The Fighting Priests

Fr. Ted & Fr. Thomas reflect on their first year of podcasting and what they have learned from the experience.

Fr. Ted & Fr. Thomas interview 3rd Degree Black Belt and founder of The Jiu Jitsu Brotherhood Nic Gregodriades. Nic was the 1st Black Belt under Roger Gracie in West London.

Fr. Thomas & Fr. Ted interview NoGi Purple Belt Greg Pavlik. Greg trains under Alex Canders at 10th Planet Walnut Creek, San Francisco. Alex Canders is Denny Prokopos' first Black Belt.

Fr. Thomas & Fr. Ted interview Dionysios "Denny" Prokopos 3X World Champion NoGi 2nd Degree Black Belt under Eddie Bravo Head Instructor of San Francisco Jiu-Jitsu Academy

Fr. Ted & Fr. Thomas interview Fr. Michael Sakran. an Antiochian Orthodox Priest from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Fr. Michael is a White Belt in the Gracie Academy in Fort Wayne and the parish priest of St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church.

Fr. Thomas & Fr. Ted interview Orthodox convert Ignatius Rodriguez from Brooklyn, NY. Ignatius is a black belt in Kokusai Jiu-Jitsu and has recently begun learning Gracie BJJ online with Gracie University. Together they discuss the differences and similarities between classical Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Fr. Ted & Fr. Thomas are joined by Fr. Ted's son George, a grey stripe in Junior Jiu-Jitsu, as they reflect on 2020.

Fr. Thomas & Fr. Ted interview Gabriel Luiz Gomes Quintanilha, who is a convert to Orthodoxy from Queluz, São Paulo state, Brazil. He trains at Gracie Humaitá in Queluz and is a 2 degree White belt in BJJ and a Green belt in Judo.

Fr. Ted asks Fr. Thomas a series of unprepared questions sent in by our listeners.

Fr. Ted & Fr. Thomas discuss the use of Yoga as a way of conditioning the body for BJJ and the controversy that Yoga creates in Orthodox Christianity. For further info on Yoga and Orthodoxy check out: 1. The Illumined Heart Episode 163: Yoga and Orthodox Christianity: Are They Compatible? https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/illuminedheart/yoga_and_orthodox_christianity_are_they_compatible 2. Yoga for BJJ https://yogaforbjj.net/

Fr. Thomas and Fr. Ted speak with Jiu Jitsu practitioner Eric Howard from Portland, Oregon. Together they continue their discussion on pacifism, violence and Christianity.

Fr. Ted and Fr. Thomas interview Fr. Jason Blais, a blue belt Orthodox priest based out of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Together they discuss how BJJ helps and challenges those who consider themselves to be introverts.

Fr. Thomas & Fr. Ted explore the leadership philosophy of Jocko Willink and how it relates to leadership in the Church.

Fr. Ted & Fr. Thomas discuss the importance of education as a supplement to the practical side of BJJ. BJJ Online Resources: Helio Gracie Jiu Jitsu - The Master Text https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0975941119/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_ctUnFb4NM189Y Mastering Jiu Jistu by Renzo Gracie https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0736044043/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_8tUnFb0R3C3TM Jiu Jitsu University by Saulo Ribeiro https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0981504434/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_PuUnFb5VYHEPQ www.flograppling.com UFC FightPass: https://www.ufc.com/watch?utm_Comp=UFCBrand-UK-EX&utm_Owner=WP-AGEN&utm_Objective=CPL&utm_Target=ALL&utm_Channel=paidsearch-Bing&msclkid=938d0fb523e71c90190c5083c640185a&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=CAN%20-%20Brand%20-%20Core%20-%20EX&utm_term=ufc%20fight%20pass&utm_content=UFC%20Fight%20Pass bjjfanatics.com RICKSON GRACIE SELF.DEFENSE.UNIT https://www.gallerr.com/academy/rickson-gracie/self-defense-unit ibjjf.com

Fr. Ted and Fr. Thomas interview Catholic Priest and BJJ Blue Belt Fr. Ryan Hallford from Lousiana.

Fr. Thomas & Fr. Ted interview Fr. Matthew Moore from Steubenville, Ohio. Tother they discuss the importance of community, both in the Chuch and in BJJ. Fr. Matthew Moore is 6 years Priest at Holy Trinity GOC, Steubenville, Ohio 2 Stripe White Belt Training for 18 months under Butch Hiles and Andrew Pardee

Fr. Thomas & Fr. Ted discuss parenting and BJJ with guest mom Helen Apostolopoulos-Tsoumaris

Fr. Ted and Fr. Thomas interview Fr. Michael Marcontoni from Nashville. A 2 stripe blue belt who also happens to be a Greek Orthodox Priest.

Fr. Ted and Fr. Thomas discuss mental health, work-life balance and BJJ.

Fr. Thomas and Fr. Ted discuss the beatitudes, life, and power vs restraint.

In this episode Fr.Thomas & Fr. Ted interview Chris Michailidis, a 2 stripe white belt and chiropractor who loves to compete.

Fr. Ted and Fr. Thomas discuss Jacob, spirituality and pacifism.

Fr. Thomas and Fr. Ted interview World Masters IBJJF Double Gold Medalist Joanna Shama. The three discuss Joanna's background in BJJ and the theme of possessing the courage to overcome fear, both in life and in competition. Joanna Shama's Credentials: Purple Belt World Masters IBJJF Double Gold Medalist Euro IBJJF Gold Medalist IBJJF Ranking 2nd in the world

Fr. Ted & Fr. Thomas discuss the phenomenon of most people dropping out of Jiu-Jitsu after they achieve Blue Belt and the parallels to spiritual life.

Fr. Ted & Fr. Thomas discuss adversity and how perceived weakness can actually be a positive force, both in Jiu-Jitsu and in spirituality.

In this pilot episode Fr. Ted & Fr. Thomas discuss their personal journeys through faith and Jiu-Jitsu and how the spiritual father has become the novice!