Forever White Belt

I’m incredibly honored to share a conversation with someone whose work has had a massive influence on my own jiu-jitsu journey, from the earliest stages right up to today—Rob Biernacki.

Rob is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and the head instructor at Island Top Team in Nanaimo, British Columbia. He’s also the mastermind behind BJJ Concepts, the groundbreaking instructional platform that redefined the way so many of us—me included—...

Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Randy William, who is quickly becoming a powerful and refreshing voice in the Jiu-Jitsu community.Randy is a BJJ black belt, competitor, and passionate content creator known for his sharp technical insights, detailed instructionals, and thought-provoking breakdowns that reach thousands across Instagram, YouTube, and beyond. His ability to clearly articulate complex techniques while keeping th...

In this episode, Nathan Haddad shares his extensive journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, starting from his early days as a child practitioner to becoming a black belt and esteemed instructor. He discusses his experiences in competition, the evolution of his techniques, and the importance of mindset in grappling. Nathan also delves into his teaching philosophy, the significance of belts in Jiu-Jitsu, and what makes a great student and in...

In this episode, we are joined by Alex West, a rising figure in the Jiu-Jitsu community, a dedicated instructor, and a fierce competitor.

Alex is a BJJ brown belt and one of the most active and successful competitors in his local scene. He trains and teaches at Precision Jiu-Jitsu in New Hampshire with Shawn Melanson, where he helps shape the next generation of grapplers in a no-gi-focused environment.

In this episode, we dive into A...

I am tremendously honored to sit down with one of the most fascinating figures in the grappling world—Reilly Bodycomb. Reilly is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, a Pan-American Sambo Champion, and an expert in dynamic submission grappling. He teaches at Bay Jiu-Jitsu in San Francisco, where he continues to refine his unique blend of Sambo, Jiu-Jitsu, and wrestling-based strategies.

I first discovered Reilly through his incredible 2...

In this episode, I have the absolute pleasure of speaking with Josh Vogel—a third-degree Jiu-Jitsu black belt, co-founder of The Jiu Jitsu Company in Old City, Philadelphia, and creator of the 90-Day Project-Based Jiu-Jitsu program. Josh has over two decades of experience on the mats, and his systematic, project-based approach to learning Jiu-Jitsu has helped countless practitioners make real, measurable progress. His program isn’t...

evolving asIn this episode, I have the incredible honor of sitting down with Clark Gracie, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and world-renowned competitor, instructor, and academy owner. Clark is the son of 9th-degree red belt Carley Gracie and the grandson of Carlos Gracie, the co-founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Thus, he is a living extension of one of the most influential martial arts families in history.

Clark is the owner and hea...

Today, we have the honor of speaking with Raoul Audhoe, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under friend of the show, Priit Mihkelson, and a grappling coach with over 20 years of martial arts experience. Based in Amsterdam, Raoul’s martial arts journey began with Capoeira at the age of 15 and has since evolved to include a wide array of disciplines such as kickboxing, Sambo, Shooto, and of course, BJJ.

Raoul is not only a seasoned int...

Join us for an incredibly meaningful conversation with Tryfon Stathopoulos, a second-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the owner and head instructor of North Bay Jiu Jitsu in Novato, California—my home academy and a place that has been truly life-changing for me.

Tryfon has been among the most influential people in my Jiu-Jitsu journey and personal development. His leadership, guidance, and the incredible environment he’...

In this solo episode, Adolfo Foronda reflects on the past and future of Jiu-Jitsu, discussing trends for 2024, including the rise of the Craig Jones Invitational, the impact of economic factors, subscription fatigue, and the role of AI in training. He also shares personal insights on recovery innovations, the influence of podcasting, and the ongoing drama within the Jiu-Jitsu community while contemplating the sport's future growth ...

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Alan Titone, a multifaceted individual whose journey spans over two decades in corporate America, a distinguished tenure as an international yoga instructor, and a dedicated role as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach and academy owner. Alan is the co-founder of Karma Jiu Jitsu, a newly opened academy that reflects his deep passion for Jiu-Jitsu and community-building, which he has est...

Today, we’re thrilled to have Jake O’Driscoll join us on the show. Jake is a highly accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and the head coach at Essence BJJ in Perth, Australia. Beyond his impressive competitive accolades, Jake is best known as the coach of double ADCC gold medalist and friend of the show, Adele Fornarino.

In this episode, Jake takes us through his inspiring journey in Jiu-Jitsu, sharing how his family shaped ...

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Rick Ellis, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Roy Dean and the visionary behind the 'The Art of Skill' platform. Rick shares profound insights into Jiu-Jitsu through his popular YouTube channel and website, featuring some of the world's top instructors. Based in San Diego, he offers online courses, and personalized training sessions, and leads seminars and camps domesticall...

In this episode of Forever White Belt, host Adolfo Foronda interviews Robert Donofrio, a black belt under Rob Kahn and owner of Gracie Brandon in Florida. They discuss Robert's journey in Jiu-Jitsu, the keys to building a successful academy, and the sense of community he has fostered. The conversation covers the unique amenities of his academy, the challenges faced in the martial arts business, and the importance of content creatio...

In this episode, we have the return of Priit Mihkelson. Priit is an Estonian Black Belt, he is one of the preeminent thinkers of defensive Jiu Jitsu and he travels the world as a highly sought-after instructor.

You will hear us using terms, like Hawking, Panda, Running Man, Grilled Chicken, Seal Feet, and more with the expectation that you have at least a familiarity with what those are. We discuss his new gym, how his adoption of ...

In this episode, we have, Keelan Lawyer. Keelan is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Brandon McCaghren at 10th Planet Decatur in Alabama. As many of you know, I'm a huge fan of Brandon’s work and consider him one of the best instructors in the game today. Keelan, or as Brandon likes to call him 'Conscious Keelan,' has played a crucial role behind the scenes, helping elevate Brandon's fantastic content.

In addit...

In this episode, we've got an incredible guest joining us, none other than, Adele Fornarino, the 2024 ADCC double gold champion. Adele has taken the world of grappling by storm, making history as the first Australian to win ADCC and the first to take the open class title. She’s a jiu-jitsu black belt under David Hart of Team Dominance MMA, and she’s been an unstoppable force since 2022 when she won the IBJJF World No-Gi title a...

In this episode, we bring you an incredible interview with none other than Jonathan Satava. Jon is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under the legendary Marcelo Garcia, part of the golden generation of grapplers from Garcia’s New York academy. Regarded as one of the top prospects in the 82kg (181lbs) weight class, Jon has achieved remarkable victories at the Worlds, Pan American Championships, and World Pro in the lower belt divisio...

In this episode of Forever White Belt, we sit down with Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, Shawn Aukstakalnis. Over a decade ago, Shawn was a software engineer and a purple belt who was passionate about Jiu-Jitsu and seeking an escape from the daily office grind. Along with some friends and training partners, he co-founded Digitsu, a platform dedicated to producing and distributing high-quality BJJ instructionals.

During its early days, Digitsu...