BJJ Mental Models

In this episode of BJJ Mental Models, Steve Kwan welcomes back Sonia Sillan from Combat Arts Academy to explore the concept of the “awkward turtles:” the introverted, unsure, or atypical students who often feel like outsiders in Jiu-Jitsu. Sonya unpacks how gym culture, coaching priorities, and interpersonal communication affect whether these students feel welcome or alienated. Together, they discuss how creating an inclusive, empathetic training environment isn't just good for business; it's essential for building resilient practitioners and a healthy mat culture. This conversation offers a roadmap for coaches and students alike to rethink how they engage with the most vulnerable members of their gym.Follow Sonia on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/soniasillanTrain with Sonia at Combat Arts Academy in Seattle:https://caaseattle.com/Mental models discussed in this episode:Jita Kyoeihttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/jita-kyoei/Compatible Intenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/compatible-intent/Controlled Breathinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/controlled-breathing/Staying Loosehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/staying-loose/Escalation of Commitmenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/escalation-of-commitment/The Golden Rulehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/golden-rule/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/

In this week's mini-episode we discuss the importance of controlled breathing when sparring. Managing your breath effectively creates a positive ripple effect in your Jiu-Jitsu performance by reducing anxiety, avoiding adrenaline dumping, and concealing your emotional state from your opponent. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroResources mentioned in this episode:Mini Ep. 55: Staying Loosehttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/17206785-mini-ep-55-staying-looseDon'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/

This week we're joined by Brennan Strimple! Brennan is the black belt head coach at RPMA (Rochester Phoenix Martial Arts). In this episode, Brennan shares his playbook for building a thriving kids' Jiu-Jitsu program, as well as leading the development of affordable kids' tournament circuits in the local community. Follow RPMA on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/rphxmaTrain at RPMA in Rochester, NY:https://rochesterjiujitsu.com/Mental models discussed in this episode:Abundance Mindsethttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/abundance-mindset/Keep it Playfulhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful/Investing in Losshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/investing-in-loss/Resulting Fallacyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/resulting/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/

In this week's mini-episode we discuss the importance of staying loose when sparring. Being relaxed makes it easier to conserve energy, avoid being controlled, and conceal your intentions. There are times to be tense, such as when completing a throw or finishing a submission, but your "default mode" should be staying loose.Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined by Timothy Lee Peterson! In this episode, Timothy explains why gaze tracking — or where your eyes are looking — is a surprisingly important aspect of Jiu-Jitsu.Follow Timothy on social media:https://www.instagram.com/timothyleepetersonhttps://www.threads.com/@timothyleepetersonResources discussed in this episode:Free+Style: Maximize Sport and Life Performance with Four Basic Movements, by Carl Paolihttps://www.amazon.com/dp/1628600209Mental models discussed in this episode:Theory of Alignmenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/theory-of-alignment/Head Positionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/head-position/Kuzushihttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/kuzushi/You Are What You Trainhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/you-are-what-you-train/Teach to Learnhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/teach-to-learn/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/

In this week's mini-episode we discuss controlling the distance, a key lesson in most martial arts, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As general advice, many instructors  will coach you to close the distance when attacking and make space when defending. While this is often true, in this mini-episode we'll explore the exceptions to that rule and settle on a more general guideline for controlling the distance: find the distance where you can control them but they can't control you.Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined again by Charles Harriott! In this episode, Charles discusses the problem of "gatekeepers" in Jiu-Jitsu, or people who try to enforce their way of thinking over others.  Charles explores how gatekeeping can shut down creativity, personal development, and fun.Follow Charles on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/charlesharriottCharles Harriott's website:https://charlesharriott.com/Get Charles' instructionals on BJJ Fanatics:https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/dvd/fighter_charles-harriottSubscribe to Charles' YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjQfov7RyQ5fn3TLfqSmezQSupport Charles on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/charlesharriottMental models discussed in this episode:Do What Workshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/do-what-works/Shuharihttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/shuhari/Concepts Over Techniqueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques/Ecological Dynamicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/Keep it Playfulhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful/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/

In this week's mini-episode we discuss kuzushi, the Japanese concept of breaking balance! Kuzushi is critical in Judo, but it's just as important in Jiu-Jitsu — both standing and on the ground. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroResources discussed in this episode:Mini Ep. 51: Technique Chaininghttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/17035097-mini-ep-51-technique-chainingMini Ep. 52: Shifting Platformshttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/17077049-mini-ep-52-shifting-platforms 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/

This week we're joined by the founders of Inverted Gear: Hillary Witt and Nelson Puentes! Three years ago, Hillary and Nelson took the Inverted Gear brand beyond Jiu-Jitsu equipment and opened a physical academy in Pennsylvania! In this episode, Hillary and Nelson share key lessons learned from their journey into academy ownership. Follow Inverted Gear on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/invertedgearTrain at Inverted Gear Academy in Bethlehem, PA:https://www.invertedgearacademy.com/Shop Inverted Gear:https://www.invertedgear.com/Order the SWEET Moo Deng rashguard from BJJ Mental Models x Inverted Gear:http://bjjmentalmodels.com/moodengMental models discussed in this episode:Feedback Loophttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loop/Constraints-Led Approachhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/constraints-led-approach/Ecological Dynamicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/Gamificationhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/gamification/Defensive Thinkinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/defensive-thinking/Return on Investmenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/return-on-investment/Incremental Learninghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/incremental-learning/Survivorship Biashttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/survivorship-bias/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/

In this week's mini-episode we discuss shifting platforms, wherein you as the bottom player use continuous movement to prevent your opponent from fully establishing their base on top of you. Moving away from big, explosive escape attempts and toward smaller, continuous movement makes a huge difference in your success from bottom positions. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined again by Erin Herle! In this episode, Erin introduces the PLAY framework and explains why humor is a fundamental element of good culture and learning.Follow Erin on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/erinherle/Get Erin's new book, If You're Not Laughing, You're Losing:https://amzn.to/4jP5x8KWork with Erin:https://www.erinherle.com/http://highmentalperformance.com/Resources mentioned in this episode:Humor Styles Questionnaire, by Rod A. Martin, PhD:http://www.humorstyles.com/If You're Not Laughing, You're Losing, by Erin Herle:https://amzn.to/4jP5x8KVIA Character Strengths Survey:https://www.viacharacter.org/Mental models discussed in this episode:Keep it Playfulhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful/Habits Over Resultshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/habits-over-results/Defensive Thinkinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/defensive-thinking/10-10-10 Rulehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/10-10-10-rule/Survivorship Biashttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/survivorship-bias/Consistencyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistency/Psychological Safetyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/psychological-safety/Respect People, Not Positionshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/respect-people-not-positions/Yes, And...https://bjjmentalmodels.com/yes-and/Flowhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/flow/Reflecting "As If"https://bjjmentalmodels.com/reflecting-as-if/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

In this week's mini-episode we explain the importance of technique chaining, and why "Jiu-Jitsu is the space between the techniques."Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined by two BJJMM alumni: Josh Vogel and Dr. Mike Israetel! In this episode, Josh and Mike discuss the unique way they build gameplans at The Jiu-Jitsu Company.Follow Josh and Mike on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/joshrvogelhttps://www.instagram.com/drmikeisraetelSubscribe to Josh and Mike on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@thejiujitsucompanyhttps://www.youtube.com/@RenaissancePeriodizationGet Josh's instructional, 90 Day Project Based Jiu Jitsu:https://bjjfanatics.com/products/90-day-project-based-jiu-jitsu-by-josh-vogelGet ripped with Mike at RP Strength:https://rpstrength.com/Resources mentioned in this episode:Arguing to Convince series, by Dr. Mike Israetel — YouTubehttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyqKj7LwU2RufCp8SzFQy3Nb1FaHpsCLuMental models discussed in this episode:Asymmetric Warfarehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/asymmetric-warfare/Zone of Geniushttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/zone-of-genius/Defend with Purposehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/defend-with-purpose/Funnelinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/funneling/Technique Chaininghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/technique-chaining/Dictate the Pacehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/dictate-the-pace/Tokui Wazahttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/tokui-waza/Dilemmahttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/dilemma/Plus, Minus, Equalshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/plus-minus-equals/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/

In this week's mini-episode we explain the phases of passing: disentangle, control, pass.Resources mentioned in this episode:Mini Ep. 49: Phases of Guardhttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/16950582-mini-ep-49-phases-of-guardGet our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined by Nick Volpe! Nick is the black belt head coach at Dark Bear Jiu-Jitsu in Staten Island, New York. In this episode, Nick explains how he makes Jiu-Jitsu coaching accessible to students and coaches of all experience levels. Topics include: self-organized learning, teaching the "why" behind techniques, the importance of timing, creating objectives that guide student progress, and layered difficulties during live resistance training.Follow Nick on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/darkbeardojoTrain with Nick at Dark Bear Jiu-Jitsu in Staten Island:https://www.darkbeardojo.com/Mental models discussed in this episode:Ecological Dynamicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/Concepts Over Techniqueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques/Self-Organizationhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-organization/Economy of Motionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/economy-of-motion/Windows of Opportunityhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/windows-of-opportunity/Gamificationhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/gamification/Probabilistic Thinkinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/probabilistic-thinking/Training Handicapshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/training-handicaps/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/

In this week's mini-episode we explain the phases of guard, as taught by Rob Biernacki: engagement, maintenance, and retention.Resources mentioned in this episode:BJJMM Ep. 16: Guard Series: Engagement Phasehttps://bjj.plus/16BJJMM Ep. 17: Guard Series: Engagement Phasehttps://bjj.plus/17BJJMM Ep. 18: Guard Series: Engagement Phasehttps://bjj.plus/18Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined by Mo Black! As of this writing, Mo is a reigning champion at Main Character Jiu-Jitsu and an instructor at Tabula Rasa BJJ in Colorado Springs. In this episode, Mo shares key concepts behind one of her favorite Jiu-Jitsu skills: half guard passing.Follow Mo on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mo.jiujitsuTrain with Mo at Tabula Rasa BJJ in Colorado::https://tabsbjj.com/Mental models discussed in this episode:Predictable Responseshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/predictable-responses/Opening Salvoshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/opening-salvos/Waypointshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/waypoints/Head Positionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/head-position/Committed Techniqueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/committed-techniques/Economy of Motionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/economy-of-motion/Path of Least Resistancehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/path-of-least-resistance/Controlling the Distancehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/controlling-the-distance/Technique Chaininghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/technique-chaining/Center of Gravityhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/center-of-gravity/Dictate the Pacehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/dictate-the-pace/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/

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/freeintroDon'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/

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?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/

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 Soudershttps://bjj.plus/203BJJMM Ep. 206: How We Learn to Move, feat. Dr. Rob Grayhttps://bjj.plus/206 Mental models discussed in this episode:Ecological Dynamicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/External Cueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/external-cues/Feedback Loophttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loop/Concepts Over Techniqueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques/Deliberate Practicehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/deliberate-practice/Habits Over Resultshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/habits-over-results/Gamificationhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/gamification/Inversionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/inversion/Perception-Action Couplinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/perception-action-coupling/Respect People, Not Positionshttps://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/

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/freeintroDon'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/

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/41SuqcDMental models discussed in this episode:Self-Competitionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-competition/Survivorship Biashttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/survivorship-bias/Prioritize Longevityhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/prioritize-longevity/Extreme Ownershiphttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/extreme-ownership/Consistencyhttps://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/

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/freeintroDon'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/

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/drmikeisraetelSubscribe to Mike's YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@RenaissancePeriodizationGet Mike's app, RP Strength:https://rpstrength.com/Mental models discussed in this episode:Staying Loosehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/staying-loose/Form to Leave Formhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/form-to-leave-form/Ecological Dynamicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/Training Handicapshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/training-handicaps/You Are What You Trainhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/you-are-what-you-train/Compatible Intenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/compatible-intent/Resulting Fallacyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/resulting/Defend With Purposehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/defend-with-purpose/Asymmetric Warfarehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/asymmetric-warfare/Tokui Wazahttps://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/

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/freeintroDon'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/

In this episode, legendary Jiu-Jitsu instructor Stephan Kesting joins us to discuss the concept of perseverance. It's both a critical mental model for success in martial arts, and also the title of his new Amazon best-selling book, Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic. Stephan shares his remarkable journey following a health crisis that led to kidney failure and transplant in 2015, his 1000-mile solo canoe trip through the Canadian North, and how these journeys translated to learnings applicable to Jiu-Jitsu.Follow Stephan on Instagram:https://instagram.com/stephan_kestingBuy Stephan's new book, Perseverance:https://essentialwilderness.com/book/Mental models discussed in this episode:Survivorship Biashttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/survivorship-bias/Resulting Fallacyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/resulting/Keep Your Identity Smallhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-your-identity-small/10-Minute Rulehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/10-minute-rule/Consistencyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistency/Stress and Recoveryhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/stress-and-recovery/Prioritize Longevityhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/prioritize-longevity/Return on Investmenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/return-on-investment/Ulysses Contractshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ulysses-contracts/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/

In this week's mini-episode, we explain effortful retrieval!  It's a concept from cognitive psychology proposing we can improve our ability to recall information — a critical skill during live rolling — by creating a recall practice that forces our brains to work.For more information on effortful retrieval, check out:BJJMM Ep. 287: Automatic Grappling, feat. Cal McDonaldhttps://bjj.plus/287Effortful Retrieval — BJJ Mental Models databasehttps://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/effortful-retrieval/Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined again by Rob Biernacki!  Rob shares advice for getting the most out of BJJ gym drop-ins, seminars, and camps.  Topics include the importance of prior communication before attending, safety and etiquette during training, addressing issues with aggressive partners, the mindset needed to ensure a positive experience, and Island Top Team's visiting student program.Contact Rob regarding his visiting student program on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/islandtopteamLearn from Rob online at BJJ Concepts:https://bjjconcepts.net/Mental models discussed in this episode:Compatible Intenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/compatible-intent/Normalizationhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/normalization/Psychological Safetyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/psychological-safety/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/

In this week's mini-episode, we explain interleaving!  It's a concept proposing we learn faster by cycling through several topics rather than focusing on a single one at a time.  For example, instead of training AAA BBB CCC, we would train ABC ABC ABC.Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined again by Mike Mahaffey!  Best known as the "Old Bastard BJJ" guy, Mike joins us to discuss economy of motion in Jiu-Jitsu.  We define economy of motion as: All else being equal, prefer the option that requires less movement.  We unpack why this mental model is important, and how more athletic grapplers can violate this concept in favor of a movement-based game.Follow Mike on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/oldbastardbjjCheck out upcoming BJJMM camps and events:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/events Mental models discussed in this episode:Economy of Motionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/economy-of-motion/Path of Least Resistancehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/path-of-least-resistance/Static vs. Dynamic Controlhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/static-vs-dynamic-control/Waypointshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/waypoints/Position Over Submissionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/position-over-submission/Shifting Platformshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/shifting-platforms/Investing in Losshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/investing-in-loss/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/

In this week's mini-episode, we explain body tethering!  When you clamp onto your opponent as you would via closed guard or a triangle choke, make sure that YOU control THEIR body's alignment, not the other way around.  If they still have alignment they can pick you up, stack you, or slam you, which are especially dangerous if you're smaller.  Don't be a tetherball! Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined again by Josh "Kintanon" Wentworth from Apex MMA in Covington, Georgia!  In this episode, Josh discusses "social contracts" in Jiu-Jitsu and how to break them.  Social contracts are the unwritten rules we abide by, which often aren't actually rules.  Social contracts can become invisible mental scripts and self-limiting habits that hold us back from our best performance in every roll.Follow Josh on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/apexconyersTrain with Josh at Apex MMA in Covington, Georgia:https://www.apexconyers.com/Annoy Josh on Reddit:https://www.reddit.com/u/kintanonResources discussed in this episode:The Meanest Shit You've Ever Seen, feat. Andy Stolarik (requires BJJMM Premium)https://bit.ly/meanestshitMental models discussed in this episode:Do What Workshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/do-what-works/Prevention Over Curehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/prevention-over-cure/Technique Chaininghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/technique-chaining/You Are What You Trainhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/you-are-what-you-train/Dictate the Pacehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/dictate-the-pace/Win Conditionshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/win-conditions/Asymmetric Warfarehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/asymmetric-warfare/Grips Dictate Positionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/grips-dictate-position/Pattern Interruptshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/pattern-interrupts/Certainty Heuristichttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/certainty-heuristic/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/

In this week's mini-episode, we explain the concept of redundancies, or how to ensure you have backup options if your plan fails.  There are two ways to create redundancies in your technique: by using multiple points of control, and by having a solid "plan B."Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined by a panel: Josh "Kintanon" Wentworth from Apex MMA and Jesse Walker from Rough Hands BJJ!  In this episode, Josh and Jesse recap lessons learned from our most recent BJJ Mental Models camp in Georgia, and share best practices for running a collaborative camp and breaking from the traditional "one-man show" seminar structure.Follow Josh on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/apexconyersTrain with Josh at Apex MMA in Covington, Georgia:https://www.apexconyers.com/Follow Jesse on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/roughhandsbjjTrain with Jesse at Rough Hands BJJ in Louisville, Kentucky:https://roughhandsbjj.com/Train with us at an upcoming BJJ Mental Models camp:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/events Mental models discussed in this episode:Self-Organizationhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-organization/ Feedback Loophttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loop/Curse of Knowledgehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/curse-of-knowledge/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/

In this week's mini-episode, we explain the concept of placeholders.  Think of positional advancement like climbing a ladder: one rung at a time, and never let go of both rungs at once!  Don't abandon a point of control until you've got something equivalent or better.Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined by Marc Ste-Marie!  Marc is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and the father of IBJJF "Queen" Brianna Ste-Marie.  In this episode, Marc explains the concept of "technique zero," or how we can teach Jiu-Jitsu quicker by reverse engineering and mastering the point of entry.Follow Marc on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kwiksub2021Subscribe to Marc's YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@marcstemarie6821Resources discussed in this episode:The Fighter's Mind: Inside the Mental Game, by Sam Sheridanhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7103440-the-fighter-s-mindMental models discussed in this episode:Ecological Dynamicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/Inversionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/inversion/Making Smaller Circleshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/making-smaller-circles/Grips Dictate Positionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/grips-dictate-position/Pattern Interruptshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/pattern-interrupts/Respect Your Opponenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/respect-your-opponent/Opening Salvoshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/opening-salvos/Hick's Lawhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/hicks-law/Form to Leave Formhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/form-to-leave-form/Curse of Knowledgehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/curse-of-knowledge/Prevention Over Curehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/prevention-over-cure/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/

In this week's mini-episode we explain the concept of surface area, or how much of your body is connected to your opponent when you apply force.  You can create more pressure by applying maximal force through the smallest surface area.  A classic example is the "shoulder of justice" side control crossface pin.  We also discuss other benefits to minimizing surface area, and other types of pressure beyond the physics definition.Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined again by BJJ Mental Models sponsored athlete Chris Wojcik! In this episode, Chris breaks down the mechanics and meta relevance of his new signature move, the Woj Lock.Follow Chris on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/chrismwojcikSubscribe to Chris' newsletter, The Grappler's Diary:https://thegrapplersdiary.substack.com/Buy Chris' book of the same name on Amazon:https://amzn.to/4gc74UhBuy Woj Lock the World on BJJ Fanatics:https://bit.ly/wojlockResources discussed in this episode:Ep. 288: Open Guard Leg Entanglements, feat. Chris Wojcikhttps://bjj.plus/288Mental models discussed in this episode:Breaking Mechanicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/breaking-mechanics/Limb Coilinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/limb-coiling/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/

In this week's mini-episode we explain ratchet control, a mental model that fine-tunes rotational submissions, especially the kimura.  Ratchet control occurs when you force their limb into an "L" shape and rotate it like an Allen/hex key. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined by Scott Fritzinger!  Scott is a BJJ black belt under Dave Camarillo and is the head instructor at Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu Academy Reno.  In this episode, Scott discusses "the language of injury," or how our choice of words and delivery can change student behavior and influence the risk of injury in the gym.Follow Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu Academy Reno on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/guerrillajjrenoTrain with Scott at Guerrilla Jiu Jitsu Academy Reno:https://www.renojiujitsu.com/Mental models discussed in this episode:Labelinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/labeling/Controlled Breathinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/controlled-breathing/Habits Over Resultshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/habits-over-results/Probabilistic Thinkinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/probabilistic-thinking/Position Over Submissionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/position-over-submission/Scientific Methodhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/scientific-method/Consistencyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistency/Keep it Playfulhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful/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/

In this week's mini-episode we explain rotational control, a mental model that helps us better secure positions and complete submissions.  Rotational control involves either preventing your opponent from rotating their torso, or allowing them to rotate so you can follow and improve your position.  Achieving rotational control usually requires you to occupy their elbow-knee space along their torso, or restrict the movement of their far arm/leg so they can't spin.Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined again by Eliot Marshall!  Eliot is a BJJ black belt, retired UFC fighter, and owner of Easton Training Center in Colorado.  In this episode, Eliot explains the 4 elements that every successful Jiu-Jitsu gym needs to nail: sales, marketing, product, and culture. Follow Eliot on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/firemarshall205Train at Easton Training Center in Colorado:https://eastonbjj.com/Grow your BJJ gym with Easton Online:https://www.easton.online/Mental models discussed in this episode:Abundance Mindsethttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/abundance-mindset/Race to the Bottomhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/race-to-the-bottom/Ulysses Contractshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ulysses-contracts/Survivorship Biashttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/survivorship-bias/Consistencyhttps://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/

In this week's mini-episode we explain waypoints, also known as "pitstops."  Waypoints are positions of power where you are particularly well-trained, and feel comfortable that you can outgun your opponent due to experience and skill within the position.  Waypoints aren't necessarily the common point-scoring positions, but can instead be "positions within positions" that occur along the way.  Examples of common waypoints include the split squat, double unders, and topside quarter guard.Before you listen to this episode, check out:Mini Ep. 35: Tokui Wazahttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16364687-mini-ep-35-tokui-wazaMini Ep. 34: Zone of Geniushttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16337686-mini-ep-34-zone-of-geniusMini Ep. 33: Layers of Strategyhttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16303959-mini-ep-33-layers-of-strategyMini Ep. 32: Funnelinghttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16266002-mini-ep-32-funnelingMini Ep. 31: Asymmetric Warfarehttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16225783-mini-ep-31-asymmetric-warfareGet our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined again by Beatrice Jin!  Beatrice is a black belt competitor and coach from Kogaion Academy in Arlington, Virginia.  In this episode, we continue our conversation from Beatrice's last visit about how to "stop being nice" when sparring.  Topics include the essential concepts of assertiveness and aggressiveness in BJJ, the cultural influences that shape one's approach to the sport, the significance of a competitive mindset, the necessity of pushing personal boundaries during training, and the importance of consent and managing expectations in training environments.Follow Beatrice on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/berimbozoTrain with Beatrice at Kogaion Academy:https://www.kogaionacademy.org/Check out Beatrice's awesome merch @ Butt Scooter:https://buttscooterjiujitsu.com/Mental models discussed in this episode:BJJMM Ep. 284: Stop Being Nice, feat. Beatrice Jinhttps://bjj.plus/284 Mental models discussed in this episode:Defensive Thinkinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/defensive-thinking/Position Over Submissionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/position-over-submission/The Golden Rulehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/golden-rule/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/

In this week's mini-episode we explain tokui waza, a concept from Judo and traditional martial arts.  Translating roughly to "favorited technique" or "special skill," tokui waza refers to the tendency of martial artists to develop and leverage a few techniques they're especially good at.  Tokui waza is important to understand because it helps us break the misconception that the best in the world are good at everything.  Much like the pro wrestlers, they develop "finishing moves," or tokui waza.Before you listen to this episode, check out:Mini Ep. 34: Zone of Geniushttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16337686-mini-ep-34-zone-of-geniusMini Ep. 33: Layers of Strategyhttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16303959-mini-ep-33-layers-of-strategyMini Ep. 32: Funnelinghttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16266002-mini-ep-32-funnelingMini Ep. 31: Asymmetric Warfarehttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16225783-mini-ep-31-asymmetric-warfareGet our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined by Max Schneider!  Max is a BJJ black belt under Justin Flores, as well as a national Judo champion and Olympic alternate, 2x Illinois state wrestling champion, and former D1 wrestler. In this episode, Max explores the philosophy and techniques behind safe and effective takedown training. Topics include the importance of warmup and falling techniques, various types of breakfalls, the differences in approach between Judo and Jiu-Jitsu, adapting techniques to various body types, and integrating foot sweeps as low-risk takedown options.Follow Max on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/onejudoka/Subscribe to Max on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@onejudokaLearn from Max on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/onejudokaMental models discussed in this episode:Surface Areahttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/surface-area/Incremental Learninghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/incremental-learning/Win Conditionshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/win-conditions/Committed Techniqueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/committed-techniques/Return on Investmenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/return-on-investment/Tokui Wazahttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/tokui-waza/Momentumhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/momentum/Curse of Knowledgehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/curse-of-knowledge/Opening Salvoshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/opening-salvos/Head Positionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/head-position/Ecological Dynamicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/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/

In this week's mini-episode we explain the so-called "zone of genius:" a concept that encourages us to spend our time in the areas where we're most passionate and talented.  This has implications for Jiu-Jitsu strategy: We should build a gameplan that takes the fight to places where we are the most exceptional.  In terms of our skill development, this means we're best off doubling down on our strengths.  Instead of trying to "get good at everything" (which is impossible), we should "get good enough" to avoid losing in our areas of weaknesses, but be exceptional within our areas of strength.  As the old saying goes, we want to avoid being a jack of all trades but a master of none.Before you listen to this episode, check out:Mini Ep. 33: Layers of Strategyhttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/16303959-mini-ep-33-layers-of-strategyMini Ep. 32: Funnelinghttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/16266002-mini-ep-32-funnelingMini Ep. 31: Asymmetric Warfarehttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/16225783-mini-ep-31-asymmetric-warfareGet our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined again by Jake Luigi from Less Impressed More Involved and Outlier DB!  In this episode, Jake discusses a problem we can all relate to: content overload in BJJ.  Jake shares great advice on choosing what to study in a world where quality Jiu-Jitsu content is plentiful but time is scarce.Follow Jake on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/limibjj/Subscribe to Less Impressed More Involved on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@LIMIBJJCheck out Outlier DB:https://outlierdb.com/Mental models discussed in this episode:Inversionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/inversion/Analysis Paralysishttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/analysis-paralysis/Feedback Loophttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loop/Cognitive Loadhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-load/Concepts Over Techniqueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques/Ecological Dynamicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/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/

In this week's mini-episode we explain the layers of strategy: every good plan needs a solid foundation and a flexible perimeter.  This concept applies to all manner of strategies, both on and off the mats.Before you listen to this episode, check out:Mini Ep. 32: Funnelinghttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/16266002-mini-ep-32-funnelingMini Ep. 31: Asymmetric Warfarehttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/16225783-mini-ep-31-asymmetric-warfareGet our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/

This week we're joined again by Defensive BJJ coach and BJJMM fan-favorite guest Priit Mihkelson!  In this episode, Priit discusses the importance of angles when defending from inferior positions.  Priit explains concepts for finding the correct angle when defending from the bottom, such as maintaining a 45° angle relative to the floor after your legs have been cleared, and how "making a capital T" by positioning your body perpendicular to your opponent can prevent them from wrapping their arm around your head. Follow Priit on social:https://www.instagram.com/priit_mihkelsonhttps://www.facebook.com/priit.mihkelsonBuy Priit's instructionals on BJJ Fanatics:https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/priit-mihkelsonLearn from Priit on Defensive BJJ:https://www.defensivebjj.com/Watch Priit's BJJ Globetrotters seminars:https://www.bjjglobetrotters.com/category/videos/instructors/priit-mihkelson/Mental models discussed in this episode:Mirrored Stanceshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/mirrored-stances/Constraints-Led Approachhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/constraints-led-approach/You Are What You Trainhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/you-are-what-you-train/Alignment Over Positionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/alignment-over-position/The Map Is not the Territoryhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/the-map-is-not-the-territory/Labelinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/labeling/Force Vectorshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/force-vectors/Priit's 45° Rulehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/priits-45-degree-rule/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/

In this week's mini-episode we explain funneling, a key concept for building Jiu-Jitsu strategies.  The idea is to build "funnels," or pathways to where we have an unfair/asymmetric advantage.  A good gameplan uses funnels to "connect the dots" so no matter where a match goes, you have a viable pathway to your strongest positions.Before you listen to this episode, check out:Mini Ep. 31: Asymmetric Warfarehttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/16225783-mini-ep-31-asymmetric-warfareGet our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/