Episodios

  • Mini Ep. 48: Kaizen
    Apr 3 2025

    In this week's mini-episode we explain kaizen, a Japanese concept translating roughly to "continuous improvement."

    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 the cost of a single private.

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    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


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    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

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    Más Menos
    6 m
  • Ep. 331: The Problem With Lapel Guard, feat. Stephan Kesting
    Apr 1 2025

    In this bonus emergency episode, we're joined by legendary Jiu-Jitsu instructor Stephan Kesting to discuss the immediate dangers of the lapel guard position, why it is so harmful, and why the IBJJF must ban it immediately.

    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 the cost of a single private.

    Sign up here for a free trial:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

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    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

    Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

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    https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

    Music by Enterprize:
    https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

    Más Menos
    35 m
  • Ep. 330: The Student's Guide to Eco, feat. Noah Shaffner & Greg Souders
    Mar 31 2025

    This week we're joined by Noah Shaffner and Greg Souders from Standard Jiu-Jitsu in Maryland! Noah shares his unique perspective as a competitor trained exclusively under the constraints-led approach (CLA) since he began grappling in 2021, while Greg describes Noah's journey from his coach's perspective.

    Follow Noah on Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/noahshaffner/

    Follow Greg on Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/gdsouders/

    Train with Noah and Greg at Standard Jiu-Jitsu in Rockville, Maryland:
    https://www.standardjiujitsu.com/


    Resources discussed in this episode:

    Ep. 203: Evidence-Based Coaching, feat. Greg Souders
    https://bjj.plus/203

    BJJMM Ep. 206: How We Learn to Move, feat. Dr. Rob Gray
    https://bjj.plus/206



    Mental models discussed in this episode:

    • Ecological Dynamics
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/

    • External Cues
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/external-cues/

    • Feedback Loop
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loop/

    • Concepts Over Techniques
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques/

    • Deliberate Practice
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/deliberate-practice/

    • Habits Over Results
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/habits-over-results/

    • Gamification
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/gamification/

    • Inversion
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/inversion/

    • Perception-Action Coupling
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/perception-action-coupling/

    • Respect People, Not Positions
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/respect-people-not-positions/


    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 the cost of a single private.

    Sign up here for a free trial:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

    Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

    Follow us on social:
    https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

    Music by Enterprize:
    https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

    Más Menos
    1 h y 9 m
  • Mini Ep. 47: Investing in Loss
    Mar 27 2025

    In this week's mini-episode we explain investing in loss, a learning mindset often attributed to Tai Chi and other internal martial arts. In his excellent book The Art of Learning, Josh Waitzkin discusses the concept and its relevance to the martial arts. Investing in loss means reframing our thinking to view failure as an investment in our skill development, rather than as a loss.

    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 the cost of a single private.

    Sign up here for a free trial:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

    Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

    Follow us on social:
    https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

    Más Menos
    7 m
  • Ep. 329: Rolling From Home, feat. Paul Kindzia
    Mar 24 2025

    This week we're joined by Paul Kindzia, a BJJ black belt under Emily Kwok training out of Atlanta, Georgia. Most notably, he's a "homeschooled" black belt who carved out his own path in the art. Paul now trains out of a private gym, "The Bunker," that he built in his home. In this episode, Paul discusses how "rolling from home" has allowed him to take total ownership of who he trains with and who he learns from.

    Visit Paul's website:
    https://thebalancedgrappler.com/

    Get Paul's book, Master Jiu-Jitsu, Master Life:
    https://amzn.to/41SuqcD


    Mental models discussed in this episode:

    • Self-Competition
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-competition/

    • Survivorship Bias
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/survivorship-bias/

    • Prioritize Longevity
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/prioritize-longevity/

    • Extreme Ownership
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/extreme-ownership/

    • Consistency
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistency/


    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 the cost of a single private.

    Sign up here for a free trial:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

    Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

    Follow us on social:
    https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

    Music by Enterprize:
    https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

    Más Menos
    1 h y 4 m
  • Mini Ep. 46: Beginner's Mind
    Mar 20 2025

    In this week's mini-episode, we explain beginner's mind! Known in Zen Buddhism as shoshin (初心), beginner's mind is a concept present in belief systems, philosophies, psychology, and martial arts. It teaches us to approach every learning opportunity with the curiosity and humility of a beginner. It's a mindset that helps us shelf the ego, focus on skill development, and better enjoy our training.

    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 the cost of a single private.

    Sign up here for a free trial:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

    Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

    Follow us on social:
    https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

    Más Menos
    8 m
  • Ep. 328: Training Intensity, feat. Dr. Mike Israetel
    Mar 17 2025

    This week we're joined by Dr. Michael Israetel! Mike is a PhD in sport physiology and newly minted Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Josh Vogel. In this episode, Mike teaches the intricacies of training intensity in Jiu-Jitsu. Topics include: the different intensity zones (light, moderate, and hard), their respective roles in skill acquisition, training intensity during competition preparation, training strategies among partners of varying skill levels, the significance of developing a focused game plan, and tailored approaches for casual practitioners versus competitors.

    Follow Mike on Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/drmikeisraetel

    Subscribe to Mike's YouTube channel:
    https://www.youtube.com/@RenaissancePeriodization

    Get Mike's app, RP Strength:
    https://rpstrength.com/


    Mental models discussed in this episode:

    • Staying Loose
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/staying-loose/

    • Form to Leave Form
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/form-to-leave-form/

    • Ecological Dynamics
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/

    • Training Handicaps
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/training-handicaps/

    • You Are What You Train
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/you-are-what-you-train/

    • Compatible Intent
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/compatible-intent/

    • Resulting Fallacy
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/resulting/

    • Defend With Purpose
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/defend-with-purpose/

    • Asymmetric Warfare
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/asymmetric-warfare/

    • Tokui Waza
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/tokui-waza/


    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 the cost of a single private.

    Sign up here for a free trial:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

    Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

    Follow us on social:
    https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

    Music by Enterprize:
    https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

    Más Menos
    1 h y 35 m
  • Mini Ep. 45: Spaced Repetition
    Mar 13 2025

    In this week's mini-episode, we explain spaced repetition! This concept helps us set a dynamic schedule for how frequently we should review old material to maximize our ability to recall information.

    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 the cost of a single private.

    Sign up here for a free trial:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

    Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

    Follow us on social:
    https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

    Más Menos
    10 m