Mini Ep. 46: Beginner's Mind

This week we're joined by Darin Conner DeAngelis! Darin won IBJJF world champions at blue and purple belt, but as a black belt he's decided to step away from his original goal of being a professional competitor. In this episode, Darin explains to us how re-evaluating his life led him to abandon his goal of being a professional competitor, and what listeners could do if they're experiencing a similar "Jiu-Jitsu existential crisis." Darin's Instagram: https://instagram.com/dc_deang...

29 Aug 20221h 1min

This week we're joined again by Oliver Taza! Oliver is actually the first guest we ever had on BJJ Mental Models, so it's great to have him back. Oliver and his team are actively preparing for ADCC, and in this episode of BJJ Mental Models, Oliver generously shares key concepts for standup in an ADCC-like environment. Oliver’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/tazagarami/ Oliver's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oliver.taza.1 Mental models discussed in this episode: 3 Joint ...

22 Aug 202257min

This week we're joined again by Mike "Doctor Kickass" Piekarski! Mike is both a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and a physical therapist. In this episode, Mike provides general guidance on how BJJ athletes can safely return to sport after an injury or layoff. Mike's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor_kickass/ Mike's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctorkickassDPT Mental models discussed in this episode: Stress and Recovery https://bjjmentalmodels.com/stress-and-re...

15 Aug 202256min

This week we're joined by Mike Mahaffey! Mike is a black belt under Chris Haueter, and is a certified Old Bastard. In this week's episode, Mike breaks down the tenets to "Old Bastard Jiu-Jitsu": the old-school style where you give them nothing, minimize movement, and crush them with pressure. Mike Mahaffey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xibalba1972/ Magic BJJ website: https://magicbjj.com/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Path of Least Resistance https://bjjme...

8 Aug 20221h 6min

This week we're joined again by 3x world champ and Marcelo Garcia black belt, Emily Kwok! Fresh off winning the 2022 Pans, Emily joins us to talk about what it's like to compete after the age of 40. A great chat about what competition looks like as you get older, take on more responsibilities, become more concerned about your health, and achieve a broader life perspective. Emily's website: https://emilykwok.com/ Emily’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/emilykwokbjj/ Emily's pod...

1 Aug 20221h 10min

This week we're joined by Sonia Sillan! Sonia is a black belt under Hannette Staack and is the owner of Combat Arts Academy of Seattle. In this episode, Sonia shares her honest advice on how to build a BJJ business. Topics include financing, business partners, affiliations, customer onboarding, customer contracts, trial classes, class safety, and volunteers vs. employees. Sonia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soniasillan/ Combat Arts Academy Instagram: https://www.i...

25 Juli 20221h 8min

This week we're joined again by Malachy Friedman! Malachy breaks down mental models for the knee shield half guard. Get Malachy's knee shield instructionals on Jiu Jitsu X: https://jiujitsux.com/profile/malachyf/ Malachy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malachyfriedman/ Mental models discussed in this episode: Controlling the Distance https://bjjmentalmodels.com/controlling-the-distance/ Predictable Responses https://bjjmentalmodels.com/predictable-responses/ Funneling https...

18 Juli 20221h 11min

This week we're joined by Ryan Hurst! Ryan is the head coach at GMB Fitness, the creators of the popular Elements program for strength & flexibility. In this episode, Ryan introduces GMB's concepts for expanding your range of motion, shares tips on injury prevention, and explains why most BJJ warmups are suboptimal. GMB on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GMBFitnessSkills GMB's Website: https://gmb.io/ GMB on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gmbfitness/ Contact GMB: ...

11 Juli 202259min