Podcast appearances and mentions of stephan kesting

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  

Stephan Kesting, author of Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic, joins me to discuss a long-planned solo canoe journey through remote northern Canada, which took on extra significance following a life-threatening illness. In this episode, he shares the story behind the trip, the challenges he faced, and the motivations that led him to undertake such an ambitious expedition. We also discuss how his background in biology, firefighting, and martial arts all played a role in shaping both the journey and the lessons that came from it.

Episode 200 of The Adventure Podcast features adventurer, firefighter, martial artist and author, Stephan Kesting. In 2015, Stephan was dying from polycystic kidney disease. He underwent a transplant that saved his life, and in the fog of pre-surgery uncertainty, he made a promise: if he survived, he'd complete a journey he'd dreamed of for decades. Four years later, he set off on a solo canoe expedition across 1000 miles of the Canadian Arctic. Stephan talks to Matt about that journey, but also about trauma, grief, parenthood and risk. This is a story about survival, transformation, and what the wilderness can teach us not just about the world, but about ourselves. For extra insights from the worlds of adventure, exploration and the natural world, you can find The Adventure Podcast+ community on Substack. You can also follow along and join in on Instagram @‌theadventurepodcast.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-adventure-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  

In this bonus emergency episode, we're joined by legendary Jiu-Jitsu instructor Stephan Kesting to discuss the immediate dangers of the lapel guard position, why it is so harmful, and why the IBJJF must ban it immediately.Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game.  We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.Sign up here for a free trial:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/Need more BJJ Mental Models?Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

Today, we take an unforgettable journey into the frozen grounds of resilience with our guest, Stephen Kesting. Stephen is not only a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and renowned martial arts educator but also an intrepid adventurer whose life story combines the thrill of wilderness survival with profound insights into personal strength and perseverance. In this episode, Stephen recounts his gripping survival journey through the subarctic wilderness, a story captured in his book "Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic." We explore themes of mental toughness, the dichotomy between happiness and satisfaction, and the parallels between wilderness survival and tackling life's adversities.  Join us as we delve into the lessons learned from striking out into the wild, embracing adversity, and finding strength through endurance.   Key Takeaways: Embrace Self-Doubt: Recognizing self doubt as a natural part of challenging situations allows you to acknowledge and overcome it. It's not about denying it, but about seeing it for what it really is – a temporary visitor. Preparation is Key: Whether tackling major projects or surviving the wild, preparation is paramount. This includes research, planning, and acknowledging potential pitfalls while having contingency plans ready. Satisfaction Over Happiness: Success isn't always about immediate happiness. It's about the satisfaction of achieving long-term goals and overcoming obstacles, which can be a greater guide in life's journey.   Steven Kesting: https://www.grapplearts.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/StephanKesting   This episode of the ARCHITECT of RESILIENCE podcast is available on Apple, Spotify & YouTube, and is sponsored by: @marekhealth : Performance. Longevity. Optimization.

 "Survive first, win later. The goal is to stay in the fight."  "Martial arts training can be the crucible for developing life skills beyond fighting—mental toughness, social intelligence, and adaptability."  "If your goal is longevity, your #1 priority should be injury prevention."  "You can't define someone else's success—choose your own path in martial arts and life."  -Stephan Kesting Welcome to the Black Belt Podcast, where we explore the art, philosophy, and evolution of martial arts beyond just technique—diving deep into its impact on mindset, adaptability, and real-world application. I'm your host, Harinder Singh, and today's guest is none other than Stephan Kesting—a Canadian martial artist, educator, and author renowned for his contributions to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and other martial arts. Holding a fourth-degree black belt in BJJ, he has dedicated over 40 years to martial arts training, including disciplines such as Combat Submission Wrestling, Kajukenbo Karate, and various forms of Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts. His extensive background also encompasses studies in Judo, Sambo, Kung Fu, Capoeira, and Muay Thai. Stephan is the founder of GrappleArts.com and brings a broad perspective on martial arts effectiveness across different contexts—from sport to street to survival. In addition to being a world-class instructor, Stephan has a background in outdoor survival training, having completed an unassisted 42-day solo canoe trip covering 1,000 miles through seven river and lake systems, without seeing another human for 21 days. 

“Well if I do swap here or end up in the drink, then at least my core will remain warm and maybe I'll survive a bit longer.” Stephan Kesting is a Canadian firefighter, Jiu-Jitsu instructor, and an endurance canoer. In this episode Stephan chats with Luis about Jiu-Jitsu, the difference between a kayak and a canoe, A 42 day, a 1,000 mile solo journey across the Canadian Arctic and Subarctic by canoe, what gear he carried on this trip, challenges of the trip, the use of GPS, bear encounters, and his book Perseverance: Life or Death in the Subartic. Also, Adam Lopez joins Luis live in person to help him run the show and chat about his music. Support Road Dog Podcast by: 1. Joining the Patreon Community: https://www.patreon.com/roaddogpodcast 2. Subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform you listen on. GO SLEEVES: https://gokinesiologysleeves.com HAMMER NUTRITION show code: Roaddoghn20 Listeners get a special 15% off at https://www.hammernutrition.com DRYMAX show code: Roaddog2020  Listeners get a special 15% off at https://www.drymaxsports.com/products/ LUNA Sandals “Whether I'm hitting the trails or just hanging out, LUNA Sandals are my favorite. They're designed by Barefoot Ted of Born to Run and made for every adventure—ultra running, hiking, or just kicking back. Its minimalist footwear that's good for your feet!” Check them out and get 15% off at lunasandals.com/allwedoisrun. Allwedoisrun.com Stephan Kesting Contact Info: Amazon Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612 wilderness.com IG: @essentialwilderness YouTube: @essentialwilderness Luis Escobar (Host) Contact: luis@roaddogpodcast.com Luis Instagram Kevin Lyons (Producer) Contact: kevin@roaddogpodcast.com yesandvideo.com Music: Slow Burn by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Original RDP Photo: Photography by Kaori Peters kaoriphoto.com Road Dog Podcast Adventure With Luis Escobar www.roaddogpodcast.com    

Stephan Kesting is a Canadian outdoorsman, firefighter, martial artist and author and in this interview, we talk on building expedition skills, cultural differences between Europe and North America, his expeditions, setting up as an outdoorsman and more. Resources mentionedBook -  https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/Website - www.essentialwilderness.comInstagram - instagram.com/essentialwildernessYouTube - youtube.com/@essentialwildernessThe Bracken Outdoors Podcast is designed for Woodland Leaders from bushcraft instructors to Forest School practitioners, helping you build a life in the great outdoors. With weekly short episodes on all aspects of life as a freelance Woodland Leader, from business tips and advice to philosophy of outdoor education, as well as monthly deep dives into larger topics or interviews with inspirational professionals and leaders in the outdoor education space.Take the struggle out of setting up tarps with the Essential Tarps and Knots Course for Forest School Leaders, find out more at: https://brackenoutdoors.com/essentialtarpsFree Resources: + How to choose a tarp guide+ Forest School Activity Ideas PDF + The complete guide to setting your rates as an outdoor leaderTo find out more about my mission to help people Belong Outside, head to https://brackenoutdoors.com/

This week, we're honored to welcome Stephan Kesting, adventurer, firefighter, jiujitsu practitioner, and author of the new book Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic.Stephan shares the gripping story of his thousand-mile solo canoe expedition through the Canadian Subarctic—a journey he undertook after recovering from a life-threatening illness and a kidney transplant.Stephan recounts how a near-death experience reshaped his perspective on life, inspiring him to finally pursue a decades-long dream of exploring one of the most remote and unforgiving regions of the world. From battling treacherous rapids and harsh weather to a chilling encounter with a bear, Stephan's story is one of courage, resilience, and calculated risk-taking. He reflects on the lessons he learned about perseverance, risk management, and the fleeting nature of time.Join us for an inspiring and raw conversation about chasing your dreams, overcoming adversity, and finding meaning in the wilderness.

In this episode, legendary Jiu-Jitsu instructor Stephan Kesting joins us to discuss the concept of perseverance. It's both a critical mental model for success in martial arts, and also the title of his new Amazon best-selling book, Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic. Stephan shares his remarkable journey following a health crisis that led to kidney failure and transplant in 2015, his 1000-mile solo canoe trip through the Canadian North, and how these journeys translated to learnings applicable to Jiu-Jitsu.Follow Stephan on Instagram:https://instagram.com/stephan_kestingBuy Stephan's new book, Perseverance:https://essentialwilderness.com/book/Mental models discussed in this episode:Survivorship Biashttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/survivorship-bias/Resulting Fallacyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/resulting/Keep Your Identity Smallhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-your-identity-small/10-Minute Rulehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/10-minute-rule/Consistencyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistency/Stress and Recoveryhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/stress-and-recovery/Prioritize Longevityhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/prioritize-longevity/Return on Investmenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/return-on-investment/Ulysses Contractshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ulysses-contracts/Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game.  We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.Sign up here for a free trial:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/Need more BJJ Mental Models?Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

Send us a textPaddling 1600 kilometers in less than 50 days in boreal Saskatchewan, Stephan shares some great pointers, some definitely do not do tips, wild animal stories, and how much fun it is to duct tape ruined maps back together.https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting/https://www.youtube.com/user/StephanKestinghttps://www.tiktok.com/@stephankestinghttps://essentialwilderness.com/author/stephankesting/https://kesting.libsyn.com/Support the showCONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/homeEMAIL: hi@supergoodcamping.comWEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.comYOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampinFACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping Support the show

TODAY’s GUEST IS … Today's guest is Stephan Kesting, who is an adventurer, firefighter, and lifelong martial artist who thrives in high-pressure situations. Whether navigating the remote Arctic, making split-second decisions as a firefighter, or battling on the mats as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, he has spent his life mastering the art of resilience.... The post #213 Stephan Kesting: Surviving the Wild – Perseverance, Problem-Solving & Mental Strength first appeared on The Next Level Guy Show.

Join Josh McKinney(@thejoshmckinney) as he sits down with Stephan Kesting ( @StephanKesting )—jiu-jitsu black belt, kidney transplant survivor, and wilderness adventurer—who completed a grueling 1,000-mile canoe journey across the Canadian subarctic. In this conversation, Stephan reveals how he overcame brutal storms, near hypothermia, and countless rapids, all while balancing the demands of a transplanted kidney and an aging body. Discover the mindset, strategies, and hard-earned lessons that fueled this epic trek into one of Earth's most remote regions and how a journey like this can so closely relate to a Jiu-Jitsu Journey.Stephan's New BookJiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles (FREE)  BJJ Mental Models Kicksite FREE 30 Day TrialDatsusara 10% OFF with Promo Code “ISUCK”Join ⁠ISAJJ PRO (ALL of Josh's Courses in One Place)Join the Gi Gazette⁠Ask Questions/Suggest Topics⁠ for the showFollow the show on⁠ Instagram⁠⁠Check out the ISAJJ Youtube Channel⁠

BJJ legend Stephan Kesting comes on the show to discuss misinformation and chronicle his adventurous canoe trip through Canada's wilderness. Highlighting issues from medical systems to social media polarization, Stephan emphasizes preparedness, critical thinking, and experiences with nature, including encounters with polar bears and wildfires. His book, Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic, is […]

In this episode of Warriors Unmasked, Chuck Thuss sits down with Stephan Kesting, a man whose story of survival, resilience, and self-discovery will leave you deeply inspired. Stephan, known for his expertise in martial arts and his popular online presence as a BJJ instructor, shares a side of his life that many haven't heard—his journey of loss, a life-saving kidney transplant, and a 42-day solo expedition through the unforgiving Canadian Subarctic. Stephan's story is not just about the physical challenges of navigating a thousand miles of wilderness; it's about confronting grief, mortality, and the profound lessons that come from time spent alone with one's thoughts. His upcoming book, Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic, documents this life-changing adventure and the mental, emotional, and spiritual transformation it brought. A Journey Born from Loss and Survival Stephan opens up about the heartbreaking loss of his two younger brothers, a tragedy that left an unfillable void in his heart. As if that weren't enough, he was also diagnosed with a genetic kidney condition that ultimately led to a transplant—a gift of life from his brother. This life-altering experience, paired with his grief, prompted Stephan to embark on a solo canoe trip through the remote Northern wilderness in 2019. For 42 days, Stephan battled unpredictable rapids, bear encounters, forest fires, and the overwhelming solitude of isolation. But this wasn't just an outdoor adventure—it was a journey inward. With every paddle stroke upriver and every storm he weathered, Stephan processed his trauma, came to terms with his near-death experience, and found a deeper sense of peace and purpose. The Mental Battle of Solitude In the silence of the wilderness, there are no distractions—just you and your thoughts. Stephan describes the mental challenges of being entirely cut off from the world, with no phone, no social media, and no human contact. He shares how, at times, the loneliness felt unbearable, but those moments also gave him clarity. He realized that grief doesn't go away—it becomes part of us. But rather than allowing it to weigh him down, Stephan chose to let it fuel his journey of growth and self-discovery. Through the lens of his wilderness experience, he encourages listeners to embrace life's challenges rather than run from them, reminding us that the hardest moments often bring the greatest growth. Lessons from the Wilderness Stephan's expedition taught him powerful lessons that apply far beyond the wilderness: Resilience is built through action: You don't need to feel strong to take the next step—just take it. Solitude reveals clarity: Time alone can help us process emotions we often suppress. Nature is a powerful healer: Stephan found that the vastness of the wilderness helped put his grief and life's struggles into perspective. Life is fragile and precious: His near-death experience and the loss of his brothers served as stark reminders that life can change in an instant. A New Purpose Through Pain Today, Stephan continues to teach martial arts, inspire others through his storytelling, and share the lessons he's learned about resilience and mental health. His upcoming book, Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic, dives deeper into his expedition and the life lessons he hopes will help others navigate their own storms. He reminds us all that we don't have to face life's challenges alone—and that sometimes, stepping away from the noise of the world can help us reconnect with what truly matters. Listen to the full episode for more of Stephan's incredible journey, his practical insights on resilience, and the lessons he learned from his time alone in the wilderness.   GUEST LINKS: Get The Book:  https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting Martial Arts/BJJ site: grapplearts.com IG @‌stephan_kesting: Instagram (@stephan_kesting) YT @‌stephankesting: Stephan Kesting Outdoors site: www.essentialwilderness.com IG @‌essentialwilderness: Instagram (@essentialwilderness) YT @‌essentialwilderness: Essential Wilderness - Stephan Kesting   LINKS: www.thecompassionateconnection.com www.warriorsunmasked.com  Join Chuck's Text Community: 251-418-7966   Episode Minute By Minute: 00:00 – Introduction: Trauma, Triumph, and Today's Guest, Stephan Kesting 02:22 – Stephan shares his lifelong connection to the wilderness 04:50 – The devastating loss of two brothers and how it shaped his path 07:30 – Discovering a genetic kidney condition and the journey to transplant 09:45 – The mental and emotional toll of watching his health decline 12:15 – The life-saving gift: a kidney donation from his brother 14:30 – Processing grief through wilderness trips and solo adventures 17:00 – Navigating fear, risk, and self-doubt in the Canadian Subarctic 20:30 – Insights on mortality and the importance of living with urgency 25:45 – The 42-day, 1,000-mile solo expedition: challenges and lessons 30:10 – Wrestling with mental exhaustion, joy, and the extremes of emotion 35:20 – Practical insights on resilience and perseverance from the journey 40:15 – The impact of wilderness solitude on mental health 44:00 – Stephan's new book Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic 48:00 – Final thoughts on trauma, time, and how nature can help us heal 53:00 – Chuck's Challenge: Detaching decisions from outcomes and living with purpose

Tonight we are chatting about our upcoming interview with Stephan Kesting. Who is he, what hes done, and why hes coming on the podcast. We will also be giving details on special giveaway that will take place with the interview! Be sure to listen to get a glimpse into what to expect next week, and how to get your name in on the give away!https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1639368612/?coliid=I3TIBL5REEH24Y&colid=10MLZV11X5OWV&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

In this episode, we dive into the powerful story behind Stephan Kesting's book, Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic. Stephan shares his harrowing journey of survival after facing near-death experiences in the wild, and how these challenges led him to a deeper understanding of life, resilience and hope. Don't miss this incredible story of survival and personal growth. Stephan's Book:https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tonight we are going to be talking about what to do if you have to travel at night. Of course we all know that staying put is the best thing to do when its night, but what happens if something makes you move? What should you think about? What can you do? We'll give our experiences and some suggestions tonight!If you want to pre-order Stephan Kesting's new book "Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic" Check out the link below!https://a.co/d/cgZQon8

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

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  

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        

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

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.

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

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

Send us a textToday's guest join us to discuss how online education has revolutionized learning, how cultural influences impact fighting styles, and his hourglass theory of jiu-jitsu.Here is The RŌL Radio with the operator of Grapplearts.com, host of The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast, and the author of The Roadmap for BJJ, Stephan Kesting.www.rolacademy.tv 30% discount with ROLRADIO code at checkout. Over 1300 videos for your Jiu-Jitsu journey.FREE Access to ROL TV - https://rolacademy.tv/yt/269-the-rol-radiohttp://www.therolradio.comhttps://www.instagram.com/therolradiohttps://www.facebook.com/therolradio/https://www.grapplearts.com/https://www.grapplearts.com/tag/podcasts/https://www.grapplearts.com/the-free-roadmap-for-bjj-app/https://www.grapplearts.com/grapplearts-bjj-master-app/Episode Highlights:3:10 Dissemination of Information14:04 Revolutionizing How to Teach17:01 Giving Mom an Ultimatum21:00 Techniques, Training, and Tools, Make a Difference29:15 Training for Rule Sets36:06 Culture Changes Fighting46:06 The Hourglass Concept53:32 Evolution of Instruction1:01:53 Celeste Cronin's QuestionSupport the show

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

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

This week we're joined again by Cal McDonald!  Cal is a BJJ black belt under Rob Biernacki from Island Top Team and is the author of the new "BJJ Foundations" instructional alongside Stephan Kesting from Grapplearts.  In this episode, Cal discusses "automatic grappling," or the science of how we can improve our reaction time and make better decisions by thinking less when we train.Email Cal:cal.mcdonald@hotmail.comGet Cal's instructional, BJJ Foundations:https://www.grapplearts.com/bjj-foundations/Resources discussed in this episode:BJJMM Ep. 93 feat. Cal McDonald:https://bjj.plus/93The Art of Learning, by Josh Waitzkinhttps://amzn.to/4bKlk4GThinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahnemanhttps://amzn.to/3R8bOk6Mental models discussed in this episode:Effortful Retrievalhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/effortful-retrieval/Cognitive Loadhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-load/Interleavinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/interleaving/Dictate the Pacehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/dictate-the-pace/Form to Leave Formhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/form-to-leave-form/Teach to Learnhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/teach-to-learn/Deliberate Practicehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/deliberate-practice/Predictable Responseshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/predictable-responses/Ecological Dynamicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game.  We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.Sign up here for a free trial:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/Need more BJJ Mental Models?Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

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

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  

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

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

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

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

This week we're joined again by Stephan Kesting!  In this episode, the legendary Grapplearts instructor breaks down key concepts from his latest instructional, Rolling Backtakes for Everyone.Follow Stephan on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting/Resources mentioned in this episode:The Dope Mount, The Easiest Way to Get to the Mount —Stephan Kestinghttps://youtu.be/hhZx5ZFhSQwRolling Backtakes for Everyone, by Stephan Kestinghttps://www.grapplearts.com/rolling-backtakes-for-everyone/Mental models discussed in this episode:Predictable Responseshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/predictable-responses/Committed Techniqueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/committed-techniques/Economy of Motionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/economy-of-motion/Asymmetric Warfarehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/asymmetric-warfare/Static vs. Dynamic Controlhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/static-vs-dynamic-control/Investing in Losshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/investing-in-loss/Critical Control Pointshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/critical-control-points/Keep it Playfulhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful/Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game.  We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.Sign up here for a free trial:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/Need more BJJ Mental Models?Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

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

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

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 

The casual listener, who might possibly not be a loyal Patreon subscriber, or might hypothetically not listen devotedly to every Gurometer scoring episode, could conceivably be a little vague about what we mean by a secular guru(!). And therefore might be tempted to make an ill-considered and poorly-informed comment on Twitter or Reddit, thus exposing them to the devastating yet apropos riposte of a "You know nothing, Jon Snow" meme in reply. Don't let it be you! Here is a tutorial, a short illustrated primer if you will, on the Science and the Art of 'Gurometry'. No more will you have to live with the shame of not knowing how many syllables there are in anti-establishmentarianism. Never again will you be liable to fall prey to the siren song of pseudo-profound bullshit or fall foul of conspiracy mongers.Listen to it. Study it. Meditate on it. In no time at all you'll be spotting gurus in the wild, categorising, and classifying them at will. You'll feel like an ornithologist who's just been given a great big pair of binoculars, a spotter's guidebook, and a free afternoon to wander about a National park. Impress your friends, family, and potential sexual partners with your intimate and subtle understanding of What It Means to Be a Guru.You're welcome.LinksOnline Presentation on the Gurometer at The StoaDTG Episode 21: Calibrating the GurometerStrenuous Life Podcast: 10 Red Flags You're Following a Guru, Stephan Kesting with Dr Chris Kavanagh

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

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

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

This week we're joined again by two fan favorites, Rob Biernacki and Stephan Kesting!  In this episode, Rob and Stephan discuss the evolving landscape of the leglock game and how things have changed in the past few years.Get Rob & Stephan's new instructional, Cutting Edge Leglocks:https://www.grapplearts.com/cutting-edge-leglocks/Follow Rob on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/islandtopteam/Follow Stephan on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting/Check out the Grapplearts site and app:https://grapplearts.com/Mental models discussed in this episode:Asymmetric Warfarehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/asymmetric-warfare/Double Troublehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/double-trouble/Inversionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/inversion/Position Over Submissionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/position-over-submission/Direct vs. Proxy Controlhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/direct-vs-proxy-control/3 Joint Rulehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/3-joint-rule/Single vs. Double Lever Controlhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/single-vs-double-lever-control/Committed Techniqueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/committed-techniques/Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game.  We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.Sign up here for a free trial:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/Need more BJJ Mental Models?Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

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!

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

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

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

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