Beauty and the Gi: Gripping Conversations about Jiu-Jitsu and Life
Beauty and the Gi is a podcast about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that explores the intersection of life on and off the mat. Whether you are a new white belt, or a seasoned grappler, this podcast offers a blend of personal experiences, challenges, and breakthroughs. In each episode, you get the perspectives of the ever-curious Blue Belt Jen Edds, along with Black Belt and coach AJ Clingerman. Episodes are usually 30 minutes or less because we would rather be rolling than talking about it.
Episodes
How important is your Jiu-Jitsu community? On a bad day, it might be the one thing that gets you to come back. On a good day, your teammates are there to cheer you on and celebrate your victories.
Community forms the backbone of our Jiu Jitsu journey, whether it's the encouragement from a favorite training partner or the magnetic pull of the friendships we've formed along the way.
This episode is packed with actionable advice on bu...
When it comes to Jiu-Jitsu, our biggest opponent isn’t always the person across from us on the mat. It’s often our own ego. Whether you’re training for competition, personal growth, or the mental and physical health benefits, ego can be both a hidden asset and an invisible obstacle. So, how do you know if your ego is helping you push forward or holding you back?
In this episode, we’ll explore the role ego plays in Jiu-Jitsu, how it...
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is transformational.
Why did you start training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? Is this the same reason that keeps you coming back, week after week, year after year?
Contrary to what you might expect, AJ didn’t immediately become obsessed with Jiu-Jitsu. It wasn't until much later, after over a decade of on-and-off training, that she truly fell in love with Jiu-Jitsu. She dives ...
We say funny things to each other when we're rolling around on the mat with our Jiu-Jitsu friends. This episode is all about the head-scratching, giggle-worthy quirks that only Jiu-Jitsu folks truly understand.
From proudly showing off bruises to the odd bowing when stepping from carpet to mat-like surfaces, we explore the endless scenarios that make our Jiu-Jitsu culture so uniquely its own.
How can you get a realistic sense of how much skill you COULD get in jiu-jitsu over the years if you stick with it?
This question comes to us from one of our listeners!
Let's talk a bit about setting realistic expectations in your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey. We know it's tricky, but we're here to give you some guidance.
You might be feeling overwhelmed, thinking about how muc...
Let’s turn those setbacks into springboards and disappointments into determination. This is the final episode in our series inspired by the book The Mental Edge: Maximize Your Sports Potential with Mind-Body Connection by Kenneth Baum with Richard Trubo.
Highlights
(00:00) Introduction
(03:51) How long do you celebrate a win or wallow in disappointment
(07:49) How can losses be launching pads for improvement?
(10:17) What can b...
How is your mental Jiu-Jitsu game? We continue our discussion of the book The Mental Edge: Maximize Your Sports Potential with the Mind-Body Connection.
It’s one thing to just read the book. Tune in to learn how we plan to implement what we’ve learned from the book to make our Jiu-Jitsu better.
The Highlight Reel
(00:00) Why you should listen to Pt 1 of the discussion in the p...
Sometimes you just need a cheerleader as the voice in your head. Go get 'em!
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Here's another affirmation you can use to replace the negative voice in your head! Get out there and get your medal. You've got this!
If you Love the Podcast, Share it with a Friend!
You can also leave us a 5 Star Rating in Spotify or Apple Podcasts
Shut down the negative voice in your head about your Jiu-Jitsu or anything else. Replace it with this message instead. Listen and repeat as needed!
The video versions are also available on our YouTube channel as shorts.
If you Love the Podcast, Share it with a Friend!
You can also leave us a 5 Star Rating in Spotify or Apple Podcasts
How much time have you spent working on the mental side of your Jiu-Jitsu game? Do you have practices in place to strengthen your mind and keep your focus?
"The Mental Edge: Maximize Your Sports Potential with the Mind-Body Connection" by Kenneth Baum and Richard Trubo is the book that has inspired this episode.
Coach Rachel Casias recommended this book, so of course, we’re reading it! In this episode and the next, we’ll share wha...
What do you do when your coach asks you to teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for the first time? Are you ready to run the class?
The Highlight Reel
(02:26) What makes a good Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor
(08:15) Teaching to different skill levels, ages, and body types
(10:52) Advice for teaching your first class
(14:58) What if a higher rank is in class
(16:57) What if you don’t feel confident in your own Jiu-Jitsu
(23:51) On and Off the ...
We share our big takeaways and lessons from this year’s Roll Model Grappling Camp. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the camp was curated to foster both Jiu-Jitsu skill development and a strong sense of community among women practitioners.
This year’s theme was "A rising tide raises all ships," a phrase AJ often employs to emphasize the power of collective improvement. This theme resonated throughout t...
How can you elevate your Jiu-Jitsu faster? Take notes!
This episode is packed with actionable practices to enhance your retention, refine your skills, and improve your overall Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
We are big believers in the power of taking notes and keeping a Jiu-Jitsu journal to improve your Jiu-Jitsu.
This episode was inspired by a recent blog post from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach Ray Casias. He shares seven critical points on wh...
How much planning, preparation, and practice have you committed to the first 30 seconds of your match?
Taking control and setting the tone of your match by focusing on the first 30 seconds was just one of of the big lessons from our recent adventure to attend Rachel Casias’ competition training camp.
Training camps are transformative experiences. They provide targeted, intensive training and the chance to engage deeply with a comm...
How confident are you in your stand-up game? It’s a question that often goes unasked, but it’s one that can make a significant difference in your Jiu-Jitsu practice.
Do you have a go-to takedown? Are you a guard puller?
Understanding and developing your stand-up game is crucial for a well-rounded Jiu-Jitsu practice.
If you don’t have a go-to takedown (like Jen) or guard pull, this episode is for you!
We'll explore different appro...
Jen is back from Greece and her two week break from Jiu-Jitsu. This episode was recorded after her first day back on the mats. It was a doozy.
This episode is packed full of thoughts on intention and managing expectations.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(02:11) The challenge of returning to Jiu-Jitsu after a long break
(05:52) When you feel like your training partners are leveling up without you
(12:07 ) The power of intention
(13:5...
We are announcing the 4th instructor for this year's Roll Model Grappling Camp in Indianapolis. If you've been listening for a while, then you've heard Risser on the podcast as a co-host. You're in for a treat with this episode because now Risser is the one answering the questions!
Connect with Risser on Instagram @jrizzinthehizz
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Are you taking time to celebrate your growth, milestones, and victories, whether big or small? It’s so easy to move on to the next thing without taking time to revel in the joy of your accomplishment. Slow down. Reflect. Celebrate.
We are doing just that in this episode. The podcast turned 5 years old and has reached the 100,000 downloads milestone.
Do you feel pressure to bring “value” when rolling with a higher rank?
From brand-new white belts to experienced black belts, we all bring unique value to the mat. Seeing the value we bring can be especially tricky when you’re new to grappling.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re learning a move for the first time, then you go to drill it, and your mind goes blank. We’ve been there and...
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