
Mini Ep. 26: Crossing the Center
In this week's mini-episode we're talking about crossing the center, an ancient mental model that appears in many martial arts beyond Jiu-Jitsu — and for good reason! The "center line" refers to an imaginary line running down the middle of your body, where your spine is. Forcing your opponent to "cross the center," or pass their arm or leg across the center line of their body, is a surefire way to break their posture and structure. Further study: BJJMM Mini Ep. 1: Base https://...
31 Loka 20247min

Ep. 308: From Good to Great, feat. Jake O'Driscoll
This week we're joined by Jake O'Driscoll! Jake is the black belt head coach at Essence BJJ in Perth, Australia. Best known for coaching Adele Fornarino to her incredible 2x ADCC 2024 World Championship win, Jake is also an accomplished competitor in his own right, having just won the IBJJF 2024 Pan Pacific No-Gi Heavyweight Championship in Masters 1. In this episode, Jake shares lessons on crossing the gap from good to great, and what separates the best in the world from th...
28 Loka 20241h 1min

Mini Ep. 25: Hybrid Break Mechanics
In this week's mini-episode we finish our series of discussions on the different types of breaking mechanics in Jiu-Jitsu! This episode explains hybrid breaks, or submissions that combine multiple breaking mechanics such as linear breaks, rotational breaks, and slicers. Hybrid breaks are often more powerful than those relying on a single breaking mechanic. (A note on terminology: a "break" as described here is technically more of a "tear," as you're not breaking bone, you're tear...
24 Loka 20245min

Ep. 307: Agents & Representation, feat. Sara Rafferty
This week we're joined by Sara Rafferty! Sara is the agent and manager for Jiu-Jitsu standouts like Adele Fornarino, Brianna Ste-Marie, and Jake O'Driscoll. In this episode, Sara shares her advice on how athletes can leverage agents, managers, and representation to negotiate better sponsorships and fight contracts in Jiu-Jitsu. Follow Sara Rafferty on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_rafferty Follow Carolina Vallejo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carovallejojj Re...
21 Loka 20241h 3min

Mini Ep. 24: Slicer Mechanics
In this week's mini-episode we continue our series of discussions on the different types of breaking mechanics in Jiu-Jitsu! This episode explains slicers, a submission that usually targets the bicep or calf, and discusses why these submissions may be underused due to IBJJF ruleset restrictions. (A note on terminology: a "break" as described here is technically more of a "tear," as you're not breaking bone, you're tearing soft tissue. However, we'll use the term "break" as it's t...
17 Loka 20247min

Ep. 306: Tactics for Jiu-Jitsu Anxiety, feat. Amanda Bruse
This week we're joined again by Amanda Bruse! Amanda is a black belt under André Galvão training out of Atos HQ and a BJJ Mental Models sponsored athlete. In this episode, we continue the topic from Amanda's last appearance: how to manage the anxiety that comes with Jiu-Jitsu competition. Amanda presents specific, evidence-backed tactics for managing Jiu-Jitsu anxiety for athletes of all levels. Follow Amanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandabruse.bjj/ Resour...
14 Loka 202450min

BONUS: My 7-Year-Old Explains Jiu-Jitsu to Your Dumb Ass. 🤣
⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models! MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta
11 Loka 202412min

Mini Ep. 23: Rotational Break Mechanics
In this week's mini-episode we continue our series of discussions on the different types of breaking mechanics in Jiu-Jitsu! This episode explains rotational breaks like kimuras, omoplatas, and heel hooks. We also explain the difference between internal and external rotations, and why internal rotations are so powerful. (A note on terminology: a "break" as described here is technically more of a "tear," as you're not breaking bone, you're tearing soft tissue. However, we'l...
10 Loka 202410min





















