Dirty White Belt Radio

Dr. Wendy Rouse is a historian who has studied the origin of the women's self defense movement, as well as early jiu-jitsu in America -- including how President Theodore Roosevelt played a role in changing perceptions of this new-to-Americans art as an "unmanly" art. She's a professor of history at San Jose State University and the author of a book and many articles on these subjects. Check out some of the materials we reference in the conversation, including Dr. Rouse's article "Jiujitsuing Uncle Sam: The Unmanly Art of Jiujitsu." https://online.ucpress.edu/phr/article/84/4/448/81155/JiuJitsuing-Uncle-SamThe-Unmanly-Art-of-JiuJitsu Dr. Rouse's book, "Her Own Hero: The Origins of the Women's Self Defense Movement." https://nyupress.org/9781479828531/her-own-hero/ Dr. Rouse's Presentation at the California State Historical Society. https://youtu.be/Nu0FjzlXPXg?t=2373 And this presentation by May Whitley, whose video we reference in the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLIE1GKfluk

It's a time of upheaval and uncertainty in the jiujitsu community. We talked to four academy owners (five including Jeff) from both coasts and a wide range of experiences about how they're responding to the crisis -- by serving students in new ways and thinking about supporting the BJJ community at large. Our panel included James Foster (Foster Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, open 17+ years), Cody Maltais (Elevate MMA Academy, open 4 years), Hillary VanOrnum (Unicorn Jiujitsu, open 10 months) and Cindy Hales (Sleeper Jiujitsu, open 6 months). Check it out to hear us share ideas about how we can weather this storm together and come out stronger on the other side. Thanks as always to our sponsors! US Grappling is our favorite tournament organization for many reasons, and usgrappling.com is the place to find all the news about upcoming events. We're also sponsored by Intellitonic. Rooted right here in Bellingham, Washington, Intellitonic is a Bellingham SEO and digital marketing agency with national reach. If you’re interested in Search Engine Optimization or Pay Per Click marketing, Intellitonic is a great choice.

Ever wanted window inside a black belt test? A few months ago, Jeff -- and two other brown belts from his school -- were told to be prepared for anything on Dec. 15. Betsy talked to each of them before, during and afterward. Check this show out for an inside look at one of the most important days in a jiu-jitsu journey. Thanks as always to our sponsors! US Grappling comes to Atlantic City, NJ on April 4, Richmond VA on April 2, and Greensboro NC on May 2. Support the tournament that's by grapplers, for grapplers, and has the best competitor experience around. Remember, black belts compete for free -- and register early for the Richmond, Virginia event in April! Tell them we sent you. We're also sponsored by Intellitonic. Rooted right here in Bellingham, Washington, Intellitonic is a Bellingham SEO and digital marketing agency with national reach. If you’re interested in Search Engine Optimization or Pay Per Click marketing, Intellitonic is a great choice.

Oliver Taza is already one of the best no-gi grapplers in the world just 7 years after starting jiujitsu. He talks with us about how great instruction contributes to his success, about the mental and physical challenge of recovering from ACL surgery, about the similarities and differences between Firas Zahabi and John Danaher, and much more. We also talk about the new podcast he's launched with Pierre-Olivier LeClerc, the Off Balance podcast, which you can check out wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks as always to our sponsors! US Grappling comes to Raleigh, North Carolina, on Jan. 4. Support the tournament that's by grapplers, for grapplers, and has the best competitor experience around. Remember, black belts compete for free -- and register early for the Richmond, Virginia event in April! Tell them we sent you. We're also sponsored by Intellitonic. Rooted right here in Bellingham, Washington, Intellitonic is a Bellingham SEO and digital marketing agency with national reach. If you’re interested in Search Engine Optimization or Pay Per Click marketing, Intellitonic is a great choice.

Felicia Oh is a legend of jiu-jitsu, the sixth woman outside of Brazil to earn a black belt -- but her origin story in the art involves the Y2K scare, the LA Marathon and Rudy Fischmann. The masters world champion and ADCC silver medalist talks to us about what training with Jean-Jacques Machado and Eddie Bravo was like, and how 10th Planet came about; about starting at 33 years old and becoming an elite grappler, competing against all-time-greats like Leticia Ribeiro, Megumi Fujii and more; nearly having to walk away from jiu-jitsu and MMA due to chronic fatigue, and how she beat the illness and came back; and way, way more. Thanks to Felicia Oh for this interview! US Grappling comes to Frederick, Maryland this weekend, June 29! Support the tournament that's by grapplers, for grapplers, and has the best competitor experience around. Remember, black belts compete for free -- and register early for the Richmond, Virginia event on Aug. 3! Tell them we sent you.

One of our first guests, Andrew Smith, returns to discuss how project — an online learning site called BJJ Path. Listen for details on how you can get a deal on the site. We also discuss best practices for learning jiujitsu, including why drilling classes are great.

You first heard from adaptive athlete Jess Munter a year ago, on the "Adaptive X-Men" episode. A lot has changed in a year, and Jess just notched a landmark win. We talked to her right after. Huge thanks to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ and Cageside MMA! Register online for 2019 tournaments at usgrappling.com, and remember that black belts compete for free. If you need gear to compete, the best products, prices and customer service can be found at cageside.com and torobjj.com.

Cindy "Sleeper" Hales is one of the first ever women to earn a black belt in jiu-jitsu, and is opening her own school in Lynnwood, Washington, this spring. One of the famous "dirty dozen" first 12 women black belts, Cindy talked with Jeff & Lourdes about jiu-jitsu history, training philosophy and vegan straight edge punk rock, among other things. Plus, we got to talk about Bikini Kill. Check out Cindy on instagram at @sleeper96! Huge thanks to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ and Cageside MMA! Register online for 2019 tournaments at usgrappling.com, and remember that black belts compete for free. If you need gear to compete, the best products, prices and customer service can be found at cageside.com and torobjj.com.

Special show: It's the 2018 Dirty White Belt Awards! We tell you who our distinguished panel of 7 judges voted for, and we play your voicemails about some of the winners and honorable mentions. Plus, an interview with Show the Art Finishers winner Austin "DuckJitsu" Daffron, who has a busy 2019 planned. A longer post will follow on the blog detailing the winners. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ and Cageside MMA!

It's the final show of 2018! At Toro Cup 12, Lourdes interviews four young women who represent the future of grappling -- and the present as well, since all four competed on the superfight card. That card raised funds for the family of Rudy Fischmann, a member of the jiu-jitsu community who is battling brain cancer. You can support the Fischmanns' Fight here: https://www.gofundme.com/the-fischmanns-fight Huge thanks to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ and Cageside MMA! Register online for 2019 tournaments at usgrappling.com, and remember that black belts compete for free. If you need gear to compete, the best products, prices and customer service can be found at cageside.com and torobjj.com. Also major good luck this weekend to all friends of the show competing at no-gi worlds, including sponsored athletes Junny Ocasio and CJ Murdock! New season drops in 2019.

Were you at Toro Cup 11? Lourdes did a bunch of interviews with competitors -- and with the people behind MMA For Africa, the beneficiary of the charity event. Hear about what inspired them, the centuries old Senegalese wrestling style that may be helping BJJ evolve, the possibility of African athletes on Toro Cup, and how YOU can volunteer to help. Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Sep. 29 in Virginia Beach, or in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 27. Both are Submission Only tournaments -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! Plus, get ready for Sub Only Worlds on Dec. 1. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA -- and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied: goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10 If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Jason Wingate and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Hey grapplers, have you ever wondered what the best way to prevent skin infections is? How soon you need to shower after training, and what soap to use? Hey gym owners: want to know a few small, important steps you can take to keep your mats safer? Dr. Azam Anwar joins us to answer listener questions about just that! After Dr. Anwar's battle with MRSA 10 years ago, he was inspired to figure out ways to prevent this from happening to others. His team developed a product called CLn BodyWash, which he talks to us about as well. Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Sep. 29 in Virginia Beach, or in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 27. Both are Submission Only tournaments -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! Plus, get ready for Sub Only Worlds on Dec. 1. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA -- and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied: goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10 If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

It's hard to make great radio while you're competing on the big stage, but twin sisters Chela & Maylin Tu did just that while Chela was getting a bronze at masters worlds! You should hear the segment they produced -- especially if you're a jiujitsu competitor whose loved ones don't understand it. We also do a long, featured interview with Austin Daffron, an active purple belt competitor in the Northwest whose jiujitsu travels are taking him to Switzerland. Register online at usgrappling.com to compete onSep. 29 in Virginia Beach, or in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 27. Both are Submission Only tournaments -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! Plus, get ready for Sub Only Worlds on Dec. 1. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA -- and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied: goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10 If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Solo moms. Mothers by choice. Parenthood changes everything -- eventually, even the world. This is our entry for KCRW's #RadioRace 2018. Original music provided by the Better Made and Voluptuous Panic.

Sarah Kurchak is one of the most interesting writers about fight culture. Her introduction to this world came when she competed in a professional pillow fighting league -- and you’ll learn what black belt world champion ALSO competed in that league. We also talk about Sarah’s entry into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and muay thai, what she thinks is the most vital storytelling currently happening -- professional wrestling -- and her advice for autistic people who train jiu-jitsu, and for their training partners. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA -- and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied: goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10 Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on July 28 in Richmond, Virginia, or for Submission Only Philadelphia Aug. 11 -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Jamil Hill-Taylor is a rising star in the jiu-jitsu world. He’s young, he’s talented, he’s now a black belt world champion -- and he’s just getting started. When he was at Checkmat Charlotte for a seminar this past week, Lourdes took the chance to interview the soon-to-be graduate of Howard University about his proudest achievement so far, his toughest competition at worlds, and what he really thinks about yoga. They also discuss the woman black belt teammate that he thinks is the *next* world champion and the importance of youth outreach programs in jiu-jitsu. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA -- and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied: goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10 Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on July 28 in Richmond, Virginia -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

James “300” Foster is a renaissance man, a lover of jiu-jitsu, art, charity work, and open-minded attitudes. I met him at his academy in Kent, Washington, where he hosted 10th Planet athletes Nathan Orchard and Phill Schwartz for a joint seminar. He walked in carrying a Chewbacca lunchbox and I knew this was going to be a great conversation. He’s also an accomplished competitor, having won the black belt master world championship. We talked about that, about how marketing labels can undermine the growth of jiu-jitsu, about what each belt level means to him, about his favorite comic artists, and how he uses jiu-jitsu as a tool to make a difference in people's lives. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA -- and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied: goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10 Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on July 14 in Charlotte or July 28 in Richmond, Virginia -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

At IBJJF worlds, we talk to Gustavo Dantas, the BJJ Mental Coach, about the high-level performance coaching he provides, his jiu-jitsu non-profit, and the top mental mistakes competitors make. Check out his work at https://www.thebjjmentalcoach.com/. We also catch up with purple belt competitors Bryce Lighthall of Alliance, who trains under Bruno Malfacine, and Ryan Homer of Diego Bispo Academy. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA -- and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied: goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10 Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Columbia, SC, June 30 or July 14 in Charlotte -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

After 10 events, Toro Cup has put on hundreds of matches and raised more than $17,500 for charity. We offer a recap, including interviews with competitors Deandre Corbe, Evan Arredondo, Christina Linn, Terah Heiber and Aren Besson -- and a fascinating group conversation with Lourdes, Amber Agee, Caitlin Huggins, Chrissy Linzy and Samantha Seff! Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA -- and welcome to our latest sponsor, Gold BJJ! To get a discount on anything at GoldBJJ.com, just enter DirtyWhiteBelt10 at checkout or follow this link and it will be directly applied: https://goldbjj.com/discount/DirtyWhiteBelt10 Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Columbia, SC, June 30 or July 14 in Charlotte -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

You probably know Robert Drysdale because he’s one of the most accomplished grapplers of his generation, having won both the IBJJF world championship and the ADCC absolute championship. What you might not know is that he’s a trained historian. And his project Closed Guard: The Movie, is going to be the first comprehensive film that tackles Brazilian jiu-jitsu history from a scholarly perspective. At the world championships this year, we sat down outside the Walter Pyramid with him to talk about progress on the film (slated for release toward the end of 2018), what surprised him most when researching the documentary and about the feedback he’s received so far. Robert Drysdale is also coming back to Elevate MMA on Sep. 2 for a seminar, so for those of you who are in the Durham, NC area, don’t miss it! Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Columbia, SC, June 30 or July 14 in Charlotte -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Listening to American Olympic judo silver medalist and BJJ black belt Travis Stevens will make you want to get up at 5 a.m. and train five times a day. He talks to us about goal-setting, work ethic, and determination -- and recounts matches that are years in the past with an emotional resonance that suggests they happened yesterday. Listeners submitted dozens of questions for Travis, and he answered them all in the way you’d expect him to -- directly, thoughtfully, thoroughly. We go over his thoughts on how you should approach learning and practicing takedowns; what it takes to keep up his famous training volume, and his approach to avoiding injuries while clocking so many hours on the mat; what he really thinks about self defense; advice for judo teachers with jiujitsu students; and how the training at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York compares to international judo training. Be sure to stay tuned for the brutal story of his 2012 Olympic semifinal, where the judges went against him in a controversial decision against Germany’s Ole Bischof. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Columbia, SC, June 30 or July 14 in Charlotte -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Everyone dreams of making the podium at the World Championships. In this episode, we talk to two competitors from North Carolina who did just that -- Sabrina Wright, a purple belt who trains with Lucas Lepri in Charlotte, and Kim Rice, a brown belt who has steadily worked toward this moment for years. PLUS, Victor Estima crashes the podcast! This is the first in a series of perhaps 5 shows about the Worlds, and you don't want to miss any of them -- so please subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud or Google Play. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Columbia, SC, June 30 or July 14 in Charlotte -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Dr. Jose Tufy Cairus, a historian and professor at Brazil's Federal Institute of Santa Catarina, is one of the few scholars studying Brazilian jiu-jitsu jistory. Cairus' father was involved with Brazilian judo for decades, and the author himself trained with Carlson Gracie -- something you'll hear all about in this interview! You'll learn what he things the biggest misconceptions about BJJ history are; who the first Japanese person to teach Kodokan Judo in Brazil was; who the first woman to train was; what the differences were between Jigoro Kano's judo at the time and the jiu-jitsu taught by Mitsuyo Maeda (who wasn't the only one using the "Count Koma" name); the critical role of Donato Pires dos Reis and Jacinto Ferro; the importance of Brazil's Navy in promoting jiu-jitsu, and how Maeda taught to the Brazilian Navy in the Amazon, including Luis Soto; Geo Omori and Takeo Yano's contributions to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; how Brazil's history, including the transition from the monarchy to the Old Republic to the dictatorship to the authoritarian estado novo affected jiu-jitsu -- especially a harrowing story about when Robson and Carlson were arrested by the Brazilian military government, and how they got out with the help of Helio Gracie & Helio Vigio. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Columbia, SC, June 30 or July 14 in Charlotte -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Rob the Lord Humongous is back in studio! Visiting from Germany, Rob Austin from the Big Jiu-Jitsu Show talks with us about his MMA fight, balancing training and relationships, tag team jiu-jitsu (really!) and how pro wrestling interfaces with BJJ. That's not a work or a rib. The show also features our first (and second) Randy "Macho Man" Savage impersonation. RIP. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Columbia, SC on June 30, Charlotte, NC July 14 or Richmond, VA, July 28 -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Hannette Staack is one of the absolute best ever, and a powerful positive force in jiu-jitsu. We were lucky enough to visit her Chicago school and have a conversation with her about a wide array of topics. We were GOING to go down to once every two weeks, and we probably still will, but we wanted to get this out to remind you to register for US Grappling Richmond. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Richmond April 28 or Greensboro May 5 -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Wes Claytor is a competitive brown belt training with the dapper bunch of killers at Gracie Raleigh. He has a passion for the charity Tap Cancer Out. In this interview he explains why, and how you can get involved! Plus, learn what it's like to learn from Brandon Garner and train with beasts like Andrew Bitner and Evan Arredondo, hear about that time Wes smashed Jeff during a tournament, and check out our brief Toro Cup recap! Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Richmond April 28 or Greensboro May 5 -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

"When jiu-jitsu as a whole grows, everybody benefits." These are words from Mark Cukro, a black belt and well-respected instructor at Integrated Martial Arts who also has a background in filipino martial arts, muay Thai, catch wrestling and more! He’s this week’s guest. Learn about how to get better at blue belt and beyond, the difference between being an instructor and a student, what martial arts complement Brazilian jiu-jitsu the best, and more! Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Richmond April 28 or Greensboro May 5 -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

The team at US Grappling join us to talk about the early days -- running a tournament in a bar! -- and the growth that has created the largest tournaments in their history. Hear stories of Seph Smith in a Billy Blanks t-shirt, what their favorite destinations are, and how to get them to come to YOUR town. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Greensboro coming up -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Heather Kasey is a mainstay of the local jiujitsu scene and yoga community, as well as founder of a non-profit elephant conservation organization. Now, she can add "Pans Silver Medalist" to those titles! We walk through the local results and Heather talks us through her matches and her trip to train with the Mendes Brothers, as well as revealing what it's like to train with Mary Holmes and be coached by the Culbreths. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Richmond, Virginia Beach, or Greensboro coming up -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Black belt Samantha Faulhaber went 4-1 with four submission wins at US Grappling Raleigh. We recap US Grappling's largest event ever -- 550 competitors! -- with the Elevate MMA competitor, who also talks with us about her techniques for post-tournament recovery using Kinstretch. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Richmond, Virginia Beach, or Greensboro coming up -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

The first ever Adaptive Jiujitsu Summit is happening right now in North Carolina: 7 disabled grapplers (the X-Men of Adaptive Grappling) have united to spread the art and their technique. We have a group conversation about wow they came together; how training with each other is invaluable but watching each other roll is useful, too; why having an adaptive athlete in your gym helps everyone; what to look for in an academy if you’re an adaptive athlete; how adaptive training changes both the athlete and the instructor; what coaches of adaptive athletes should know; and how jiujitsu changes lives (sometimes twice); along with some truly wicked humor. Check out maybe Jeff's favorite show ever, and listen to the end for BREAKING TORO CUP NEWS! Thanks to everyone who talked to us: Neil Brown, Rafa Diaz, Tommy Gwynn, Brian Freeman, Peter McGregor, Jess Munter and Maximiliano Ulloa. And thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Raleigh on March 3 -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Gracie Raleigh's Andrew Bitner is a successful competitive brown belt and one of the area's most rigorous students of competition footage. Listen to his methods for breaking down techniques in use by the top competitors today, hear about how he started his journey, about who the best teachers he's been around are, and how teaching is a change of pace. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Raleigh on March 3 -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Miha Perhavec -- one of the world's top brown belts -- is traveling around the world for a year. He stopped by the triangle for a week to train with us, teach a seminar, and talk about why Yoga For BJJ is great, why Kit Dale knows nothing about kombucha, and about how mental toughness can power you through broken bones. There are several stories here you don't want to miss. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Raleigh on March 3 -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Our guest this week is the gold medal winner in the IBJJF Atlanta Open's featherweight master one division! It was CJ Murdock's first ever IBJJF tournament, and we talk to him about how surreal the experience was, about the meaning behind his tattoos, why Cobrinha and Megaton are role models, amazing, about training with super-tough brother Josh Murdock, about goals to become a world champion, training with Roberto Traven and much more. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on March 3 in Raleigh -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Two terrific interviews this week! The legendary Joe Moreira checks in to talk about his time training with Rubao Carioca, John Schell's black belt and the key to a great stack pass. Then, a featured interview with multiple-time black belt world champion Leo Nogueira from Alliance. He tells us about the one win he's most proud of; how he got his blue belt in just three months, and his advice for current today's blue belts; the most important thing he's learned from Romero Jacare; what training with Fabio Gurgel is like (hint: TOUGH -- the easiest rounds at Fabio's were with current brown belt world champions); who his best training partners have been (including one who you've never heard of, but is 'better than a lot of black belt world champions'); the greatness of Bruno Malfacine; the two guys he thinks are the best sport competitors; his best single piece of advice for guard passing; how to have a long, healthy jiujitsu career; favorite competitors to watch; and more. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Raleigh on March 3 -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Former co-host Trevor Hayes has a new gym, Chance Muay Thai Academy! His fighter Roland Mizell makes his debut this Feb. 10 at the Lightning Strikes even at the Durham Armory. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in Raleigh on March 3 -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

The 2018 podcast season starts with a bang, as Jiujiteiro of the Year John Schell joins Vernon Kirk in the studio to talk about the Jan. 27 benefit seminar featuring the legendary Joe Moreira! That seminar at Schell Shock BJJ will help offset medical expenses for Prof. Rubao Carioca. We also tell some hilarious stories of training, top pressure and competitions, with notes on John's upcoming Feb. 11 seminar at Elevate MMA as well. Register for the seminar and contribute to the GoFundMe here! https://www.gofundme.com/professor-rubaos-medical-fun Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on March 3 in Raleigh -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

It's been an amazing week for Raquel Pa'aluhi Canuto & Renato Canuto: after a stellar performance at KASAI Pro, they both won black belt gold at Nogi Worlds! Lourdes talks with each of them -- and talks to Kasai silver medalist Celso Vinicius and bronze winner Gianni Grippo as well. Grippo talks about the Berimbolo haters, whether he'll do MMA, competing in front of his parents and his lucky socks. We also talk with Junny Ocasio, who reflects on a performance that shows he can compete with the elite of the elite, and Cameron Florczak, who won in impressive fashion on the KASAI undercard. Raquel Canuto speaks with us about balancing coaching and competing; on having her on superfight while her husband is competing in a tournament; her MMA career in Invicta; winning Nogi worlds as a purple belt and brown belt before black belt; and more. Renato Canuto talks about never giving up on your dreams, shaving, and being a jiujitsu nerd while competing against jiujitsu heroes. Enjoy this BONUS SHOW! Cameron Florczak is at 2:35, Junny Ocasio at 4:20, Gianni Grippo at 11:15, Celso Vinicius at 25:15, Raqual Canuto at 33:00 and Renato Canuto at 38:20. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

It's the moment we've been waiting for -- the first annual DWB Southeast Jiujitsu Awards! Lourdes and Jeff announce 10 awards, and read emails and voicemails of support for the candidates. Listen to this show to know who won Jiujiteiro & Jiujiteira of the Year, Match of the Year, Most Inspirational, Peoples' Choice, Tournament Coach of the Year and Self Defense Instructor of the Year. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in the New Year -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Veteran fighter and accomplished grappler Miguel Torres talks with Lourdes about a multitude of topics (including some breaking news). Learn about his experience with Traditional Martial Arts growing up; his' parents support, and the harrowing story of the first fight his mom watched; his thoughts on the IBJFF; when we'll see him compete again; training with Ricardo De La Riva & Carlson Gracie Sr., & who his Mr. Miyagi was; why he bonded with Carlson Gracie Sr.; helping out lower-income people who want to train; growing up as a nerd with a fanny pack; his favorite way to make tacos; and the magic of airbrushed gi patches. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete in the New Year -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Will Loushin joins us to talk about his journey through the Marine Coprs, MMA, nogi and gi jiujitsu, as a competitor and a coach to prominent kids competitors like Christina Linn. He also tells us stories of grappling with Ken Shamrock, Rich Franklin and Ryan Hall, as well as what it means to be nominated for the Coach of the Year Award. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Dec. 9 at Submission Only Richmond -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

KASAI Grappling CEO Rich Byrne joins us to preview this weekend's Kasai Pro card, which features a who's who of jiujitsu -- Gordon Ryan, Yuri Simoes, and many more. We also talk to Rich about his own fascinating journey in jiujitsu, which includes the Fertitta Brothers, middle eastern royalty, Renzo Gracie and John Danaher. Learn what matches he's looking forward to most, and what tournament matchups he hopes happens in the 8-man tournament bracket. We also talk about what he thought of Junny Ocasio's performance to qualify, why Celso Vinicius is criminally underrated, whether we'll see a women's Kasai tournament and Equal Pay For BJJ. Also, find out who he considers far and away the top mind in the sport, what he thinks of the berimbolo, and how he hopes Kasai changes the landscape of jiujitsu. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Dec. 9 at Submission Only Richmond -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

We talk to two local grapplers who are also avid musicians, both blue belts: Rodney (Oak City Slums) and Henry (miniluv) talk beats, production, inspiration and the confluence of martial arts and performing arts. Plus, we play some songs and they make dope rolling playlists for the listeners. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Dec. 9 at Submission Only Richmond -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Five time world champion and double gold Mundial winner Bernardo Faria joins us in studio for a great, wide-ranging conversation. Bernardo tells us who he considers the best competitor of all time (the answer may surprise you), what he learned from Fabio Gurgel and Marcelo Garcia, why entrepreneurs are drawn to jiujitsu, the difference wrestling made in his game, his thoughts on self defense and sport jiujitsu, the most common mistake most people make when doing the omoplata, and whether he's officially retired from competition. Bernardo has a new instructional series about the omoplata out this week: check it out! Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Dec. 9 at Submission Only Richmond -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

The great Cobrinha just won the Grand Slam, and took gold at his third ADCC in a row. He talked to us about what the honor he's proudest of is, the keys to longevity and success in jiujitsu, balancing family, teaching and training. Enjoy this special bonus show! Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Dec. 9 at Submission Only Richmond -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

In Gordon Ryan's first ADCC, he won gold in his weight class and silver in absolute. At just 22 years old, he's cemented his status among the best nogi grapplers in the world -- and now he's headed to the gi divisions. We talk with him about who the toughest person he's ever rolled with is; who the best non-Danaher leg lock guy is, in his opinion -- and how far ahead the DDS is of everyone else in playing that game; and the real reason he incorporated strength training into his routine. Plus, we get some intricate technical details on the finishes he used at ADCC. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Dec. 9 at Submission Only Richmond -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Dominyka Obelenyte, four time black belt world champion, is back in Durham teaching a seminar at Elevate MMA! We talk to Dom about the shoulder injury that's kept her off the competition mats (and why art is more dangerous to her than jiujitsu at this point). We also make plans for a Dom-designed DWB rashguard, the grappling camp in Virginia she's teaching next weekend, about equal pay for women in the BJJ world and much more. Plus, learn about her favorite grapplers of the moment to watch and about Dom's own competition future -- will she shift to a superfight focus? Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Dec. 9 at Submission Only Richmond -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Unity Jiujitsu's Junny Ocasio competes at light featherweight and walks around closer to 135 than 155 ... but he won the 155 pound qualifier to the KASAI Pro eight-man tournament on Dec. 9, where he'll compete against the likes of Garry Tonon, Gianni Grippo, AJ Agazarm and other elite competitors. We talked with Junny about his gold at Pans, his superfight win at Show the ART last night, his performance in the 16-man qualifying tournament to earn his spot, and his plan going into the exciting event in December, where Gordon Ryan will also compete against Yuri Simoes. Don't miss this show! It's one of our favorite interviews lately, with one of the hardest-working athletes in jiujitsu at an exciting moment in his career. We also update you on the Dirty White Belt Awards, and tell you a SECRET WAY that you can back your preferred candidate. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Dec. 9 at Submission Only Richmond -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

How are writing and fighting related? Jeff and Betsy talk with two romance novelists who have written a three-book series set in the world of MMA. We talk about how stereotyping fighters (and fans) is misleading, what Ultimate Fighter contestant inspired one of the protagonists (the answer will surprise you, striking vs. grappling and why neither writers nor fighters want to leave it up to the judges. We also update you on the Dirty White Belt Awards, and all the amazing nominees that have come in. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Oct. 28 in Greensboro North Carolina -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

On his birthday weekend, Gustavo Machado black belt Greg Walker competed in the Toro Cup 8 main event and emerged victorious. We talked with Greg about the tightly-contested match, his journey to black belt, the way he balances training, competing and teaching, the toughest people he's rolled again, his wrestling background, his time in the Navy and his recent IBJJF gold medal performance -- along with his future goals. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Oct. 21 at US Grappling in Chantilly, Virginia, or Oct. 28 in Greensboro North Carolina -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!

Samantha Faulhaber is a successful competitive black belt with a deep background in functional movement. Recently relocated to Durham, Sam talked to us about her Kinstretch classes at Elevate MMA and workshop Oct. 13 at Triangle Jiujitsu; about competing at Toro Cup 8 in a much-anticipated rematch with Caitlin Huggins; about people who use jiujitsu as a crutch rather than a tool; about living in a Flow state, about what it's like to go viral after a loss; and most importantly about jiujitsu hair. Thanks as always to our sponsors, US Grappling, Toro BJJ, and Cageside MMA! Register online at usgrappling.com to compete on Oct. 21 at US Grappling in Chantilly, Virginia, or Oct. 28 in Greensboro North Carolina -- and if you need gi or nogi gear to compete, find the best products at cageside.com! If you want access to bonus content, you can support us at patreon.com/dirtywhitebelt, as Cody Maltais, Karl Krebs, Chris Holmes and Betty Broadhurst did this month -- thanks, y'all!