BJJ Mental Models

Explore the conceptual side of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Black belt Steve Kwan and a slate of expert guests discuss the mental models, or universal principles, behind the gentle art.

Mini Ep. 8: Wedges

In this week's mini-episode, we're discussing wedges, and we don't mean pizza! We break down the two types of wedges in Jiu-Jitsu: blocking wedges (used for immobilizing your opponent) and prying wedges (used for breaking open your opponent's defenses). This is the third in a six-part series of mini-episodes we're doing on the core mechanics of Jiu-Jitsu: frames, levers, wedges, clamps, hooks, and posts.Further study:Mini Ep. 6: Frameshttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/152...

06-27
07:55

Ep. 290: Gym Culture and Dogma, feat. Jeff Serafin

This week we're joined by Jeff Serafin! Jeff is the head instructor at Serafin BJJ, a partner at Gym 1801, and a black belt under Jack McVicker and Megaton Dias. In this episode, Jeff advocates for fostering a healthy gym culture and reducing dogma in Jiu-Jitsu. Topics include: identifying and avoiding toxic gym cultures, ego management in training, and strategies for pairing students to ensure safety and learning. Follow Jeff on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/serafinbj...

06-24
01:09:16

Mini Ep. 7: Levers

In this week's mini-episode, we're discussing levers! Levers are force multipliers and the source of leverage in Jiu-Jitsu. In this episode, we talk about the levers of the human body, turning frames into levers, and when levers are less important. This is the second in a six-part series of mini-episodes we're doing on the core mechanics of Jiu-Jitsu: frames, levers, wedges, clamps, hooks, and posts.Further study:Mini Ep. 6: Frameshttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/1...

06-20
09:52

Ep. 289: Competition Camps, feat. Lyzz "Daemonette" Mitrovic

This week we're joined again by Lyzz "Daemonette" Mitrovic! Lyzz is a multi-time black belt masters world champion and a longtime member of the BJJ Mental Models Premium community. Lyzz will be competing at ADCC this year after earning her entry via victory at ADCC West Coast Trials. In this episode, Lyzz shares what high-level competition camps look like, how to best utilize your competition team, and what to do when your preparation doesn't go according to plan.Follow Lyzz...

06-17
58:13

Mini Ep. 6: Frames

In this week's mini-episode, we're discussing frames! You probably know what a frame is, but I'm guessing you haven't walked through the concept as in-depth as we'll do here today! Let's talk about how we define a "frame," when we want to use frames, what makes frames useful, and when frames become a liability. This is the first in a six-part series of mini-episodes we're doing on the core mechanics of Jiu-Jitsu: frames, levers, wedges, clamps, hooks, and posts. Further stud...

06-13
10:14

Ep. 288: Open Guard Leg Entanglements, feat. Chris Wojcik

This week we're joined again by Chris Wojcik! Chris is a black belt under Jeff Serafin and the author of The Grappler's Diary. In this episode, Chris discusses open guard leg entanglement strategies under different rulesets. Follow Chris on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/chrismwojcikhttps://www.instagram.com/thegrapplersdiary Subscribe to The Grappler's Diary:https://thegrapplersdiary.com/Resources discussed in this episode:Everything is Turtle, by Steve Kwan (requires BJJMM ...

06-10
53:46

Mini Ep. 5: The Alignment Scorecard

In this week's mini-episode, we're introducing the alignment scorecard! It's a quick way to use Rob Biernacki's alignment framework to "score" your grappling and make smarter grappling decisions faster. This episode builds on the last four mini-episodes about base, posture, structure, and alignment.Further study:BJJMM Mini Ep. 1: Basehttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15022850-mini-ep-1-baseBJJMM Mini Ep. 2: Posturehttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15078064-mini-e...

06-06
18:13

Ep. 287: Automatic Grappling, feat. Cal McDonald

This week we're joined again by Cal McDonald! Cal is a BJJ black belt under Rob Biernacki from Island Top Team and is the author of the new "BJJ Foundations" instructional alongside Stephan Kesting from Grapplearts. In this episode, Cal discusses "automatic grappling," or the science of how we can improve our reaction time and make better decisions by thinking less when we train.Email Cal:cal.mcdonald@hotmail.comGet Cal's instructional, BJJ Foundations:https://www.grapplearts.com/...

06-03
01:01:33

Mini Ep. 4: Alignment

In this week's mini-episode, we're introducing the concept of alignment! Alignment is Rob Biernacki's simplified concept for understanding Jiu-Jitsu and making smarter grappling decisions faster. This episode builds on the last three mini-episodes about base, posture, and structure.Further study:BJJMM Ep. 1: Alignmenthttps://bjj.plus/1BJJMM Ep. 50: Alignment 2.0, feat. Rob Biernackihttps://bjj.plus/50Jiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles, feat. Rob Biernacki (exclusively on BJJMM Premium)https:...

05-30
11:30

Ep. 286: Submission Series: Ankle Locks, feat. Lucas Wilhan

This week we're joined by Lucas Wilhan! Lucas is a black belt under Bruno Fernandes and is the head instructor at Lapel Arts in Vancouver, BC, Canada. In this episode, Lucas joins us to break down concepts behind the ankle lock, and to discuss modern innovations and variants around this submission.Follow Lucas, Pauline, and Lapel Arts on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/lucaswilhanhttps://www.instagram.com/paulibakhttps://www.instagram.com/lapelartsCheck out Lucas' instructiona...

05-27
59:15

Mini Ep. 3: Structure

In this week's mini-episode, we're introducing the concept of structure! Structure means the ability to effectively utilize your limbs. This episode builds on the last two mini-episodes about base and posture.Further study:BJJMM Ep. 1: Alignmenthttps://bjj.plus/1BJJMM Ep. 50: Alignment 2.0, feat. Rob Biernackihttps://bjj.plus/50Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!If you...

05-23
08:53

Ep. 285: Pulling the Trigger, feat. Dr. Jooyoung Lee

This week we're joined by Dr. Jooyoung Lee! Jooyoung is a BJJ black belt, a Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto, and an accredited expert in the sociological study of violence. In this episode, Jooyoung discusses the science behind "pulling the trigger" when grappling, how to be more aggressive in the moment, and how to avoid becoming flustered in the face of your opponent's aggression.Follow Jooyoung on social media:https://www.instagram.com/joojitsuleehttps://www...

05-20
01:01:54

Mini Ep. 2: Posture

In this week's mini-episode, we're introducing the concept of posture! Let's talk about what posture means in the context of Jiu-Jitsu, why it's so important, and how managing posture improves both your defense and offense. This episode builds on last week's mini-episode about base.Further study:BJJMM Ep. 1: Alignmenthttps://bjj.plus/1BJJMM Ep. 50: Alignment 2.0, feat. Rob Biernackihttps://bjj.plus/50Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmode...

05-16
09:45

Ep. 284: Stop Being Nice, feat. Beatrice Jin

This week we're joined by Beatrice Jin! Beatrice is a coach at Kogaion Academy in Virginia, an outstanding brown belt professional competitor, and the operator of America's longest-running women's open mat. In this episode, Beatrice explains how unaggressive grapplers can shed that passive mindset, "stop being nice," and weaponize the strategic meanness needed to excel at high-level Jiu-Jitsu.Follow Beatrice on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/berimbozoFollow Kogaion Academy on...

05-13
01:05:27

Mini Ep. 1: Base

We're launching a brand new mini-podcast! Once a week, we'll publish a brief explanation of a key mental model for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This week we're talking about base, one of the core elements from Rob Biernacki's theory of alignment.Further study:BJJMM Ep. 1: Alignmenthttps://bjj.plus/1BJJMM Ep. 50: Alignment 2.0, feat. Rob Biernackihttps://bjj.plus/50Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Don't forget to check out BJ...

05-09
12:18

Ep. 283: The Art of the Gameplan, feat. Dominyka Obelenyte

This week we're joined again by Dominyka Obelenyte! Dom is a black belt under Marcelo Garcia, a 4x black belt and 10x overall world champion, and a longtime BJJ Mental Models collaborator and coach. In this episode, Dominyka breaks down mental models for Jiu-Jitsu gameplanning alongside her new Digitsu instructional, The Art of the Gameplan.Get Dom's gameplanning instructional on Digitsu:https://digitsu.com/programs/art-of-the-gameplan-dominyka-obelenyteFollow Dom on Instagram:htt...

05-06
01:12:22

BONUS: Get our BJJ Intro to Mechanics course free!

Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of ...

04-30
00:46

Ep. 282: Champions Stay Present, feat. Josh McKinney

This week we're joined again by Josh McKinney! Josh is a coach at HeadnodHQ in Illinois and a black belt under Kyle Watson. In this episode, Josh breaks down his "Champions Stay Present" coaching strategy: a mindfulness-based method to help athletes achieve their best performance and mental state.Follow Josh on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thejoshmckinneyCheck out the I Suck At Jiu Jitsu Show:https://www.youtube.com/@JoshMcKinneyhttps://www.instagram.com/isuckatjiujitsushow...

04-29
01:02:42

Ep. 281: Safe Stacking, feat. Mike "Dr. Kickass" Piekarski

This week we're joined again by Dr. Mike Piekarski! Better known as "Doctor Kickass" on Instagram, Mike is a BJJ black belt under Henry Akins and is a Doctor of Physical Therapy. In this episode, we discuss ways to safely apply the stack pass and reduce your risk of injury while defending it.Follow Mike on social:https://www.instagram.com/doctor_kickasshttps://www.facebook.com/mike.piekarski.50Work with Mike:https://linktr.ee/doctor_kickassMental models discussed in this episode:E...

04-22
01:00:23

Ep. 280: Simplifying the Art, feat. Giles Garcia

This week we're joined by Giles Garcia! Giles is the head coach at Ronin Grappling in Glasgow, Scotland. In this episode, Giles explains why it's so important that coaches help their students simplify their thinking surrounding Jiu-Jitsu.Follow Giles on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/el_guancheTrain with Giles at Ronin Grappling:https://roningrappling.com/Learn from Giles online at BJJ Codex:https://www.bjjcodex.com/Resources discussed in this episode:White Belt Survival Cour...

04-15
01:30:27

Ayman El-Ghazali

When he said Gym tattoos I rolled my eyes and then looked at the release date of the episode. I almost gave up on the podcast. It was an April fools joke. I will say that listening to how ridiculously they talk about things made me realize lots of people behave poorly. An effective way to reach certain people, well done!!

04-14 Reply

Shuofei Yang Sophie

Agreed with why some blue belts left because they’ve experienced/seen negative things after a few years….

09-05 Reply

Shuofei Yang Sophie

Yes, an episode on social media couldn’t be more relatable atm.

05-31 Reply

Shuofei Yang Sophie

This is a great episode.

05-31 Reply

Shuofei Yang Sophie

You guys are the best!

04-16 Reply

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