Mini Ep. 7: Levers

This week, Matt is joined by Judo legend Shintaro Higashi for a super detailed and technical discussion of grip strategy. Mental models discussed in this episode: Mirrored Stances https://bjjmentalmodels.com/mirrored-stances/ Inside Channel Control https://bjjmentalmodels.com/inside-channel-control/ Train With Purpose https://bjjmentalmodels.com/train-with-purpose/ Staying Loose https://bjjmentalmodels.com/staying-loose/ Kinetic Chains https://bjjmentalmodels.com/kinetic-chains/ Dilemm...

21 Dec 20201h 25min

This week, we're joined by Dr. David Ley. In addition to being a clinical psychologist and frequent contributor to Psychology Today, David is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Roberto Alencar. He's the perfect guest to discuss one of our most frequently requested topics: depression and Jiu-Jitsu. Mental models discussed in this episode: Habits Over Results https://bjjmentalmodels.com/habits-over-results/ Mindfulness https://bjjmentalmodels.com/mindfulness/ Growth from Discomfort ht...

14 Dec 202052min

The juice. The sauce. The bomba. It's prevalent in our sport. But is it true that everyone uses them? And regardless, would that justify using them yourself? This week, we're joined again by Lachlan Giles to discuss the ethics of performance-enhancing drug use in BJJ, and the recent firestorm around his principled comments on Instagram. Research referenced in this episode: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-24730151https://www.sciencedaily.com/re...

7 Dec 20201h 7min

This week, we're joined again by Island Top Team black belt Rory van Vliet. Rory helps us answer the question: when you are a caregiver, how do you use Jiu-Jitsu safely and with compassion? If you ever wanted to learn how to use Jiu-Jitsu to safely subdue Grandma, this is the episode for you. Mental models discussed in this episode: Theory of Alignment https://bjjmentalmodels.com/theory-of-alignment/ Win Conditions https://bjjmentalmodels.com/win-conditions/ Prevention Over Cu...

30 Nov 20201h 10min

What a milestone! This week, Steve and Matt celebrate 100 episodes of BJJ Mental Models, and share the biggest lessons we've learned so far. We also discuss cat litter options, feline dietary considerations, and fail hard at pronouncing German names. Mental models discussed in this episode: Investing in Loss https://bjjmentalmodels.com/investing-in-loss/ Scientific Method https://bjjmentalmodels.com/scientific-method/ Surface Area https://bjjmentalmodels.com/surface-area/ For...

22 Nov 20201h 4min

This week, Steve and Matt are joined by Lachlan and Livia Giles! Lachlan and Livia share their world-class wisdom on developing your grappling style, and advise how you can consciously guide the process of style development. Mental models discussed in this episode: Inside Channel Control https://bjjmentalmodels.com/inside-channel-control/ Prioritize Longevity https://bjjmentalmodels.com/prioritize-longevity/ Levels of Competition https://bjjmentalmodels.com/levels-of-competition/ S...

16 Nov 20201h 21min

This week, Steve and Matt are joined by Robert Degle! We have a deep conversation around the win conditions of our sport, how they influence our behavior, and why it's important to understand WHY we train Jiu-Jitsu. Mental models discussed in this episode: Win Conditions https://bjjmentalmodels.com/win-conditions/ Cognitive Load https://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-load/ Flow https://bjjmentalmodels.com/flow/ Mindfulness https://bjjmentalmodels.com/mindfulness/ Do What Works http...

9 Nov 20201h 28min

This week, we're joined by defensive strategist Priit Mihkelson! Much to Matt's chagrin, Steve and Priit espouse the benefits of turtle and why it's an underappreciated position. Priit shares some great philosophy on how shoring up your defense can give you the confidence to be more effective in your offense. Priit's tips for turtle: Keep your head on the matUse the boxer shoulder, or "Stephen Hawking" (head tilt)Keep your elbows on your hipsDon't put your elbows on the matProtec...

2 Nov 20201h 24min