Johnny Yaps

In this episode I sat down with Anouska Firth to talk about her experiences battling her insecurities around self worth, eating disorders, drug addiction and also coming to terms with the consequences of her actions from the choices she had made. It's a fairly contentious topic to discuss some of the things we do in this episode, however I hope people can enjoy this episode for it's openness to dealing with some difficult topics. Anouska is someone who has really felt the brunt of her choices and part of her journey to finding peace with those choices has been through facing them, having close friends who have told her some fairly uncomfortable truths and having the willingness to try pull herself out of the pit she had fallen into. No matter how difficult the challenges your facing, there is always someone who has probably had it worst. The great news is that you can get through it and I hope this episode is an example of this. Links: Bird Flip: https://www.instagram.com/birdfliporg/ Anouska on Socials: https://www.instagram.com/__anouska/ Dr Joanna Howe: https://www.instagram.com/drjoannahowe/  

In this episode I sat down with Ben Smith of Deepwater Performance to chat about life, jiu jitsu and his experience with Testicular Cancer. Turns out, April is actually Testicular cancer awareness month so it's kind of fitting for us to talk about this issue. That said, I hope you can enjoy this episode, and laugh along with us as Ben recounts his story and shares some valuable information everyone should be aware of.  For such a heavy topic I'm glad that Ben can talk about it so openly and share his experience with the whole process. We go through the whole thing from synthetic nuts to hormone replacement therapy, chemotherapy as well as Ben's work, from the NRL to his coaching business and how watching a schoolyard fight in the toilets helped him to find Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Enjoy! Links:  Deepwater Performance: https://www.instagram.com/deepwater.performance/ Know Thy Nuts: https://au.movember.com/men-s-health/testicular-cancer?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD-yxMzbD8A6YGhu-N0M1fiUCyHIs&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2ZfABhDBARIsAHFTxGyDkN_Qkumu1s495NbYJUU3sDj5izvcVZbZgdSOvUIY1sHEqqvvqOoaAjOQEALw_wcB SMH Article on Orchidectomy: https://www.smh.com.au/national/cancer-patient-ben-smith-lucky-to-be-alive-after-gp-told-him-he-was-fine-20180616-p4zlu5.html Feel Good Nation: https://feelgoodnation.com.au/ Nuts & Bolts: https://nutsandbolts.movember.com/  

In this episode I caught up with someone who I trained with many years ago. Kai used to train with me as a teenager and it's always interesting for me to think about where some of the kids I have coached over the years have ended up. That said, there was actually a sadder reason why I caught up with Kai for this podcast. Last year, he actually lost his life partner after she had a medical episode that caused her to collapse, fracture her skull and end up in the ICU. I didn't reach out to Kai when I found out about it, however a few weeks before we recorded this, the thought of Kai and Wendy popped into my mind and that was my sign to reach out to Kai and check in with him. We cover a huge range of topics on this from Parkour to Cryptocurrency, to starting your own businesses, not to mention his story with Wendy, dealing with grief, coping with loss and much more. There are some pretty heavy themes in this one, however I hope you all find something good in this episode.    Links: Stunner Boutique: https://www.instagram.com/stunnerboutique/ Saiyan Evolution: https://www.instagram.com/saiyanevolution/  

In this episode I sat down with Craig Kelly, no doubt a somewhat controversial guest depending on your political leanings or maybe even your social media algorithm. That said, people often only see the person portrayed to them by the media they consume. In that regard I always try to take people in terms of my interactions with them and I generally think that's a better gauge of a person's character. With the Federal election announced for the 3rd May 2025, it's time for Aussie's to go to the polls again to have their say on the direction that they would like the country to go towards. In full disclosure - I do have a current General Membership in the Libertarian Party however the nature of this episode wasn't to say you should do this or that, more to share Craig's story and to allow him to articulate his perspectives and some of the things he has gone through in recent years. Likewise, some of the information we discuss in this episode deserves citations as we were talking off the cuff so some of the numbers might be slightly off (for e.g. me and the government debt number!) Australian Gross Debt (see pg 6): https://budget.gov.au/content/overview/download/budget-overview.pdf Gross debt at $1,022 bn for 25-26 Fiscal Year Global Greening: https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/goddard/carbon-dioxide-fertilization-greening-earth-study-finds/ Australia contributes just over 1% of global emissions: https://www.csiro.au/en/research/environmental-impacts/climate-change/Climate-change-QA/Sources-of-CO2#:~:text=Australia's%20contribution%20to%20global%20greenhouse,waste%202.9%20per%20cent. Rising construction costs and Insurnace costs: https://tridentinsurance.com.au/protecting-your-commercial-property-the-impact-of-increased-building-costs-on-insurance-coverage/#:~:text=Building%20costs%20have%20been%20on,or%20even%20cover%20necessary%20repairs. https://www.corelogic.com.au/news-research/news/2025/annual-change-in-construction-costs-picks-up-pace#:~:text=Research%20News%20%E2%80%A2%2021%20Jan,shifting%20the%20annual%20trend%20higher. Impact of smaller sized boxes for Stevensen Screens: https://www.waclimate.net/stevenson-sizes.pdf Impact of the Liddel Power station closure: https://www.macfarlanegenerators.com.au/blog/Liddell-power-station-closure-risk AGL's rejection of Alinta offer and closes Liddell: https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/agl-rejects-alinta-offer-for-liddell-power-station-20180521-p4zghf.html Ivermectin for COVID-19: Addressing Potential Bias and Medical Fraud https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/9/2/ofab645/6509922?login=false Pharmaceutical companies made billions from the pandemic: https://www.reuters.com/graphics/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/REVENUES/znvnbkldqvl/ Hate Crimes Bill: https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fems%2Fr7240_ems_5018e217-732d-4cdc-8c9d-45c46fd58bd1%22 Links: Craig Kelly on X: https://x.com/craigkellyxxx Libertarian Party: https://www.libertarians.org.au/  

In this episode I sat down with Chris Casaceli at Gracie Sutherland Shire. Chris has probably had the most Subversion matches and is back in action this Saturday at Subversion Paradigm. That said it was great to chat with Chris and share some of his stories from grieving the loss of his father through to his experience on the TV show - 'The Crew'. Enjoy! Links: Chris on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriscasaceli/ Akuma fightwear: https://www.instagram.com/akumafightwear/ Gunamatta Constructions: https://www.instagram.com/gunnamatta_constructions/ Doyle Electrical: https://www.instagram.com/doyleelectrical/ Loan Options: https://www.instagram.com/loanoptions.ai/ Think Again Tattoos: https://www.instagram.com/thinkagainlaserclinic/  

In this episode I caught up with Josh Allsopp from Kumite Jiu Jitsu prior to his match at Battlegrounds in Perth, Western Australia. Josh is a jiu jitsu coach and competitor who basically trains so he can eat. Jokes aside, Josh has always found a way to learn things efficiently, from getting good at Call of Duty to getting to experience the UFC through winning a competition from gaming.  Enjoy!  Links:  https://www.kumitejiujitsu.com.au/  https://www.patreon.com/secretkumite?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaavTks_SsQz8gsp_IGsd0NLcR5Rlmc7iDUBqBipNTVAL-ma-M_7Gxz7H6s_aem_eGK3js4OmG40mPFh9mc1NA  

In this video I sat down with Jennifer Gurry, the CEO and founder of Diamond Women Australia. Diamond women is a not for profit that aims to support women through unplanned pregnancies to find a village of support and assist them through their choices in a safe and welcoming environment. Jenny has a great story and it's a pleasure to be able to share this episode about the work that Diamond Women do and the genesis story of the organisation. If you want to support them please check out the links below: https://www.diamondwomen.com.au/ https://heidigroup.org/    

In this episode I sat down with Junda Khoo one of the minds behind the Ho Jiak restaurants in Sydney. Originally from Malaysia, it was nice to chat with Junda and have him share his stories from being bullied to getting involved with gangs and leaving Malaysia, to coming to Australia and learning by doing. Without classical 'chef' training, it goes to show that if you have the drive to do something you can get it done. We cover a wide range of topics in this discussion from building business to relationships, cooking, franchise / licensing models, 'Young and Dangerous' and much more. Enjoy! Links: Junda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jundakhoo_hojiak/ https://www.hojiak.com.au/ Junda's Book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Ho-Jiak-Malaysia-Junda-Khoo/dp/1743799357 https://www.broadsheet.com.au/national/city-file/article/why-will-people-pay-30-pasta-not-char-kway-teow  

In this episode I sat down with Dr Emma Wood, a PhD of Philosophy to chat about a wide range of topics from Women's rights to Moral error theory to abortion & more. Emma is a wealth of knowledge and it was great to listen to her articulate her thoughts and ponderings on a huge range of issues. It gave me quite a bit to process (and I'm still processing!) but I hope you all enjoy this conversation and if your head hurts, that's ok, you're not alone - I hope it gives you some things to philosophize on! Links: Dr Emma Wood's Paper on Moral Error Theory: https://independent.academia.edu/EmmaWood103 Article from Women's forum: https://www.womensforumaustralia.org/facing_unthinkable_challenges_about_the_meaning_of_love Sophie's World (Book recommendation): https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-au/products/sophie-s-world-book-jostein-gaarder-9781857995879?sku=GOR001273579&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAh6y9BhBREiwApBLHC65wpjhAJhRGDNWepBBqiMV52bPrJ2h73Pf0KdGG3bKDisQQ0dxNJhoCAHMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds The Rights of Women: Reclaiming a lost vision: https://www.amazon.com.au/Rights-Women-Reclaiming-Lost-Vision/dp/0268200815 Campion College: https://www.campion.edu.au/ Womens Forum Australia: https://www.womensforumaustralia.org/ Maiden Mother Matriarch: https://www.louiseperry.co.uk/  

Hi Everyone! Here's an episode I recorded with Hope Tabak! Hope is a parent, a coach, a competitor and so much more. It was great to be able to sit down with her to share her journey through faith, jiu jitsu, health and so much more. Health is one of those things that when there's no glaring problem in our life we often take for granted however when we do experience a health issue there's no greater gift than to get healthy again. I hope you all enjoy this conversation! Links: Hope on Socials: https://www.instagram.com/hopebjj/ Hope's Sponsor: https://www.instagram.com/alchemicalfightwear/ Kumite: https://www.instagram.com/kumitejiujitsu/ Hope's Health Consulting: https://www.instagram.com/functionally.well/ Australian Girls in Gi: https://www.instagram.com/australiangirlsingi/  

In this episode I sat down with Raphael Rodrigues at the new Grappling Education 2.0 Pit! Raph teaches classes at Grappling Education and is a wealth of knowledge & experience having decided early on to make Jiu Jitsu a career. From Rio to Singapore to San Diego, Rafael has been fortunate to travel, learn, compete and now coach Jiu Jitsu. Raphael actually started Jiu Jitsu because he has a fraternal twin (who stole all the physicality genetics) and so had to keep up by training. We talk about what makes ATOS special, jiu jitsu training, competing and much more. Enjoy! Links: Raph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raphaelrodriguesbjj/ Grappling Education on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grapplingeducation/ Locals Jiu Jitsu: https://www.instagram.com/localszetland/ Raphael's Gi Sponsor: https://www.instagram.com/fightaestheticau/ Raph's S&C: https://www.instagram.com/electrum_performance/ Raph's Twin: https://www.instagram.com/theprogressiveoverlord/  

Hi Everyone! In this episode I headed out to Partizan Grappling in Kingsford to chat with Lachlan Jarrah & Benjamin Marks! We talk about the transition from Compound Grappling to Partizan Grappling, building a social media presence, content strategy as well as delve into topics around jiu jitsu learning, teaching methods and more. The guys run a mastergroup for athletes looking to grow their socials and it was great to have them share some of their stories. If you're interested check the links below: https://www.youtube.com/@Partizangrappling Partizan Grappling on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partizangrappling/ Lachlan Jarrah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lachj89/ Ben Marks on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjamin_marks1/ Partizan Grappling Website: https://partizangrappling.com/ Free Partizan Grappling Newsletter: https://partizangrappling.kit.com/6286852799?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZFBzhggSbm-ESerYexiRKNAMjK7LjptJ1LeXkEKtFLsQskvCN41CvDETU_aem_1Ir-4nDhu4XdxCJ4D8lvBw

In this episode I sat down with Samuel Beatty, an Actor, Hip Hop Dancer, Martial Artist, Rapper and more! Sam and I first met working on a fight show in commentary together and Sam is so full of personality that there was bound to be some stories behind him. From growing up in New York to losing his family when he was young through to finding Chinese Kung Fu Cinema, Hip Hop Dancing, Ballet and more we still have so much more to the story to cover (stay tuned for part 2!). That said, it was great to listen to Sam's recollection of growing up and his experience of what that time of life was like. Enjoy! Links: Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/internalchineseboxing/ Sam on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0NReVvfHxlNOZrXbXkFfHG?si=ak4S77liRuK4DMeBaD2Apg Alpha Medici: https://www.aliveshoes.com/alpha-medici-7?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYwIU9d5cKJ8sh9G-lcsSywE91GnO1NDkJsDwnwALv2T976bOtjqMxJEOw_aem_qQTbct2Gueb8prbVcG74TA Mad Monkey Kung Fu Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3UXdlbrcFk  

In this episode I sat down with Katie Rose Mitchell, the current #6 WBC Ranked in the World  (61kg)  & the #1 Ranked in Australia at 61kg! Katie recently won the Hardcore Promotions 8 Woman Eliminator, securing herself $20,000 and the 60kg Muay Ying Title! As such it was great to be able to sit down with Katie and chat about her story, her mindset and the moments that have gotten her to this point. This chat was a lot of fun and I hope you all enjoy thi episode! Links: Katie Rose on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katierose144/ WBC Rankings: https://www.wbcmuaythai.com/female Hardcore Promotions 8 Woman Eliminator: https://www.livecombatsports.com.au/live-ppv?id=4937074  

In this episode I sit down with a training buddy and friend of mine - Tony Tran. It's always amazing the people you meet on the mats and the stories they have behind them.  Tony shared a few snippets of some of his experiences in policing and I wanted to get him onto the podcast to share his stories. Policing is one of those occupations where you can have a very strained relationship with the public with people who may not respect the line of work, yet it's an absolutely necessary role in society that I think deserves a lot of respect and commendation for. I hope that in Tony sharing these stories more people can appreciate the things our support services face on a daily basis. There are some pretty morbid stories in this one so I guess this is my little warning for the listeners. The other important outtake from this episode is the importance of jiu jitsu or martial arts training in relation to policing. Tony admits himself that without his Jiu Jitsu training that perhaps some things may not have gone the right way to keep him alive today. Enjoy! Links: https://www.instagram.com/tonzbjj/ https://www.instagram.com/grapplingeducation/ https://www.instagram.com/the.grappling.lab/ https://www.instagram.com/ganbaru_kimonos/  

In this episode I sat down with the freshly minted 2 x ADCC Gold medalling Adele Fornarino! Adele's accolades speak for themselves however it was really good to sit down with her and chat about her journey including navigating coach / student relationships, people pleasing, mindset and more. Just as how we as people grow, our relationships grow with the people around us and I felt like this was an important theme that Adele and I discuss. Adele takes a very professional approach to the sport, bringing on board people in specialised capacities that allow her to focus on what she does best. Enjoy! Links: Adele on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adelefornarino/ Jake O'Driscoll's Episode with Johnny: https://youtu.be/a3qAUiJjXIg?si=IvmEkuDGB31O2i83 Adele's Manager - Sara Rafferty: https://www.instagram.com/a_rafferty/ Bulletproof for BJJ: https://www.instagram.com/bulletproofforbjj/ Stay tuned for Adele's Instructionals: https://submeta.io/ The Fight Dietition: https://www.instagram.com/the_fightdietitian/  

In this episode I sat down with Aaron De Castro, of Boxclass Smithfield / Smeaton Grange! I first met Aaron from being referred to MC their in house boxing challenge event. It was an amazing vibe and a true credit to the vision that Aaron and his team want to achieve. In this episode Aaron and I discuss Personal training and discuss the most important things about running a coaching business which may not be what people would think of is important when running a fitness business. We go through the journey all the way to the genesis of Boxclass and I appreciate Aaron for sharing his stories with us! Enjoy! Links: Aaron on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach.azza https://www.boxclass.co/ Boxclass on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boxclassau Top Spasojev: https://www.instagram.com/topspasojev/  

In this episode I caught up with rising One Championship contender - Isi Fitikefu. From growing up in South Auckland to moving to Australia to pursue Rugby League, Isi is a soft spoken athlete who definitely prefers to let his fists do the talking. That said, it was great to be able to chat with him and have him open up about his experiences, from getting bullied on his first day of school (and the repercussions for his bully) through to his first attempts at trying to go to Jiu Jitsu. As stable mates with fellow Aussie Middleweights Jacob Malkoun and Robert Whittaker, It was also great to talk about his most recent outing at One 168 in Denver Colorado against Hiroyuki Testuka and how his coach Alex Prates was able to get Isi into another frame of mind by knowing what's important to Isi and fighting. One of the most beautiful moments of this podcast was being able to bond with Isi around being a father, I hope you all enjoy the episode! Links: Isi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isidoxz Isi's Tapology: https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/61092-isi-fitikefu Gym: https://camdenvalleywrestling.com.au/ Gym: https://graciesmeatongrange.com.au/  

In this episode I sat down with Trekko before the Australian Grappling Federation's Event #1 This was an event designed to put more money in the Athlete's pockets with 4 x $1,000 Jiu Jitsu 8 man brackets. As such, the event was inspired by Trekko's own experiences doing it tough trying to make ends meet whilst competing, to try and create something that would put more money back into the competitor's pockets. If you're interested to see some of the best grapplers compete for the $1,000 prize you can rewatch the action here: https://kombatants.com/videos/australian-grappling-federation/agf-1/ Trekko was one of the early generation MMA fighters in Australia so it was awesome to be able to sit down and listen to his stories, from growing up in Rio de Janeiro to coming to Australia, training, competing and much more. I had the pleasure of MCing and Commentating for this event and I look forward to being involved with more Australian Grappling Federation events in the future. Enjoy! Links: Australian Grappling Federation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ausgrapplingfederation/ Event #1 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/event1_aus/ Trekko's Sherdog: https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Bernardo-Magalhaes-26495 Event #1 website: https://event1.com.au/ Life BJJ: https://www.instagram.com/lifebjjau/  

In this episode I catch with Coach Ray Morcomb! If he sounds familiar, he should! He was on the podcast back in Episode 99 where we spoke about his life and growing up as a legally blind karateka. If you missed that episode you can check it out at the links below. In this one, we chat about his recent experiences cornering fighters in One Championship and the UFC and talk about a lot of the stories behind the scenes.  It's amazing the amount of experiences Ray has had in a year and it's a pleasure to catch up with him. Enjoy! Links: Ray on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raymorcomb/ MMAFFT on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mmafft Episode #99 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FHTp273wUQ Episode #99 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Wbl0Ug976WeFDDDJsmxmK?si=722b4be5188f48d9 Episode #99 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ray-morcomb-para-karate-world-champion-being-the/id1491005647?i=1000617134960  

In this episode I sit down with Jakub Kacenak, an amazing wrestling coach who coaches at Grappling Education and Origem BJJ in Sydney, Australia. Jakub grew up in Slovakia and after getting introduced to wrestling by getting 'schooled' in his first session, fell in love with the sport. We go through what life was like chasing the wrestling dream in Slovakia, from his experiences going to the Ossestian school of wrestling and experiencing world class talent and coaching, to competing and being recognised as Slovakia's top wrestler in 2011. Jakub is the first to say he didn't have the 'traditional' wrestlers body, so it was really good to discuss how the influence of certain coaches helped him to find his own style that suited his body type which helped him to find his success in the sport. It's also these experiences that shape Jakub's coaching style and his approach to the sport. Even if you're not interested in wrestling, I hope you enjoy the insights into what life was like for Jakub going through what he did to get where he is today. Enjoy! Links: Jakub on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakubkacenak/  

In this episode I sit down with Ari Tabak from Kumite Jiu Jitsu. It was great to visit his new facility and roll 'in the woods' (much better than the 'cemetary') and chat with Ari about life, learning difficulties, Jiu Jitsu and much more in this episode. One of the things that stuck with me from this podcast is how the time we spend with other people is a real exchange of 'spirit'. Put the right energy into your actions and you can really have a profound impact on people. From training rooms to making Instructional videos with BJJ Fanatics, Ari has experienced a wealth of life in Jiu Jitsu, however more importantly, recognises that there is a wealth of life that comes not from what you do but how you do it. Links: Ari on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arieltabakbjj/ The Secret Kumite Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SecretKumite Kumite jiu jitsu: https://www.kumitejiujitsu.com.au/ Ari on Youtube:  @ArielTabak  Alchemical Fightwear: https://www.instagram.com/alchemicalfightwear/  

In this episode I sit down with Tye Collier. From growing up in the small community of Tinonee to coming to Sydney and becoming a Shipwright, Tye was exposed to competition at a young age through field hockey. It was great to chat with Tye and listen to his story, including some of the more difficult moments of life of dealing with drugs and alcohol. Sometimes we take for granted how our environment can really shape our actions and it's also important to realise that we can change our environments and change our actions too. We all love a good 'martial arts changed my life' story (or at least I do, so I hope you all enjoy this one!) Links: Tye on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyecollier.bjj/ Sponsor: https://www.instagram.com/kakutoculture/ Sponsor: https://www.instagram.com/benchmarkcanterbury/ Sponsor: https://www.instagram.com/hyperflyaustralia/  

In this episode I sit down with an old training partner in Jason Augustine! When I first met Jason he was a BIG dude. He's still big now, but mainly tall (and much skinnier). That said, Jason definitely stands out due to his style, complexion and I guess most people nowadays would say he is a fairly confident guy. Let's just say it wasn't always that way, from being around 130kg's and lacking confidence, losing all that weight through Mixed Martial Artsand bearing the scars of that on his body to gaining confidence and making his way onto the 'Sis is this your man' Facebook group (3 times). That said, Jason has always been a really nice guy so it was fun to catch up with him, talk about his upcoming TV debut & more! Enjoy! Links: Jason on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreadedmmaguy/  

Marko has been a guest on the podcast before, however it's been a couple of years and we thought it would be great to catch up again to chat about all the things that have changed over time! Marko is a wealth of knowledge and experience and it's great to listen to him break down his thoughts and ideas on a range of things, from business, to health and life. If you have any health concerns that you'd like another opinion on, reach out to Marko and his team to see what kind of help you might be able to get. Links: Previous episode with Marko on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=uA-B6M6otp0 Marko on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markosdailydose/ Marko on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC38xPiOYFWy2JJnkoTYbnQA Health check: https://go.humanliwellness.com/healthcheck Humanliwellness on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humanliwellness/ Humanliwellness Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/539770719787941  

In this episode I caught up with Steve Perceval - UFC Official, Martial Arts Coach, Grandfather and more! Steve shares his story from growing up as one of five siblings to a single mother, to his different working careers through to becoming Australia's first official UFC Referee. It's always difficult to be in positions where everyone can scrutinise your actions and I don't envy any Judge or Referee in combat sports! That said, Steve takes it all in his stride and really focuses on the people around him in life. I also found it interesting to hear his stories from pawn broking, sign writing to starting in Hapkido to the impact that a 'friend' can have on your life. Everyone needs an 'Eddie' that ignites that little bit of fire within them. We cover a lot of ground and I hope you all enjoy Steve's story! Links: Steve on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Steve-Perceval-MMA-Official-100063746582317/ UFA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ufamartialartsacademy/ Alta: https://www.trainalta.com/ Steve on Sherdog: https://www.sherdog.com/referee/Steve-Perceval-1091  

In this episode, I sit down with 'Asian Street Jesus' aka Winston Hong, a fairly noticeable guy if you've ever been to the Sydney Jiu Jitsu comps. Winston and I actually have some common friends so it was great to finally sit down and chat. From growing up in Singapore and the expectations of Asian parents, through to leaving a potential career in Engineering to pursue Jiu Jitsu, Winston was really bitten by the Jiu Jitsu bug and found a way to make ends meet through doing additional hours with side gigs and refereeing. We also talk about his experience in Military Service (which is mandatory in Singapore) and his serendipitous experience of finding someone who was involved in a psyche study at University. We also talk about his mindset of competing and his approach to coaching, pizza making and much more, enjoy! Links: Winston on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winstonhbjj/ Ace Academy Jiu Jitsu on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aceacademyjj_/ https://www.aceacademyjj.com.au/ PS. I realised when I listened back to this episode I mentioned me running from Serangoon to Bishan, it was actually from Serangoon to Ang Mo Kio (a little bit closer

In this episode I sat down with Ian Schaffa, a pioneer of Australian MMA who had a storied career and fought in K-1 against one of my favourite fighters - Genki Sudo. From Karate to the early days of training for MMA, Ian shares a bunch of stories from Australian MMA History, fighting in Japan, the Yakuza and much more. One of the things I've kept reflecting on since this episode is the 'duality' of things, how things that are bad can also be good and so on. Ian also speaks openly about fighting and some of the levers behind why he went down some of the pathways he did.  That said, sometimes it's just one little thing that can click and lead to a life change. The Street Buffet is also a great initiative that Ian started and there is some real insight in that the you can't necessarily 'help' other people who might be in less fortuante situations, but you can connect with them. Ian has also started 'Goshu Promotions' - a combat sports promotion looking to put on exciting matches across mixed disciplines.   Links: Ian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ianschaffa_smmash/ Ian on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Ian-Schaffa-100063803886136/ The Street Buffet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestreetbuffet/ Street Buffet on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/streetbuffet/ Brian Ebersole on the Lytes outs Podcast talking about the street fight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncjAF38EkC8 https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/ian-james-schaffa-goshu-hurricane Ian Schaffa vs Genki Sudo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq3OIbufsvE  

In this episode I sat down with Jessica Troy of female Professional Wrestler. Pro wrestling is a fairly niche sport - especially in Australia, however I definitely remember getting into wrestling as a kid and loving the acrobatic displays of athleticism that the wrestlers would showcase. We go into her genesis story of how she got into wrestling and discuss the scene, the little things that you learn along the way, from costumes to the industry and the balance of performance and athleticism. PS. I've been a bit behind in getting episodes up, however Jessica is a regular feature on PWA shows so make sure you check her out! Links: https://www.instagram.com/jessicatroypro/ https://www.prowrestlingaustralia.com.au/events  

In this episode I sat down with Ryan Dunstan of Ignite Sunshine Coast. Ryan has been building his team the Dunstan Death Squad for a while and it was great to be able to it and chat with him to learn about his background and the influences that inspire his coaching and approach to it. From being in a metal band to the 51 Elite system, we talk about a range of topics that include fighting, cricket, coaching and more. One of the things I really like about Ryan's approach is the focus on depth in his training room. With fighters competing all around the country at different shows, Ryan made a point of ensuring that his senior team members were capable of cornering and assisting the junior members of the team to ensure that when he was unavailable the show could always go on and opportunities were not missed.  Links: https://www.instagram.com/dunstandeathsquad/ https://www.discogs.com/release/26378597-Astroboi-Astroboi https://www.instagram.com/ignite.sunshinecoast/ https://www.instagram.com/gamebredacademy/  

In this episode I sit down with the Head Coach of Freestyle MMA, Joe Lopez to chat about a bunch of different topics from the Freestyle MMA origin story, to Fr. Maurie Crocker a former Pro Boxer, soldier and priest who fought to expose abuse in the church. Joe was kind enough to share his time to talk about his experiences starting a security company through to his experiences coaching MMA GOAT Alex Volkanosvki, building up the team at Freestyle and their relationship with the worlds second best grappler - Craig Jones One of the things that really stands out for me, is that despite all the achievements and accolades that his students have had, Joe is so down to earth and focused on wanting the best for his students. I know Joe doesn't often do these kinds of podcasts so it's my honour to be able to share this conversation with you all, enjoy! Make sure you tune into Wollongong Wars 11 this Friday 7th June 2024! PS. if anyone speaks Spanish, you will probably appreciate Joe's massive grin at the end Links: https://www.instagram.com/freestyle_mma/ https://www.instagram.com/wollongong_wars/ https://www.facebook.com/crockersgym/ https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1813760/wollongong-whistleblower-priest-treated-poorly/    

In this episode Kaine Wilken joins me to chat about life, arborism, jiu jitsu and more! Kaine has recently started his own Jiu Jitsu Academy - Reign Grappling Club in the Sutherland Shire so it was a good opportunity to see his space and chat to him about his own experiences with martial arts, life and more! From growing up in a small town and experiencing bullying to bodyboarding, dealing with anger, history and more, we chat about a whole range of topics in true podcast fashion! Enjoy!   Links: https://www.instagram.com/reigngrapplingclub/ https://www.instagram.com/wilkojiujitsu/        

I first met Perry a couple of years ago at his second MMA fight. It's amazing to see how much people can grow in a short period of time. I actually did a little interview with him backstage and he was such a quiet kid that Josh Culibao (as his corner) was there poking fun at him. From living in Japan & starting his own little backyard fight promotion to deciding to come back to Australia by himself to find his own way, Perry is a committed guy chasing his goals. Links: https://www.instagram.com/perry.jamesprivate/  

Hi Everyone! In this episode I sat down with Coopar 'Rush' Royal.  A talented mixed martial artist who is fighting this weekend at One Championship! People often think that Coopar has a traditional martial arts background, however his 'style' is actually from him incorporating the movements of his favourite fighters into his own game. Growing up in Rockhampton and not having the best influences around him as he was going through school and it's the realisation that he was always chasing the 'rush' that led him to find martial arts. Anyway, make sure you tune in and watch Coopar in action again this Friday! Links: https://www.instagram.com/rushthefighter/ https://www.onefc.com/athletes/coopar-royal/  

I recently caught up with Jake O'Driscoll when he was in Sydney for Subversion. It was great to be able to sit down with him and chat about life, from family to his experience leaving AFL to pursue Jiu Jitsu, starting his own academy, picking a fight with Sonny Bill Williams and much more I'm really blessed to have conversations like this, I apologise for the technical issue with the video, the most important thing is that the audio is all there, so I hope you enjoy this conversation and listening to the insights that Jake shared. Links: https://www.instagram.com/jakeod_essencebjj/ https://essencebjj.com.au/ https://linktr.ee/essencebjj  

In this episode I sat down with Josh O'brien, a young hungry MMA athlete who is not afraid to chase his dreams. I enjoy chatting with people at all different stages of the journey as anyone who has chased something would know that feeling of dreaming big and trying to find a way to put it together. I actually commentated Josh's first fight alongside  @SonnyBrown  at Wollongong Wars and it's interesting to reflect on Josh being so active despite being early in his career in the sport. If anything, I also found that this conversation made me even more interested to follow his journey. There are plenty of people who would dismiss other people for having big aspirations, however I think one of the exciting things in life is that there are no guarantees of how it all pans out. Shout out to Rival Gym Castle Hill for letting us use their space to record - apologies if there is a bit of background noise! Links: https://www.instagram.com/joshobrien11/ https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/386163-joshua-o-brien  

In this episode I sat down with James O'Leary of Undisputed Performance & Rehab, a qualified physio, PT and strength and conditioning coach who also runs these 'project' style challenges that allow people to build strength / skill, get fit among likeminded individuals. The other guest in this episode was Cameron Scott, a registered Nurse who is a Bobsled (bobsleigh) pilot who is looking to compete at the olympics in this crazy sport. I think for most people our introduction to the sport is the movie 'Cool Runnings' and it was really cool (pun intended) to chat with the boys to talk about the sport, how the strength & conditioning / training impacts their performance in the sport and also to just see 2 guys who have been friends for a long time interact with each other. Enjoy! Links: https://www.instagram.com/cameronscott333/ https://www.instagram.com/jamesolearyphysio/ https://www.instagram.com/undisputedpr/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/670687475206765/?ref=share&mibextid=K35XfP https://undisputedpr.com/  

In this episode I sat down with Janice 'Ling Ling', a training partner and friend who I've had plenty of great conversations with. It's always interesting to find out more about people so aside from knowing her skills in the training room it was fun to chat with her about a broad range of topics, from her experiences with skydiving to motorbikes, Janice is the kind of person to go deep when she gets into something. She's also full of great stories from punching her skydiving instructor in the face to having a motorbike getting set on fire to writing articles for a men's magazine. Janice also creates some ridiculous (yet informative) jiu jitsu content and is available for jiu jitsu coaching! Enjoy! Links: https://www.instagram.com/cutiep1e666/

In this episode I sat down with Rebecca Fitzgerald, an engineer, potter, mother of twins, time traveler (jokes!) & more. I know Bec through Jiu Jitsu as she's a serial competitor who just loves the sport. It's great to see people getting bitten by the combat sports bug at any stage in life. That said, life isn't always easy. From experiencing difficulties with fertility to going through rounds of IVF to a pleasant shock of ending up with twins, it's nice that Bec was willing to share her experience on such a difficult topic. Bec also started her working life as an accountant, before walking away from a career with a 'big 4' accounting firm to pursue engineering. We also chat about sustainability, her pottery ventures and a whole bunch more! Enjoy! Links: https://www.instagram.com/becfitzjitz/ https://www.instagram.com/hi_there_chuchu/  

Hi Everyone, In this episode, I got to sit down with Ben10 Nguyen, a former top 8 UFC Flyweight and it was really cool to actually be able have Brian Ebersole sit in with us at the start to talk about this crazy moment that changed the trajectory of Ben's entire life. From growing up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to being the non-academic sibling, Ben had been fighting for a while and was at this point of deciding whether he was going to settle into a more 'normal' life when he received a call from Brian Ebersole at Tiger Muay Thai. Ben also went viral for his fight against Julian Wallace and was featured on Lawrence Kenshin's Striking Breakdowns and it was cool to listen to his mindset going into that fight. Nowadays Ben spends most of his time coaching and is a great wealth of knowledge for MMA - if you're interested in those things check out the links below! Enjoy! Links: https://www.instagram.com/ben10mma/ https://www.instagram.com/strykemma  

In this episode I sat down with Danie Dynamite, a content creator who also has an upcoming Combat Jiu Jitsu match at Fusion Fighting Championship. From a negative experience in school that led her to working in hospitality and event management to getting into rave music, DJing and through to dog grooming, Danie eventually found her way to Wimp 2 Warrior (now called Train Alta) Little did she know that this little program would change her life and ignite her passion from combat sports and Jiu Jitsu. It's always difficult to align the things you love with the things we have to do for work, so it's also pretty cool to see other people making a go of the things that they love. As such, seeing Danie get opportunities from something she enjoys is a great example for people to realise it can be done! Enjoy! Links: https://www.instagram.com/danie__dynamite/  https://www.instagram.com/fusionchampionship/  

Hi All! In this episode I sat down with the 'Duke of Canberra' - Duke Didier. It was awesome to listen to his journey of pursuing the Olympic dream from grieving a missed goal and self-medicating to re-framing and setting new goals. Duke is currently signed to One Championship and should be returning to the big stage again soon. We also discuss starting a Martial Arts & Fitness gym - Progression MMA in Canberra to fixing the vein structures in his legs and so much more. Enjoy! Links: https://www.instagram.com/duke_didier/ https://www.instagram.com/progression_mma  

In this episode I sat down with Colby Thicknesse, a professional mixed martial artist fighting out of Freestyle Fighting gym in Windang. It was fun to chat with him about life, from being a twin to having the competitiveness of wrestling drive a small wedge between them to his mindset, approach to injuries, his mindset and so much more. With an upcoming bout at Hex Fight Series against Michael Mannu, I'm excited for 'Slickness' to get back in there and do his thing. It was also cool to chat about the early days at Freestyle, before Alex Volkanovksi was the champ and it was a small room of core people grinding away from the shining lights to having some of the best martial artists in the world coming to the gym to help and share their knowledge and insights. Enjoy! Links: https://www.instagram.com/colbythicknesse https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/166902-colby-thicknesse https://hexfightseries.com/  

In this episode I sat down with Gabriel Antonio Teixeira Dos Santos (a mouthful of a name right). I didn't realise part of the reason the names could get so long was due to the inclusion of the parents surnames in the kids names, it's always interesting to come across these cultural norms. There was a particular memory that Gabe shared with me of seeing his mother crying and tearing up photos when he was a young child that brought this memory to the surface for me of seeing a very similar thing with my own mother when I was maybe 16 or 17. There's something so raw about that memory that it definitely forms a part of my person today. Anyway, Gabriel is a really great person to train with and it's always admirable to find people who are pursuing a better life. Links: https://www.instagram.com/gabreubjj  

In this episode I sat down with Dori Duncan, a professional female Muay Thai athlete (#13 in the World Female Featherweight rankings) who has an upcoming fight against the #1 contender Judy Humber on the 24th February 2024. Shout out to Kristof from Strive Dietetics who connected Dori and I, it was great to sit down with Dori to talk about all things life, mindset, training, working, having a sibling 11 years older and delving deep into the world of being a Professional Female Muay Thai Athlete. It's always difficult for an athlete to balance pursuing their competitive goals wholeheartedly and having some form of a living at the same time and it's probably even more difficult for female athletes, as such it was great to talk with Dori about the balancing act she plays whilst also doing her best to promote female participation in the sport. Enjoy! Links: https://www.wbcmuaythai.com/female https://www.instagram.com/duncbuns https://www.instagram.com/muay.thai.league/ https://www.instagram.com/teamedmondsoncoaching/  

In this episode I sat down with Fran Bavaro, a female jiu jitsu athlete who coaches, competes and also works in aged care. Fran describes herself as the 'slightly more forgotten' middle child which no doubt has played a role in her perspective on things and it was really interesting to talk about how she had to analyse herself for her tertiary studies. We often forget how fortunate we are in a 1st world country, so it was interesting to listen to Fran's perspectives on humanitarianism and 'volunteerism'. One of the other things I really appreciate about this conversation is the candour that Fran provides in sharing her own stories and struggles. Enjoy!   Links: https://www.instagram.com/franbavaro/ https://www.instagram.com/australiangirlsingi/   PS. The book I was referencing was the Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley

In this episode I sat down with Finn Canning the 'Guardian of Gi' and Frederick Daniel. I always enjoy chatting to younger athletes as they pursue their goals.  From Jiu Jitsu to general degeneracy, betting on the UFC to finding lucrative side hustles in the Sneaker game, this was a really fun conversation with a couple of guys who really love the sport. Finn, despite being a serial guard puller actually started with Judo.  As a smaller kid, he was looking for a way to not get pushed around and found his way into combat sports. Freddie never surprises me with some of the stories he pulls out, from talking to women or his sneaker hustle, to watching endless amount of Jiu Jitsu. Enjoy!   Links: https://www.instagram.com/grapplingeducation/ https://www.instagram.com/finncanning/ https://www.instagram.com/frederickdaniel3/ https://www.instagram.com/grapple.mania/    

In this episode I sit down with Gase Sanita - a Female Professional Mixed Martial Artist who in her amateur career won IMMAF worlds 2 years in a row. It's amazing the different journeys people take in life, from being a mum early in life to finding martial arts as a way to get fit, fighting her way down from 95kg+ divisions to the Bantam / Feather divisions she competes in nowadays. Gase is an amazing person, who grew up as one of the only Polynesian families in Christchurch, New Zealand. There's so much in this episode that makes me appreciate the attitude and work ethic that Gase has, from her experience with post natal depression to her commitment to the sport. I hope you enjoy this episode and support Gase in her career (if you like the fighting stuff) Links: https://www.instagram.com/gase_sanita11/  

In this episode I sit down with Brian 'Bad Boy' Ebersole. I remember watching Brian's fights and thinking that he must be such a wild dude that it's a little bit crazy to think how twists and turns and we've become good friends through working together. I suppose when the guy used to shave an up arrow into his chest hair and throw cartwheel kicks in cage fights, what other impression are you meant to get? I still remember at a local Showdown Fight night when I was getting involved in the local scene that I grabbed Brian backstage for a short interview and I asked him 'Have you got any advice for aspiring fighters?' and the response he gave me was something like 'dont do it how I did it'. Brian is such a gentleman with a big heart that it's amazing to be able to share a conversation like this with him about his life, wrestling, travelling and much more. Enjoy Links: https://www.instagram.com/brianebersole/  

Hi Everyone! In this episode I sit down with John Luhr, a father, jiu jitsu enthusiast, General Manager at a digital web and app development company and much more. John is a great example of not judging a book by its cover. Despite his 'viking' like look, he works in a very intellectual field and always seemed to be a bit of an entrepreneur despite some fairly humble beginnings (to be fair, that's probably a product of circumstance). I think that's fairly obvious when you see all the different businesses he's involved with from Puppi Lovers (dating apps) through to Oktion (Charity / donation apps) It's always interesting when I do episodes like this to understand how people get to where they are in life and these episodes are such great snapshots of this particular moment in time. Anyway, Enjoy! Links: https://www.instagram.com/thehalfguardprince/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-luhr/ https://digiground.com.au/ https://smartb.com.au/ https://oktion.com.au/ https://puppilovers.com/  

Hi All! In this episode I sit down with Luke Pezzutti, an OG of the MMA scene in Sydney. From his involvement in Cage Fighting Championship to the running of Lion's Den Academy, Luke has been involved with the sport for a very long time. t was great to sit down and listen to his stories, from the early days of trying to learn Jiu Jitsu from the 'seminar' circuit, to his experiences with Hector Lombard, to the pressures of running the biggest promotion in Australia at the time - Cage Fighting Championship. Today, Luke has a great promotion he runs - Superfight, however is focused on getting his current crop of athletes to the pinnacle of the sport. Links: https://www.lionsdenacademy.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/OfficialSuperfight/ https://www.instagram.com/lions_den_academy/