Welcome to Episode 2 of our podcast, featuring an in-depth conversation between host David Meyer and his mentor, the legendary martial artist and instructor John Will. In this episode, John shares his extraordinary journey from being bullied as a child in Australia to becoming one of the most influential figures in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and martial arts education worldwide.
John Will recounts his early days traveling through Southeast Asia, training in diverse martial arts styles, and founding Australia’s first martial arts magazine, Blitz. He discusses his pivotal encounters with the Gracie family, the Machado brothers, and his role in bringing BJJ to Australia. The conversation dives deep into the philosophy of martial arts, the importance of attention to detail, the distinction between discomfort and injury, and how martial arts principles apply to life beyond the mat.
Whether you’re a martial artist, a coach, or someone interested in personal growth, this episode is packed with wisdom, humor, and practical insights. Don’t miss John’s reflections on teaching, building a martial arts association, and the impact of technology on learning and society.
Connect with John Will:
- Website: https://www.bjj.com.au/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.b.will.7/
- Academy: https://www.redcatacademy.com.au/
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, like, comment, and share! Your support helps us bring more inspiring conversations to the community.
This episode was presented and directed by David Meyer, Produced by Robbie Lockie, with music by Robel Borja.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction: Meet John Will
02:23 - John’s Martial Arts Origin Story
03:49 - Early Adventures in Southeast Asia
07:11 - The Diversity of Indonesian Martial Arts
09:32 - Competition and the First World Silat Championships
12:09 - Founding Blitz Magazine & Spreading BJJ
16:40 - Meeting the Gracies and the Machado Brothers
22:09 - Bringing BJJ to Australia
25:40 - Building an Association and Teaching Philosophy
28:18 - The Power of Attention to Detail
31:05 - Life Lessons from Martial Arts
36:05 - The Role of Luck and Merit in Success
40:47 - Technology, the Internet, and the Future
46:18 - Final Reflections & How to Connect with John Will
48:30 - Outro: Subscribe and Stay Tuned
Links from the show
Don Draeger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donn_F._Draeger
Pencak silat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencak_silat
Blitz Magazine
https://www.facebook.com/blitzmartialarts/
“Training for Competition: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission” Grappling by Davd Meyer
Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A
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