Leverage Radio

The Bob & Weave Collective is here. We speak to Himanshu & Priya - the force behind the Bob & Weave family. They are trying to create a new ecosystem for athlete management, enabling them to focus on their training without getting flustered by the noise & the bright lights. The Bob & Weave team provides Housing, Martial Arts coaching, Media Training and Fight Camp Management for their team. We discuss their upcoming BAWNC event (Bob and Weave Night of Champions) where they plan to showcase MMA talent in a unique event, unlike anything we would have seen in Indian MMA. We talk about production do's and don'ts, their inspiration for going down this path and what they've learned in the MMA space in their short time in the game. They have lofty goals, big dreams and a passion for the sport. In fact, BAWNC will next host the South India edition of Leverage as we look to collaborate and create more exposure for combat talent across the country. The sport is hard enough as is and can always use People like Himanshu & Priya (Bob & Weave) to step up and create opportunities that didn't exist before. Hope you enjoy this episode. 

This episode we speak to Bonny the Boxer. A juggernaut of a person, Bonny has been working tirelessly to develop a strong Martial Arts base in Goa. A former K1 Kickboxing Champion, President of WKO India & Head coach of Tribal Warriors, Bonny works tirelessly to train, teach and organize to help grow Martial Arts in Goa. To facilitate this growth, Bonny started ArtofCombat - A Fight Promotion aimed to help bring exposure to higher level competition for the local fighters in Goa. On the 22nd of Dec, AOC will be hosting their 6th Edition and will be contesting multiple fights in Kickboxing and MMA. There are Junior, Women, Amateur and Pro-bouts on the fight card. Several state champions will collide to determine supremacy and there are WKO India titles at stake. It is shaping up to be a promising night of Combat. The event will be streamed live & for more info follow @artofcombat & @tribalwarriors pages! We wish Bonny & her team the Best of luck!  

Finally the stars have aligned, the powers that be have allowed us to put together this episode for an inside look @Stranglebyrebel - India's Largest Cash Prize Jiujitsu tournament. In this Part 1/2 we host Sanjay Nambiar & Peeyush Pandey, these two have been working tirelessly on and off the mats to help get the word out about Strangle. The guys discuss the tournament, their training under Coach Ashwin Hoon and the importance of such competitions. We discuss their ruleset, their  strategy to win as they share their excitement about the prospect of facing high level competition. This tournament has both beginner & advanced divisions across multiple weight categories. All matches will be contested under ADCC rules wherein the first half of the match there are no points awarded, the points kick in only once half the time limit is up. Winners of the Beginners Divisions will Earn INR 20,000Winners of the Advanced Divisions will Earn INR 40,000These opportunities are few and far between for those who work tirelessly to train. Platforms & tournaments like Strangle are meant to support your training, to test yourself and your ideas against others. Registrations are still open, so book your slot now!

Season 3 of the podcast kicks off with Professor Brian Glick. A legend of the Renzo Gracie Academy and training partner to several giants of the game. We speak with Professor Glick about his career, all the way from his initial days training to how he innovates today and keeping pace with the evolving landscape of the sport. We discuss his time training with Prof. John Danaher and his experiences with the former Death Squad. An absolute privilege to speak with someone of his caliber. Hope you enjoy it!

We had the opportunity to speak with Professor Adam Benayoun. Blackbelt under Ryan Hall, Adam is a highly decorated competitor and teacher at the 50/50 Academy in Virgina. We pick his brain on everything including his teaching and learning methodology, his journey in jiu-jitsu, the importance of expanding one's horizons in learning and his training with legends of our sport.Adam talks about the necessity for persistence in jiu-jitsu, singling it out as possibly the most attributable quality required to achieve a blackbelt and proficiency. We discuss his upcoming match for @thirdcoastgrappling and a heck of a lot more. Truly an honour to speak with him and gather such valuable insight. We hope you will too!

In this episode of Leverage Radio, we speak to Arko & Ratul. Both involved heavily in the promotion of MMA in Kolkata albeit in very different capacities. Over the years, this has resulted in some animosity and differences between the two. Last year, we were supposed to speak with Ratul and have him share his side of the story but due to cyclone Amphan we just didn't ge that opportunity. Today we managed to get both men to agree to a sit down discussion so that their point may be heard and we can get a good result for the sport of MMA in their region. Fighting is hard enough a sport as is, glad we could help provide a medium for discussion and confrontation without letting it get out of hand. Hope you enjoy it!

On the latest episode of Leverage Radio, we host the one and only Srikant Sekhar a.k.a Captain Crazy. A graduate of the school of hard knocks, Srikant is a true wild man as he shares with us his journey competing on the Pro MMA circuit in India. A natural athlete, Srikant discusses his foray into martial arts and combat sports, how he started fighting Pro and the plethora of eventful moments over past few years. Fearless and extremely honest, Srikant holds nothing back and brings an energy to the training room that is hard to replicate. We talk about his travels during these Covid months, what he has learnt and his plans for the future. Truly one of the most beloved characters in Indian MMA, It was a pleasure to have him on. Hope you enjoy it!

This past week we spoke to Indian MMA Legend Bhabajeet Chaudhary. Bhabajeet is one of the most decorated and consistent professional's in the country. We talk about his journey in MMA, his instrumental role in setting up a foundation for the sport in his part of the country, his (hopefully) upcoming fight and the necessity of a constant need for improvement. A consummate professional and the picture of genuine humility, fearlessness and positivity - Bhabajeet has the utmost respect for his opponents as we discuss mindset in the cage, work ethic and how a healthy check on the Ego has helped him succeed over the years. Hope you Enjoy it!

Where the focus goes, the energy flows. This episode we speak to David Karasek. David is a former Olympian and 10x Swiss National swimming Champion. He is part of a 'Tribe of Athletes' and now coaches athletes on achieving their potential through applications of the 'Laws of Attraction'. It was a fascinating discussion, one that all prospects, contenders and champions could learn from. We talk about overcoming self doubt, structuring focus around your goals and being able to navigate the mental side of the journey. Hope you Enjoy it.

Back after a long hiatus, this episode we speak to Seth Rosario. Seth is one of the most unique guys in the Indian MMA circuit. His blend of styles along with vicious instincts make him a formidable opponent. We discuss how he is getting on in this latest lockdown, we talk about Seth's career and the fight game in India. Everything from his Karate background and how he got started in MMA to the significant moments before, during and after fights. We talk about concussions, his evolution as a Mixed Martial Artist and his future fight plans. It's always a pleasure to train and talk shop with Seth, as he is a quick learner and is always impressive with his technical insight. Stay Safe & Hope you enjoy it!

Episode 44 of Leverage radio was possibly our greatest jiu-jitsu lore episode. We speak to Professor Carl Massaro. He is a 3rd degree Renzo Gracie blackbelt and owner of Renzo Gracie Northern Valley. A comrade in arms of John Danaher, Prof Massaro has trained with legends of the sport including Renzo Gracie, George Saint Pierre, Jake Shields, Firas Zahabi Gordon Ryan, Garry Tonon and countless others. Unmistakably recognising the power of jiu-jitsu in the mid 90's, Prof. Massaro takes us through his jiu-jitsu journey in New York and trust us it is remarkable. He shares his experiences while in GSP's training camps with Firas Zahabi and John Danaher. We discuss the death squad and the evolution of Jiu-jitsu and leg lock Meta. We basically spoke about everything including Covid and it's impact on jiujitsu, injuries in this game and how to deal, training the right way, the importance of self-study, the right hobbies and his love for knife making. Prof Massaro was an amazing guest and you will hear genuine joy in our voices. Many thanks to him for giving us the time. We hope to see you in India soon

On this edition of Leverage Radio, we have the one and only King of Lions Anshul Jubli grace us with his presence. Anshul is a driven young man, who has conquered the Indian MMA scene and is sitting atop the MFN mountain as an undefeated and uncrowned champion in the lightweight division. Anshul is humble, hardworking and sincere, with the sole focus on improving his skills and representing India on a world stage. Anshul is coming off a great win over a tough opponent and we discuss what lies ahead for him, his journey and what motivates him. A genuine pleasure to speak with this champion. We wish him nothing but the best for his future and upcoming fights.

This episode at we breakdown Leverage IX. We discuss the matches, key moments and tactics shown in the hands down best display of Jiujitsu skills in India. This episode, we decided to breakdown some of the things we did right and some things we did wrong as we attempt to learn from our mistakes in order to not repeat them moving forward. This episode also breaks down our favourite moments from the event - the good, the bad and the ugly. Since Leverage X prep has begun, we thought this was a great way to announce that all matches from Leverage IX will be going up on youtube & the highlights are coming soon too! Hope you enjoy listening. Oss

This week on Leverage Radio Ashwin Hoon speaks to his coach and Blackbelt Mike Murrell. A long overdue episode, where we get some insights into the minds of two highly sophisticated grapplers. They breakdown the Danaher Death squad, the evolution of Jiu-jitsu, the merging of the new school and old school, discussions around chess, playing music and how it relates to your Jiu-jitsu. Having all the accomplishments he does, Mike is incredibly humble, insightful and honest with regard to what the right mindset is on your path to a blackbelt.We speak about Mike's time during the pandemic, all the conspiracy stories and possible theories, how it's affected his training, how people were getting by and just the sheer chaos surrounding this phenomenon. Super easy listening, jokes and knowledge bombs aplenty. Always a pleasure listening to him, can't wait to have him here.

On our final episode for the year, Ashwin and Mohit speak to Mannan Dattah, the Director and Founder of Knockout Fight Club. Knockout Fight Club is one of the largest MMA gym chains in the country with branches all across Delhi & India. A very unique personality of Indian MMA, Mannan believes vehemently in the power of positivity and has a can-do attitude that takes center stage. He is the Hindi colour commentator for Matrix Fight Night and staunch advocate of Self Defence and he does all this in the effort to empower others. We discuss the roles in gyms, the interpersonal dynamics and the mountain of work necessary to grow the sport in India. We struggle with power and internet issues of the real work, and have some behind the scenes moments in this podcast. Thanks to Mannan for coming on and being very candid with everything, we hope to train together soon!

10 days out from Leverage IX, Aman Gusain drops in for a chat. Aman is a multiple time jiujitsu champion. Having only trained for about 3 years, Aman has torn through the local and national scene to be established as one of the most exciting young jiujitsu talents in India. Protégé of @warriorscove and @ashwinhoon Aman is a true contender for the Leverage Crown. A young ambitious and driven force, Aman intends to make the most of his opportunity as he looks to make history and be the first undisputed Leverage King. We speak to him about his life and how this young man from Uttarakhand moved away from home to train with some of the best in the country. We talk match ups, strategy and a lot more. Always a pleasure to speak and train with him. The time for talk ends soon. We wish the best for the final days of prep. Oss

On a late night edition of Leverage Radio, we are joined by the evergreen Rajiv Khati. Rajiv is an entrepreneur, a talented musician, a passionate martial artist and is humbly confident in all his endeavours. He has traveled across India in pursuit of unifying the knowledge which exists in the respective regions. Rajiv was a perfect addition to the Leverage Team, to help give the upcoming Pro-Invitational tournament a whole new vibe. In this episode, we speak to Rajiv about the upcoming leverage IX card, we dissect the match-ups (yup every single one), we talk about his experiences training with the best people across India, we go deep into the fake jiu-jitsu promotions and the impact that has on the sport and much more. Rajiv is a great teammate and he has our respect, he manages to seemingly do it all and look so young while doing it! It was a genuine pleasure for us, see you on the mats brother. Oss

The beast in action aka Tarun Yadav joins us on the latest episode of Leverage Radio. Tarun is a seasoned grappler, a multiple time jiu-jitsu champion and a purple belt under Siddharth Singh. Coming from one of the most formidable teams in Indian combat i.e. Crosstrain Fight Club, Tarun is looking forward to Leverage IX and to once again be in the throes of combat. Tarun is highly intelligent, funny and supremely confident in his skills and abilities. He talks about his foray back into competition, the respect and admiration for his coach, his team and some key highlights in his jiu-jitsu journey. We had a great time hosting him on the podcast and wish him the best of luck for his preparation for leverage IX and the future.

Our guest this episode is another contender for the LFN IX welterweight crown. We welcome Tribhuvan Issar to the show. Tribhu is an all round fighter who doesn't mince his words and is definitely a dark horse of this tournament. Having trained with some of the best MMA fighters in the country, Tribhu plans to come in hyper conditioned and will certainly be ready to go to the overtime rounds if required. Tribhuvan is soft spoken but supremely confident in his ability to perform under the brightest lights. We wish him the best of luck for his preparation and cannot wait for this showcase. Hope you enjoy!

The enigmatic Sunny Khatri dropped in for a chat. Sunny will be competing at this year's leverage IX. For anyone who doesn't know - Sunny is a straight savage. His passion for combat and combat sports is unmatched. He is an intense competitor and he loves what he does. We speak about his journey in martial arts, his path to training at Bali MMA and the differences between International level coaching and India. We speak at length about being a pro-fighter, the experiences he has had and his long term goals in the sport. A future world champion in the making, Sunny has all the qualities one would need to achieve greatness in this sport. We are really looking forward to watching him compete and wish him all the best for his training camp!

This episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Chaitanya Gavali. He is a multiple division MMA Champion & multi-time National grappling champion. He is the Founder of Ultimate Fitness MMA and is a Jiujitsu purple belt. Chaitanya will be competing at this year's leverage tournament and he is relishing the opportunity to showcase his skills. Chaitanya shares with us his path to MMA Gold. We discuss his youth, being bullied and how martial arts helped him overcome his insecurities. We talk about the pressures of the sport and how he has balanced that with his love for teaching and training. We speak about humility, discipline and respect in Martial Arts and the importance of enjoying your training. It was a joy to have him on and we cannot wait to see him compete.

On Leverage Radio this week, we had Jitendra "Vicky" Khare on as our guest. Jitendra is the Head Coach at Team Relentless and is the Founder of  Evolution Fitness & Combat Sports Academy, in Mumbai. Having brought up in a disciplined boarding school environment Jitendra shares with us his Journey through Martial Arts. He talks to us about his motivation for teaching and training, life as a father and family man, the joy he feels for his work and the evolution of MMA in India.  Jitendra is honest, composed and knows what he is doing. He is also a passionate coach and competitor, who possesses an analytical mind necessary for success in this game. We wish him nothing but the best for the future. Oss!

Arun Sharma is India's First and only Jiu jitsu Blackbelt. Arun is a Black Belt under Professor Rodrigo Teixeira. He is certified in BJJ, Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali, PFS & Shaolin Kung Fu with 14 years of training experience. Arun has also trained various Military & Law Enforcement agencies, having certification from The US, The Philippines, Brazil & China. Arun's path in martial arts is one many of us could relate to. Having suffered through significant trauma as a youth (full story in the podcast), Arun went in search of the tools to help him defend himself for the future. Along the way he developed several skills in armed and unarmed combat. Arun is an avid member of his community wanting to give back, he is very candid about his martial arts philosophies and how he views jiu jitsu as a means for self improvement. He was a fascinating guest to have on the podcast, we hope to see him put on a Gi and compete soon to truly bring the Jiu Jitsu community full circle in India.

Back with a banger of an episode. After a brief Hiatus we had the privilege of speaking with Professor Carlos Almeida on this edition of Leverage Radio. Professor Carlos is a 3rd degree blackbelt and carries all the wisdom that comes with the territory. He was kind, humble and simply inspirational. We speak to him about his journey through the sport and his life, the struggles from the professional aspect, his competitive philosophies and a whole lot more. Jiu Jitsu is about giving back, to help others and build a community, that is evidenced by the work Prof. Carlos has done and continues to do. Truly an Honour to speak with him. We hope to have him out for some seminars, as soon as he can travel. Oss! P.S - He loves the idea of Heel Hooks in IBJJF

The super-talented and high flying Dhruv Chakkamadam was on with us this past week. For many who don't know Dhruv, he is a serious wild man. Dhruv is an outdoor adventurer at heart, a slackliner, a jiu-jitsu guy, a modern yogi, a phenomenal artist and a good vibes generator. Dhruv is a free spirit who brings genuine joy to those he meets and has a positive attitude that is absolutely infectious. We speak to him about balance, how his passions led him to jiu-jitsu and the journey since. We had a ton of laughs on this one and can't speak highly enough of his artistic prowess. A great conversation with a great guy. Check out his artwork, it is seriously mind blowing.

We have the pleasure of speaking with Karan Chauhan. Karan is a young MMA prospect from Pune, Maharashtra. Over his short career, Karan has faced adversity and some challenging circumstances that would have stopped lesser men. He has an insatiable desire for combat, a maturity well beyond his years and has developed a penchant for hard work. We discuss at length his origins, his career, overcoming an losing (0 - 2) record to get to a winning (11 - 4) record and the role jiu jitsu had in the evolution of his overall game. Karan is a brave young man, he has a great head on his shoulders and really is a true student of the fight game. No doubt, we will see him compete on the biggest stages soon. We wish him nothing but the best for the future. Special shout out to Lew Sports for sponsoring this young man aiding him in his attempt at glory. The best Indian MMA gear powering the best young Indian athletes. Hope you Enjoy!

This week Leverage Radio speaks to Anand Sharma. Anand is the founder of OmJiujitsu - an organisation helping develop grappling & Jiujitsu talent in Rural India. Anand is a highly decorated multiple time national champion including wins in ADCC India 2018, GFI, SJJIF and various overseas tournaments. Coming from humble beginnings, Anand has worked hard his entire life, He spent the early part of his career as a Deep sea diver with the Merchant Navy. Following a devastating hip injury, he found Jiu-jitsu and the rest is history. We talk in great depth about his obstacles in the early days of training, overcoming his problems and how he accomplished his goals. Anand's story is one of determination and not succumbing to the situations and conditions around you. Where there is will, there is a way. It was an honour to have him on. Hope you Enjoy

Caleb Khan is a black belt under Eduardo Fraga and Ralph Gracie. Originally a high school wrestler, Caleb began his jiu-jitsu career in 2007 at Ralph Gracie Berkeley. He is an instructor, competitor, and the head of the grappling program at Guardian Gym in Oakland, CA. Caleb is THE Journeyman grappler because he travels the world showcasing his jiu jitsu, good vibes and humor. We discuss his role as the Chief Grappling Officer of the Guardian gym, a project started by Ben Kovacs & Joel Lunenfeld - a truly monumental effort showing the power of community through jiu jitsu and martial arts (We highly recommend looking them up and all the great work they do). The Guardian Gym has more than 400 students, which consists of roughly 160 FREE youth students. We talk jiu-jitsu and what it means to Caleb, we discuss his journey including training with former UFC champion Rafael Dos Anjos, we pick his brain on competing as you get older and keeping up with the demands of the teaching & training on the body. Caleb's story is remarkable and he reminds us that having the opportunity to teach, train and give back through jiu jitsu is a blessing. We learnt a lot listening to him and his Journey with the Guardian Gym, some truly inspiring stuff. Hope you Enjoy. Oss!

In conversation with Arko Dasgupta, the Head Coach of The Combat Clan in Kolkata. Arko is a Radio Jockey by night and a full-time MMA coach by day, he is a blue belt under Rhys Dykes and a stalwart of the MMA scene in Kolkata.  We discuss his origins in the sport and his long standing friendship with our pal Shiba Banerjee. We talk about the "fakes" in the game, the Dana White of Kolkata is brought up again, we talk about his story and discuss the scene moving forward. Arko is unapologetically brash, upfront, unfiltered and extremely entertaining. We had a ball having him on the podcast and can't wait to bring him back on. 

A very special guest on this episode, as we speak to Gautam Raj Anand, the founder and CEO of Hubhopper. Gautam is a pioneer with numerous accolades to his name including 'Entrepreneur of the year' and was on the 'Forbes 30 under 30' for his work on Hubhopper. We follow his story on how he started Hubhopper years ago and how it has become the juggernaut it is today. We discuss the future of podcasting and internet radio in India and how the Hubhopper machine is working to make that happen. We go deep into the working of Hubhopper, the relevance and difference of the Auditory medium, the importance of following your passion with a boat load of laughs along the way. Gautam is funny, highly intelligent and very humble for someone so young and successful. It was a pleasure to have him on the podcast and hopefully we can get him back for another one sometime soon.

A woman of many talents, Avantika Kochar is a writer, a dancer, a Yogini, a somatic healer, a Physiotherapist and much more. We had an extremely interesting talk with Avantika on her reflections during the lockdown. We talk about solitude and its role in our life. We discuss movement, morality and motivation for life and work, How to incorporate the concept of play in life, if you love what you do - you don't have to work a day in your life. We talk about the emotions related to any process, while working toward a goal. A yogi in the true sense, Avantika provides a very intelligent, truly unique and creative perspective on life, yoga, discipline and the self.  We really enjoyed hosting her and look forward to following her work in the future. 

We speak to Khriemelie Metha, one the top minds in Indian MMA. Head Coach to the Combat Academy Nagaland, his analytical approach to all facets of combat is very intriguing. What truly stands out is his analysis and breakdown of the mental side of the game. We discuss at length the Mindset required for fighting, training strategies for combat, wrestling's relevance in MMA, the Combat Academy Nagaland and his Pro MMA promotion X1.International. It is always refreshing to speak to open minded and spirited self starters like Khriemelie, it gives us all inspiration to work that much harder. Hope you enjoy!

Pushkraj Shirke is the Director of Project Battlefit. He is an advertising creative director and fitness photographer with a passion for strength training, motorbikes and teaching Krav Maga. He is a K11 trained fitness and nutrition consultant, a fitness columnist for THE DNA, a guest editor for KRUNCH Fitness Magazine. Pushkraj is a digital marketing savant, a filmmaker and one of India's top fitness photographers. In this episode we speak extensively on training habits, nutrition knowledge and the misconceptions people have, we then go DEEP into the world of mexican supplements (Steroids) and get an idea of who would be taking what. Pushkraj is unapologetically up front, honest and very easy to speak with. It was a pleasure to host him and we hope to have him on again soon. Enjoy!

In conversation with Devesh Thakur. Devesh is the 88kg ADCC India champion and is one of the top prospects out of the institute of Jiu Jitsu in Bangalore. We discuss missing training due to Covid, training with injuries, working in Jiu-jitsu full time and the mindset necessary to accomplish your goals. He is a meditation master, highly positive and motivated, super insightful and humble. It was a pleasure speaking with Devesh and we can't wait to see what's next for him.

Had a very interesting chat with Kush Dhebar, who is a Phd Candidate at Deccan College in Pune. Kush is an archaeologist who's work is dedicated to the finding of traces of sophisticated grappling through history in India. He shares part of his research, which was spectacular and fascinating, we speak about the past and the role of grappling in culture. Kush is humble, learned and has a very positive disposition, the kind of energy we need to bring more people together. Hope you enjoy!

We literally had the best time speaking with Miles Lukas. Miles is a certified Wim Hof Method Instructor & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, who has developed a comprehensive breath system applicable for just about everyone. We speak to him about his journey through jiu jitsu, his infamous match against Mike Murrell, how this breath work has changed his game, the chemical changes in the body through breathing and how he incorporated the Rickson Gracie breathing techniques to the Wim Hof Method plus a heck of a lot more. 

In talks with the brains behind @Desibeatdown. Von Brian Saxena is the founder of Desi beatdown - a platform for the promotion of local and national level MMA talent in India. Von has extensively covered both the amateur and professional MMA circuit for many years. We pick his brain for inside information on the inner workings of event production in MMA, we discuss the emerging talent in India, the challenges still persisting and the future of the sport. Apologies in advance we had some mic issues for ourselves, but Von was clearly audible throughout. We had a great time talking with Von and although you'll be able to hear everything, just sounds @Mochavz is in a bubble. Forgive & forget. Enjoy!

Today we are speaking with Daniel Isaac. Dan is a 3rd generation martial artist and a true pioneer for the Martial Arts in India. We speak to him about his life long journey in Martial Arts, we discuss the politics of Sport and the Evolution of MMA in India. He recently spearheaded development of a world federation - GAMMAF - an organisation to steer and grow professional MMA in India and Globally. For someone who has achieved so much, Daniel is a down to earth, humble & honest and we thoroughly enjoyed our time speaking to him.

We got a chance to catch up with our good friend and training partner Mayank Kohli. Mayank is a multi-time national grappling & jiu-jitsu champion and has recently turned Pro in MMA. He talks to us about his experience in the cage and how he's been keeping focused during the Quarantine. We talk about his origin story, some coping strategies for Covid-19, training protocols, his fight name and future in the sport. Truly one of the nicest guys we know, super humble and always willing to step up, Mayank is a top friend and a true martial artist.

This week on Leverage Radio, we speak to Renjith Ravindran, co-founder of Lockerroom.in one of the country's top MMA & Combat sports outlets. The Idea behind LockerRoom is to be a one-stop destination for all the combat sports updates in India. Renjith is soft spoken, insightful and dedicated to his craft. We discuss the Indian MMA scene, his past covering WWE, some upcoming fights & the growth of talent in India. He, like us, believes that the fighters need to be raised up, given a platform and elevated in order to become world beaters. Hope you feel the same way! Enjoy!

Back Again with Ashwin Hoon. We had a guest cancel on us and continued on as Ashwin had some stuff to get off his chest. So you wanna be a professional athlete? Then listen to this one. We go deep into training, his routine, the mindset required to compete, the differences between dedication and hard work. If you're not obsessed, are you really a pro? Quote from Micheal Jordan "Champions do not become champions when they win an event, but in the hours, weeks, and months, and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely a demonstration of their championship character." Also listen all the way through to find out the date of Leverage Fight Night plus a whole lot more. Listen up and Enjoy!

This week we speak to Prashanth Kota, he is the head instructor at the Four Pillar Fight Academy. Prashanth shares his experiences of struggling to find training partners, starting his own academy in Chennai and the incorporation of Parkour into their Jiu-Jitsu. A true martial artist, travelling the world to get his training in, Ashwin and Prashanth discuss their travels & training in New York. Prashant has dedicated his life to helping others through Jiu-Jitsu. There's some fascinating people out there in this community and this man is definitely one of them. Thanks for the laughs! Enjoy!

Another Institute of Jiujitsu veteran Debojit Dasgupta talks to us ahead of his preparation for Leverage Fight Night. Coming off a mixed ADCC run, Debo discusses his jiu-jitsu, his competition mindset and his ADCC experience. We also talk diet, training, relationships and a heck of a lot more. Debo is an outstanding representative of his academy, the sport and partner at 411 Fightwear. Enjoy!

Asha is one of the toughest Jiujitsu practitioners in the country and an absolute savage. She is an ex-rugby player, a life long athlete and the 2020 ADCC India champion. She shares her struggle for finding competitive opponents, discusses her plans to go Pro and how she stands out in a sport dominated by men. Highly motivated, super humble and extremely positive, Asha was a delight to host and if any coaches out there have a promising female athlete to go up against Asha, hit us up, we'll make it happen. Happy listening. Enjoy!

Nearly two hours of us picking his brain and making jokes. Robert discusses his will to train, his drive to improve, his influences, we go into deep heel hook and jiu-jitsu theory along with his sessions around the world. He shares his plans for Singapore and discusses training with the Danaher Death Squad plus much more. Truly an honour and a pleasure for us. Enjoy!

One of the most naturally gifted jiu-jitsu prospects to come out Warriors Cove - Arnav Ailawadi is the savage wizard who is capable of some truly awe inspiring feats. A lifelong martial artist and jiu-jitsu prodigy, Arnav talks to us about his training, his personal goals and the upcoming Leverage tournament. He discusses being a visual learner and how he's adapting to the ever evolving competition space. A few call outs in there too. Keeping it playful, always. Enjoy!

In conversation with Siddharth Singh aka @cfcsid. Siddharth is a Brown belt under Ivan Tomasetti, Sid has won numerous national and international competitions and is Head Coach to one of the most successful combat gyms in the country - Crosstrain Fight Club. Involved with combat sports since he was 12, Sid's journey into the heart of the MMA / Jiujitsu scene in India is fascinating. Never afraid to speak his mind, Siddharth shares with us his thoughts on the current state of Jiujitsu in India, we discuss the obstacles that lie ahead post Covid and he shares several stories about his experiences, training, the past and the journey since. Listen up and enjoy!

Latest episode with Shaun Loyal is out now! Shaun is one of the competitors in this year's leverage tournament. He is our training partner at warriors cove and is one of the hardest workers in that room. His development over the last few years has been nothing short of exceptional. Coming off a mixed ADCC India tournament, Shaun discusses training in Covid times, motivation and preparation for Leverage Fight night and plans for the future. Link in Bio. Enjoy!

Today we speak to the minds behind 411 Fightwear - India's top jiu-jitsu wearables brand. 411 Fightwear is one of the title sponsors of this year's tournament. We speak to the founders to understand their challenges, successes and the sacrifices made to build a product with genuine quality. Nothing happens overnight, success won't just fall into your lap, this is exemplified by these guys, who work full-time jobs and are helping build a part of this community that most of us just can't bother with. Where there is will, there is a way. Enjoy!

This episode we speak to Shiba Banerjee. He is the owner and head coach of the Alpha Omega Combat Sports and the head of state for SJJIF for West Bengal. He will be competing in this year's Leverage Fight Night and for sure is one of the dark horses of our tournament. Shiba is genuine, super humble and open about his thoughts on training. We talk about the his early days in Martial Arts, the full time transition to Jiujitsu, why he started his own academy and the politics of the sport in India. Also, he is freaking hilarious (we have not laughed this much in a while) Sit back and have a listen. Enjoy!

We had a great conversation with Rohit Vasudevan, Head coach of the Institute of Jiujitsu from Bangalore & Gold medalist at ADCC India. Mr.Vasudevan is the under 66 kg pro division champ and will representing India in the upcoming ADCC trials. Rohit has a keen mind and some exceptional skills for the sport. We talk about his journey, IJJ's training methodology, coping mechanisms during lockdown and his future plans. Sit back and enjoy.