Ep. 23: Instructor Series: Coaching

This week we're taking on a topic by listener demand: how to help BJJ business owners succeed financially! In this episode, we're joined by David Bayarena, a BJJ black belt, certified financial planner, and founder of Kaizen Wealth Planning and RONIN Financial Planning. David highlights topics relevant to all BJJ business owners, such as insurance, tax mitigation, succession plans, and retirement plans. Drawing parallels between financial and martial strategies, David emphas...

23 Sep 202455min

In this week's mini-episode we discuss hybrid choke mechanics! We've already covered the primary types of chokes in Jiu-Jitsu. Now let's talk about what happens when we combine these types of chokes, whether hybrid chokes are "better," and how hybrid chokes muddle complicated topics like rulesets and consent. Listen to our prior mini-episodes on choke mechanics: Mini Ep. 16: Blood Choke Mechanics https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15622350-mini-ep-16-blood-choke-mechani...

19 Sep 20248min

This week we're joined again by Tum Energia! Thomas Voorn, better known by his nickname Tum Energia, is a BJJ black belt and the founder of Energia Martial Arts. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of Jiu-Jitsu digital content toward short-form content like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Stories. We discuss the implications to BJJ content creators, how practitioners can learn from content of different types, and the ethics of short-form content on our attention s...

16 Sep 202456min

In this week's mini-episode we discuss crank mechanics! Cranks are submissions that attack the cervical spine (the neck). We discuss the ethics of cranks, how to engage with them safely, and their relevance to rulesets. Listen to our prior mini-episodes on choke mechanics: Mini Ep. 16: Blood Choke Mechanics https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15622350-mini-ep-16-blood-choke-mechanics Mini Ep. 17: Air Choke Mechanics https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15660734-mi...

12 Sep 202410min

This week we're joined by Josh Vogel! Alongside his wife Angie, Josh is a co-founder and head instructor at The Jiu Jitsu Company in Old City, Philadelphia. In this episode, Josh emphasizes the importance of structured class curriculums and a project-based focus, where students develop their skills through specific, measurable 90-day projects targeting various techniques. Follow Josh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshrvogel https://www.instagram.com/thejiujitsucompany ...

9 Sep 202459min

In this week's mini-episode we discuss compression choke mechanics! Compression chokes involve squeezing your opponent's chest so tightly that their lungs can't expand to take in air. They're a bit silly and not high-percentage, but they're still worth knowing about so you don't wind up on the wrong end of someone else's compression choke highlight reel. Listen to our prior mini-episodes on choke mechanics: Mini Ep. 16: Blood Choke Mechanics https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/2...

5 Sep 202410min

For our 300th episode, there's only one guest that'll do: James "300" Foster! James is a 3x black belt masters world champion, 4th degree black belt under Giva Santana, and the head coach at Foster Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In this episode, James shares how teachers who are also active competitors can balance those two priorities, and even synergize them. Follow James on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james300foster Subscribe to James' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@...

2 Sep 202459min

In this week's mini-episode we discuss air choke mechanics! Air chokes involve cutting off your opponent's ability to breathe by either compressing their trachea ("windpipe") or covering their mouth. Air chokes often don't act as quickly as blood chokes, but there are ways to speed them up by triggering the gag reflex. We also talk about why air chokes are legitimate techniques and should not be thought of as "dirty." Listen to our prior mini-episode on blood choke mechanic...

29 Aug 202410min