Bjjbrick Podcast- Bjj, Jiu-jitsu, Mma, Martial Arts, No-gi And Good Times!

This week we have BJJ legend Braulio Estima as our guest on the podcast. We talk about training, competing, and the Grappler's Escape cruise you can catch him on April 29-May 6, 2018. We talk about: How his game has developed over the years How to make an opponent uncomfortable Making your opponent fight out of their game plan Tips for training if you are the most skilled person in the room Why it is so important to share with your teammates How often to train, and doing mental training The Grappler's Escape cruise in April 2018 Links: Storm Kimonos Estima In Action Grappler's Escape Braulio on Instagram ACBJJ Quote of the week: "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt Article of the week: How to Play Up Sports On Your Resume [caption id="attachment_4888" align="alignright" width="225"] Find out how to support the BjjBrick Podcast here![/caption]                   Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher ra

Craig Jones shocked his opponents and the world with his performance at ADCC this year and we are excited to have him this week on The BjjBrick Podcast. We talk about: His start with BJJ Why some students like no-gi more How he developed his Z guard game His training for ADCC 2017 Training for the rule set His matches with Leandro Lo, Murilo Santana, Keenan Cornelius, Xande Ribeiro and Chael Sonnen Making the change from a grappling hobby to a serious sport His plans in the future Training and traveling Training on a tight schedule Links: MA1 Fight Life Absolute MMA St Kilda Craig on Instagram Z-Guard Masterclass with Kit Dale and Craig Jones Quote of the week: "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." William Arthur Ward Article of the week: The Nine Mental Skills of Successful Athletes [caption id="attachment_4888" align="alignright" width="225"] Find out how to support the BjjBrick Podcast here![/caption]                   Catch us next week for another

This week we have an interview with Nick Unander. Nick is a friend and former of Joe. Nick has been training martial arts since 1986. You can find Nick teaching and training BJJ in the island paradise of Cyprus. We talk about: His start in martial arts (Tae Kwon Do) His first experience with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Make Jiu-Jitsu a career Doing early MMA matches Opening a martial arts school Moving and opening new BJJ schools Training under Marcelo Alonso What new students should focus on learning What he looks for in a blue belt Blue belt blues (blue belts that quit training) His thoughts on compeititon His phrase Jiu-Jitsu will either take you, make you, or break you Links: www.mabjj.com www.kwbjj.com Nick on Facebook Nick on Instagram Quote of the week: "Wise sayings often fall on barren ground, but a kind word is never thrown away." Arthur Helps Article of the week: Overcoming Fear in BJJ [caption id="attachment_4888" align="alignright" width="225"] Find out how to support the BjjBrick Podcast here![/c

We talk about:This episode we talk about the different formats of competition.  We give thoughts and advice for submission only matches and matches in the points system. This is a fun episode with advice for the competitive athlete to the casual fan. This episode we talk about The different goals for the competitors The changes from BJJ, No-gi, and Sub only Working the point system to a fault What the audience likes to see in a match Training for a submission only match Training for a points match The diffrent goals for the competitors Links: Quote of the week: "Calm seas and safe harbors never produce good sailors" Article of the week: Concepts, Concepts, Concepts [caption id="attachment_4888" align="alignright" width="225"] Find out how to support the BjjBrick Podcast here![/caption]                   Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and Google Play Music for Andriod

This week we have two interviews!!! The first interview is with multi time world champion Gezary Matuda.  The second interview is with Kathryn from Grappler's Escape. For BJJ fans all over the world Grappler's Escape is one of the best weeks of the year. Grappler's Escape is a cruise sailing out of Orlando April 29, 2018. This cruise will feature Gezary Mutuda, Braulio Estima, and Keenan Cornelius teaching BJJ. Listen to Kathryn's interview to find out how to save money on the cruise. Gezary talks about: Moving to the US and training with ATT Why she started doing BJJ Competing with black belts as a brown belt Developing her armbar over the years Advice for competitors Women training with mostly men The grappler's escape cruise Kathryn talks about: What to expect on the Grappler's Escape cruise Basic tips for being on a cruise Details on the ship How to avoid getting sea sick Bringing your family on the cruise even if they don't train BJJ They have 4,000 sq feet of space to use for BJJ All schools and belt

This week we bring you an interview with Ricardo Almeida. Ricardo is a UFC veteran and 4th degree black belt under Renzo Gracie. He also currently coaches several UFC fighters including Frankie Edgar and Eddie Alvarez. We talk about: His MMA career Starting martial arts in karate and changing to jiu-jitsu Why he enjoys nogi more than training with the gi Why he does not have his MMA guys train in the gi at all Transitioning from grappling to MMA Common problems grapplers experience when doing MMA Running two martial arts schools one in Newton Pa, and the other in Robbinsville, NJ Some off the mat benefits for kids and adults from BJJ His future goals for competitive grappling Rivalries in MMA and BJJ What he was like as a 16 year old blue belt Links: Ricardo Almeida's webstie Quote of the week:  "The breaking of a wave cannot explain the whole sea." Vladimir Nabokov Article of the week: BJJ BENEFITS #2: HEALTH & WELLNESS Gary shares a heart touching and motivativating story about living life to the f

This week we bring you an interview with Jeff Monson. Jeff has been a member of ATT since the start of it and had over 80 professional MMA fights. Along side of his MMA career Jeff was known for taking time to step on the mat for some amazing grappling matches. We talk about: His early wrestling career How winning 1999 ADCC changed his career path Overcoming some setbacks with wrestling Cutting weight as a wrestler His thoughts about cutting weight as a high school wrestler He discussed some up's and down's in his mma career fighting in the ufc His plans for opening up some martial arts schools He describes his fight with Fedor Emelianenko in Russia Getting his leg broke in his fight with Fedor Visiting kids with cancer in Russian hospitals He describes his experience on dancing with the stars Doing nogi worlds His plans for retiring from competitive grappling What it was like in the early days of American Top Team His thoughts on PED in MMA and BJJ Keys to a long career in MMA Links: Jeff Monson dancing

This week we help you determine what went wrong with your game that resulted in getting tapped out (or choked unconscious). How can you learn from getting tapped out? and how to break down the trouble spots in your game. We talk about: Why it is important to learn from mistakes Having a good attitude about getting tapped out Learning defense of moves you get caught in too much How to determine if it is a mistake you are making or your getting tapped by something that someone is really good at How to identify major problems in your game Finding help for trouble spots in your game Learning from training vs competition Preventing a submission vs escaping a submission We share a few stories of being choked unconscious on the mat Quote of the week:  "Train like you've never won, Fence like you've never lost" Article of the week: Top 5 Jiu Jitsu Street Fight Moves [caption id="attachment_4888" align="alignright" width="225"] Find out how to support the BjjBrick Podcast here![/caption]       Catch us next week

It is a honor to bring back BJJ black belt Andre "Tim" Monteiro. Andre is known for having a vast knowledge of the game, a killer half guard, and a overall nice guy. We talk about: His team A-Force BJJ Traveling Mistakes people make when they learn a lot from youtube Tips on teaching a seminar Running a school and traveling Keeping an open mind to learning jiu-jitsu Leaving your BJJ school Off the mat training Changes in his game over the last few years Why he is getting more submissions in compeititon The goals he has set for himself and his business Links: A-Force BJJ website Andre on Facebook Andre on Instagram Quote of the week: “It's always better to attack than to defend," Coram had told her when they talked about fencing late at night. "Always. Ye don't win with defense--ye only hold the other feller off, or wear him down. Attack and have done with it!” ― Tamora Pierce, Alanna: The First Adventure Article of the week: Saying “I do” to the Right BJJ School [caption id="attachment_4888" align="ali

This week we have an interview with Karel "Silver Fox" Pravec. Karel is a 3rd degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Renzo Gracie. We talk about: Dealing with younger and stronger opponents Training BJJ in the water Getting better timing on the mat Getting your opponent to stay in your terms and play in your game Avoiding injuries The role of strength in BJJ Why some wrestlers do well in BJJ and others struggle around the purple belt rank How to have a speed advantage on the mat Getting past slumps on the mat Links: Silver Fox BJJ website Karel on Facebook Silver Fox Academy on Facebook Quote of the week: "Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught." Winston Churchill Article of the week: 5 sweet sour reasons to keep training [caption id="attachment_4888" align="alignright" width="225"] Find out how to support the BjjBrick Podcast here![/caption]                   Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes,

This week we have an interview with one of Europe's top competitors Espen Mathiesen. In this interview Espen shares many training tips he has developed training in Norway. We talk about: What is like competing against black belts Why it is important to have a passion for jiu-jitsu The state of jiu-jitsu in Norway His training schedules Dealing with injuries and avoiding injuries Why resistance is vital to his training Sparing less and active drilling more Advice for blue belts do develop a game plan Why it is important for him to be flexible The advantages of training with a small team The importance of visualizing your performance Links: Espen on Facebook Espen on Youtube Espen on Instagram Quote of the week: "The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions." Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Article of the week: New Study Proves BJJ’s Effectiveness Against Stress [caption id="attachment_4888" align="alignright" width="225"] Find out how to support the BjjBrick Podcast here![/caption]    

This week we interview BJJ purple belt Crystal Venessa "Little Monster" Demopoulos. We talk about: How she found the world of martial arts Her competitive pole dancing career What BJJ and pole dancing have in common Getting past the hurtles at the beginning of training Winning worlds at white and blue belt Why she likes to compeat What she does to relax before a competition Her experience at worlds as a white belt Why she has been training like a pro since day one of BJJ Her goal of being a 115 lbs Champion in the UFC Her struggles with school and why she likes to read now Advice for new BJJ players to stick to the basics The difference in game plan for BJJ and MMA Links: Ronin Training Center Punch Gunk Crystal on Instagram Quote of the week:  "Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Lao Tzu Article of the week: Expanding your Jiu-Jitsu in a logical manner [caption id="attachment_4888" alig

Is Brazilian Jiu-JItsu an art? This week on The BjjBrick Podcast we discuss if BJJ is an art. How can you add an element of art to your game? Is your game a paint by numbers style of jiu-jitsu or are you a ninja turtle level of artist? [caption id="attachment_4924" align="aligncenter" width="584"] And a happy little choke here[/caption] Quote of the week: "The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls" Pablo Picasso Article of the week: Can a Coach roll too much with the Students?? [caption id="attachment_3444" align="alignright" width="219"] Please check out this video if you are interested in supporting The BjjBrick Podcast.[/caption]                     Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and Google Play Music for Andriod

Chelsah' is a brown belt under Rob Ables at Marcelo Garcia of Dallas. She shares some amazing stories in this interview. She also enjoys competing as much as she can and balancing her busy schedule. We talk about: Her starting MMA before BJJ Being held up at gun point...... Twice Getting discipline from martial arts How Jiu-Jitsu changed her life Working four jobs and training to compete Some of her favorite techniques Learning to do wrist locks Helping other students Her future in martial arts How she keeps the women's class fun and effective Advice for running a class for women The growth of women in BJJ Links: Marcelo Garcia Dallas BJJ Tees Chelsah' on Facebook Chelsah' on Instagram Quote of the week: "Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal." E. Joseph Cossman Article of the week: Defend the Primary Threat [caption id="attachment_4888" align="alignright" width="225"] Find out how to support the BjjBrick Podcast here![/caption]                   Catch us next week for

Weston is 18 years old, he has lost 100lbs and it is fair to say BJJ has changed his life. He has been training for around three years in Jasper Alabama. We talk about: Starting BJJ at 280 lbs and getting down to 180 lbs Trading video games for BJJ Getting into a flow state while rolling Tips for learning BJJ Advice for someone starting jiu-jitsu for weight loss Talking to your training partners while you roll Tips for rolling with higher level people Teaching BJJ as a lower belt Making changes to your diet Performing better with a improved diet How BJJ could benefit kids in school Quote of the week: “There is still no cure for the common birthday.” John Glenn Article of the week: I think I suck at BJJ [caption id="attachment_3444" align="alignright" width="219"] Please check out this video if you are interested in supporting The BjjBrick Podcast.[/caption]                     Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and Google Pla

This week we have Mike Bidwell from BJJ after 40. We cover a huge range of topics in this show. We talk about: Mike's start to martial arts His early days of BJJ and MMA The value of competing Spending 13 years as a brown belt Moving schools as a brown belt Getting out of shape as a brown belt Setting small goals to get to the next level Talking with an instructor about your next belt As a vegan what he likes to eat before training Why he loves the triangle choke Tips for having a good triangle choke Goals for the BJJ after 40 practitioners Starting BJJ while in your 40's Drilling take downs instead of doing them at full resistance Dealing with injuries Chasing a criminal that was messing with his car Advice for BJJ players older than 40 The differences between a black belt and a brown belt What it means to be yourself on the mat The term "Flow Mike Bidwell" Working with Nic Gregoriades The Cryangle choke and how he came up with the name Why the cryangle choke works best against the flexible opponent Creati

We can learn lessons from anywhere and find ways to bring these lessons to BJJ. An easy cross over is MMA. This episode we will be applying MMA ideas to BJJ and BJJ ideas to MMA. BJJ learn from MMA Athleticism maters Top game is fun (and less tiring) Position before submission or winning Getting stuck can be game over Have more than one coach (guard passing coach, takedown coach) MMA learn from BJJ Cleaner guard passes Try a gi class to roll with the best grapplers in the area Training not to win but to learn Escapes with a gi Long term focus Quote of the week: "Never pick a fight with an ugly person, they've got nothing to lose." Robin Williams Article of the week: 3 Michael Langhi's success rules Mat Tales 24 Bitter Pill to Swallow [caption id="attachment_3444" align="alignright" width="219"] Please check out this video if you are interested in supporting The BjjBrick Podcast.[/caption] Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, a

This week we talk to Ricardo Almeida black belt Eddie Fyvie. Eddie is organizing an innovative tournament called the Rickson Gracie Cup. This tournament will feature both BJJ, self-defense, and a seminar by Rickson Gracie. We talk about: The Rickson Gracie Cup September 9 and 10 A Rickson Gracie seminar the evening of September 10 Promoting self defense with BJJ The basic rules for the self defense contest What is was like to host the biggest BJJ seminar in US history Teaching BJJ to 320 people at the same time What does self defense bring to jiu-jitsu Not having advantages in this tournament Using a stalling clock like a shot clock Giving incentives for competitors to finish the match Links: Rickson Gracie Cup Eddie Fyvie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Malta, NY Quote of the week: "You must not fight too often with one enemy, or you will teach him all your art of war." Napoleon Bonaparte Article of the week: Understand Where The Danger Is! And Don’t Be There! A special thank you to Berry White for making a brief

We are proud to reach episode 200. We could have not made it without great listeners and guests. At this landmark episode we are thrilled to bring you an interview with BJJ black belt Korbett Miller. Korbett is dedicated to helping schools grow and promoting BJJ to the next generation of grapplers. We talk about: Being a successful school owner The potential for a youth program in a BJJ school Some of the benefits for kids doing BJJ Kids BJJ compared to other martial arts programs for kids Kids BJJ Revolution online training Having over 200 kids at his school Scheduling a kids class based off of when school gets out How to get kids to pay attention and learn techniques Having drills work like a game Slow and right and fast and tight drills Building grit in kids with BJJ How to properly praise a student by talking about effort or strategy Rolling vs drilling for kids and adults How kids earn their white belt in his program Goals of a kids program Controlling the environment the kids are in not the kids thems

Hanna and Venla are BJJ black belts currently in Sweden from Finland.  They are both active competitors with busy schedules. Hanna is in med school, and Venla is a school teacher. Venla won worlds as a black belt in 2014 the same year she was awarded the rank of black belt. We talk about: Training BJJ in Sweden BJJ in Finland Treating BJJ as a hobby Venla competing in Finland at ADCC 2017 They always follow the same training routine and it is working Training 5-7 times a week Having simple and focused training Doing lots of positional sparring Dealing with injuries Traveling and doing BJJ They share some of their teaching methods Teaching 5-10 seminars a year Teaching training methods not just techniques during a seminar Off the mat benefits they are getting from BJJ Balancing work life with BJJ Dealing with nerves before a competition Avoiding mindless repetitions while training Links: BJJ Summer Camp in Kansas Hanna and Venla on Facebook Quote of the week: "I wasn't naturally gifted in terms of size a