The BJJ Fanatics Podcast

Professor Jared Feierabend joins the show to talk about learning from the greats, meeting Grandmaster Helio Gracie, learning to flow and managing training with age. He also discusses living in the wilderness and changes he's seen in the art over time.

Alex Humen joins the show to talk about his transition from Wrestling to BJJ, overcoming bullying, managing competition anxiety and conditioning for grappling. He also gives technical insight to the D'Arce Choke!

Professor Jena Bishop joins the show to talk about pursuing Jiu-Jitsu with a significant other, her competition mindset and work ethic. She also shares great insight on the closed guard and timing your attacks.

Jamil Hill joins the show to talk about his recent World Championship, avoiding complacency and the evolution of his style. He also talks about the importance of setting a good example and how BJJ kept him away from negative influences growing up

Grandmaster Flavio Behring has over 70 years experience in Jiu-Jitsu. He talks about the early days with his instructor Grandmaster Helio Gracie, self defense Jiu-Jitsu, dealing with multiple attackers and watching GM Helio fight for 3 hours straight.

Kurt is back to talk about his recent UK tour, his upcoming Australian tour and to update us on the progress of Empire Jiu-Jitsu! He also talks about shark cages, wildfires, eating raccoons, and praises Ryan and Karen for surviving a week at his house!

Professor Steve Maxwell returns to talk about globetrotting, self defense, and dealing with armed attacks. He also talks about avoiding muscular imbalances, over-training, out of control egos and the law of attraction.

Richie "Boogeyman" Martinez returns to the show to talk about submitting Sakuraba, running tournaments and growing an academy. He also gives great insight on competition mindset and learning from losses.

Steve Austin has over 20 years of experience training, competing and teaching martial arts. He talks about overcoming a childhood disease, dealing with bullying as a kid and why it's important to reach kids who are bullies as well as their victims.

Lavell Marshall is a World and National Champion of Shuai Jiao Chinese Wrestling. He is also a NYC Mongolian Wrestling Champion. He gives an education on Shuai Jiao and talks about ego, tournament mindset and solo drills to improve your grappling!

Francisco "Sinistro" joins the show to talk about his beginnings in Ecuador, his recent performance at the KO Finisher and having a winning mindset. He also talks about training with Cobrinha and the importance of keeping training fun!

Professor Ishmael Bentley joins the show to talk about his incredible outreach program, the International Jiu-Jitsu Education Fund. This program helps kids in struggling communities around the world get access to Jiu-Jitsu at no cost.

"Big Red" of one of 10th Planet's most active competitors. Coming off his recent team win at Quintet 2, Adam talks about competition mindset, flexibility for big guys and embracing your attributes. He also covers weight loss and self esteem through BJJ

Piet Wilhelm joins the show and speaks candidly about growing up in foster care, living on his own at 12 years old and eventually joining the military. He also talks about helping veterans through BJJ and his hilarious viral video fighting a bodybuilder!

Bret Perchaluk is a BJJ Black Belt, Judo Black Belt and a former D1 Wrestler. He talks about the benefits of exploring various styles and his traditional martial arts background. He also gives great technical insight on sprawling and defensive Wrestling

Mark Turner is the first non-Brazilian to earn a black belt under Demain Maia. He talks about how he found Jiu-Jitsu, learning from Demian, rule sets in Jiu-Jitsu and building a curriculum. He also gives great technical insight on the Half Guard!

Seph Smith is the first black belt under Professor Ryan Hall and a respected competitor and instructor. He talks about how he found Jiu-Jitsu, BS in martial arts and being stuck at a rank for a long time. He also gives great insight on Reverse De La Riva!

Diego "Nosferatu" Herzog joins the show to talk about BJJ for MMA, his match against Roger Gracie and his favorite thing about teaching. He also shares his thoughts on the Submission Only ruleset and gives a recap of the KO Finisher event in San Francisco

While in St Louis to commentate the 2018 USA Combat Wrestling Nationals, Ryan takes time to interview "Sambo" Steve Koepfer, Vlad Koulikov and the USCW Team USA winners!

Claudia Doval joins the show to talk about her recent world title, turning 30, managing injuries, coping with burn-out and the Spider Guard! She also sounds off on bias in Jiu-Jitsu against women and gives advice for men and women alike!

Arin Adjamian returns to talk more about nutrition and to answer questions from listeners! He covers everything from acid reflux, gut health, Big Pharma and CBD oil. He also gives his thoughts on popular diets like Pescetarian, Keto and the Gracie Diet.

Alex Atala is a world renown chef and culinary celebrity who has been featured on CNN, Netflix and Brazilian television. He is also a BJJ Brown Belt under Demian Maia. He talks about his journey and how BJJ has helped him in various aspects of his life.

One of the top female competitors of her generation, Nathiely De Jesus talks about the law of attraction, using Jiu-Jitsu to overcome health issues, training at the infamous Cicero Costha Academy and facing your idols in competition.

Ryan visits San Francisco and catches up with Kurt. They recap Kurt's event The KO Finisher, their time spent in SF, strangers offering Ryan drugs and Kurt's upcoming tours. Kurt also drops a bombshell about his current teaching situation and his future

One of the most decorated American Judokas of all time, Sensei Jimmy Pedro talks about his Olympic experience, his thoughts on modern Judo and his grappling conditioning. He also talks about accepting losses and cross-training in various grappling styles

Davi Ramos is one of the most decorated BJJ competitors today and a current UFC lightweight. He talks about mentality, setting the pace in a match, how Jiu-Jitsu changes for MMA and whether or not grappling competition will remain in his future.

Bruno Frazzato joins the show to talk about managing competition nerves, Jiu-Jitsu for MMA, his time spent at Team Brasa and the birth and growth of Team Atos. He also gives guard passing tips and discusses why he feels the gi helps your no-gi game!

Master Sylvio Behring joins the show for an excellent conversation about self defense, situational awareness and legality of defending yourself. He also talks about the old days in Rio, challenge matches, women's Jiu-Jitsu and his brother Marcelo Behring

Kristian Woodmansee is one of Jiu-Jitsu's most exciting Rooster Weight competitors. He talks about the deep waters of modern BJJ, managing ego, team loyalty and being a smaller competitor. He also weighs in on ref bias and the Keenan Cornelius incident.

Jake Shannon is a highly respected figure in the world of Catch Wrestling. He talks about the history of the style, his time spent with the legends of the sport and Professional Wrestling. He also talks about the future of Catch Wrestling!

Josh "The Punk" Thomson joins the show to talk about how his MMA career began, his grappling influence, fighting for the UFC and PRIDE and how kettlebells have helped his conditioning. He also talks about being a fighter at 40 years old!

Brian McLaughlin tells the story of being a frail chess club member in high school to becoming a professional MMA fighter. He also talks about the early days of BJJ in NY, being a TUF season 8 cast member and his competition rivalry with Ryan Hall.

Brian James, aka "Jiu-Jitsu Cop" is an active police officer and BJJ purple belt who works to encourage police across the country to learn Jiu-Jitsu. He talks about how Jiu-Jitsu has saved him (literally) on the job, and how it can do the same for others!

Colton Brown is one of Judo's most exciting athletes today. He talks about leaving football for Judo, adapting your game, living in Japan and improving your social circle. He also talks about his 2016 Olympic experience in Brazil!

Chris Martin is a BJJ purple belt with a unique story to tell. Chris is an instructor who survived a stroke that was caused from an accident while rolling and takes the time to spread awareness to others. He is also the founder of BJJ For Change.

One of our earliest guests, Erik Paulson returns over 280 episodes later! We catch up with him and discuss why he doesn't coach fighters anymore, growing take down skills, attack sequences, escaping leg locks and supernatural experiences!

Rodrigo Antunes joins the show to talk about starting training at a young age, coming up with world class mentors, plateaus in training, teaching kids and managing parents, heavyweight Jiu-Jitsu and his experience training MMA!

Federico Tisi is a world renown instructor and the first Italian to receive a BJJ Black Belt. He talks about building knowledge, the white belt process, teaching teachers, mindfulness, longevity and the value of focusing on defense as much as offense.

**USE HEADPHONES TO LISTEN** To see the video of this episode, join the Grappling Central group on Facebook, where it was streamed live! Kurt talks about his recent Asia tour, getting kicked out of the Samurai Museum in Japan and shirtless living!

Master Maurico Gomes joins the show to talk about the early competition scene in Brazil, longevity in the art and Jiu-Jitsu's customizable nature. He also covers the blue belt blues, athleticism and rolling with his son, Roger Gracie.

Harley Flanagan was the frontman and bassist for NYC's legendary punk band Cro-Mags. He is also a Black Belt under Master Renzo Gracie and a highly respected instructor. He talks about brawls, riots, NY's old punk scene and how he got started in BJJ!

Ryan is joined by special guest co-host, Rose Gracie! Together they interview WEC and Bellator veteran Chad George. Chad talks about his passion for teaching, "accidentally" starting his MMA career and his viral Bellator debut. He also covers goal setting.

Tyler Driskell is a teammate, instructor and good friend of Ryan's who has a unique story and interesting perspective of BJJ. He talks about why he competes, leg locks, progression in Jiu-Jitsu, Gi vs No-Gi and what makes an academy successful

Sensei Gary Goltz joins the show to talk about starting Judo in 1965, life lessons from competition, advice for parents and his strong desire to see BJJ and Judo work together more. He also tells the hilarious story behind his Conan O'Brien appearance

Arin Adjamian talks about going from being overweight with an eating disorder to becoming a successful Sport Nutritionist and BJJ champion. He also covers meal prepping, calories, the effects of diet on testosterone, fat consumption and cutting weight.

Ryan's Strength & Conditioning coach Scott Shetler joins the show to talk about catering your lifting to meet your grappling needs, the impact of time limits on athletes, cardio vs muscular endurance and nutrition.

Professor Yamasaki joins the show to discuss cross training, why BJJ won't be in the Olympics, Women's Jiu-Jitsu, take downs and building a kids program. He also tells the story of removing a drug dealer from a favela with the Brazilian Federal Police!

Professor "Gordo" is the man credited with developing the Half Guard into an offensive position. He talks about the rules in BJJ competition, finding the right school for you and training though injuries. He also opens up about why he left Gracie Barra.

Professor Helio "Soneca" joins the show to talk about the early days of Gracie Barra, career opportunities in BJJ, working with elite MMA fighters and building an academy. He also states that the Rubber Guard was a position he came up with decades ago.

Professor Charlie Liu is the co-founder of Digitsu and a long time BJJ practitioner. He talks about self defense, small joint manipulation, asking questions in class, starting Digitsu and filming disaster stories.