar 31, 2022

Tommy Langaker joins the show to talk about his transition from Japanese JuJitsu to BJJ, seeing Jiu-Jitsu as a language and using BJJ in self defense. He also talks about video games and the Collar Sleeve Guard!

Mar 24, 2022

Pedro Marinho joins the show to talk about overcoming self doubts as a competitor, the importance of understanding the mental game and coming to the US and training in Texas. He also drops knowledge on his most dangerous submission, the guillotine!

Mar 17, 2022

Scott Nelson was one of the early men in the trenches helping BJJ grow into the sport it is today. He talks about founding BJJ's oldest website, living in Brazil in the 90's and nearly getting killed trying to start his own gi brand in Pakistan!

Mar 10, 2022

Henry Akins joins the show to discuss the fine points of weight distribution, overcoming plateaus and why you need to always fight to be on top! He also opens up about his near-fatal motorcycle accident and how it changed his perspective on things.

Feb 24, 2022

Jordan Preisinger joins the show to discuss the benefits of online learning, starting a gym when he was a blue belt and dealing with people who criticize your goals. He also talks about his self-guided journey in BJJ and what it was like learning alone!

Feb 17, 2022

Ashley Williams joins the show to share his thoughts on ADCC 2022 where he will be in the 66kg division. He also talks about life as a professional grappler, why he still attends local tournaments and the new standards in modern BJJ!

Feb 10, 2022

Vernon Kirk joins the show to talk about his experience in various grappling styles and how he blends them together for maximum efficiency. He also talks about leg locks in Sambo vs BJJ, learning take downs and the North South position!

Feb 3, 2022

Cole Abate joins the show to talk about being a full-time athlete as a kid, building discipline in your training and competition mindset. He also shares his thoughts on potentially becoming the youngest ADCC Champion in history!

Jan 27, 2022

Felipe Pena joins the show to talk about his development in the art, building discipline within yourself and his decision to retire from IBJJF events. He also shares his thoughts on a potential rematch against Gordon Ryan at ADCC 2022!

Jan 20, 2022

Jeff Glover joins the show to talk about accidental triangles, how his instructor Franjinha changed the direction of his life, improving weak spots in his game and learning to stop worrying what other people think. He also talks about defense and escapes!

Jan 13, 2022

William Tackett joins the show to talk about the value of competition, overcoming tournament anxiety, why the Coyote Half Guard was revolutionary for his game and his thoughts on crosstraining. He also goes deep on escaping bad positions!

Jan 6, 2022

Amanda Leve joins the show to talk about her transition into MMA, why the purple belt was the hardest rank for her and having to close her school due to Covid lockdowns. She also talks about her big win over Gabi Garcia and the build up before the match!

Dec 30, 2021

Sean Applegate joins the show to talk about starting BJJ in a small town, the meaning of belts and the importance of understanding weight distribution. He also gives deep insight on outside heel hooks and explains why teleportation is superior to flying!

Dec 24, 2021

Pedro Sauer joins the show to talk about longevity in Jiu-Jitsu, the importance of learning to set traps and how your physical limitations can become strengths. He also gives deep insight on escaping side control and also explains why he hates pickles!

Dec 16, 2021

In this special episode, Bernardo Faria sits down with Gui Mendes during the 2021 Worlds in California for an interview! They discuss developing champions, competition, academy ownership and much more!

Dec 9, 2021

Coach Matt Lindland joins the show to discuss why he chose Greco over Freestyle Wrestling, developing take downs, the importance of taking risk and the greatest lessons he learned from his Olympic experience!

Dec 2, 2021

Jeff Curran joins the show to discuss how he found BJJ in the early 90's, the importance of holding rank to a high standard and dealing with feeling technically inadequate. He also gives great insight on attacking the back!

Nov 25, 2021

Combat Jiu-Jitsu Champion Ryan Aitken joins the show to share his story. He talks about the benefits he's gotten from exploring all branches of the BJJ tree, the importance of finding the right team, Yoga for BJJ and building comfort in competition!

Nov 18, 2021

Legendary MMA coach Greg Jackson joins the show to talk about his origins growing up in a tough neighborhood, developing yourself as a martial artist, BJJ's impact on the martial arts world, coaching elite fighters, sports psychology and ground and pound!

Nov 11, 2021

James Clingerman joins the show to share his story! Topics include the early days of BJJ in the midwest, learning to teach others and recognizing "culty gyms." He also gives technical insight on his favorite variation of the guard!

Nov 4, 2021

Jake Shields joins the show for a conversation about the life of a professional combat athlete, his new focus on Pro Grappling, why he chose to be his own manager and his passion for coaching the next generation!

Oct 28, 2021

Jonathan Satava joins the show to talk about learning from Marcelo, designing your own game, teaching full time and the benefits of meditation. He also gives a detailed breakdown of the Butterfly Guard from a sweeping, submission and transitional standpoint.

Oct 21, 2021

The Warmaster joins the show to talk about his diverse grappling background, the early days of MMA and the crazy ways he had to find training partners back in the day! He also talks about pain compliance and the detailed mechanics of the Kimura!

Oct 14, 2021

Malachy Friedman joins the show to talk about his start in BJJ in a more MMA driven era. He also talks about what pushed him to become a coach, why he feels the gi helps your BJJ overall and the power of the Flower Sweep for off-balancing and attacking!

Oct 7, 2021

Alec Baulding joins the show to talk about starting Jiu-Jitsu in a more MMA focused school, adapting BJJ to your body type and the brown belt level. He also dives deep on guard retention concepts and gives advice for those struggling to use the guard well

Sep 30, 2021

Rafael Lovato Jr joins the show for a candid and honest discussion about his transition from MMA back to BJJ competition. He talks about struggles he's overcome and what he sees for the future. He also talks about academy ownership and the Kimura!

Sep 23, 2021

Alex Ecklin joins the show to talk about the importance of being persistent when developing skills, his unique academy structure and tips for coping with awkwardness when you're new to Jiu-Jitsu. He also gives great technical insight to the G-Roll!

Sep 16, 2021

Edwin "Junny" Ocasio joins the show to share his powerful story of overcoming abuse to becoming one of Jiu-Jitsu's top athletes. He also explains why hobbyist practitioners and professional athletes need each other for success, and we talk leg locks!

Sep 9, 2021

Kristian Woodmansee discusses mindset, the danger of negative self-talk, overcoming plateaus and the importance of mobility on the ground. He also dives deep on Omoplatas and how to use them effectively!

Sep 2, 2021

Dean Lister joins the show to talk about developing a strong leg lock game, his MMA career and thoughts on teaching. He also candidly shares his experience treating CTE with psychedelics, which was featured on HBO Sports recently.

Aug 26, 2021

Lucas Lepri joins the show to talk about applying pressure and misdirection in guard passing, why competition is such a valuable tool, processing losses and his approach to student development!

Aug 19, 2021

Pete The Greek joins the show for an entertaining conversation! Topics include his recent battles against various forms of wildlife, training and teaching while globetrotting and old school Jiu-Jitsu. He also gives technical advice on passing the guard!

Aug 12, 2021

Drew Weatherhead joins the show to talk about his new journey after closing his school due to Covid. He also talks about BJJ in modern MMA, the impact removing belts from the art could have and he gives deep technical insight to the crucifix position!

Aug 5, 2021

Davi Ramos joins the show to talk about BJJ for MMA, take downs for BJJ and MMA, his love for leg locks and striking styles he feels compliment Jiu-Jitsu well. He also talks about his most difficult rank in Jiu-Jitsu.

Jul 29, 2021

Bernardo Faria joins the show to talk about managing training expectations, growing an academy, the fact that everyone thinks their BJJ sucks and balancing life with training. He also gives technical insight to the Over Under Pass and pressure passing!

Jul 22, 2021

Craig Jones joins the show to talk about his "Gringo Spanish", Shark attacks, the Gabi Garcia super fight, his time spent coaching on Ultimate Fighter, BJJ in MMA and making money in Jiu-Jitsu. He also discusses how to beat wrestlers with Jiu-Jitsu!

Jul 16, 2021

Paul Schreiner joins the show to talk about escaping bottom side control, learning to be comfortable in every position and controlling mat anxiety. He also discusses the importance of having an order of operations in your game to perform at your best!

Jul 8, 2021

Bruno Frazatto joins the show to talk about academy ownership, developing students and building an advanced open guard game. He also explains how he feels the fundamentals of BJJ have changed over time with the growth of the sport!

Jul 1, 2021

Roger Gracie joins the show to talk about building a dangerous mount, escaping bad positions, closed guard, coming back to training after a break and the value of positional training. He also talks about why he feels less can be more with techniques!

Jun 25, 2021

Kurt Osiander joins the show and in typical fashion, the interview goes right off the rails! Topics covered include diabetes, catheter injuries, moms who hate heavy metal, hospital food and an alternate universe where cats own people. Language warning!

Jun 19, 2021

Braulio Estima joins the show to talk about understanding baits, how to build responses to your opponent's actions and the "Jiu-Jitsu Ecosystem". He also talks about triangles and his "Head of the Snake" concept for controlling anyone!

Jun 11, 2021

Eli Knight joins the show to talk about self defense application of Jiu-Jitsu, dealing with armed attackers and utilizing strikes on the ground. He also discusses safe disengagement tips as well as the importance of stress inoculation in your training

Jun 4, 2021

In this episode we are joined by Lachlan Giles! He talks about skill development, guard retention and how to avoid imbalances in your Jiu-Jitsu. He also talks about being a new dad and offers advice to students coming back from a long break.

May 25, 2021

Tomer Alroy joins the show to talk about competition and training mindset, overcoming the fear of fatigue and building a match strategy. He also gives great technical insight on guard passing and gives advice to students returning from time off the mats!

May 20, 2021

Demian Maia joins the show as the first guest of the NEW BJJ Fanatics Podcast! He talks about his new academy, the history of Jiu-Jitsu and gives some great technical advise on developing back control.

Apr 30, 2021

A special announcement

Apr 24, 2021

Andrew Wiltse joins the show to talk about his "explosive" childhood, why he's very selective of techniques he uses, his thoughts on ego and why you don't need to be on a big team to succeed. He also candidly shares his thought process on improving skills

Apr 13, 2021

B-mac is back! Topics include getting through Covid restrictions, Combat Jiu-Jitsu, keeping the journey in perspective, working with injuries and coming back after a break. He also talks about his exciting new PGF event and the art side of martial arts. Click "read more" for listening options and show notes!

Apr 10, 2021

Kent Peters returns to talk about zombie apocalypse scenarios, horseback riding disasters, leg locking bigger people, his hatred for quarantine cooking videos and how Covid ruined Disneyland. He also talks about the IBJJF allowing heel hooks and more!

Apr 1, 2021

The frontman and guitarist of the metal band Trivium, BJJ brown belt Matt Heafy sits down to discuss how he's overcome being a "slow learner", making progress while balancing work and the value of failures. He also shares his love for leg locks!

Mar 24, 2021

Kurt is back and in typical fashion, the normal order of the show goes right off the rails… Topics discussed include gross things that dogs do, Mars rovers, intergalactic viruses, aliens, post-apocalyptic lifestyles and classic PC and arcade games.

Mar 19, 2021

Lead vocalist and guitarist of Biohazard, Billy talks about the impact BJJ has had on him, finding the art pre-UFC and his thoughts on effective teaching. He also shares some entertaining self defense stories and being attacked by Harley Flanagan's dog!

Mar 11, 2021

Ariel "Tarzan" Sexton joins the show to talk about the BJJ scene in Costa Rica, his MMA career, sports psychology, meditation and the reverse triangle. He also talks about street fights in Canada, laxative pranks, Australian accents and bad vegetables.

Mar 5, 2021

Brad Souders joins the show to talk about starting BJJ in a town of less than 2k people in the 90's, pursuing Judo and BJJ simultaneously, overcoming competition nerves, and how to be a good training partner. He also talks a bout his passion for teaching!

Feb 25, 2021

Michael Zenga joins the show to talk about switching from boxing to Judo and BJJ, starting BJJ Fanatics and the growth of the company. He also gives advice for heavyweights and he provides deep, technical insight on how to make the perfect pizza!

Feb 18, 2021

Josh McKinney joins the show to talk about competition mentality, the white belt struggle, running an efficient school and overcoming plateaus. He also trades funny podcasting stories with Ryan about his own show "The I Suck as Jiu-Jitsu Podcast".

Feb 11, 2021

Vinny Magalhaes joins the show to talk about technical imbalances, developing a dangerous guard, coaching styles, how MMA impacted his Jiu-Jitsu and how he became a highly respected MMA coach. He also talks about Taco Bell, reptiles and a fear of heights.

Feb 3, 2021

Xande returns to discuss his new affiliation, when new students should begin rolling, academy ownership and restricting techniques by rank. He also gives deep technical insight to his Diamond Concept and how it applies to various positions on the mat!

Jan 27, 2021

Rayron Gracie joins the show to talk about the unique experience of growing up in the Gracie family, his acquired taste for Jiu-Jitsu and the importance of persistence. He also speaks candidly about his father Ryan Gracie and the upcoming film about him.

Jan 22, 2021

Chris Brennan joins the show to tell his powerful story of overcoming addiction and street life to become an American pioneer in MMA. He talks about the very early days of MMA in the US and fighting in Brazil and Japan. He also gives insight on the Kimura

Jan 14, 2021

Kody Steele joins the show to talk about transitioning from Wrestling to BJJ, developing a take down game and diet and conditioning. He also talks about overcoming shyness, his future ambitions in MMA and he also reveals his abilities as a cat whisperer!

Jan 6, 2021

Andre Terencio returns to talk about school ownership, building a strong curriculum, his BJJ for law enforcement program, heel hooks in the IBJJF and social projects in Brazil. He also gives advice for anyone struggling with weight management.

Dec 31, 2020

Shawn joins the show for the 3rd time to talk about moving from LA, opening a new academy on the east coast, maintaining skills, patience while rolling and running an apparel brand. He also gives technical insight to the Williams guard and leg pummeling!

Dec 23, 2020

Coach Kody is the dedicated wrestling coach of Demian Maia and Shogun Rua. A lifelong wrestler and former NCAA D1 team captain, Kody shares his thoughts on Wrestling for BJJ, mindset and the value of failures. He also talks about his time spent in Brazil!

Dec 16, 2020

The first American to train BJJ, Richard Bresler joins the show to talk about finding the art in the 70's and how it helped him overcome addiction. He also talks about the Gracie Garage, challenge matches, self defense and the birth of the UFC.

Dec 9, 2020

Professor Omar Lira was one of Ryan's first instructors in Jiu-Jitsu. He joins the show to talk about starting BJJ in the 90's, how Jiu-Jitsu pulled him away from an unhealthy lifestyle and the decision to become an instructor.

Dec 4, 2020

Jon Blank joins the show to talk about starting Jiu-Jitsu with a Wrestling background, quitting his job for Jiu-Jitsu, opening an academy and and why he doesn't use contracts for students. He also gives advice for competitors and why he loves Sub-Only

Nov 27, 2020

Silverfox is back! We catch up with him and what he's been up to since the pandemic and discuss gym culture, academy expansion, selecting enforcers, managing egos and overcoming plateaus. He also gives technical insight to armbars and guillotines!

Nov 20, 2020

Roberto Godoi joins the show to talk about training since the 80's and being part of one of Sao Paulo's most heated rivalries with his former partner. He also talks about the guard, self defense, grip fighting and the formation and growth of his team G13.

Nov 13, 2020

Thomas Lisboa joins the show to talk about beginning BJJ back when it had a bad reputation in Brazil, why white belts shouldn't be focused on building a game yet and how offense can become defense. He also gives great insight on the crucifix position!

Nov 5, 2020

Sean Daugherty joins the show to talk about the early UFC days, training at the Lion's Den, the value of learning other styles and mental coaching. He also discusses the importance of pursuing passion, positive self-talk and advice for struggling students!

Oct 30, 2020

Kurt is back for our 5th Halloween Special! Topics include cosplay, lame costumes, Ryan's embarrassing robbery story, best and worst treats, bad horror movies, sketchy food and radioactive areas. We also use an AI to make a movie plot based on Kurt's data!

Oct 22, 2020

Sensei Josh Ruiz joins the show to talk about molding BJJ with Judo, making grips that matter and chaining techniques together. He also talks about the relation between throws and sweeps, customizing a curriculum and Judo for self defense!

Oct 14, 2020

Joe Baize joins the show to talk about unorthodox techniques, leg lock concepts and training dummies. He also opens up about battling depression through Jiu-Jitsu, building comfort with competition and learning to accept losses on the mats.

Oct 8, 2020

Coach Joel Bane joins the show and speaks candidly about his difficult youth and his military experience. He also shares technical mat advice from his diverse grappling background. Ryan and Joel also brainstorm ways to dominate the potato salad industry.

Oct 1, 2020

Kurt is back! Still sheltered in place, Kurt vents about wildfires, paintball vs airsoft, mummies, eating paste as a kid, fugitive war criminals and his obsession with tupperware. He also talks video games and takes questions from the listeners!

Sep 23, 2020

Anthony Ashnault joins the show to talk about how culture can influence success, overcoming injury and the development of important grappling skills like grip strength, hand fighting and take downs. He also gives insight on conditioning and mindset!

Sep 16, 2020

Cole Miller returns to talk about life as an academy owner, building a culture of respect, training responsibly and online instruction. He also talks about self defense concepts, BJJ for law enforcement and developing a dangerous guard!

Sep 11, 2020

Gilbert Burns joins the show to tell his inspiring life story and gives insight on building a take down game, chaining passes together and toe holds. He also talks about the importance of persistence and why being nervous for a match is a good thing.

Sep 2, 2020

Renato Canuto joins the show to talk about his start in the sport, the importance of being unpredictable and balancing guard work with passing. He also dives deep on his passing game, competition mentality and the benefits of rolling with lower ranks.

Aug 27, 2020

The Associate Head Wrestling Coach for Oklahoma State University, an NCAA D1 Champ and 3x All-American, Zack reflects on his career and offers advice for grapplers to incorporate Wrestling into their game. He also offers valuable insight for coaching!

Aug 20, 2020

Greco legend Steve Fraser joins the show to talk about his path to becoming the first American to win Greco Olympic gold. He also discusses how to make hard work fun, coaching and he reflects on coaching an iconic American sports moment.

Aug 14, 2020

Murilo Bustamante returns to talk about running his school during Covid, training with herniated disks, skill development and the importance of training when exhausted. He also talks about take downs, steroids and applying pressure for smaller people.

Aug 7, 2020

American BJJ pioneer Bob Bass joins the show to talk about training with the Gracies and Machados in the early days in California, his Wrestling base and how it helped him in BJJ, winning the first Pan Ams and his decision to become a teacher.

Jul 29, 2020

Kurt is back to talk about his home remodeling fiasco, fireworks shenanigans, quarantine weight gain, dangerous toys and tattoos. He also gives an update on his health, talks about the benefits of a strong Half Guard and takes questions from the listeners!

Jul 25, 2020

Rob Kahn returns to talk about his new love for Facebook trolling, quarantine weight gain and the state of the world. He also talks about training law enforcement and military, learning from Royce and Renzo back in the day and why he's only no-gi now

Jul 16, 2020

Rafael Lovato Jr makes his 3rd appearance on the show to talk about his recent health diagnosis, returning to BJJ competition, how MMA has influenced his Jiu-Jitsu and his thoughts on the leg lock game. He also goes deep on guard passing concepts!

Jul 8, 2020

Johnny Tama joins the show to talk about his origins, finding BJJ after being bullied, the development of his style and becoming the first Ecuadorian World Champion. He also talks about mindset, discipline and leaving his partying days behind

Jul 1, 2020

Todd Shaffer joins the show to talk about training after 30, self defense, meme-making and how he found BJJ. He also talks about why Half Guard is such a useful position for everyone and the pitfalls to avoid of academy ownership.

Jun 25, 2020

Robert Degle joins the show to talk about why he traded a pursuit of Philosophy for Jiu-Jitsu, the value of a systems-based approach to BJJ, learning from John Danaher and analyzing data. He also covers leg lock principles and general sustained pressure.

Jun 17, 2020

Fabio Clemente joins the show to talk about athleticism in BJJ, creating panic in your opponent, training after 50 and teaching kids. He also gives great insight about being an academy owner and gives advice for future school owners.

Jun 10, 2020

Jamie Kilstein of Rear Naked Radio joins the show to talk about meditation, getting the most out of down time, visualization and money in Jiu-Jitsu. Him and Ryan also talk about goofing off in past retail jobs and social errors white belts can avoid.

Jun 3, 2020

Jean Jacques Machado joins the show to talk about customizing Jiu-Jitsu to your traits, commonly overlooked concepts in the art, the value of self control and weaponizing your weak areas. He also talks about being a pioneer of BJJ in the US and teaching

May 27, 2020

Renzo returns to the show to talk about the business of Jiu-Jitsu, staying motivated, advice for people who think they suck, and the importance of setting boundaries. He also talks about the Wallid Ismail beef and getting shot at 16 years old

May 20, 2020

Kurt makes his long awaited return! He talks about Covid in San Fransisco, toilet paper alternatives, prepping for doomsday, the Navy's de-classified UFO footage, lizard porn, murder hornets, bug fights and 80's hair metal.

May 13, 2020

Matheus Diniz joins the show to talk about growing up in a very small town in Brazil, the funny story behind how he started training, moving to NY to train under Marcelo Garcia and lessons he's learned from competition. He also gives tips on guard passing

May 6, 2020

Felipe Costa returns to talk about running his own academy, winning the Abu Dhabi Pro, putting kids into BJJ and advice about the mount position. He also goes in on PED usage in the sport and drops a major announcement about his career!

May 2, 2020

Marcelo returns to the podcast to talk about quarantine life, facing fear, building a game, imposing your game and killing ego. He also shares very personal experiences of suffering from bullying as a kid and the huge obstacle of overcoming shyness.

Apr 26, 2020

Keith Krikorian joins the show to talk about blending Wrestling with Jiu-Jitsu, the 10th Planet style, how leg locks have changed the game and overtime skills. We also talk about Adam West's Batman, Animorphs, his fear of bubbles and superheroes he hates

Apr 19, 2020

Lael Rodrigues is a highly active competitor and a dedicated teacher at the Novos Sonhos Social Project in Sao Paulo's most distressed area, Cracolandia. Lael and his project are the focus of Grappling Central's first short film "The Saint of Crackland".

Apr 11, 2020

Scott Shetler returns to talk about home training for the quarantine, training without equipment, targeting your weaknesses, Ryan's new taco addiction and fighting depression with diet and exercise. He also talks about his new path in Jiu-Jitsu!

Apr 3, 2020

Roy Dean joins the show to talk about tactics, being a good training partner, mysticism in martial arts and connecting techniques. He also explains why he decided to step away from being an academy owner and focus on online teaching and seminars instead

Mar 27, 2020

Robert Drysdale makes his 3rd appearance on the show! He talks about the importance of human contact, the struggles of running a gym, confidence waves during the BJJ journey and chronic blaming. He also updates us on his upcoming documentary Closed Guard!

Mar 20, 2020

Adam Wardzinski joins the show to talk about the BJJ scene in Poland, the path to becoming a professional grappler, rolling vs drilling and why it's important to roll with lower belts. He also gives a deep breakdown of the Butterfly Guard!

Mar 13, 2020

Kent Peters joins the show to talk about overcoming plateaus, being self-taught in BJJ, forcing yourself into miserable spots and the value of keeping a training journal. He also talks about attacking from non-dominant positions and Jiu-Jitsu for women

Mar 7, 2020

Jeffery Donovan joins the show to talk about fusing Judo and BJJ, starting training after 30 and learning to love competition. He also talks about mental strength and battling cancer while maintaining his journey in Jiu-Jitsu.

Feb 29, 2020

Emil Fischer joins the show and discusses ego culture in some academies, controlling aggression and intensity, "rude" techniques and why it doesn't matter if you tap in training, even to lower ranks. He also talks about why he always studies his opponents

Feb 23, 2020

Pete "The Greek" Letsos is an American trailblazer in Jiu-Jitsu. He talks about being one of the early Americans to move to Brazil to train, the importance of maintaining a student perspective, his time spent with Master Carlson Gracie and wristlocks!

Feb 14, 2020

JT Torres joins the show to talk about pursuing martial arts as a kid, BJJ for smaller people, goal setting and mindset. He also talks about tournament preparation, building confidence and he gives lots of advice for future school owners!

Feb 5, 2020

Michelle Nicolini joins us for the 400th episode of the podcast! She talks about the development of her game, building persistence, strategy for smaller people and the importance of the basics. She also discusses her decision to become a pro MMA fighter!

Jan 31, 2020

Nick Rahn is a BJJ blue belt and US military veteran who is using Jiu-JItsu to help veterans combat PTSD and find a sense of purpose in civilian life. He shares his powerful story and pulls no punches while doing so in this candid interview.

Jan 25, 2020

Nick Rodriguez returns to recap his ADCC performance and to talk about visualization, controlled aggression and the importance of removing dead weight from your life. He also talks about blending wrestling with BJJ and working through injuries

Jan 17, 2020

Comprido joins the show to talk about growing up in Brazil in a neighborhood filled with legends, competition strategy and ref bias. He also talks about the infamous Alliance team split and he sounds off on steroid and marijuana usage in BJJ.

Jan 10, 2020

Demian Maia returns to the show to talk about his recent win over Ben Askren, managing fear and his plans for after fighting. He also goes deep on the details of his game, shares his thoughts on drilling and talks about parenting as a pro fighter.

Jan 3, 2020

Nick "Chewy" Albin joins the show to talk about the early days of his BJJ journey, self defense, the struggles he went through as a white belt and getting over the fear of losing. He also talks about staying motivated as an instructor and running a gym.

Dec 28, 2019

Nathan Mendelsohn joins the show to talk about training in Brazil, learning Portuguese and structuring a kids class. He also talks about competition preparation and his new Hip Hop album Kimura Trap Vol 1 featuring the hit single "No G in a Gi".

Dec 20, 2019

Tomer Alroy joins the show to talk about getting over his dislike of competing, the struggles Israeli competitors can face in the middle east, eliminating negative self-talk and processing a loss.

Dec 11, 2019

Talita Alencar joins the show to talk about how domestic violence led her to BJJ, the importance of self defense knowledge for women, butterfly guard and the value of suffering as a beginner. She gives advice about rolling with heavier people.

Dec 3, 2019

Buchecha joins the show and delivers great advice about managing competition anxiety, processing losses and fighting while exhausted. He also discusses the evolution of his game and why he feels his knee injury was the best thing that happened to him

Nov 29, 2019

Eli Knight joins the show to talk about Jiu-Jitsu for self defense. He covers realistic scenarios, self defense for women, knife defense, groin strikes and the benefits of sport Jiu-Jitsu in a self defense situation.

Nov 22, 2019

Adam Wheeler returns to talk about dealing with setbacks, surviving a difficult youth, managing pressure and nerves, conditioning and the value of competition. He also discusses in detail his memory of his scariest day as a SWAT officer.

Nov 15, 2019

Jon Thomas returns to talk about building instincts, creating a perfect black belt, structuring a curriculum, getting beat by lower belts and the importance of an open mind. He also sounds off on PED usage in BJJ and answers questions from the listeners!

Nov 7, 2019

Frank is back for the longest GCP episode ever! He talks with Ryan about everything from comedy, pay gaps in MMA, fatherhood, his daughter's MMA career, vegetarian diet, his pro wrestling debut, competitive grappling and his most recent fight.

Oct 29, 2019

Kurt is back for the 4th GCP Halloween Special! This episode also marks the 4 year anniversary of the podcast. Kurt talks about his final days in rehab, serial killer fight club and takes questions from the listeners. Needless to say, language warning!

Oct 22, 2019

Fresh off his incredible performance at ADCC, Lachland Giles joins the show to talk about the event, the evolution of his style, the leg lock game and pattern recognition. He also talks about improving weak areas and his burning hatred for mosquitoes.

Oct 15, 2019

B-Mac is back! In his 3rd appearance on the show, Brandon discusses promoting his wife to black belt, getting kids interested in training, self defense and tournament preparation. Ryan also suggests he should become a blue cheese evangelist.

Oct 11, 2019

Wilson Reis joins the show to talk about his beginnings, the benefits of competing often, BJJ for MMA and his proudest MMA moment. He also talks about his recent cut from the UFC and he gives a technical breakdown of the Sao Paulo Pass!

Oct 4, 2019

Kristian Woodmansee returns to talk about his new academy, cultivating a positive culture in a school, why he prefers not to teach his own kids and being a Jiu-Jitsu parent. He also gives technical insight to the Reverse De La Riva position.

Sep 24, 2019

John Combs joins the show to talk about ADCC, analyzing progress, take downs, guillotines and the evolution of his style. He also talks about setting goals and bouncing back from a loss.

Sep 17, 2019

Oliver Taza joins the show to talk about technology's role in the rising level of BJJ, Kinesiology and rehab, overcoming his recent ACL injury and using leg locks to open up other attacks. The also talks about patience and his fast rise in the ranks

Sep 10, 2019

Michael Liera Jr joins the show to talk about the definition of Jiu-Jitsu, finding comfort in suffering and some of the big breakthroughs he had in his journey. He also talks about addressing passivity, putting himself in white belt shoes and mindset

Sep 3, 2019

Drew Weatherhead returns to talk about his recent promotion to black belt, the business side of the art, mimetic learning and new things coming from BecauseJitsu. He also talks about the ethics of self defense, being a father and omoplatas

Aug 27, 2019

Bruno Bastos joins the show to talk about the early days of his training, the Fadda lineage, self-confidence and learning to compete. He also gives advice for bigger guys and gives technical advice on the Half Guard.

Aug 20, 2019

Matheus Nicolau joins the show to talk about going from soccer to BJJ to MMA. He also discusses ego, plateaus and why he still trains in the gi as an MMA fighter. He also provides excellent technical advice for smaller practitioners!

Aug 14, 2019

Dr. Chris Moriarty returns to discuss the data from his recent study that focuses on injury rates in Jiu-Jitsu. He also takes questions from listeners and we have a serious discussion about chicken tenders and the evils of mayonnaise and ranch dressing.

Aug 6, 2019

Dante Leon joins the show to talk about his beginnings, strength and conditioning for BJJ, the Reverse De La Riva position and discipline vs motivation. He also recaps his match at Kasai Pro against Renato Canuto and talks about elite competition.

Aug 1, 2019

After a long hiatus, Kurt is back on the show! He updates us with his situation in this candid episode. Ryan also makes a big announcement about his life. They also talk about Brazil, public nudity, the GOT finale, and Kurt takes questions from listeners

Jul 23, 2019

Alec Baulding joins the show to talk about overcoming plateaus, his recent ADCC performance and using competition as a tool for improvement. He also talks about "short guy Jiu-Jitsu" and being more aggressive with the guard

Jul 16, 2019

Roli Delgado joins the show to talk about overcoming fear of failure, the pursuit of vindication, the importance of conditioning and why you need to get tired in training. He also reflects on his MMA career and explains why his primary focus is now BJJ

Jul 9, 2019

Jake Mackenzie joins the show to talk about the early days of BJJ in Canada, living and training in Brazil, the benefits of competition and creating a gameplan. He also gives a great technical breakdown of the Half Guard.

Jul 2, 2019

Travis Stevens returns to the show to talk about his Olympic experience in Rio, nearly losing his leg to staph and pursuing goals through adversity. He also covers team loyalty, grip fighting and the required work ethic and discipline to be elite.

Jun 25, 2019

Rose Gracie returns to the show to talk about brain damage and CTE within combat sports. She's been researching and learning about concussions and CTE with leading experts and she also talks about possible CTE within her family and her new rehab facility

Jun 18, 2019

Danielle Kelly joins the show to talk about her journey in grappling, the development of her style, her favorite competition ruleset and adding Wrestling to BJJ. She also gives a technical breakdown of maintaining back control effectively

Jun 11, 2019

Known for his role as O'Hara, a villan in Bruce Lee's iconic film Enter The Dragon, Bob Wall joins the show to tell the incredible and inspirational story of his life. A passionate grappler, he also discusses his time training BJJ, Wrestling and Judo!

Jun 4, 2019

One of BJJ's most exciting stars, Lucas Barbosa joins the show to talk about following in his idol's footsteps in Brazil, overcoming poverty and the law of attraction. He also discusses training, drilling and building a solid game

May 28, 2019

Marcos "Yemaso" Torregrosa joins the show to talk about finding BJJ in Puerto Rico, the early days of MMA, training and living in Brazil and teaching effectively. He also discusses the difficult decision some students face of switching teams.

May 21, 2019

Justin Rader joins the show and talks about blending Wrestling with BJJ, developing take downs, leaving your comfort zone, and the importance of knowing why you train. He also talks about leadership and effective coaching

May 14, 2019

In this throwback episode, UFC veteran and Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Kenny Florian talks about BJJ in the 90's, positive mentality, managing nerves and emotions and the value of setbacks. He also talks about commentating for the UFC and trades Royce Gracie stories with Ryan.

Apr 30, 2019

Craig Jones returns to talk about his recent camp in NYC, his match with Tim Spriggs, conditioning, leg locks, gi and no-gi scrambles and breaking bad habits. He also talks about his frustrating match at Kasai against Palhares and upcoming matches he has!

Apr 23, 2019

Amanda Leve joins the show to talk about competition mindset, competing against male athletes, submission only rules, drilling and managing competition anxiety. She also discusses her recent ADCC Trials win!

Apr 17, 2019

In his 3rd appearance on the show, Master Ricardo Liborio talks about his plans to bring BJJ to universities and schools across the US and his Resenha event. He also talks about the therapeutic effects of the art and gives great advice for school owners!

Apr 9, 2019

Quentin Rosenzweig joins the show to talk about building a career outside the IBJJF through super fights and submission only events. He also discusses leg locks, trends in BJJ and his thoughts on teaching.

Apr 2, 2019

Bernardo Faria returns to the show after 3 years! He talks about the development of his game, effective positions for older practitioners and the formation of BJJ Fanatics. He also gives technical insight on the half guard and over/under guard passing!

Mar 26, 2019

This is a throwback episode from the GCP archive originally recorded in December 2016 (excuse the audio quality). Demian Maia talks about his life and career and shares his thoughts on training, teaching and fighting MMA. Enjoy!

Mar 19, 2019

GCP's most interviewed man returns for an update on his school, his recent Australian and Korean tours and shares some AirBnB adventure stories. He also takes several questions from the listeners!

Mar 13, 2019

Nick Rodriguez joins the show to talk about his wrestling background, his life story and winning an ADCC trials bronze medal as a blue belt. He also talks about work ethic and retaining what you learn.

Mar 5, 2019

Gordon "The King" Ryan joins the show to talk about the value of strong mentors, pre-competition anxiety and conceptual learning. He also offers advice on improving leg lock success and discusses self-promotion as a professional grappler.

Feb 26, 2019

One of the most decorated American Judokas of all time, Mike Swain joins the show to talk about winning the Judo world championship, developing his game, training in Japan and the decision to retire. He also discusses some changes he'd like to see in Judo

Feb 19, 2019

Professor "Roleta" is one of the greatest champions of the sport and the man credited with developing the inverted guard position. He talks about having an unorthodox style, athleticism and the sport rivalry between Gracie Barra and Carlson Gracie Team

Feb 12, 2019

Professor "Toco" is a highly respected instructor. Some of his students include Alexandre Pulga and Cyborg Abreu. He talks about Carlson Gracie, the Vale Tudo days of Rio and surfing. He also talks about his social projects that bring BJJ to favelas

Feb 5, 2019

George Bossi has been coaching high school wrestling in Lowell, MA for over 50 years. He is the focus of the film "Bossi". He reflects on his career and talks about molding the young men of Lowell through wrestling. Many of whom were on dark paths prior.

Jan 29, 2019

Rory Singer is a BJJ Black Belt and retired MMA fighter and UFC veteran. He talks about the application of combat sports in real world self defense situations, his MMA career and his journey as a gym owner.

Jan 22, 2019

Brian Jones is a BJJ and Judo Black Belt and one of the leading experts on sandbag training. He talks about self defense, BJJ in the 90's and fighting how you train. He also talks about the unique "surprise attack" policy he has at his school!

Jan 15, 2019

Cat Clarke is a BJJ Brown Belt and the promoter behind Sub Series Pro, a rapidly growing organization out of Canada. He talks about running events, weight loss, dealing with athletes, growing BJJ's mainstream popularity and surviving lightning strikes!

Jan 8, 2019

Dr. Peter Goldman is a BJJ Black Belt and the chiropractor of stars like Rickson and Kron Gracie, BJ Penn, Clark Gracie and several others. He talks about his journey, longevity, preserving your neck and he takes questions from the GCP facebook group!

Jan 1, 2019

Professor Neiman Gracie joins the show to talk about the value of positional training, BJJ for MMA, fight strategy for Jiu-Jitsu athletes and learning from John Danaher. He also explains why training with a big team doesn't guarantee success.

Dec 25, 2018

Judo star Marti Malloy joins the show to talk about her Olympic experience, training smart, lessons learned from the mats and managing pressure in competition. She also reflects on the most significant moments of her career!

Dec 18, 2018

Josh "Starlord" Leduc joins the show to talk about mixing BJJ and Catch Wrestling, pre-competition anxiety, leg locks and preserving energy. He also talks about his upcoming title match against current Catch Wrestling World Champion Brandon Ruiz!

Dec 10, 2018

Marcelo Cohen joins the show to talk about old school vs new school teaching methods, adapting BJJ to your body type and visualization and mentality. He also goes deep on the Kimura and the mistakes that cause people to fail finishing it.

Dec 4, 2018

Clark Gracie returns to talk about growing an academy, managing an affiliation, team loyalty, his thoughts on cross training and the value of competition as a measuring tool. He also talks about competition mindset and staying calm under pressure!

Nov 27, 2018

Marcos Tinoco joins the show to share his inspiring life story. He talks about fighting through adversity, the value of work ethic, moving to NY to train under Marcelo Garcia, competing with no pressure and lessons he's learned along the way.

Nov 20, 2018

Marcos Flores is the director of USA tournaments for Grappling Industries and a highly experienced referee. He talks about starting BJJ in his 30s, longevity on the mats, reffing over 10,000 matches and the intricacies or reffing.

Nov 13, 2018

Harry Smith is a Catch Wrestler, BJJ enthusiast and former WWE superstar. He is also the son of WWE legend British Bulldog. He talks about the value of fundamentals, training in Japan, how Catch and BJJ compliment each other and bouncing back from losses.

Nov 6, 2018

Drew Weatherhead is the mind behind the hit Instagram meme profile "Because_Jitsu". He talks about how he found BJJ, the growth of the BJJ scene in Canada, how he started making memes and Jiu-Jitsu "in the streets"

Nov 1, 2018

Dhiego Lima talks about leaving football to pursue MMA, managing nerves before a fight, training BJJ with strikes, why he trains in the gi and fighting through adversity. He also expresses interest in pursuing competitive grappling after his MMA career!

Oct 30, 2018

Kurt is back for the 2018 Halloween Special! Kurt talks about his upcoming Australian tour, strategies for fighting various wild animals, UFOs, corn mazes, Unsolved Mysteries, serial killers and his thoughts on UFC 229.

Oct 25, 2018

Rob from McDojo Life joins the show to talk about cults, frauds, chi blasts and angry online ninjas! He also talk about why he enjoys teaching and how martial arts prevents bullying.

Oct 23, 2018

Junior Assuncao is a seasoned MMA fighter and long time practitioner of Jiu-Jitsu. He talks about the early BJJ scene, new school vs old school mentality, bullying and the current state of BJJ in Brazil. He also reflects on a match against Marcelo Garcia.

Oct 18, 2018

Rondel Benjamin introduced Jiu-Jitsu to Trinidad & Tobago in 2000 and has helped build the community there for the last 18 years. He talks about strategy and concepts in BJJ, invisible Jiu-Jitsu, breathing and the importance of drilling grip fighting

Oct 16, 2018

Rob Austin of the Big Jiu-Jitsu Podcast joins the show to talk about his journey in Jiu-Jitsu, the life lessons he's learned along the way and making time for training despite a hectic schedule.

Oct 11, 2018

Brandon Ruiz is a decorated grappling champion and coach. He discusses work ethic, avoiding burnout, competition strategy and mental preparation. He also talks about finding yourself through grappling and practicing empathy

Oct 9, 2018

Raul Ramirez joins the show to talk about his journey through Catch Wrestling, Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine, training at the Snake Pit and training intensity. He also talks about Catch Wrestling Alliance and the future of Catch!

Oct 4, 2018

Curran Jacobs joins the show to talk about overcoming bullying through wrestling, mental toughness, how Catch Wrestling and BJJ can help each other, staying focused during tough times and his desire to compete against Gordon Ryan and Garry Tonon.

Oct 2, 2018

Mahamed Aly returns just off his first Black Belt World Championship! He talks about managing injuries, ideal training frequency, recovery advice and the importance of quality sleep. He also talks about his new Youtube channel and his goals moving forward

Sep 27, 2018

Albert Lim is one of Malaysia's most experienced BJJ athletes and coaches. He talks about his journey through the art, the BJJ scene in Malaysia and rolling without rounds. He also talks about taking your training into your own hands and online learning

Sep 25, 2018

Professor Jared Feierabend joins the show to talk about learning from the greats, meeting Grandmaster Helio Gracie, learning to flow and managing training with age. He also discusses living in the wilderness and changes he's seen in the art over time.

Sep 20, 2018

Alex Humen joins the show to talk about his transition from Wrestling to BJJ, overcoming bullying, managing competition anxiety and conditioning for grappling. He also gives technical insight to the D'Arce Choke!

Sep 18, 2018

Professor Jena Bishop joins the show to talk about pursuing Jiu-Jitsu with a significant other, her competition mindset and work ethic. She also shares great insight on the closed guard and timing your attacks.

Sep 13, 2018

Jamil Hill joins the show to talk about his recent World Championship, avoiding complacency and the evolution of his style. He also talks about the importance of setting a good example and how BJJ kept him away from negative influences growing up

Sep 11, 2018

Grandmaster Flavio Behring has over 70 years experience in Jiu-Jitsu. He talks about the early days with his instructor Grandmaster Helio Gracie, self defense Jiu-Jitsu, dealing with multiple attackers and watching GM Helio fight for 3 hours straight.

Sep 6, 2018

Kurt is back to talk about his recent UK tour, his upcoming Australian tour and to update us on the progress of Empire Jiu-Jitsu! He also talks about shark cages, wildfires, eating raccoons, and praises Ryan and Karen for surviving a week at his house!

Sep 4, 2018

Professor Steve Maxwell returns to talk about globetrotting, self defense, and dealing with armed attacks. He also talks about avoiding muscular imbalances, over-training, out of control egos and the law of attraction.

Aug 30, 2018

Richie "Boogeyman" Martinez returns to the show to talk about submitting Sakuraba, running tournaments and growing an academy. He also gives great insight on competition mindset and learning from losses.

Aug 28, 2018

Steve Austin has over 20 years of experience training, competing and teaching martial arts. He talks about overcoming a childhood disease, dealing with bullying as a kid and why it's important to reach kids who are bullies as well as their victims.

Aug 23, 2018

Lavell Marshall is a World and National Champion of Shuai Jiao Chinese Wrestling. He is also a NYC Mongolian Wrestling Champion. He gives an education on Shuai Jiao and talks about ego, tournament mindset and solo drills to improve your grappling!

Aug 21, 2018

Francisco "Sinistro" joins the show to talk about his beginnings in Ecuador, his recent performance at the KO Finisher and having a winning mindset. He also talks about training with Cobrinha and the importance of keeping training fun!

Aug 16, 2018

Professor Ishmael Bentley joins the show to talk about his incredible outreach program, the International Jiu-Jitsu Education Fund. This program helps kids in struggling communities around the world get access to Jiu-Jitsu at no cost.

Aug 14, 2018

"Big Red" of one of 10th Planet's most active competitors. Coming off his recent team win at Quintet 2, Adam talks about competition mindset, flexibility for big guys and embracing your attributes. He also covers weight loss and self esteem through BJJ

Aug 9, 2018

Piet Wilhelm joins the show and speaks candidly about growing up in foster care, living on his own at 12 years old and eventually joining the military. He also talks about helping veterans through BJJ and his hilarious viral video fighting a bodybuilder!

Aug 7, 2018

Bret Perchaluk is a BJJ Black Belt, Judo Black Belt and a former D1 Wrestler. He talks about the benefits of exploring various styles and his traditional martial arts background. He also gives great technical insight on sprawling and defensive Wrestling

Aug 2, 2018

Mark Turner is the first non-Brazilian to earn a black belt under Demain Maia. He talks about how he found Jiu-Jitsu, learning from Demian, rule sets in Jiu-Jitsu and building a curriculum. He also gives great technical insight on the Half Guard!

Jul 31, 2018

Seph Smith is the first black belt under Professor Ryan Hall and a respected competitor and instructor. He talks about how he found Jiu-Jitsu, BS in martial arts and being stuck at a rank for a long time. He also gives great insight on Reverse De La Riva!

Jul 26, 2018

Diego "Nosferatu" Herzog joins the show to talk about BJJ for MMA, his match against Roger Gracie and his favorite thing about teaching. He also shares his thoughts on the Submission Only ruleset and gives a recap of the KO Finisher event in San Francisco

Jul 24, 2018

While in St Louis to commentate the 2018 USA Combat Wrestling Nationals, Ryan takes time to interview "Sambo" Steve Koepfer, Vlad Koulikov and the USCW Team USA winners!

Jul 19, 2018

Claudia Doval joins the show to talk about her recent world title, turning 30, managing injuries, coping with burn-out and the Spider Guard! She also sounds off on bias in Jiu-Jitsu against women and gives advice for men and women alike!

Jul 17, 2018

Arin Adjamian returns to talk more about nutrition and to answer questions from listeners! He covers everything from acid reflux, gut health, Big Pharma and CBD oil. He also gives his thoughts on popular diets like Pescetarian, Keto and the Gracie Diet.

Jul 12, 2018

Alex Atala is a world renown chef and culinary celebrity who has been featured on CNN, Netflix and Brazilian television. He is also a BJJ Brown Belt under Demian Maia. He talks about his journey and how BJJ has helped him in various aspects of his life.

Jul 10, 2018

One of the top female competitors of her generation, Nathiely De Jesus talks about the law of attraction, using Jiu-Jitsu to overcome health issues, training at the infamous Cicero Costha Academy and facing your idols in competition.

Jul 5, 2018

Ryan visits San Francisco and catches up with Kurt. They recap Kurt's event The KO Finisher, their time spent in SF, strangers offering Ryan drugs and Kurt's upcoming tours. Kurt also drops a bombshell about his current teaching situation and his future

Jul 3, 2018

One of the most decorated American Judokas of all time, Sensei Jimmy Pedro talks about his Olympic experience, his thoughts on modern Judo and his grappling conditioning. He also talks about accepting losses and cross-training in various grappling styles

Jun 28, 2018

Davi Ramos is one of the most decorated BJJ competitors today and a current UFC lightweight. He talks about mentality, setting the pace in a match, how Jiu-Jitsu changes for MMA and whether or not grappling competition will remain in his future.

Jun 26, 2018

Bruno Frazzato joins the show to talk about managing competition nerves, Jiu-Jitsu for MMA, his time spent at Team Brasa and the birth and growth of Team Atos. He also gives guard passing tips and discusses why he feels the gi helps your no-gi game!

Jun 21, 2018

Master Sylvio Behring joins the show for an excellent conversation about self defense, situational awareness and legality of defending yourself. He also talks about the old days in Rio, challenge matches, women's Jiu-Jitsu and his brother Marcelo Behring

Jun 19, 2018

Kristian Woodmansee is one of Jiu-Jitsu's most exciting Rooster Weight competitors. He talks about the deep waters of modern BJJ, managing ego, team loyalty and being a smaller competitor. He also weighs in on ref bias and the Keenan Cornelius incident.

Jun 5, 2018

Jake Shannon is a highly respected figure in the world of Catch Wrestling. He talks about the history of the style, his time spent with the legends of the sport and Professional Wrestling. He also talks about the future of Catch Wrestling!

May 31, 2018

Josh "The Punk" Thomson joins the show to talk about how his MMA career began, his grappling influence, fighting for the UFC and PRIDE and how kettlebells have helped his conditioning. He also talks about being a fighter at 40 years old!

May 29, 2018

Brian McLaughlin tells the story of being a frail chess club member in high school to becoming a professional MMA fighter. He also talks about the early days of BJJ in NY, being a TUF season 8 cast member and his competition rivalry with Ryan Hall.

May 24, 2018

Brian James, aka "Jiu-Jitsu Cop" is an active police officer and BJJ purple belt who works to encourage police across the country to learn Jiu-Jitsu. He talks about how Jiu-Jitsu has saved him (literally) on the job, and how it can do the same for others!

May 22, 2018

Colton Brown is one of Judo's most exciting athletes today. He talks about leaving football for Judo, adapting your game, living in Japan and improving your social circle. He also talks about his 2016 Olympic experience in Brazil!

May 17, 2018

Chris Martin is a BJJ purple belt with a unique story to tell. Chris is an instructor who survived a stroke that was caused from an accident while rolling and takes the time to spread awareness to others. He is also the founder of BJJ For Change.

May 15, 2018

One of our earliest guests, Erik Paulson returns over 280 episodes later! We catch up with him and discuss why he doesn't coach fighters anymore, growing take down skills, attack sequences, escaping leg locks and supernatural experiences!

May 10, 2018

Rodrigo Antunes joins the show to talk about starting training at a young age, coming up with world class mentors, plateaus in training, teaching kids and managing parents, heavyweight Jiu-Jitsu and his experience training MMA!

May 8, 2018

Federico Tisi is a world renown instructor and the first Italian to receive a BJJ Black Belt. He talks about building knowledge, the white belt process, teaching teachers, mindfulness, longevity and the value of focusing on defense as much as offense.

May 3, 2018

**USE HEADPHONES TO LISTEN** To see the video of this episode, join the Grappling Central group on Facebook, where it was streamed live! Kurt talks about his recent Asia tour, getting kicked out of the Samurai Museum in Japan and shirtless living!

May 1, 2018

Master Maurico Gomes joins the show to talk about the early competition scene in Brazil, longevity in the art and Jiu-Jitsu's customizable nature. He also covers the blue belt blues, athleticism and rolling with his son, Roger Gracie.

Apr 26, 2018

Harley Flanagan was the frontman and bassist for NYC's legendary punk band Cro-Mags. He is also a Black Belt under Master Renzo Gracie and a highly respected instructor. He talks about brawls, riots, NY's old punk scene and how he got started in BJJ!

Apr 24, 2018

Ryan is joined by special guest co-host, Rose Gracie! Together they interview WEC and Bellator veteran Chad George. Chad talks about his passion for teaching, "accidentally" starting his MMA career and his viral Bellator debut. He also covers goal setting.

Apr 19, 2018

Tyler Driskell is a teammate, instructor and good friend of Ryan's who has a unique story and interesting perspective of BJJ. He talks about why he competes, leg locks, progression in Jiu-Jitsu, Gi vs No-Gi and what makes an academy successful

Apr 17, 2018

Sensei Gary Goltz joins the show to talk about starting Judo in 1965, life lessons from competition, advice for parents and his strong desire to see BJJ and Judo work together more. He also tells the hilarious story behind his Conan O'Brien appearance

Apr 12, 2018

Arin Adjamian talks about going from being overweight with an eating disorder to becoming a successful Sport Nutritionist and BJJ champion. He also covers meal prepping, calories, the effects of diet on testosterone, fat consumption and cutting weight.

Apr 10, 2018

Ryan's Strength & Conditioning coach Scott Shetler joins the show to talk about catering your lifting to meet your grappling needs, the impact of time limits on athletes, cardio vs muscular endurance and nutrition.

Apr 5, 2018

Professor Yamasaki joins the show to discuss cross training, why BJJ won't be in the Olympics, Women's Jiu-Jitsu, take downs and building a kids program. He also tells the story of removing a drug dealer from a favela with the Brazilian Federal Police!

Apr 3, 2018

Professor "Gordo" is the man credited with developing the Half Guard into an offensive position. He talks about the rules in BJJ competition, finding the right school for you and training though injuries. He also opens up about why he left Gracie Barra.

Mar 29, 2018

Professor Helio "Soneca" joins the show to talk about the early days of Gracie Barra, career opportunities in BJJ, working with elite MMA fighters and building an academy. He also states that the Rubber Guard was a position he came up with decades ago.

Mar 27, 2018

Professor Charlie Liu is the co-founder of Digitsu and a long time BJJ practitioner. He talks about self defense, small joint manipulation, asking questions in class, starting Digitsu and filming disaster stories.

Mar 22, 2018

Amal Easton joins the show to talk about being one of the first Americans to travel to Brazil to learn BJJ in the early 90's, meeting Renzo Gracie, BJJ for every day people and training for longevity. He also discusses some of BJJ's cultural nuances

Mar 20, 2018

Jackson Sousa shares his powerful life story, from beginning his life in the Favela (slums) in Rio to becoming a decorated champion. He also talks about Terere's influence on him and for the first time in an interview opens up about beating drug addiction

Mar 15, 2018

Master Luiz Palhares joins the show and talks about BJJ in Brazil in the 1970's and 80's, Training under Rolls and Rickson Gracie, Vale Tudo in the 90's and why he is a firm believer of training in the gi. He also talks about teaching Navy SEALS

Mar 13, 2018

Mike Palladino joins the show and discusses how Pro Wrestling led him to BJJ, learning from Vlad Koulikov and Formiga, online learning, why you shouldn't worry about rank, and competition mindset. He also talks about self defense and sport grappling.

Mar 8, 2018

Anthony Ferraro is a NJ State Greco Champion, An accomplished high school wrestler and a Judo brown belt. He has accomplished all this despite being blind. He is the focus of the film "A Shot in the Dark" and shares his inspirational story

Mar 6, 2018

After a brief hiatus, Kurt is back! We catch up with him and talk about his upcoming Asian tour, his new drum room, rock stars fighting with fans, options for going bald, Kurt's mustache and his naked arrest story. Kurt also gets triggered by toothpaste.

Mar 1, 2018

Robert Drysdale has been traveling all over Brazil and Japan gathering historical data for the documentary film "Closed Guard". Some of what he's found may make you question what you thought you knew about BJJ's history!

Feb 27, 2018

Fresh off winning the EBI Featherweight championship, Jonathan Calestine joins the show to recap the event and talk about his rise in the sport. He also talks about the struggles of being a full time grappler and managing injuries.

Feb 22, 2018

Matt Kaplan joins the show for a hilarious and entertaining episode! Topics include pro wrestling death matches, pro wrestling moves in MMA, leg locks, punk rock and rolling drunk. He also talks about training with Garry Tonon and Eddie Cummings.

Feb 20, 2018

David Aguzzi is back to talk about the growth of Grappling Industries, the BJJ ban in Montreal and training referees. He also gives a deep breakdown of what it costs to run a tournament and why entries cost what they do for competitors.

Feb 15, 2018

Justin "Master Chim" Garcia makes his second appearance on the show for a deep discussion of self defense, dealing with armed attackers from a grappling standpoint and building muscle memory. He also talks about the direction of competitive grappling.

Feb 13, 2018

Ben Kovacs is the founder of The Guardian Gym, a martial arts school that allows disadvantaged kids and adults train for free or for a rate that they can afford. He talks about how the project started and the impact it has had on the community.

Feb 8, 2018

Daniel Perez is the first American to get a Black Belt under Demian Maia. He talks about training with Demian, running his own school, finding the right training environment for you and the blue belt blues. He also talks about self defense in the street.

Feb 6, 2018

Sgt. 1st Class Matt Larsen is the man behind the US military's Modern Combatives Program. He explains why BJJ is the base style in the system, effects of adrenaline in a fight, self defense for civilians and how a bar fight opened his mind to new tactics

Feb 1, 2018

Vlad Koulikov returns to the show to talk about his recent promotion to BJJ Black Belt, winning the Combat Wrestling Worlds in Japan, training through injuries, conditioning and his views on the modern leg lock game from a Sambo perspective

Jan 30, 2018

Joao Assis joins the show to talk about how Jiu-Jitsu helped him on a better path in life, learning from Leo Vieira and Mario Sperry, being a purple belt for 6 years and moving to the US without knowing anyone and with limited English

Jan 25, 2018

Luiz Panza joins the show to talk about his recent trip to Brazil, his intro to martial arts, why his mother banned him from training as a young man, Chuck Norris jokes and his rap song he recently write for his friend Buchecha!

Jan 23, 2018

Spenser Mango is a decorated Greco Roman Wrestling champion and a 2x Team USA Olympian. He talks about finding his style, strength & conditioning, the benefits of being smaller and his Olympic experience. He also gives advice on diet and cutting weight.

Jan 18, 2018

"Pe De Pano" joins the show to talk about how BJJ saved him from his troubled youth, the Colby Covington incident, Brazil in the 90's vs today, the ingredients of a champion and facing weaknesses head on. He also gives technical insight on the armbar

Jan 16, 2018

UFC veteran and BJJ champion Eliot Marshall joins the show to talk about finding BJJ in 1997, cult mentalities that exist in BJJ, the UFC, his love for teaching and meditation. He also provides one of the funniest answers The Pummel has ever seen.

Jan 11, 2018

Dan Camarillo joins the show to talk about keeping kids interested in Jiu-Jitsu, structuring a curriculum, injury prevention, training take downs safely and taking breaks from training. He also tells stories from the old days of Ralph Gracie's Academy.

Jan 9, 2018

Justin Flores joins the show to talk about learning online, universal truths in grappling, broadening your horizons and being the captain of your own ship. He also talks about coaching Ronda Rousey and opens up about his crippling fear of mustard.

Jan 4, 2018

Shintaro Higashi joins the show to talk about the pressures of being the son of a Judo legend, how rule sets impact grappling styles, his diverse grappling experience and pursuing the Olympics. He also covers improving take downs for any grappling style!

Jan 2, 2018

Mario Sperry talks about the early days of Carlson's academy and shares several epic stories including fighting Wallid Ismail on a bathroom floor, surfing brawls and his old rivalry with Royler Gracie. He also talks about the Pride days and his new school

Dec 28, 2017

Abmar Barbosa is a respected BJJ champion and instructor known for his exciting, fast-paced style. He talks about how bullying led him to BJJ, overcoming adrenaline dumps, money in Jiu-Jitsu and defeating Kron Gracie. He also talks about his time in Japan

Dec 26, 2017

Gustavo "Siri" Pires is a decorated champion and instructor. He talks about appreciating the basics, having a sibling who trains, closed guard and competing against friends. He also talks about competing against Demian Maia and Comprido back in Brazil

Dec 21, 2017

Joey Alvarado is a BJJ champion, retired MMA fighter and founder of KettleJitsu. He talks about the seedy early days of MMA, bullying in modern times and his exposure to influential black belts. He also gives great insight to kettlebell training for BJJ!

Dec 19, 2017

Karel "Silverfox" Pravec is a highly respected instructor. He talks about the early days of BJJ in the US, dead ends to avoid in training and staying ahead of younger opponents as a middle aged practitioner. He also gives insight to his water training

Dec 14, 2017

U.S. Sambo pioneer Gregg Humphreys joins the show to talk about how bullying led him to martial arts, misconceptions about Sambo, coaching at Militech Fighting Systems and kettlebells. He also talks about training extensively in the U.S.S.R. in the 80's

Dec 12, 2017

David Adiv joins the show to talk about transitioning from Judo to Jiu-Jitsu, the differences between BJJ and Judo newaza and self defense applications of sport BJJ. He also gives great insight on self defense and why he chose BJJ over Krav Maga

Dec 7, 2017

Fresh off EBI 14, Craig Jones joins the show to talk about his performance, the evolution of his game, flexibility, leg locks and avoiding complacency. He also talks about his upcoming superfight rematch against Murilo Santana at Kasai Pro

Dec 5, 2017

Rolles Gracie joins the show to talk about growing up in the Gracie family, how to keep kids interested in Jiu-Jitsu and the early days of Renzo's academy. He also talks about prank calls with Draculino and Romulo Barral, Pro Wrestling and Hulkamania!

Nov 30, 2017

Professor Gui Valente joins the show to talk about best practices for running a school, growing up in a Jiu-Jitsu family and self defense! He also shares some great knowledge about the history of Jiu-Jitsu!

Nov 28, 2017

Jeffrey Cummings is a BJJ black belt and former Wrestler. Dylan Whyte is a brown belt and experienced youth instructor. Together they run a new academy in FL called Positive Balance Grappling and give insight to what its like to open a new school!

Nov 23, 2017

One of Greco's biggest stars and a fan favorite for his fun personality and exciting style, Robby talks about his origins, making the Olympic team and crazy stories from the road which include dodging Russian mobsters and accidentally eating cat meat.

Nov 21, 2017

Steve Bongiorno is a Ricardo Almeida Black Belt and a highly respected instructor. He talks about the early days of BJJ on the east coast, the change in martial arts that BJJ created, managing the ego and dealing with larger opponents.

Nov 16, 2017

Alberto Crane joins the show to talk about the early days in BJJ in the US, training in Rio, his time spent with Master Draculino, building your game and how personality an determine your style. He also talks about his MS diagnosis.

Nov 14, 2017

Paul Schreiner joins the show to talk about evolutions he's seen in BJJ over time, meditation, the underlying physics of Jiu-Jitsu and the Half Guard. He also talks about adjusting to NYC, getting robbed in Brazil and corporate fight clubs.

Nov 9, 2017

A US Marine combat veteran turned BJJ Champion, Chris Jones shares his story and discusses finding purpose after the military, competition mindset, building your game, his wrestling background, balancing life with training and how BJJ can help PTSD.

Nov 7, 2017

Roger Gracie returns to talk about the Buchecha match, retirement, competition strategy and mindset, athleticism in Jiu-Jitsu and why he doesn't believe in complex drilling. We also debut a new game on the podcast!

Nov 2, 2017

Gabe Dean is one of the top Wrestlers in collegiate history. He talks about his intro to Wrestling through his father, why motivation isn't as important as discipline and some of the hurdles Wrestling has helped him overcome.

Oct 30, 2017

Kurt's back for the second GCP Halloween Special! Ryan and Kurt determine the BJJ styles of horror movie killers and ramble about getting fired from jobs, aliens, psychics, astrological signs and belly button lint. Kurt also gets triggered twice. Intro music by Dan Cole: TUBULAR BELLS COVER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAWOJXJtx7M Dan Cole Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxxsTsvea6TAckWZCJcc_7A ? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__dancole/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dan-Cole-549209275229053/

Oct 26, 2017

Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro returns to talk about his recent superfights, balancing teaching and competing and the superfight he wants next. He also issues a challenge to ANYONE who has the guts to face him in Ping Pong!

Oct 24, 2017

Marco "Gigante" Villela is a respected instructor in Australia. Originally from Brazil, he talks about his journey in Jiu-Jitsu, learning from Carlos Gracie Jr and Relson Gracie, refereeing and why he thinks the IBJJF's rules should be the standard.

Oct 19, 2017

Leo Vieira returns to talk about his promotion to 5th degree, returning to competition at 41 and Superfights that he is interested in. He also shares his thoughts on Roger Gracie vs Buchecha

Oct 17, 2017

A powerful conversation with Ronald Mann, a blue belt amputee who has found new life through Jiu-Jitsu. He talks about the details of his accident, hitting rock bottom and rising from the ashes to become a Para Jiu-Jitsu World Champion.

Oct 12, 2017

Ryan Murphy joins the show to talk about the old days of Jiu-Jitsu in Northern California, his transition from Wrestling to Jiu-Jitsu, and his favorite things about teaching. He also talks about how personalities influence styles

Oct 10, 2017

Frank Mir returns to talk about his release from the UFC, Bellator, USADA, Yoga and his ADCC Superfight against Chael Sonnen (later canceled after recording this interview). He also talks about cult mentality, loyalty and frauds in martial arts.

Oct 5, 2017

Abraham Marte is the first BJJ champion out of the Dominican Republic. He talks about closed guard, training through injuries and strength & conditioning. Also, Ryan makes a recording error which results in a Beavis & Butthead convo intended for off air..

Oct 3, 2017

Professor Crosley Gracie joins the show to talk about the challenges of growing up as a Gracie, fighting for Pride and Pancrase, Jiu-Jitsu for MMA and his epic match against his cousin Ryron Gracie!

Sep 28, 2017

Kurt and Ryan talk about Ryan's month in Brazil, Kurt's disturbing Halloween costume choice, taking notes in class, Jiu-Jitsu around the world, pizza savagery, the gauntlet and IT (the movie)

Sep 26, 2017

Tyler Bishop joins the show to talk about old school MMA events, challenge matches, learning from Royler Gracie and learning online effectively. He also talks about his commentary career and the best advice he's received in Jiu-Jitsu.

Sep 21, 2017

Dave Camarillo is a highly respected instructor and coached several elite MMA fighters in the UFC. He talks about transitioning from Judo to BJJ, realistic self defense, commonly neglected areas of training and learning from setbacks.

Sep 19, 2017

Marcel Goncalves is the first student of Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu and is a decorated competitor. He tells his powerful life story and how Jiu-Jitsu helped him endure very hard times. He also talks about embracing challenges and the value of positive mindset.

Sep 14, 2017

Professor Shawn Williams is back! We talk about injuries, injury prevention, adding Judo and Wrestling to Jiu-Jitsu and Demain Maia's title fight. Shawn also breaks down why many people quit Jiu-Jitsu

Sep 12, 2017

B-Mac is back! We discuss podcasting, EBI, the balance between athleticism and technique in Jiu-Jitsu, the role physical attributes play in your game, and managing the ego

Sep 7, 2017

Gianni Grippo joins the show to talk about balancing gi and no-gi training, appreciating your rivals and making a living through Jiu-Jitsu. He also discusses etiquette when making the decision to switch teams

Sep 5, 2017

Tom Deblass is back! He talks about his recent Fight to Win match, ADCC 2017, conditioning, the Dillon Dannis beef, obsessive mindset and using skills responsibly. He also talks about how he processes a loss and takes lessons from every match

Aug 31, 2017

Kevin Phillips is a BJJ purple belt, a comedian and co-host of The Verbal Tap Podcast. He talks about dealing with injuries, call-outs in Jiu-Jitsu, exploratory rash guards and spats, podcasting and BJJ in the digital age.

Aug 29, 2017

Professor Draculino returns to the show after nearly 2 years to talk about past and current trends in Jiu-Jitsu, his prediction for future trends, learning to teach, structuring a comprehensive curriculum and the importance of having good ethics

Aug 25, 2017

BJJ Black Belt Dr. Chris Moriarty returns to the show to talk about his recent competitions, dealing with leg lockers, call-outs in Jiu-Jitsu and his new medical study geared towards Jiu-Jitsu practitioners

Aug 24, 2017

Professor Shane Rice is the only Canadian Black Belt under Grandmaster Rickson Gracie. He talks about his incredible luck finding Rickson, the old days of Rickson's academy in LA and his MMA career. He also weighs in on the great sport/self defense debate

Aug 22, 2017

Kurt makes his monthly appearance and rambles with Ryan about Game of Thrones, Slayer, corporal punishment, Ryan and Karen's Mexican adventure and zombie apocalypse strategies.

Aug 18, 2017

Mike Salemi is one of the most respected strength and conditioning experts in the world. He talks about customizing your fitness to meet your needs in Jiu-Jitsu, building grip strength and timing your nutrition correctly

Aug 17, 2017

Retired professional MMA fighter and BJJ Black Belt Enson Inoue talks about his time spent with Grandmaster Relson Gracie, being humble as a black belt, his MMA career and the Yakuza. He also tells the story of the infamous 1998 Pan Ams brawl

Aug 15, 2017

Rose if the founder of Gracie Worlds tournaments. She talks about growing up in the Gracie family, her perspective watching Jiu-Jitsu spread to the US, her views on belt ranks, tournament bias and cannabis use in BJJ and MMA.

Aug 11, 2017

Javier Palomo is a black belt in several martial arts, a purple belt in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and a Catch Wrestling instructor. He talks about the value of exploring other grappling styles and different tournament rule sets

Aug 10, 2017

UFC veteran and Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Kenny Florian talks about BJJ in the 90's, positive mentality, managing nerves and emotions and the value of setbacks. He also talks about commentating for the UFC and trades Royce Gracie stories with Ryan.

Aug 8, 2017

Comedian, Writer and Co-Host of The Verbal Tap Podcast Raf Esparza joins the show to talk about Professional Wrestling moves that work in Jiu-Jitsu, Ryan's shattered childhood dreams of being a pro wrestler, the direction of the UFC and running the USSGL

Aug 3, 2017

One of BJJ's youngest and brightest stars, Mahamed Aly joins the show to talk about cultural differences between Brazil and the US, pursuing a life of passion, adding Judo to his game and the pros and cons of being a big guy in Jiu-Jitsu.

Aug 1, 2017

Professor Marcelo Garcia is considered by many to be the greatest BJJ competitor of all time. He talks about his origins, avoiding one-dimensional training, self discipline and managing ego. He also discusses why you should always seek tough rolls.

Jul 28, 2017

Steve Cotter is one of the top resources in the world for kettlebell trianing and he is also the personal kettlebell trainer of 9x World BJJ Champion Xande Ribeiro. He talks about how to implement kettlebells into your conditioning routine for Jiu-Jitsu!

Jul 27, 2017

Professor Sam returns to talk about building a successful academy, why you don't need to be a world champion to be a great teacher, teaching your students the way they learn and the prank war between himself and Ryan's instructor Professor Paul Creighton

Jul 25, 2017

The Dade County Crippler is back! Ruben Alvarez makes his third appearance on the show and talks about self defense, his progress in the Miami Police academy, his recent performance at the Kakuto Challenge and Califlower Ears

Jul 20, 2017

Professor Keith Owen talks about practical self defense, avoiding cult-like academies, teaching, the reasons people quit BJJ and finding your reason to train!

Jul 18, 2017

Jerry Clanton is a BJJ purple belt from Daphne, Alabama who trains and competes at 70 years old! He talks bout his start in BJJ, his favorite things about it and his inspiring message to all practitioners, young and old!

Jul 18, 2017

Kurt talks about his recent failed attempt at BJJ commentary, fireworks and explosives, cheap alcohol and his disappointment that the iPhone 7 can't take a punch.

Jul 14, 2017

Alec Wooden is a young blue belt who survived brain cancer. He talks about how Jiu-Jitsu has impacted his life and how he tries to be a constant motivator for his team!

Jul 13, 2017

Coach Casey Halstead is a highly respected coach, academy owner and entrepreneur in the BJJ community. He talks about time management, common pitfalls of gym ownership and the value of a positive gym culture

Jul 11, 2017

Professor Jon Thomas delivers a very insightful and technical conversation. He covers injury management, improving your weaker areas, guard retention, conditioning for BJJ and much more!

Jul 7, 2017

Professor Dennis Ortega is a black belt under the legendary Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro. He talks about his start in BJJ, the importance of idols and dealing with pre-training anxiety

Jul 6, 2017

In our 200th episode, we are joined by the man many consider to be the greatest BJJ Black Belt of all time. Master Rickson talks about controlling your breathing, teaching Jiu-Jitsu to anyone, managing fear and his thoughts on honor in modern society

Jul 4, 2017

In the second installment of Perspectives from the Journey, Ryan sits with 8 different female practitioners of varying ranks to talk about their experiences, reasons for training, struggles, triumphs and thoughts on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Jun 30, 2017

Professor Jay Regalbuto is a respected Black Belt who is also one of the most active commentators in the BJJ community. He has called over 1,000 matches and talks about how he got his start

Jun 22, 2017

Professor Sergio Silva joins the show to talk about the importance of building muscle memory, Judo for Jiu-Jitsu, self defense and the gritty days of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil during the 90's. Show Notes: His origins Curitiba, Brazil Training BJJ with open hand strikes Clashes between teams in Brazil in the 90's Wild Brazil fight stories Real life self defense scenarios with your family present Having a plan of action for your family in the event of an attack on the street using control positions and self control in a fight When you need to use Jiu-Jitsu to it's fullest level of violence for self defense The tough reputation of fighters from Manaus, Brazil The importance of building muscle memory The responsibility that comes with Jiu-Jitsu skills Judo for Jiu-Jitsu Sparring from the feet

Dec 1, 2016

In this episode, we are joined by arguably the greatest representative of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in MMA, Demain Maia. Demian talks about why he quit Kung Fu as a teen to start BJJ, funny stories from the mats and his excitement for a Welterweight title shot!

Nov 30, 2016

One of the most experienced and recognized BJJ referees in the United States, Professor Karchmer has reffed well over 3,000 matches in his career. He discusses some of the subtle intricacies of reffing that many competitors may not take into consideration, his opinion on common rules, the elements of a good ref and bias in big tournaments

Nov 30, 2016

Amanda "Tubby" Alequin is one of the fastest rising stars of women's Jiu-Jitsu. Just coming off her first black belt no-gi world title, Tubby discusses the differences between mens and womens BJJ, her mental preparation and competing against her idols.

Nov 22, 2016

A 6th degree black belt under Carlson Gracie and an MMA pioneer, Professor Allan Goes joins us to share his powerful life story. He openly talks about how he went from horrible poverty and incarceration, to being saved by Master Carlson Gracie and Jiu-Jitsu

Nov 19, 2016

Coach Matt Lindland is regarded as one of the top world resources for grappling knowledge. In this episode, he discusses his career, his decision to pursue Greco-Roman Wrestling over Freestyle, his Olympic experience and his long and successful MMA career

Nov 19, 2016

Rustam "The Russian Bear" Chsiev joins the show to talk about wrestling, moving to the US to chase his dreams, his success in EBI and his old school diet!

Nov 10, 2016

Kipp Kollar is the man behind NAGA one of the most successful grappling tournaments out there. Kipp talks about his intro to grappling, the beginnings of NAGA, what goes into running a tournament and coaching kids in a healthy way.

Nov 9, 2016

Professor Alberto Marchetti is a very respected figure in the Jiu-Jitsu community, not only for his teaching, but for his business ventures within Jiu-Jitsu. If you have ever been curious about the business side of BJJ, don't miss this episode!

Nov 3, 2016

In this episode, we are joined by Professor Mike Bidwell. Mike talks about his beginnings in martial arts, his unique and artistic approach to Jiu-Jitsu and being stuck at one rank for a long time!