BJJ Mental Models

Ep. 415: What’s the Point of a Coach?, feat. Priit Mihkelson

This week, we're joined by Priit Mihkelson! Priit is an Estonian black belt and co-owner of Estum Jiu-Jitsu in Tallinn, with 26 years of jiu-jitsu behind him. In thi

Mini Ep. 130: First Principles

In this mini-episode, we explain first principles: how we can repeatedly ask "why" to uncover simple and foundation truths so we can better understand jiu-jitsu. Get our

Ep. 414: The One-Hour Problem, feat. Kyvann Gonzalez

This week, we're joined by Kyvann Gonzalez! Kyvann is the head coach and co-owner of Bodega Jiu Jitsu in Maplewood, NJ, where he builds his classes around games and

Mini Ep. 129: Handicapping

In this mini-episode, we explain handicapping: how we can physically and strategically reduce our performance to get the most out of each training round. Get our Intro t

Ep. 413: Technique Sequencing, feat. Marc Ste-Marie

This week, we're joined by Marc Ste-Marie! Marc is a second-degree black belt with Brazilian Top Team who has been grappling since the late 80s, coaches kids and adu

Mini Ep. 128: Survivorship Bias

In this mini-episode, we explain survivorship bias: a logical error where we overstudy those who were successful, but understudy those who failed. Get our Intro to Mecha

Ep. 412: Hand Fighting, feat. Brandon Reed

This week, we're joined by Brandon Reed! Brandon is a three-time NAIA national champion wrestler from Louisville, Kentucky, who now trains jiu-jitsu full-time in Gue

Mini Ep. 127: Confirmation Bias

In this mini-episode, we explain confirmation bias: the human tendency to favor information that supports our existing beliefs, and discard information that doesn't.

Ep. 411: The Fragmentation of Jiu-Jitsu, feat. Jeff Serafin

This week, we're joined by Jeff Serafin! Jeff runs Serafin Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu out of Gym 1801 in Evanston, Illinois, and has been training jiu-jitsu for almost 30 y

Mini Ep. 126: Visualization

In this mini-episode, we explain visualization: the science behind it, its limitations, the difference between general and technique visualization, and how it applies to

Ep. 410: Instructing Versus Coaching, feat. Hillary VanOrnum

This week, we're joined by Hillary VanOrnum! Hillary is a third-degree black belt who runs Unicorn Jiu Jitsu in Portland, Oregon with her husband, and she just won h

Mini Ep. 125: Perception-Action Coupling

In this mini-episode, we explain perception-action coupling: a sports science concept explaining how practice should give athletes the same cues they'd face in a rea

Ep. 409: Super Mario Theory, feat. Nelson Puentes

This week, we're joined by Nelson Puentes! Nelson co-founded Inverted Gear and runs Inverted Gear Academy in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In this episode, Nelson explain

Mini Ep. 124: Deliberate Practice

In this mini-episode, we explain deliberate practice: a training method intended to improve performance by addressing your weaknesses and breaking through plateaus. Get

Ep. 408: Intention-Led Jiu-Jitsu, feat. Rob Cole

This week, we're joined by Rob Cole! Rob has been training martial arts for over 35 years, 25 of them focused on grappling, and he coaches at Ascension Athletics in

Mini Ep. 123: Differential Learning

In this mini-episode, we explain differential learning: a training approach used in sports proposing that motor skills are learned by varying how the movement is executed

Ep. 407: Day Zero Jiu-Jitsu, feat. Jesse Walker & Shelby York

This week, we're joined by Jesse Walker and Shelby York! Jesse and Shelby own Rough Hands BJJ in Louisville, Kentucky, a gym of about 200 students with an unusually

Mini Ep. 122: Gamification

In this mini-episode, we explain gamification: the practice of adding game-like elements to something in order to motivate a certain type of behavior. It's a concept

Ep. 406: The Problem of Leadership, feat. Barbara Ruiken & Giles Garcia

This week, we're joined by Barbara Ruiken and Giles Garcia! Barbara is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and the new head coach at Bergen Grappling in Norway, and she

Mini Ep. 121: Constraints-Led Approach

In this mini-episode, we explain constraints-led approach (CLA) in simple terms, and how it impacts your jiu-jitsu training. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, nor