BJJ Mental Models
Your guide to a conceptual and intelligent Jiu-Jitsu approach. BJJ black belt Steve Kwan and a slate of expert guests explain the concepts, strategies, and tactics behind the gentle art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Episodes
In this week's mini-episode, we explain shuhari: a Japanese concept from the traditional martial arts explaining the three stages of mastery.
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The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, a...
This week, we're joined again by fan favorite Josh "Kintanon" Wentworth! Josh explains one of the most overlooked concepts in jiu-jitsu: having a "game." Drawing inspiration from the Mendes brothers, Josh explains why a repeatable, deliberate path from standing to finish beats reactive rolling every time. Topics include: decision-making loops, why "taking what they give you" is a trap, and how to ...
In this week's mini-episode, we explain the double tap: a deceptive way to trick your opponent into lowering their defenses.
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
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The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Yo...
This week, we're joined again by Livia Giles! In this episode, Livia explains why growing your gym's female membership isn't just the right thing to do, it's smart business. Livia shares what actually moves the needle on women's participation, the culture shifts that make women feel welcome, why intimidation kills retention before it starts, and how gym owners can practically double their potential clientel...
In this week's mini-episode, we explain the relationship between direct control and proxy control. Direct control means a dominant grip through immediate contact; proxy control means using something else (like the gi).
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
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This week, Rob Biernacki is back! In this episode, Rob explains the 90/90: a yoga-style "pigeon pose" position ideal for defending leglocks and getting to the running man escape (AKA the "Captain Morgan").
Follow Rob on Instagram:
https://instagram.com/islandtopteam
Train with Rob at Island Top Team in Nanaimo, BC:
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https://islandtopteam.com...
In this week's mini-episode, we tackle impostor syndrome: the common (but false) belief that you are unworthy of your rank or accomplishments.
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
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The world's LARGEST library of Jiu-Jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching,...
This week, we're joined by Cal Jones! A 32-year grappling veteran with a master's in advanced coaching practice, Cal is one of the most recognized voices in the constraints-led approach (CLA) space. In this episode, Cal breaks down why the quality of your reps matters more than the quantity and how to design training that actually transfers to competition. Topics include: repetition and representation, the PVCT model (a f...
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss kinetic chains: a concept from mechanical engineering and physiology that explains how movement in our joints affects the other joints in that limb. Kinetic chains are open when the hand/foot is unconnected, or closed when connected to a surface.
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
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This week, we're joined again by Margot Ciccarelli! In this episode, Margot shares mindset advice on staying present and escaping the mental trap of "anticipating" negative outcomes. Margot covers important mental reframing topics like fear, hesitation, our internal dialogue, intentional exposure, pattern interrupts, and rhythm changes.
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https://instagram.com/margotciccarelli
In this bonus episode for BJJ business owners, we're joined again by David Bayarena! David is a BJJ black belt, a longtime BJJMM community member, and the founder of RONIN: a financial planning & training firm specialized in working with Jiu-Jitsu gyms.
This conversation focuses on how BJJ gym owners can survive economic volatility and build real wealth, not just create a job for themselves. Topics include: cash f...
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss plus, minus, equals: a team-based training concept often attributed to UFC legend Frank Shamrock. It teaches that you get the best results when training with a combination of people who are better than you (the "pluses"), worse than you (the "minuses"), and on par with you (the "equals").
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:<...
This week, we're joined again by Lachlan Giles for a deep rethink of what "fundamentals" really mean in modern Jiu-Jitsu. Rather than treating fundamentals as a fixed list of techniques, Lachlan argues they should be defined by goals, rulesets, and outcomes. He explains why competitors may benefit more from guard retention and winning early exchanges than from late-stage escapes, how mindset and time allocation shape...
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss momentum and its underappreciated importance to Jiu-Jitsu. Momentum is the product of mass times velocity. Beginners tend to ignore momentum and attempt techniques from a dead stop, which reduces their likelihood of success.
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
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This week, we're joined by Andrew Green! Andrew is the creator of the Kids Jiu-Jitsu Playbook and a 25-year veteran of martial arts coaching. In this episode, Andrew teaches what truly makes a great kids coach: understanding developmental stages, emotional regulation, building culture, motivating engagement, working effectively with parents, why kids can’t be coached like "mini adults," how life skills outweigh medal...
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss leading edges, and why it's important to identify which part of the body is responsible for making an attack work. The leading edge will often (but not always) be the nearest part of your opponent's body where gravitational force is coming from.
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
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This week, we're joined again by Jake O'Driscoll from Essence BJJ! In this episode, Jake explains how high-level grapplers like Adele Fornarino and Brianna Ste-Marie actually study Jiu-Jitsu. Topics include: practical note-taking, video review, effortful retrieval, individualized learning, filtering signal from noise, adapting study habits to different personalities, and using training footage to improve decision-making. ...
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss force vectors and how understanding them makes frames more effective.
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro
⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!
The world's LARGEST library of Jiu-Jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is...
This week, we're joined again by Erin Herle! Erin is a certified mental performance consultant and a black belt under Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles. In this episode, Erin explains how to develop a sense of self-worth in Jiu-Jitsu. She discusses the problem of "performance-based self-worth" and why we should not base our identity around belts, wins, rankings, or comparisons with others.
Follow Erin on I...
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss dilemmas: forcing your opponent to choose between two undesirable options.
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro
⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!
The world's LARGEST library of Jiu-Jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first we...
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