Fighting Matters

4d ago

In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan, Mike Mahaffey, and Jesse Walker confront the relentless bullying and scapegoating of transgender athletes, especially within combat sports. They unpack how bad-faith arguments, misinformation, and moral panic have turned a tiny minority into a political and cultural punching bag, and discuss what gym owners, coaches, and training partners can do to create safer, more inclusive spaces. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktree.com/fightingmatters • BJJ Mental Models (Steve Kwan) — https://bjjmentalmodels.com • Old Bastard BJJ (Mike Mahaffey) — https://instagram.com/oldbastardbjj • Rough Hands BJJ (Jesse Walker) — https://roughhandsbjj.com ⸻ 👥 Featuring (Hosts): • Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels • Mike Mahaffey — @oldbastardbjj • Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj ⸻ 🧠 Topics Discussed: • How trans athletes became a political and cultural scapegoat • Bullying vs. good-faith discussion around sports and fairness • Why hate movements target small, vulnerable groups • Misogyny, fear, and propaganda in combat sports culture • What gym owners can do to make their spaces safer and inclusive ⸻ 📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Why trans athletes are being targeted 03:30 — Scapegoating and bad-faith arguments 07:45 — Why this problem must be addressed by gym culture 13:10 — Sports, fairness, and fabricated moral panics 21:00 — Propaganda, fear, and political exploitation 42:30 — What coaches and gyms can do differently 54:10 — Final thoughts on dignity, accountability, and inclusion

Dec 13

The Fighting Matters crew is joined by Shaun Benson from The Boys to talk about about the show and how it relates to the state of the world right now. Along the way we explore the blurring of lines between credible information and disinformation, the rise of Fascism, and the real bad guy responsible for evil in both The Boys and the real world. Follow Shaun on Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@shaunybenso and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shaunmbenson/

Dec 3

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Jesse Walker talk with writer Adrian Nathan West about his New York Times piece on Craig Jones, exploring how trolling, politics, and culture collide in modern Jiu-Jitsu. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • The NYT Article — https://nyti.ms/3Y1N6oz • Nate West’s Website — https://anathanwest.com • The Baffler — https://thebaffler.com ⸻ 👥 Featuring: Steve Kwan — https://bjjmentalmodels.com Jesse Walker — https://roughhandsbjj.com Adrian Nathan West — https://anathanwest.com ⸻ 🧠 Topics Discussed: • Why Craig Jones is a uniquely effective internet troll • Gordon Ryan’s influence on young grapplers • How Jiu-Jitsu intersects with politics • The importance of fact-checking in modern media • The future of independent journalism • Whether trolling can actually shift culture in BJJ ⸻ 📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Welcome & Introductions 02:00 — How the NYT Article Came Together 06:30 — Craig Jones’ Online Persona 12:45 — Gordon Ryan’s Political Influence 18:00 — Why Athletes Shape Public Opinion 25:10 — Left, Right, and Populism in BJJ 32:00 — Fact-Checking for the NYT 38:30 — The Rise of Independent Media 45:20 — AI’s Impact on Journalism 53:00 — Should We All Be Trolls? 57:20 — Where to Find Nate’s Work

Nov 27

In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan, Stephan Kesting, and Jesse Walker break down how bad BJJ coaches trap students with rank. They explore how belt pressure becomes a tool for fear and control, why some gyms drift into cult-like behavior, and how to spot red flags before you get stuck. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Grapplearts Black Friday Sale — https://www.grapplearts.com • BJJ Mental Models Premium — https://bjjmentalmodels.com • Rough Hands BJJ — https://roughhandsbjj.com ⸻ 👥 Featuring: Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels Stephan Kesting — @StephanKesting Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj ⸻ 🧠 Topics Discussed: • How bad coaches use rank as leverage • Why students feel trapped in toxic gyms • How cult dynamics show up in BJJ • When to leave and how to stay safe • Why character matters more than belts ⸻ 📖 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:10 Why rank becomes a trap 10:45 When coaches cross the line 22:30 Cult signs inside BJJ gyms 35:40 How to get out safely 47:20 Why character matters most 59:00 Final thoughts and deals

Nov 19

In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan, Mike Mahaffey, and Jesse Walker talk about the recent political shift of Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) and her public apology regarding her past rhetoric and actions. They explore the implications of her apology, the need for accountability, and the potential for redemption in politics. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Fighting Matters Linktree — https://linktree.com/fightingmatters • Fighting Matters Food Drive (direct link) — https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/teams/7625 • Fighting Matters Substack — https://fightingmatters.substack.com ⸻ 👥 Featuring: Steve Kwan — https://bjjmentalmodels.com Mike Mahaffey — http://oldbastardbjj.com Jesse Walker — https://roughhandsbjj.com ⸻ 🧠 Topics Discussed: • Marjorie Taylor Greene's recent apology is a rare moment in politics. • The need for accountability and consequences for past actions is crucial. • Creating off-ramps for defectors from harmful ideologies is important. • Empathy and understanding can help bridge political divides. • Misinformation plays a significant role in shaping beliefs and actions. • The rise of extremism poses a serious threat to political discourse. • Finding common ground is essential for moving forward. • Public apologies can pave the way for political redemption. • The importance of community initiatives in addressing social issues. • Engaging in face-to-face conversations can foster understanding. ⸻ 📖 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Light Banter 01:24 Marjorie Taylor Greene's Political Shift 06:15 The Complexity of Apologies in Politics 10:01 Navigating Human Rights and Political Accountability 17:01 The Role of Redemption in Politics 20:58 Consequences and the Future of Political Figures 28:04 The Need for a Reckoning in Politics 35:14 Navigating Extremism and Hate Groups 37:51 The Dangers of Normalizing Hate 39:22 The Complexity of Redemption 41:30 Assessing Paths to Redemption 44:34 Creating Off-Ramps for Extremists 48:42 The Political Landscape Shift 53:16 Finding Common Ground 01:01:28 Community Action and Food Drives

Nov 7

MMA analyst Luke Thomas joins the Fighting Matters crew to discuss fixing fights in the UFC in particular, and MMA in general. We look at which specific type of fighter is being targeted, who might be behind it, and the role of the FBI in investigating the UFC. More Luke Thomas MMA analysis on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/lukethomas Luke Thomas gets political: https://www.youtube.com/@LukeThomasGetsPolitical Follow Luke Thomas on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethomasnews Luke Thomas on Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/

Nov 2

In this episode, Steve Kwan, Jeff Shaw, and Jesse Walker break down how the ongoing SNAP and ACA shutdown could devastate working-class Americans, and why Jiu-Jitsu gyms will be hit especially hard. They unpack how food assistance and healthcare subsidies keep communities afloat, why cutting them is both illegal and economically disastrous, and how martial artists can take action through solidarity, food drives, and conscious spending. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Fighting Matters Food Drive — https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/teams/7625 • Fighting Matters Substack — https://fightingmatters.substack.com • BJJ Mental Models — https://bjjmentalmodels.com ⸻ 👥 Featuring: Steve Kwan — https://bjjmentalmodels.com Jeff Shaw — https://bellinghambjj.com Jesse Walker — https://roughhandsbjj.com ⸻ 🧠 Topics Discussed: • What the SNAP shutdown really means for Americans • How ACA cuts raise healthcare costs for everyone • The ripple effect on gyms and small businesses • SNAP’s economic multiplier and why it matters • Why “the cruelty is the point” in U.S. politics • Building community resilience through action ⸻ 📖 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:15 What SNAP Really Does 05:20 How Food Assistance Fuels the Economy 09:40 Why Jiu-Jitsu Gyms Will Feel the Pain 12:30 Launching the Fighting Matters Food Drive 18:10 Debunking SNAP Myths 24:30 The Affordable Care Act Fallout 28:40 Real Stories of Rising Premiums 33:10 Tax Cuts, Inequality, and Stagnation 40:00 Jiu-Jitsu Analogies for a Broken Economy 45:20 What Gym Owners Can Do 50:10 Voting With Your Wallet 52:00 Final Thoughts: Stay Strong as a Community

Oct 31

In this episode, Steve Kwan sits down with journalist Michael Colborne of Bellingcat to expose how far-right movements use aesthetics and martial arts culture to recruit young men. They discuss the origins of the “active club” network, the rise of far-right fashion and fitness subcultures, and how hate groups weaponize masculinity and community to spread extremism. Michael also shares how visual literacy can help parents, coaches, and martial artists identify warning signs and resist radicalization within their own gyms. 🔗 Links Mentioned: • Michael Colborne’s work — https://www.bellingcat.com/ ⸻ 👥 Featuring: Steve Kwan — @BJJMentalModels Michael Colborne — https://colborne.bsky.social/ ⸻ 🧠 Topics Discussed: • How “active clubs” exploit MMA and gym culture • The far-right’s obsession with aesthetics and branding • Recognizing coded extremist symbols and fashion • How online propaganda turns into real-world violence • What parents and coaches can do to push back ⸻ 📖 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 03:00 What Are Active Clubs? 10:00 The Three F’s: Fashion, Fitness, Fighting 18:00 Symbols, Codes, and Far-Right Aesthetics 28:00 How Hate Groups Recruit 38:00 Warning Signs for Parents and Coaches 53:00 Countering Radicalization in Martial Arts 01:07:00 Humor, Awareness, and Pushing Back