The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting

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What is it that allows some people to push themselves beyond their limitations? Why can some people survive situations others do not? On this podcast we try to find out the answers. Stephan Kesting, is a lifelong martial artist, BJJ black belt, career firefighter, and outdoorsman. Join us as he talks to fighters, adventurers, competitors, coaches, firefighters, trainers and other people living the strenuous life. Stephan also runs Grapplearts.com, where he has published many hundreds of martial arts videos, articles and tutorials. His free guide to learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, A Roadmap for BJJ, has been downloaded more than 10,000 times and has become a foundational text for the art.

Stephan Kesting


    • May 6, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 47m AVG DURATION
    • 424 EPISODES

    4.8 from 366 ratings Listeners of The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting that love the show mention: bjj podcast, stephan's, martial arts, grappling, martial artist, jiu jitsu, choke, self defense, practitioners, apps, stephen, produces, tap, instruction, professor, best guests, sport, well spoken, ground, videos.


    Ivy Insights

    The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting is a highly informative and entertaining podcast that covers a wide range of topics including BJJ, outdoor adventures, medical issues, and conspiracy busting interviews. Whether you came for the BJJ content or for the other areas of discussion, this podcast offers something for everyone. Stephan is not afraid to break ranks and say things as they are, providing a breath of fresh air in the podcasting world.

    One of the best aspects of The Strenuous Life Podcast is the quality of guests that Stephan brings on. He consistently finds excellent guests who offer unique perspectives and experiences. Whether it's top-level practitioners in BJJ or experts in other fields, the discussions are always interesting and thought-provoking. Stephan also does a great job at interviewing his guests, allowing them to share their knowledge while adding his own insights.

    Another positive aspect of this podcast is its high-yield information. Unlike many BJJ-centric podcasts that are filled with noise and profanity, The Strenuous Life Podcast focuses on delivering valuable content to the listener. Stephan covers a vast range of topics that are not only useful for those interested in grappling arts but also for anyone looking to incorporate stoicism into their lives.

    While there may not be many negative aspects to this podcast, some listeners may find it difficult to keep up with all the different topics covered. The episodes touch on outdoor adventures, medical issues, conspiracy busting, and more. While this variety can be engaging for some listeners, others may prefer more focused content.

    In conclusion, The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting is highly recommended for all martial arts practitioners, especially those interested in BJJ. With its diverse range of topics and excellent guest lineup, this podcast offers a wealth of valuable information and entertainment. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, there's something here for everyone. So if you're looking for an engaging and informative podcast, be sure to give The Strenuous Life Podcast a listen.



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    Latest episodes from The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting

    423 - BJJ, Science, and D&D with Bryan Rumble

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 48:20


    Bryan Rumble is a 2nd degree belt and a working scientist.  In this episode we start out by talking about BJJ traditions, the depth of the art, and how the scientific method might be applied in jiu-jitsu.  Then, at about the 23 minute mark, Bryan and I nerd out SUPER hard on Dungeons and Dragons and how it relates to martial arts training.  You've been warned! Check out Bryan's school in Brantford, Ontario at the links below https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Rumble-Academy-100057419059340/ https://www.instagram.com/bryanrumble And check out the memoir of my toughest solo trip ever, a 42 day solo expedition into the remote Canadian North where I dodged forest fires, stared down bears, and canoed raging rapids completely alone.  Check out "Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic" in hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook formats on Amazon or wherever you get your books! https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/ Good luck with your training! Stephan

    422 - How to Condition Yourself to Deal with Adrenaline in Stressful Situations

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 24:24


    The fight-or-flight reflex is always lurking just below the surface. When things get sufficiently stressful, our hormonal system dumps enormous amounts of adrenaline into our bloodstream, and—BOOM—suddenly we're ready for action. That adrenaline serves a purpose: it elevates your heart rate, makes you much stronger, more pain tolerant, and able to ignore injury. If you ever have to lift a car off a child, you don't want to be calm. Instead, you want to be mad, scared, enraged—whatever it takes to get into that adrenaline-soaked state of high arousal to lift the damn car with your bare hands. But that superhuman strength comes at a cost; as adrenaline floods your system, you lose a significant amount of fine motor control and higher brain function. Take whatever IQ you started with and cut it in half. This episode of The Strenuous Life Podcast is an excerpt from the audiobook version of Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic which you can check out anywhere you get books including the links below: AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/ BARNES AND NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perseverance-stephan-kesting/1145682384 INDIGO: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/perseverance-life-and-death-in-the-subarctic/9781639368617.html Good luck with your training and all your endeavors Stephan Kesting  

    421 - BJJ Training and Conditioning Myths, with James Deirmendjian from Fit Fight Training

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 60:11


    Three time IBJJ World medallist James Deirmendjian joins me to discuss optimal training methodologies and the science behind strength and conditioning for sport.  We cover hacks to improve recovery, debunk common myths in the Jiu-Jitsu community, and go deep into the need for a more scientific approach to training and nutrition. Follow and get in touch with James via https://www.instagram.com/fight_fit_training/ on Instagram. And check out my best-selling book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic at https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/ and everywhere else physical, digital, and audiobooks are sold! Cheers, Stephan Kesting  

    420 - Braving Polar Bears, Facing Off Against the Columbian Military, and Team Dynamics with Frank Wolf

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 62:35


    Frank Wolf is an explorer, a writer, and one hell of an adventurer.  In this episode we cover what he learned about endurance and survival during his travels in the Arctic, Central America, and Antarctica. Check out his fantastic book Two Springs, One Summer anywhere you get books in including Indigo and Amazon. https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/two-springs-one-summer-a-year-inside-the-life-of-a-chronic-adventurer/9781771606844.html https://www.amazon.com/Two-Springs-One-Summer-Adventurer/dp/1771606843 Please feel free to share this episode with that one crazy outdoor enthusiast in your life because that's how the show grows! Cheers, Stephan Kesting P.S. Also check out my own book Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic - links available at https://www.stephankesting.com/perseverance-book  

    419 - Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic (Audiobook Format)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 45:05


    I've got something special for you today: a true adventure story set in the Far North featuring that I underwent a few years ago after a kidney transplant.  I ended up learning a LOT about mental toughness, resilience, and strategies for making progress when I was absolutely at the end of my rope, lessons that I think are universally applicable. The book out today in hardcover, Kindle, and Audible audiobook formats. Since this is a podcast, I thought I'd give you the first three chapters in audio form, including an incident so embarrassing that I almost didn't include it in the book at all. If you grab the hardcover this week, I'll make sure you get a signed copy!  If you get the Kindle or audiobook format, then you'll get my thanks and undying gratitude.   You can get it at your local bookstore but you also get it at ALL the big online sites, including these links here at Amazon.com, and Barnesandnoble.com, In Canada you can get it at Amazon.ca or Indigo.ca. In the UK  it comes out a little later, but you can still preorder it at any of the links on  simonandschuster.co.uk. I hope you enjoy consuming this book in your favorite format it as much as I enjoyed writing it for you! Thanks so much, Stephan Kesting P.S. You can see some very kind early reviews of the book at stephankesting.com/perseverance-book

    418 - Spartans, Samurai and Ninja with BJJ Black Belt Jeff Nelson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 67:22


    I was thrilled to have Jeff Nelson on the show to talk about Spartans, Samurai, Ninja, developing confidence through jiu-jitsu, fight scenes in movies that drive us crazy, and pro-training at some of the best BJJ schools in the world.   Follow Jeff on Instagram (@thoughtandmindjj) and check out his book Ninja Punks, @*&% OFF! on Amazon! Also check out my new book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indigo, or your favorite local bookstore!

    417 - Can You Get Your BJJ Black Belt Without Affiliating with a Specific School?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 85:42


    Paul Kindzia describes himself as a "homeschooled, non-denominational, it takes a village black belt" and had a very unique route to getting his BJJ black belt.  He was a ronin, training at different schools and did a lot of his training in his home dojo. This paid off because he was a top IBJJF Masters competitor at blue, purple, and brown belt, before being awarded his black belt by a coalition of other black belts (myself included) in October of 2024. In this episode we talk about so many things, including - How to get really good if you don't train at a top-tier school - Key aspects of training safely - How to say no to training with people who don't have your best interests at heart - What you need to do to calibrate your skills if you mainly train one-on-one - Cult-like dynamics at some BJJ schools - What professional BJJ competitors do that sets them apart - How to get promoted if you train independently - How jiu-jitsu training has changed in the last 10 years - And so much more. For more about Paul's jiu-jitsu journey check out his site, The Balanced Grappler (https://www.thebalancedgrappler.com/) and his book, Master Jiu-Jitsu, Master Life (https://www.amazon.com/Master-Jiu-Jitsu-Life-Extraordinary-Through/dp/069216197X) Please give this episode a thumbs up and share it with someone else you think might enjoy it. Thanks so much, Stephan Kesting P.S. Check out my own book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic at https://www.stephankesting.com/perseverance-book

    416 - How to Climb Everest, with Extreme Alpinist Jost Kobusch

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 36:43


    Jost Kobusch is just back from Everest, where he is doing a multi-year project to climb the tallest mountain in the world... by himself... without oxygen... up the incredibly difficult West Ridge route in the middle of winter.   In winter, the effective altitude of Everest is over 9,000 meters, and the winds can reach 250 km/hour (155 mph).  And - on top of that - the mountain was hit by a powerful earthquake while he was on it.  Find out... How Jost Kobusch optimises his training The relative importance of physical vs mental attributes in extreme sport How he overcame a potentially career-ending injury The dichotomy of fitness vs experience for maximum performance What it's like to be a full-time athlete Jost's best advice for someone who is considering an Everest climb! And more Check out Jost's Altitude Academy https://jostkobusch.de/en/akademie/ and/or follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jostkobusch Finally, if you've read down this far, you must like adventure stories, so check out my new book, "Perseverance, Live and Death in the Subarctic" available everywhere you can get books, including https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/ Please share this episode with somone who you think will like it! Cheers, Stephan Kesting  

    415 - BJJ and Self Defense, with Tyson 'The Warrior Philosopher' Larone

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 118:09


    Tyson Larone is a BJJ belt, a Muay Thai teacher, TEDx speaker, and a strongman competitor. In this episode he and I dive  deep into exploring how BJJ can be used for self defense, including how context changes everything in self defense… adaptations that women and smaller people need to make…  the problems with the one time self defense seminar model… the need for force-multipliers and whether guns can act as that force multiplier…  the single biggest thing any man can do to keep the women in his life safe and more.  We also perceptions and expressions of masculinity, conservative-appearing privilege, and much more.  As always, Tyson brings receipts for everything he says. IMPORTANT: This podcast was recorded in early December 2024 but only released in early January 2025.  Therefore some of the dates referenced are incorrect.  Tyson's flashlight course IS currently available (at gethomesafe.online), Stephan STILL wants his Christmas presents, and his William Shirer Kindle offer is valid until the end of January 2025 LINKS Flashlight self defense: https://www.gethomesafe.online/courses School: Ironside Martial Arts: https://ironsidemartialarts.ca/ Tyson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewarriorphilosopherig Tyson on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewarriorphilosopher Cheers, Stephan Kesting P.S. Check out my @EssentialWilderness Youtube Channel - I'm putting lots of footage from my adventures in the North on it.

    414 - Optimized BJJ Training for Non-Athletic Grapplers, with Jesse Walker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2025 54:30


    The standard BJJ approach of throwing newcomers to the wolves may work for young and talented athletes, but it's definitely not optimal for most older, non-athletic, or female grapplers (otherwise known as the vast majority of people).  In today's episode I'm joined by Jesse Walker from Rough Hands BJJ in Louisville, Kentucky, to discuss the training methods and school culture that'll make jiu-jitsu accessible to (almost) everyone.   Check out Rough Hands BJJ training center in Louisville, Kentucky at https://roughhandsbjj.com/ and/or get in touch with Jesse on most social media platforms at @roughhandsbjj. If you want to delve deeper into training methods that maximize results and minimize injuries check out the ground-breaking BJJ Games instructional I did with Rob Biernacki at https://www.grapplearts.com/bjjgames And for specific techniques and strategies applicable to the older grappler check out the two BJJ for Old F***s instructionals at https://www.grapplearts.com/2-for-1-sale-on-bjj-for-old-fs/ Good luck with your training! Stephan Kesting        

    413 - Strongman Training Secrets, with Kalle Beck

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 74:50


    Kalle Beck has competed, coached and commentated in Strongman events and has helped thousands of people become much, much stronger. Here's how some of the lessons learned from Strongman apply to other sports... Check out Kalle's site at https://startingstrongman.com/ and the Facebook group he runs (the biggest strongman community in the world) at https://www.facebook.com/groups/startingstrongman/ Check out Stephan Kesting's latest jiu-jitsu instructional, No Gi Pin Escapes at https://www.grapplearts.com/PinEscapes and also his book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic, with links for more information here: https://essentialwilderness.com/book/ Cheers, Stephan Kesting

    Eco-Adjacent Training and How to Do It Correctly, with Rob Biernacki

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 62:20


    One of the biggest trends in BJJ right now is the so-called "ecological approach."  In episode 412 of The Strenuous Life Podcast I'm joined by renowned coach Rob Biernacki to discuss the do's and don'ts of game-based training.  Check out Rob's instructional BJJ Games here https://www.grapplearts.com/bjj-games/ for more information.

    411 - Smashing the Mental Barriers Holding Back Your Jiu-Jitsu

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 92:04


    Erin Herle is a BJJ black belt under Cobrinha and is a certified Mental Performance Consultant. In her work she uses an evidence-based approach and has a master's degree in sport and performance psychology. In this episode we cover overcoming the biggest barriers holding you back from performing to your potential, dealing with burnout and overtraining (and why they are different), hero worship in martial arts, and living the jiu-jitsu lifestyle. Find out more about Erin and her coaching programs at https://www.erinherle.com/ Check out No Gi Pin Escapes, your masterclass at getting out from the bottom and getting your jiu-jitsu confidence back, at https://www.grapplearts.com/no-gi-pin-escapes/ Cheers, Stephan Kesting

    410: How B Team Prepared for ADCC and CJI, with Chris Wojcik

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 59:05


    Would you like a behind-the-scenes peek at what really goes on at one of the most successful grappling teams in the world as they get ready for ADCC and CJI, the Olympics of grappling? Today I'm joined by Chris Wojcik, a standout grappler and the author of The Grappler's Diary, and we cover... The qualifying process for ADCC, the Olympics of Grappling Training with a herniated disk  How to go from enthusiastic amateur to dedicated professional What natural athletes need to do differently to compete in a sport rife with steroids How to train smarter, not harder Why B Team brought in an external trainer to prepare for ADCC and CJI ADCC vs CJI rule sets and strategies The future of CJI The role of wrestling and wrestling up in submission grappling Outside vs inside leglocks Top 3 leglock entries and top 3 leglock finishes The connection between leglocks and wrestling up Advice for practitioners feeling overwhelmed with the pace of change in the sport The mindset required for continual improvement in jiu-jitsu And more Follow Chris Wojcik on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegrapplersdiary/ and/or on his substack https://thegrapplersdiary.substack.com/ Check out my podcast-only leglock instructional special at https://www.grappplearts.com/leglocksale  And finally, check out the video version of this episode on my Strenuous Life Podcast Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/aahJznxxEsE Cheers!  Stephan Kesting

    409 - Denis Kang, From Underground Bareknuckle Fights to the Biggest MMA Stage in the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 59:19


    Denis was one of the top MMA fighters in the world with wins over Minoru Suzuki, Murilo 'Ninja' Rua, Akihiro Gono and Marvin Eastman. In this interview he opens up about the mindset shift that took him to a 22 fight undefeated streak... how he dealt with the death of his fiance while competing for the biggest MMA organisation in the world... how fighters should know when it's time to quit fighting... and how MMA training has changed since the early days. This episode is also available on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/bYfPiNUIWa4 Denis teaches at https://pinnaclemma.gymdesk.com/ and can be followed at https://www.instagram.com/thisisdeniskang/ Check out Stephan's new book, 'Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic' at https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

    408 - Ramsey Dewey on Effective Combat Sports and What Self Defense Experts Get Wrong

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 90:57


    Ramsey Dewey is an MMA coach now based in Shanghai, China.  I really enjoyed our conversation which included... How wearing headgear in sparring actually makes things WORSE for your brain His controversey with Master Wong Why China could take over MMA What self defense 'experts' get wrong What happens to martial arts that don't spar Ramsey's experience on The Ultimate Self Defense Championship Check out Ramsey's very popular Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@RamseyDewey Find out more about the FREE Grapplearts BJJ Master App at https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp  And please check out my brand new book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic, available on Amazon and all other online book retailers https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612 Thank you, Stephan Kesting

    407 - 3 Big Lessons Learned On During 19 Days of Isolation in the Arctic

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024 49:54


    I just did a 19-day solo canoe trip in the Canadian Arctic, and here are the 3 big lessons I learned! If you want to see hotos and a day-by-day description of the trip please go here: https://essentialwilderness.com/lost-in-the-barrens-a-solo-canoe-trip-on-a-remote-arctic-river/ Order my book "Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic" at the following places: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/ Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perseverance-stephan-kesting/1145682384 Indigo/Chapters:  https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/perseverance-life-and-death-in-the-subarctic/9781639368617.html If you'd like to subscribe to audio-only form this podcast please find it at the links below: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5NTGdrtMZv8JcxpUBcdREx Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/strenuous-life-podcast-stephan-kesting-grapplearts/id320705565?mt=2 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/stephan-kesting/grapplearts-radio-podcast   Cheers, Stephan Kesting

    406 - Goodbye - I Am Out of Here!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 33:02


    This podcast episode covers all the details and preparations for a long solo trip in the Arctic that I'm starting today! After 30 hours of driving and a 2 hour bush plane flight to Nueltin Lake I'll be heading north of the treeline direct into the Barren Lands of the Arctic. Once there, I'll be completely alone and out of touch for 30 days. The only written description of the river is a few pages in a book written by a missionary in the late 1800's. The trip spans the Thlewiaza, The-Tinne, Kognak and Tha-Anne rivers and will probably include caribou and bear encounters, whitewater and giant ice-covered lakes, and insanely complex navigational challenges. Once the trip is underway, I'll be sharing a few photos from the field a small satellite device So if you're interested in adventure and how well jiu-jitsu works against giant Hudson Bay Polar Bears then follow along! The best place to stay current is probably on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/essentialwilderness/), although this page on Essential Wilderness (https://tinyurl.com/nunavutsolo) should have a map that updates with my location once I'm on the water  I believe that pictures from this trip will also get cross-posted on Threads (https://www.threads.net/@stephan_kesting) Tiktok (https://www.tiktok.com/@essentialwilderness), and  Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@essentialwilderness/community) I'll be back to the world and jiu-jitsu in late July. Hopefully! Cheers, Stephan P.S. I'm telling my publisher that this is my official book tour, so if you haven't yet pre-ordered Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic (the story of another trip I did up there) then please help me out! You can grab it at Amazon  https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/ https://www.amazon.ca/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/ Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perseverance-stephan-kesting/1145682384 And Indigo. https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/perseverance-life-and-death-in-the-subarctic/9781639368617.html   

    404 - What the Hell Happened to MMA?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2024 69:48


    Luke Thomas is one of the most influential MMA analysts in the game and the host of The Morning Kombat Podcast. I was delighted to talk to him today about How the sport of MMA has changed The rise of Eastern European fighters Why is terrible behaviour of MMA fighters tolerated Can other MMA organisations ever rival the UFC Drug testing in the UFC Fighter unions and the Ali Expansion Act What Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson means for combat sports And more! Check out Luke Thomas's Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/ @LukeThomas   And, if you have a second, please follow my two outdoor adventure accounts to make my book publisher happy! https://www.youtube.com/@essentialwilderness and https://www.instagram.com/essentialwilderness should do the trick! Thanks ever so much, Stephan Kesting

    403 - Is Bear Spray Better than Guns vs Aggressive Bears? Here's What the Data from 352 Bear Encounters Says...

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2024 27:18


    In this episode I put on my adventurer hat and use my biology background to look at four studies and 352 aggressive bear encounters in Alaska to see whether bear spray or firearms was more effective at deterring aggressive black, grizzly and polar bear behaviour. The results may surprise you, but data doesn't care about your feelings!  TIMESTAMPS 01:28 - Introduction to bears spray vs guns 04:08 - Analysis of the first report, Bear Spray vs Bullets, Which Offers Better Protection, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 04:30 - Analysis of second report, Bear Spray or Bullets, by Lynn Dickerson  08:57 - Analysis of third report, Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska, by Smith et al. 16:48 Analysis of fourth report, Efficacy of Firearms for Bear Deterrence in Alaska, by Smith et al.  23:27 Summary and personal opinions  MORE OUTDOOR STUFF BY STEPHAN KESTING Please like this video and subscribe to my Essential Wilderness Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCujEWgySgpTa76dw__i_UAw Check out my Essential Wilderness site at https://www.essentialwilderness.com Follow my outdoors Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/essentialwilderness/ Sign up to get notified about my upcoming book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic at https://www.essentialwilderness.com/book Thanks so much, Stephan Kesting  

    402 - A BJJ Concept to Help You Through the Tough Times in Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2024 7:36


    There are times when it feels like life has you trapped on the bottom of mount against a vastly heavier, more experienced opponent intent on mauling you.  The steps to deal with these two situations are the same.   Pass this on to someone you think it might help, Stephan Kesting P.S.  I made one little mistake in this podcast: Epictetus was a Greek (not Roman) stoic philosopher who lived in Rome for much of his youth serving the Emperor Nero, so he doubtless knew all about suffering.

    401 - Modifying BJJ for Self Defense, with Rachel Honeyman

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2024 65:06


    I really enjoyed talking with Rachel Honeyman about modifying BJJ for self defense, which techniques to focus on and which positions to avoid.  Rachel has trained in BJJ, the Filipino Martial Arts, Muay Thai, and many other martial arts and runs https://www.fearlessfemmes.com/

    400 - How to Use Injuries to Actually Refine and Improve Your Jiu-Jitsu Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 42:04


    Rob Biernacki is my guest today to talk about how injury and physical limitations have led to some of the fastest technical development of his career and the refinement of entirely new techniques like the Roadhouse Choke.  Since some form of injury is inevitable there are a LOT of takeaways in this episode. We also discuss the concepts of risk vs reward in your choice of techniques, how new techniques and technical refinements get adopted, the risks of the buggy choke, the barbell strategy for allocating your training time, how rule sets drive evolution of the art, and more. Check out the Roadhouse Choke Instructional at http://roadhouse.bjjconcepts.net And sign up for my free email newsletter at https://www.grapplearts.com/newsletter  Good luck with your training Stephan Kesting

    399 - Breathing for Endurance during Sparring in BJJ and Other Martial Arts

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2024 9:30


    Many people completely run out of gas when they're sparring, and often this is because they are inadvertently holding their breath.  In this short podcast I share four very specific ways that I've coached people past this problem and hugely improved their endurance. Please share this episode with someone you think it will help. Cheers, Stephan Kesting P.S. This episode is also available in video form here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umD_zc5Bd3M P.P.S. If you follow me on social media only then we are all subject to the whims of the algorithms, therefore subscribe to my (entirely free) newsletter so we can stay in touch and I can give you tons of good stuff: https://www.grapplearts.com/newsletter  

    398 - Building the Skills to Do Amazing Things, with Matt Pycroft

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2024 70:19


    From war-torn Africa to climbing remote peaks in Greenland with Alex Honnold, Matt Pycroft has built a very impressive career working as a journalist and filmmaker.  In our conversation he goes into detail how he gradually acquired the skills to achieve his goals and the lessons he's learned working with extreme athletes in inhospitable settings all over the globe. Follow Matt on Instagram @mattpycroft and check out his latest film, Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold, on Disney, Amazon, and National Geographic.

    405 - Three Ways that Training for MMA Fights Has Changed Since the Early UFC

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2024 7:25


    Short episode today with my friend Denis Kang sharing three ways that fighters have improved their training methods to get ready for MMA fights. Denis fought for the first time in 1998 (in an event without gloves) and went on to fight a total of 55 times in events like the UFC, PRIDE, DREAM, Impact FC, M-1 Global, K-1 HERO'S, ROAD FC, and Pancrase. Denis currently teaches MMA at Pinnacle Martial Arts in Richmond, BC.

    397 - How to Get Maximum Results in Minimum Time in Jiu-Jitsu

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2024 51:42


    The traditional class structure of doing a warmup, learning a couple of new techniques, and followed by sparring is NOT an efficient way to learn jiu-jitsu.  We can do much better if we use insights from research on coaching and learning. Today's guest is Cal MacDonald, a BJJ black belt and  competitor who has dedicated himself to developing his teaching and coaching skills to the highest possible level.   Cal is a longtime blackbelt under Rob Biernacki at Island Top Team. Rob and his team are at the cutting edge of teaching and training methodologies that make people amazingly good incredibly fast. Cal coached full time at Island Top Team for five years and is also a fierce competitor, having won Gold at NAGA, Pacific Northwest Open, and many other tournaments. He has travelled to top academies for Worlds and ADCC camps, training with top athletes like Yuri Simões, Mason Fowler, and Caio Terra, so he knows what works at the highest levels. His proudest accomplishments are the successes of his students, and he has spent thousands of hours coaching and cornering competitors as they fight their way to the podium. Cal stays abreast of advances in sports science and cognitive science, and blended that with experience and experimentation to create the BJJ Foundations program - more info about that at https://www.grapplearts.com/foundations Good luck with your training, Stephan Kesting

    Longevity in Jiu-Jitsu with Mike "The Old Bastard" Mahaffey

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 68:19


    In this episode I talk BJJ longevity, weight training, home gyms and training methods with BJJ old-timer Mike Mahaffey. I think there are a TON of valuable takehome lessons here for anyone who trains jiu-jitsu, and ESPECIALLY the over-40 crowd!  Also check out BJJ Foundations, the brand new Grapplearts instructional that gives you the best jiu-jitsu technique and training method curriculum I've ever seen at https://www.grapplearts.com/foundations Cheers, Stephan Kesting

    395 - The English Roots of Catchwrestling, with Oz Austwick

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2024 72:20


    Did you know that the England had many different wrestling systems including Cornish, Lancashire, Devonshire, Cumberland and Westmoreland wrestling and catchwrestling? In this conversation Oz Austwick and I go into the history of these arts including the influence of Japanese Judo and Jiu-Jitsu on English Wrestling... the great Billy Robinson and his influence on Kazushi Sakuraba... Satoro Sayama and the birth of Shootwrestling... American vs British catchwrestling... the blending of jiu-jitsu with catchwrestling... leglocks and traditional BJJ... and much more. Follow Oz Austwick here: https://www.youtube.com/@EnglishMartialArts Subscribe to The Strenuous Life Podcast on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK-c9Vxqx-I  

    394 - The Anatomy of a BJJ Training Camp

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2023 84:46


    Rob Biernacki and his competition team are on a tear. Rob recently took gold in masters middleweight the Canadian ADCC Open, silver at the California ADCC Open, and gold in black belt M4 at the IBJJF No Gi Worlds. In this episode we talk about designing an effective training camp, dividing your conditioning and skills training, detaching emotionally from the outcome of the competition, why sharktanking and competition-style rolls are overused, 80/20 analyses of different rule sets, training athletes to think strategically while in matches, the central role of games and drills in his competition training, and strategies that work in ADCC that will lose you the match in IBJJF Check out his latest instructional, BJJ GAMES, at https://www.grapplearts.com/bjj-games.  It features 25 different games and drills Rob uses at his school to get his students ready for competition.

    393 - Historical Bareknuckle Boxing and European Swordfighting, with Oz Austwick

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2023 61:04


    In episode 393 of The Strenuous Life Podcast I talk to Oz Austwick, who has extensively studied armed and unarmed combat systems in Europe. Topics we cover include the origins of boxing in England, historical training and conditioning methods, reconstructing and testing techniques shown in swordfighting manuals, fighting with live blades, the role of wrestling in real swordfighting, and much more.  I think you'll really like this one! Oz Austwick runs the English Martial Arts channel on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/englishmartialarts and publishes at https://www.patreon.com/englishmartialarts

    392 - Everest, Alone, In Winter, and Without Oxygen, with Mountaineer Jost Kobusch

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2023 71:19


    Today I pick the brain of the amazing Jost Kobusch is a German mountaineer who spent two seasons on Everest trying to ascend the legendarily difficult West Ridge route and the Hornbein Couloir alone. And did I mention that he wasn't using supplemental oxygen and attempting this in the middle of the brutal Himalayan winter?  We covered a TON of interesting topics, including Why do things the hardest way? His closest call in the mountains The dangers of the Khumbu Icefall Getting hit by an avalanche at Everest Base Camp His preferred diet for performance at high altitude Training for high altitude Dealing with injuries And more I hope you enjoy this!  Share it with a friend if you do! Stephan Kesting P.S. In 2015 Jost was about to climb Everest when an earthquake triggered an avalanche that destroyed Everest Base Camp.  Here's the footage he filmed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JC_wIWUC2U P.P.S. At age 21 Jost became the youngest person to solo Ama Dablam, a 6812 meter mountain in the Himalayas.  Here's a documentary about that climb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVG9U8UoT2I P.P.P.S. Follow Jost on Instagram @Jostkobusch or get coached by him at JostKobusch.com

    The Most Important Mental Models in BJJ, with Steve Kwan

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2023 70:56


    Today I'm joined by Steve Kwan, the host and creator of the wildly popular BJJ Mental Models podcast.  We discuss the most important mental models in the art and how they can improve your ability to perform on the mat! Check out https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/ for Steve's podcast and https://www.grapplearts.com/rollingbacktakes for my newest BJJ instructional. And, as always, please send today's episode to someone you think would benefit from it. Thanks, Stephan Kesting

    390 - UFOs, UAPs, and Alien Bodies with Skeptical Investigator Mick West

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2023 67:28


    With eyewitness testimony in the US Congress and purported alien bodies being wheeled into the Mexican Congress, it looks like we're in another UFO craze right now.  It was great to have science writer and sceptical investigator Mick West on the podcast to make sense of this evidence and evaluate what the odds are that aliens truly walk among us.     Check out Mick's current research at metabunk.org, it's my first stop for anything UFO-related.   Check out the video of this conversation on the Strenuous Life Podcast channel on Youtube.   And finally, please share this episode with a friend who might be interested - that's how this podcast grows!   May the force be with you, Stephan Kesting

    389 - How to Train for Strength, Endurance and Jiu-Jitsu Simultaneously, with World Record holder James Pieratt of Wild Hunt Conditioning

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2023 74:05


    I caught up with world record holder James Pieratt shortly after he completed a 500-mile, self-supported mountain run along the Pacific Crest Trail.  But James isn't just an ultrarunner - he's also a serious weightlifter who also trains in jiu-jitsu. In this interview we went deep into how to balance strength, endurance, and skill training, the role of prehabilitation and rehabilitation, the effect of hard training on life expectancy, and what drives someone to these extremes.  Check out James' training programs at wildhuntconditioning.myshopify.com or follow him on instagram @wildhuntconditioning.   If you know someone who'd be inspired by this episode please send it to them! Stephan 

    388 - The Ultimate Self Defense Championship with Rokas Leo

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2023 65:57


    The Ultimate Self-Defense Championship was a competition in which six martial arts YouTubers competed against each other in seven self-defense challenges to find out what works, what doesn't and who would become the ultimate self-defense champion.  The organizer of this event was Rokas Leo who trained Aikido for 14 years and eventually realised that that art didn't live up to what to the promises. He made the switch to MMA training and has had several amateur MMA fights since.   My previous interview with Rokas about his evolution from Aikido to MMA: https://www.grapplearts.com/aikido-vs-mma-rokas/ Watch the first season of the Ultimate Self Defense Championship on Youtube for free: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU3nOrEfN70&list=PL4FJXg8RNp-mqVhFpncyMk4rANel-TRa9 Contribute to The Ultimate Self Defense Championship Season 2 here and get early access and extra footage: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ultimate-self-defense-championship-season-2#/ Find out more about Rokas on his site: https://www.martialartsjourney.com/      

    387 - The Most Successful Gracie Fighter Of All Time, with Robert Drysdale

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2023 99:10


    Not only is Robert Drysdale a BJJ and ADCC World Champion, he has also conducted extensive research into the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In this interview, he reveals some of what he's discovered, including... 01:54 - The first wave of jiu-jitsu in Brazil - Helio Gracie and Carlos Gracie  04:35 - Exhibition and carnival fighting in Brazil 06:55 - Traditional jiu-jitsu style vs modified judo 12:14 - Training methods of the Gracie Academy in the '30s, 40s and '50s 18:43 - The second wave practitioners 19:47 - Waldemar Santana 22:49 - Carlson Gracie and the Rua Figueiredo Magalhães school 33:19 - How BJJ rule changes changed the sport 42:31 - Rolls Gracie 48:51 - Self-defense and Vale Tudo training 55:28 - Rolls Gracie death 1:00:55 - The Carlson Gracie tragedy 1:13:54 - Carlos Gracie Jr. 1:21:03 - Future rule changes, luta livre, and the sportification of jiu-jitsu 1:35:10 - The Rise and Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the book You can grab Robert's book, The Rise and Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which goes into MUCH more detail on these topics at https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Evolution-Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu-Democratization/dp/B0C1JCNQ1P  Note that today's episode was also on my Youtube channel at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2ThcGhAlvs If you found this episode interesting then a rating or a review to help get the word out would be SUPER appreciated. Thanks, Stephan Kesting

    386 - Seven Reasons Why Carlson Gracie Was The First Modern MMA Fighter

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 6:02


    Carlson Gracie fought in 18 Vale Tudo matches, brought jiu-jitsu to the masses, and innovated many of the MMA training practices we now take for granted. He innovated many seemingly radical ideas at the time, like training without the gi, group classes, and being a well rounded fighter. These points come from Robert Drysdale's excellent book, The Rise and Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Evolution-Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu-Democratization/dp/B0C1JCNQ1P I'll be talking to Robert Drysdale about Carlson Gracie and this era of jiu-jitsu in the very next episode (#387) of The Strenuous Life Podcast, so don't miss it!! Cheers, Stephan Kesting

    385 - Grappling with the Implications of the 46 Million Dollar Lawsuit for Jiu-Jitsu, with Dan Lukeheart, Alex Kask and Stephan Kesting

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2023 132:18


    The jiu-jitsu world was shaken recently when Jack Greener, severely injured in 2018 while sparring at a San Diego gym, was awarded $46,475,112 dollars by a jury. Rener Gracie testified for the plaintiff, and Clark Gracie testified for the defence. In this episode, I get together with Dan Lukeheart (Brea Jiu-Jitsu) and Alex Kask (Barrister and Solicitor) to discuss the specific technique that caused this injury (the 'Leo Viera Backtake'), training methods used in jiu-jitsu, who gets to set industry standards in jiu-jitsu, whether white belts should spar, and how teachers and club owners can protect themselves from being wiped out by similar lawsuits.   More information about this lawsuit is available here... Developments in Martial Arts Practice Liability: Greener v. Del Mar Jiu Jitsu Club Rener Gracie's Deposition Video of the accident Take care of your training partners!! Stephan Kesting

    384 - Neopagan Vegetarian Authoritarian Heavy Metal Nature Lovers with Jesse Bryant

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2023 84:07


    Jesse Bryant is doing his PhD on the politics of nature, and has come across some amazing examples of both far left and far right groups wrapping themselves in the mantle of nature and what is deemed 'natural'.  From the Artaman League to the Wolves of Vinland and Alex Jone's fantasies about moving back to the country sometimes what he's found is hilarious, and sometimes it's terrifying.  I really enjoyed today's homage to the Naturalistic Fallacy and I hope you do too... Check out Jesse's great Tiktok channel where  he goes by @jessecallahanbryant. And check out the latest Grapplearts instructional, Cutting Edge Leglocks, at https://www.grapplearts.com/cutting-edge-leglocks.  It's an amazing deal and will definitely help you tap out a LOT more people!

    383 - Amanda Bruse on Storming the Medals Podium at No Gi Pans

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2023 57:58


    Amanda Bruse took home Gold as a black belt in her weight division at No Gi Pans in 2022, and also a Silver in the open division facing much heavier opponents. She's also done amazingly well at ADCC Trials, No Gi Worlds, and is now competing in Combat Jiu-jitsu as well. It's remarkable that she's only been training for 6 years; clearly, she's doing something right, and in this conversation I try to find out what it is!! Tune in to find out about learning how to train (02:48), her favorite submission competing against bigger opponents in the open division (09:12), how to structure multiple training sessions per day (14:38), strength and conditioning for jiu-jitsu (18:06), balancing training and university studies (28:57), wrestling for no gi jiu-jitsu (35:34), starting a clothing brand (41:01), visualisation for competition (47:11), and her best advice for new people starting jiu-jitsu (53:06). Follow Amanda on Instagram at @amandabruse.bjj. As always, a rating and a review of this podcast is super-appreciated!!!   Thanks so much Stephan Kesting

    382 - On Learning Jiu-Jitsu with 100% Live Training and No Formal Technical Instruction, with Greg Souders

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2023 71:00


    To say that Greg Souders is a huge believer in drilling and gamification is actually an understatement; he believes that BJJ training methods have not kept up with the science of learning, and runs Standard Jiu-Jitsu in Rockville, Maryland without teaching any techniques. And black belt medalist students at the Pan Ams and the World Championships suggest that he's onto something!  I really enjoyed this conversation and did my best to ask the questions you'll be hearing in your own head as you listen to this!  As always, if you enjoyed this episode I would REALLY appreciated a review and a rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listened to it! Cheers, Stephan Kesting

    381 - The Battle Against Disinformation and Information Nihilism, with Brooke Binowski

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 69:44


    Brooke Binowski is a journalist specialising in debunking disinformation and misinformation.  She has worked for Snopes and is now the managing editor at TruthOrFiction.com. In this episode we talk about Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, how disinformation campaigns are structured, white supremacists, why the wellness space is so prone to believing conspiracy theories, and how we can know what's actually true and what's not. Follow Brooke on Mastadon brooklynmarie@mastodon.lol, on Twitter (for now) @brooklynmarie, and check out what she's working on at truthorfiction.com/author/brooke/.   Finally, check out the video version of the Strenuous Life Podcast on Youtube as well.   Merry Christmas, Stephan Kesting

    380 - What Do You Need to Know to Be a BJJ Blue Belt?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2022 27:49


    BJJ black belt Elliott Bayev and I discuss the minimum knowledge set required to be a competent blue belt, including... The 8 basic positions in jiu-jitsu A 3 phase strategy for beating a bigger person  The real purpose of the guard The 2 types of submissions The hierarchy of positions How to stay safe in bad positions...and what to do next. The importance of getting high up on your opponent's body How do throws and takedowns fit into training Competition vs self defense tactics How many techniques do you actually need Why sparring against real resistance makes jiu-jitsu special When to begin sparring in your progression How long does it take to make bluebelt And more! Click here to get the Roadmap for BJJ, my free PDF breakdown of the basic positions and strategies in jiu-jitsu. Elliott runs the Openmat school in Toronto Ontario and also the BJJ101.tv learning site.  Check out Elliott's Spider Guard Masterclass, and/or his Self Defense Guard, and/or his 30 Second Fight Finishes instructionals. I've personally worked with him on all 3 of these products and I can say without hesitation that they are incredibly detailed and directly applicable to your training. Stephan Kesting      

    379 - A Fascism Checklist, with Professor Daniele Bolleli

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2022 72:12


    In episode 379 of The Strenuous Life Podcast I talk with podcaster, martial artist, and history professor Daniele Bolelli about the characteristics of fascism. This is a loaded topic for both of us, because both of our families lived in fascist states during World War 2 (mine in Germany, his in Italy).  Which is why I almost went with an alternate title, namely A German and an Italian Walk Into a Bar... The terms 'fascism' sure gets thrown around a lot these days. But words have meaning, and so you can't just use it as an insult to describe anything you don't like. S0 what is it? As Daniele explains, there isn't a single definition of fascism; instead it's a checklist and the more items an ideology checks off then the closer they are to fascism.  Here are some of the major items for Daniele... Nostalgia for a mythic past Reliance on an authority figure who will fix everything Nationalism A cult of masculinity and cracking down on anyone who doesn't embody traditional values A hawkish desire for war against internal and external enemies Strong alliances with traditional power structures like industry and religion Anti-intellectualism and a distrust of expertise Conservative values, Subordination of women, anti-abortion, anti-birth control Anti-democratic values Emphasis on law and order Other things we discuss are Giorgia Meloni (the Prime Minister of Italy), economic situations before the rise of fascism, horseshoe theory and the eventual convergence of extreme left and extreme right, and the danger of fascism in the world right now. More Daniele Bolelli... Here are some places you can get more Daniele Bolelli... His History on Fire Podcast (highly recommended) His History on Fire Patreon if you want more content and support good work He's on Instagram @daniele_bolelli More Definitions of Fascism Fascism is a tricky word, and many different people have taken stabs at defining it.  Here are a few of my favorites... I found Jason Stanley's 10 traits of a fascist movement a very useful starting point. Umberto Eco's essay Ur-Fascism, originally published in the New York Review, included a 14 point list of the features of fascism. He identified that, for fascists, the enemy must simultaneously be very weak and very strong, which I found fascinating because I see it so often in the discourse these days. British political scientist Roger Griffin has defined the fascistic core as an ultranationalism focused on the idea of rebirth of a people or a nation (or palingenetic ultranationalism).   As is so often the case, the Wikipedia article on the definitions of fascism is a useful starting point if you want to go deeper into this topic.

    378 - The 5 Most Common BJJ and Judo Injuries and What to Do About Them, with Joshua Arellano, Pt

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2022 75:31


    Joshua Arellano is a physiotherapist with a black belt in Judo and a brown belt in BJJ. He works with combat athletes on rehab, prehab, and injury prevention, and - since injury is the enemy of progress - I was thrilled to pick his brain on the podcast to help everyone have a healthier grappling career!   00:39 - Judo and jiu-jitsu damage on the body 09:37 - The 5 most common injuries that you see in judo and jiu-jitsu 10:43 - Knee injuries 24:51 - Neck injuries 40:42 - Elbow injuries 45:01 - Is Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation outdated? 59:16 - Shoulder Injuries 1:03:33 - Learning to fall 1:05:16 - Small joint injuries 1:11:55 - How to contact Joshua Arellano, Physiotherapist   Related to this topic are the two volumes in the BJJ for Old F***s series.  If you're worried about or working around an injury consider checking out   1) BJJ for Old F***s, the Guard at https://www.grapplearts.com/oldguard   and    2) Guard Passing for Old F***s at https://www.grapplearts.com/oldpass   Thank you! Stephan Kesting

    377 - John Will, Member of BJJ's 'Dirty Dozen' on Sport vs Self Defense Jiu-Jitsu

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 70:48


    John Will trained in Southern California in the late 80's, was one of the first 12 non-Brazilians to get a BJJ black belt, and then went on to create the largest jiu-jitsu association in Australasia.   We talked about how the art has changed, how to be 'centrist' in the sport vs self defense debate, teaching elite military personnel, how to create a curriculum, and much more. I'm sure you'll enjoy this conversation Stephan Kesting P.S. Check out the latest Grapplearts Instructional, Guard Passing for Old F***s, at https://www.grapplearts.com/oldpass    

    376 - Mental and Physical Endurance with James 'The Biking Viking' Benson King

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 53:01


    James 'The Biking Viking' Benson King is cycling from Alaska at the very top of North America to Argentina at the very bottom of South America.  He's covered thousands of miles, endured injuries, dealt with bears, and gone deep into the reservoirs of his endurance.  In this episode we talk about his mental and physical preparations for the journey of a lifetime. Follow James on instagram @bensonthebikingviking, his youtube channel, and/or his site at bensonthebikingviking.co.uk.

    375 - How Skill, Athleticism and Rank Correlate in BJJ, with Rob Biernacki

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2022 51:14


    00:29 - Is technique enough by itself? 04:47 - Is Jiu-jitsu for everybody? 09:59 - Skill vs athleticism vs rank 22:43 - The resurgence of guard passing  25:34 - Intensity in training and belt promotion 32:43 - Hobbyist vs competitor training. 37:47 - The most effective takedowns for jiu-jitsu 39:12 - Training strengths vs working on weaknesses   BJJ FOR OLD F***S, THE GUARD PASSING GAME   Check out the latest Grapplearts instructional featuring Stephan Kesting and Rob Biernacki here:   https://www.grapplearts.com/bjj-for-old-fs-guard-passing/   Good luck with your training, Stephan

    374 - Adam Shoalt's Amazing 3,400 km Solo Journey to the Arctic

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2022 107:42


    Explorer Adam Shoalts is fresh off a 3 month, 3,400 km solo trip to the Arctic. It's an amazing story, and he shares a TON of tips for travelling in the wilderness 00:32 Adam's 3 month, 3,400 km solo journey to the Arctic 31:20 On Staying Safe in the Wilderness 38:42 On Food and Calories in the Wilderness 50:57 How to Run Whitewater Safely on an Expedition 53:07 Medical Emergencies and Safe Drinking Water 1:05:41 Dealing with Black Flies and Mosquitoes 1:11:57 Dealing with Bears in the Wilderness 1:20:51 Staying Warm in Wet and Cold Weather 1:27:45 Intuitive Navigation vs GPS Navigation 1:34:45 Trip Planning 1:39:10 Dealing with Loneliness on a Solo Trip 1:43:41 Adam's Books Follow Adam at Instagram @adam_shoalts and check out his website at adamshoalts.com Please share this episode with a friend or two if you liked it - it's how we grow! And check out the video version of this episode at https://youtu.be/m3srgJEDZH0 on the Strenuous Life Podcast channel on Youtube! Cheers, Stephan Kesting

    373 - Alex Jones, Alt Right Hippies with Guns, and More with Derek Beres from Conspirituality

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2022 66:29


    Derek Beres is an author and co-host at the Conspirituality Podcast.  He joined me today to talk about the recent Alex Jones verdict, anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theories, conspirituality and his predictions for the future. Check out Conspirituality on every podcast platform, hosted by Derek Beres, Julian Walker and Mathew Remski.  It's amazing! And if you want more of Derek and I check out Cults and Conspiracies in the Yoga, Wellness, and BJJ Communities which was episode 291 of The Strenuous Life Podcast and/or Conspiracy Dojo, episode 106 of Conspirituality. Keep on fighting the good fight my friends! Stephan

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