The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting

I sit down with Japanese ju-jutsu black belt Alex Kask to discuss the benefits, pitfalls and procedures for training in traditional systems and in modern BJJ at the same time. Both Alex and I have extensive backgrounds in both approaches, although I've done more BJJ and he's done more classical jujutsu, aikido and hapkido. I hope you find this an informative and entertaining chat! Also while I have your attention can I remind you to download the BJJ Master App for iOS and Android? There are more than 500 minutes of free black belt instruction on that app. You can grab it free at https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp Good luck with your training, Stephan

This was a fascinating conversation with Nick Hiebert who has done a ton of research into the nutrient density of different foods. In this talk we look at the all time greatest, most nutrient dense foods, the ketogenic diet, fats vs carbs vs proteins, and much more. Check out Nick's blog at https://thenutrivore.blogspot.com/ or follow him on Twitter @The_Nutrivore where he spends a ton of time debunking bad nutritional science https://twitter.com/The_Nutrivore And if you're on Twitter anyway why not follow me @stephankesting https://twitter.com/StephanKesting because I'm reasonably active on there and share cool stuff all the time Peace, Stephan

I think you'll like this one, because I share a fighting strategy that comes from Roberto Leitão, the godfather of Luta Livre who has trained fighters like Jose Aldo, Pedro Rizzo and Marco Ruas. I also discuss times when you should use the exact opposite strategy to develop your game! Check out The Guard Retention Formula at https://www.grapplearts.com/guardretention. It's an absolutely amazing instructional that will make your guard much, much, MUCH harder to pass or your money back! Cheers Stephan

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) can seem incredibly complicated when you're first exposed to it. In this episode I explain the positional hierarchy, the underlying logic, and the method behind the madness of what happens when two people are rolling on the ground. I think this'll really help you and I hope you share it with your friends! Download 'The Roadmap for BJJ' in PDF form for free at https://www.grapplearts.com/book And grab 'The Roadmap for BJJ App' for Apple and Android devices for free at https://www.grapplearts.com/roadmap Good luck with your training! Stephan Kesting

In this podcast I answer a question I received on an Instagram Live Q&A about a boxing beating jiu-jitsu in a real streetfight. Then I go on an epic rant about the three specific things most BJJ guys need to do first to make their martial art streetworthy. Follow me on Instagram (@stephan_kesting) and maybe a future podcast episode will be devoted to answering one of your questions! Also go to https://www.grapplearts.com/guardretention to find out more about the upcoming step-by-step formula for stopping your guard from getting passed. I guarantee this instructional will completely change your jiu-jitsu And, as always, good luck with your training! Stephan

Mike McCastle has accomplished some of the most amazing tasks of endurance I've ever heard of. In this episode we go deep into developing mental strength, maintaining commitment in the face of adversity, and dealing with physical and emotional pain. This is an amazing episode and I hope you really like it! Mike's feats of endurance are part of the 12 Labors Project and include setting the world 24 hour pull-up record while wearing a 30 lb pack (5804 pull-ups), pulling an F150 pickup truck for 22 miles through Death Valley, climbing the height of Mount Everest (29,029 feet) by going up and down a 20-foot rope 1,450 times, flipping a 250 lb tire for 13 miles the day after he lost his father to Parkinson's disease, running 20 miles a day for 100 days straight, and more. Follow Mike on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mikemccastle/?hl=en or check out his website at http://www.twelvelaborsproject.com ----------------------------------- Grab my free downloadable guide to learning BJJ fast at https://www.grapplearts.com/book Check out the huge archive of techniques and detailed training tips at https://www.grapplearts.com/articles/ ----------------------------------- Grab the "Grapplearts BJJ Master App" with more than 500 minutes of free black belt instruction here: iPhone and iPad: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bjj-master-app-by-grapplearts/id1308072068 Android phones and tablets: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.grappleartcontainer ----------------------------------- Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting ----------------------------------- And, most importantly, good luck with your training! Stephan

Tristan Connelly, fresh off his absolutely amazing underdog win over Michel Pereira in the UFC, talks with Stephan Kesting on The Strenuous Life Podcast. We went into detail about mindset, strategy and training. I think you'll find this a great episode! Specific topics included, 00:14 A detailed breakdown of his fight with Michel Pereira, 07:00 Weight control for MMA Fighters, 09:23 What quitting fighting will look like, 11:10 On being a chronic trainer, 12:09 Developing fight strategies, 15:10 Taking a fight on short notice, 18:14 What he does for recovery after hard training, 19:46 What the average week of training looks like, 21:56 The factor that set off Tristan's winning streak, 24:07 The effect of your win to loss ratio on your MMA career, 25:00 How to figure out if MMA isn't for you, 29:25 Amateur mistakes Tristan made in pro fights, 37:02 Fighting MMA in Japan, 38:43 Why cornering guys is more stressful than fighting yourself, 41:40 Working as a motion capture model for the UFC game with Electronic Art, 47:37 How to find Tristan on social media. Follow Tristan on Instagram @mmatristan or here: https://www.instagram.com/mmatristan/ Check out his Youtube video on how to set up and finish the guillotine choke at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHrevZDt_4g&feature=youtu.be ----------------------------------- Grab my free downloadable guide to learning BJJ fast at https://www.grapplearts.com/book Check out the huge archive of techniques and detailed training tips at https://www.grapplearts.com/articles/ ----------------------------------- Grab the "Grapplearts BJJ Master App" with more than 500 minutes of free black belt instruction here: iPhone and iPad: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bjj-master-app-by-grapplearts/id1308072068 Android phones and tablets: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.grappleartcontainer ----------------------------------- Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting ----------------------------------- And, most importantly, good luck with your training! Stephan

Sparring is just as essential in the striking arts as it is in the grappling arts, but the addition of percussive trauma raises the stakes and makes safety the single most important consideration. In this short episode I talk with Ritchie Yip from The Precision Kickboxing Masterclass (http://www.selfdefensetutorials.com/kickboxing) about sparring in boxing and kickboxing and his top tips for doing it safely! Enjoy your training, Stephan

"Survive first, win later" was one of the very first pieces of advice I ever received in jiu-jitsu. It helped me then and it still helps me now, both on and off the mat. I hope this mentality helps you too! And just a quick reminder that a rating or a review of the podcast is the easiest thing you can do to help out, so thank you for that in advance. Good luck with your training, Stephan Kesting

I talk with Chris Duffin, one of the most elite powerlifters in the world, about his absolutely inspiring journey from a childhood spent in poverty to becoming one of the strongest men on the planet. Learn what it's like to deadlift 1000 lbs and squat 900 lbs for reps! Some of the highlights of today's episode include Chris talking about overcoming an upbringing in complete poverty, powerlifting at the highest levels, struggling with addiction, the importance of escaping bad influences, dealing with with injuries, how less is more when it comes to achieving big goals, and much more. Follow Chris on Instagram at @mad_scientist_duffin and check out his training programs and unique training equipment at https://store.kabukistrength.net/ If you like today's chat with Chris Duffin please subscribe to The Strenuous Life Podcast so you don't miss any future episodes. And if you already subscribe then a rating or review would be super-appreciated because they really help! Thanks Stephan

You can train super hard and kick the crap out of your body but that doesn't make you stronger - it's only after you RECOVER from training that the benefits of training manifest themselves. Too many athletes focus entirely on the training component and neglect recovery, but ultimately you need to be as focussed and diligent on your recovery, recuperation and rehabilitation as you are on what you're doing in the gym! If you haven't done so already, check out the brand new instructional I just released with Rob Biernacki called 'The Submission Formula'. It's a conceptually based, scientific, and step-by-step approach to catching more people in submissions and then finishing them, even if they're much bigger and stronger than you. More info at https://www.grapplearts.com/submissionformula Good luck with your training and choke someone out for me! Stephan

You can train super hard and kick the crap out of your body but that doesn't make you stronger - it's only after you RECOVER from training that the benefits of training manifest themselves. Too many athletes focus entirely on the training component and neglect recovery, but ultimately you need to be as focussed and diligent on your recovery, recuperation and rehabilitation as you are on what you're doing in the gym! If you haven't done so already, check out the brand new instructional I just released with Rob Biernacki called 'The Submission Formula'. It's a conceptually based, scientific, and step-by-step approach to catching more people in submissions and then finishing them, even if they're much bigger and stronger than you. More info at https://www.grapplearts.com/submissionformula Good luck with your training and choke someone out for me! Stephan

How to get more chokes, armlocks and leglocks in BJJ with Rob Biernacki. We break down a 6 step submission formula that will allow you to hit more submissions on good people, even if they're bigger and stronger than you. Plus we talk about training submissions as positions, an incredibly important skill to develop if you want to get better at tapping people out. Check out The Submission Formula featuring Rob Biernacki and Stephan Kesting (that's me!) at https://www.grapplearts.com/submissionformula And, as always, good luck with your training! Stephan

Jessica is the yoga coach to the New Orleans Saints. She helps NFL players put themselves back together after the relentless abuse of games and training. And she also does BJJ which means she's doubly cool. In the last year, however, she's fought back from having cancer and came on the podcast to talk about it. I thought that her tips on how different types of breathing affect your central nervous system was fascinating! Check out our previous podcast together on episode 138 of The Strenuous Life Podcast And follow her on Instagram to see how yoga helps NFL players, @jessica.huneycutt or https://www.instagram.com/jessica.huneycutt/

BJJ is a fantastically fun sport that's also undeniably hard on the body. Here's my single biggest tip for people in their 30's and 40's who want to keep on training into their 50's and 60's If you're not already doing so then follow me on instagram where I post cool pics and informative videos quite regularly https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting And if you're thinking about starting BJJ, or have done it for less than 2 years, then grab my free guide to learning the art as fast as possible here: https://www.grapplearts.com/book Cheers! Stephan

If you're serious about jiu-jitsu then should you train everyday? In answering this question I also give some real life examples of how to achieve any large, hairy, audacious goal, be that getting your BJJ black belt, building your own business, getting good marks in school, etc. Many of the examples I used in this episode came from the 1000 Mile Solo which you can find out more about at https://www.grapplearts.com/solo Good luck with your training and achieving your goals, whatever they may be!! Stephan

You'll like this episode! In it I talk with 62 yr old BJJ black belt Rabbi Mordecai Finley (the Wrassling Rabbi) about starting BJJ at a later age, picking the right jiu-jitsu club, training after a heart attack, the horrors of the Eastern Front in World War 2, interpreting the Torah, being Leonard Cohen's Rabbi, and awarding Blue Belts in marriage counselling.

Stephan talks with Filipino Martial Arts instructor Jarlo Ilano about sparring with sticks and knives, self defense and how the training methods you're using affect how your martial art will express itself when you're trying to use it under stress. Jarlo Ilano is an instructor under Burton Richardson https://jkdunlimited.com/ in his Battlefield Kali system and a purple belt in BJJ. And as well as being a physical therapist since 1998 with a board specialty in orthopedics, he is a co-founder and Managing Director at GMB Fitness https://gmb.io/ which specializes in online training for improving strength, flexibility, and body control through bodyweight exercise.

This trip has been a looooong time in the making. Back in 1992 I had the crazy idea of doing a super long trip that would take me across Nueltin Lake and down the Thlewiaza river in Nunavut, north of 60 degrees latitude. This trip was originally planned for 2014 but life got in the way. I got divorced, lost my home and underwent a kidney transplant. 2014 came around and unfortunately I wasn't in a place where I could go on this trip I had been planning for over a decade. It took an additional 5 years of planning, strategising and building relationships to make the trip happen but it finally worked out. Big goals are, almost by definition, hard to achieve (if they were easy to then everyone would be doing them). To achieve them you need both patience and impatience, the willingness to wait for things to fall into place and relentless speed of implementation to maximise the chances that things will go your way.

Today was a very interesting day. I had just arrived at Nuelton lake. It is a huge lake that expands over 100km. I had heard there were some abandoned cabins along this lake. Every thing was left there, from motors to gas to batteries and of course, some garbage. This left me in a pretty sketchy scenario when some company came along...

Do you ever find yourself struggling to start a task that you have been excited to do for so long? That is completely normal! We all have moments where we just cannot seem to find any motivation. In my case, its waking up knowing that I am going to be paddling for the next 8 hours... Here are 7 tips you can use right now to help get you on track and stay motivated so that you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to!

I am on day 12 of my 1000 miles solo journey and my body is starting to feel it. My mind is feeling foggier and my urges to rest are stronger. It is at this point where I need to remind myself of how important quality recovery is in any mental or physical exercise. It's no secret that rest is important but it is often under looked as the key to great performance.

If you ever find yourself slogging through a lake like I did, here are some helpful tips and tricks on safety and navigation.

When I told people I would be going on a solo expedition for a few weeks, most thought it was a strange thing to be traveling in complete solitude for so long. However, I think it is an important part of the human experience to do things solo. If you are planning a trip by yourself, this episode will outline a few tips to help!

If you are watching someone document their expedition, you are likely only seeing their highlight reel. They would document their trekking over beautiful landscapes, setting up camp for the evening and doing it all again the next day. What you don't see are all of the extra tasks that have to be done to get to the trekking part.

In this blast from the past, I have a fun conversation about BJJ, Judo and MMA with Jeff MEszaros, one of the guy si started training with 25 years ago! Self defense applications of BJJ, Russian team MMA events , Judo and the early days of the Uncle Willy's Grappling Association. The joys and hazards of learning BJJ in Brazil, The evolution of BJJ (and how we got to double guard pulls), why describing BJJ as the "Male Pyjama Wrestler" tends to give people the wrong idea and so much more...

It is day one of my canoe trip, and so far so good. Although some things were different than what I thought, my preparedness for this trip has left me feeling ready for almost any situation. People tend to believe that to chase a dream, one must keep running and running until they get to the top. This is what most people misunderstand. For example, this trip has been 20 years in the making and it would be silly of me to let myself burn out in the first couple days. To really make a dream come true, you need to spend most of your energy planning and training mentally so you don't exhaust yourself physically!

On the one hand, I am a huge fan. I have been watching the UFC since its inauguration in 1993, and have enjoyed fights in Pride FC, Shooto, WEC and many other organizations. I have nothing but respect for the skill, athleticism and mental toughness of the modern MMA fighter. However, as the sport has developed so has the risk and impact of severe head injury. Fighters are getting hit more often and more striking has resulted in more headshots. Are there ways of limiting these head injuries while still maintaining the intensity of the sport? Find out in this weeks archived podcast.

If you fail to plan, plan to fail. I am just about ready to leave for my 1000 mile journey to Hudson Bay. This is just a small glimpse at some of the planning I have had to do in order to survive all on my own for the next few weeks. Though I will have very little communication, I have made it possible to upload real-time podcasts from the field as I embark on this journey.

This summer I am attempting to travel 1,000 miles in a canoe by myself in Canada's northern boreal forest and the barren lands of the eastern arctic. In this episode I talk about why I would ever want to do such a thing, the logistics and planning involved, contingency plans, dealing with bears, and how I'm going to pack 50 days of food into a boat that doesn't quite seem large enough... During the trip I hope to use a satellite data link to upload short updates and episodes to this podcast, as well as the occasional picture to my Instagram which you can follow @stephan_kesting or https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting/ I hope you enjoy this episode. Subscribe to the podcast if you want the live from the field updates! Stephan

One of the most common questions I get is how to find a good school. This is a REALLY important issue, given that in your martial arts journey you'll potentially be spending thousands of hours training and placing your health in the hands of total strangers. In this podcast I give you some of my very best tips for picking the best school for your needs Check out my instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting Get tons of BJJ and grappling tips at https://www.grapplearts.com/articles And find out more about self defense at https://www.selfdefensetutorials.com

This blast from the past podcast brings back a good friend of mine, Brandon Mullins. In our time together, we discussed Life and Death on the seminar circuit, transitioning from gi to no-gi, the evolution of Jiu Jitsu and some ways to help manage training, conditioning and sparring.

Roy Dean is a martial arts pro. In this podcast, he explains the fundamental differences between the different martial arts, including Aikido and how he translates it over to other martial arts. He also talks about what kind of markers and skill differences he looks out for when bringing people up to the next belt and whether the belt should be used as motivation or if it disrupts the learning process. To check out his apps or instructional DVD's, go to his website at: roydeanacademy.com

This is a short rant about the dichotomy of individuality in the martial arts. On the one hand you absolutely have to take responsibility for finding techniques and strategies that fit your body, your physical attributes, and your personality. On the other hand if you spend too much time training in a small group without the opportunity to calibrate your skills against people much better than you then you can end up king of your local hill and never make it up the slopes of the higher mountains around you! Stephan Kesting

Not many people know that in 2015 I was dying of kidney failure and had to have a lifesaving kidney transplant surgery to save my life. Here is the story of that transplant from my brother (eternal thanks to https://www.instagram.com/christophkesting/), the recovery process, and getting back to normal. IMPORTANT: Listen to the end of the podcasts to get the details on how I'll give you a complete BJJ instructional just for signing your organ donor card!!! Don't you love it when people bribe you to do the right thing?

Scotty Nelson is one of the original gangsters of North American BJJ. From training at the Ralph Gracie Academy back in the day, to training jiu-jitsu in Brazil, to developing one of the first online BJJ technique resources, to his adventures in Pakistan sourcing gi's for On The Mat, Scotty shares some incredible stories with us today! Grab my app for learning high level BJJ for FREE at https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp

TEDx speaker Brett Piperni joins us on The Strenuous Life Podcast to talk about discipline, decision making, and deliberately putting yourself into situations where you have no options other than going forward. Brett was a nationally ranked Taekwondo competitor who was diagnosed with an illness that crippled him which specialists told him was incurable. He fought through it, returned to competition, and even managed to medal at a national championship again. This is a great example of the power of the human mind and how martial arts training can literally save your life. Find out more about Brett at https://vancitybrett.ca

I'm just getting over an injury that was completely, utterly, absolutely my own fault. The fastest way to stall your BJJ progress is to get injured. It's true that some injuries are unavoidable, but so many of them can be avoided by KEEPING YOUR EGO IN CHECK! Also, have you downloaded my free BJJ Master App yet? Even if you never buy anything on it you still get more than 457 minutes of completely free instruction including a complete back attacks instructional! https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp

Vanessa Wexler is a BJJ black belt and a multiple no-gi world champion, PanAm champion, and Masters champion. I caught up with her shortly after she won Gold in the Pan Ams competing with a completely destroyed ankle. We talked dealing with injuries, pre-competition visualisation, how running a school does NOT give you unlimited training time, and her modelling career(!).

Knuckle conditioning is a two-edged sword in martial arts. On the one hand hard knuckles and a conditioned fist make for a much more powerful punch in a streetfight and make it less likely you'll break your hand or sprain your wrist. On the other hand it increases the risk of arthritis and non-functional hands as you get older. What should martial artists do? If you're interested in more information like this then check out the 3 free self defense PDFs I have available at http://selfdefensetutorials.com/get-free-self-defense-tips-by-email/

Monty Collier is a black belt Judoka who worked with Keanu Reeves to get him ready for the amazing fight sequences in the movie John Wick 3 Parabellum. This conversation was a fun one and we started with how Judo has evolved from combat art to Olympic sport, how he taught Keanu highly technical moves, breakfalling on concrete vs mats, and how to fix Judo. Follow Monty's work and see some amazing Judo on Instagram @collierjudomethod And, as always, please leave a rating or a review for this podcast - it really helps!

Jess Munster was born with a severe brachial plexus injury which left her with only one functional arm. But this disability hasn't stopped her from training BJJ, competing against able-bodied fighters, and travelling the world to compete in para-athletic championships! In this episode I talk with Jess about what drives her past the limits of her disability, how she modifies her training and her techniques, and her hopes for the future. This is one very inspiring lady! Follow Jess Munster on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jessmunster_bjj/

Lethwei is an incredibly intense full contact combat sport from Burma that allows punches, kicks, elbows, knees and headbutts. And did I mention that the fighters don't wear gloves and only have a thin layer of gauze over their knuckles? Today's guest is Patrick Marcil who combined Muay Thai, Sanshou, and JKD in order to coach Dave Leduc to World Openweight Lethwei Champion. This chat will be hugely interesting for anyone who follows MMA, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, or is interested in real life self defense! Follow Patrick @sifupatrickmarcil on Instagram or train with him if you're in the Montreal, Canada area - https://gatineau.patenaudemartialarts.com/en/

Tarsis Humphreys is a multiple time BJJ black belt world champion and Brazilian National Champion. In this episode we go DEEP into the mental game, including how to keep a match on your terms, the optimal state of mental arousal for a match, how to avoid overtraining, how Tarsis came back after ACL surgery, mixing weight training and jiu-jitsu training, training with BJJ legend Fabio Gurgel, mental breakthroughs, going to Burning Man, and more! Follow Tarsis on Instagram (@tarsisbjj) And check out Fabio Gurgel's Pressure Passing Formula at https://www.grapplearts.com/pressure

Switching to no gi grappling can be difficult. Here are 5 steps that will make it easier... 1) Accept that No Gi is an inherently faster style of grappling and be prepared to push the pace harder at times, 2) Change your grips so that they aren't gi dependent, 3) Get rid of your gi dependent guards and start developing guards that work in no gi, 4) Learn how to take the back, maintain the back and submit from the back because it's the best position in no gi grappling, 5) Develop your leglock and guillotine choke submissions because those are much more prevalent in no gi than in gi. If you would like some more help developing your gi and no gi games then here are a couple of FREE resources for you... Grab my free app for iOS and Android devices that comes with more than 457 minutes of technique taught by BJJ black belts. More info here: https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp Download a free copy of my book, A Roadmap to BJJ, which will take you through the most important positions and transitions on the ground. Get that here: https://www.grapplearts.com/book Some of the resources mentioned in todays video include: Switching from Gi to No Gi (VIDEO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAcrDrEUnrY What is Pressure Passing (VIDEO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebRCtBilm4A A No Gi Butterfly Guard Gripping Strategy (VIDEO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-pU8dGeI58 The No Gi de la Riva Guard Formula (VIDEO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-pU8dGeI58 How to control someone in Rearmount (VIDEO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA8gVsyu_FU Hidden Legwork Techniques for Maintaining Rearmount (VIDEO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKVqj71dcwQ The Ultimate Guide to the Guillotine Choke (MEGA ARTICLE) https://www.grapplearts.com/guillotine-choke/ The Modern Leglock Formula (GRAPPLEARTS INSTRUCTIONAL) https://www.grapplearts.com/leglocks Modern Leglocking Positions {PDF} https://www.grapplearts.com/main-positions-modern-leglocking/ The BJJ Formula, including the Back Control Formula, (GRAPPLEARTS INSTRUCTIONAL) https://www.grapplearts.com/the-bjj-formula/ Good luck with your training Stephan Kesting Grapplearts.com

Here's one simple thing you should do every time that your training has stalled out and you're just not getting any better. Hell, you should probably be doing this even if your training is going great! Today's episode came from a Q&A I did on Instagram. Follow me there where I'm @stephan_kesting or go to https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting

Today I talk with Kathy Hubble who is a professional Stuntwoman and multiple time Canadian National Judo Champion. She shares how she got started in stunts, how she got injured on set in a Jacky Chan action movie, and how Judo helped her stuntwork. We also delved into the differences in between Judo and BJJ energies, transitioning from throws directly into submissions, and the funny dynamic of battling people on the mat but then being best friends afterwards. This was a lot of fun and I hope you enjoy it! If you're enjoying the podcast then it's hard to overstate how great it would be to get a rating or a review for it on whichever podcast platform you use. That's incredibly important and it really helps me put out more episodes. Finally, the video of this podcast is available on my site at https://www.grapplearts.com/podcast-kathy-hubble-judo-champion-and-stuntwoman/

It's important to be able to dial your aggression level up or down in a BJJ match. There are essentially 3 ways to do this... #1, by using so-called 'dick' moves, and/or #2, by using more force and strength, and/or #3, by simply moving faster. You turn the dials on these 3 variables in your training, but be especially careful if you're using options 1 and 2 against smaller training partners or people who aren't serious competitors. This question came from a Q&A I did on Instagram - follow me there where I'm @stephan_kesting or by clicking here: https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting And sign up for my free BJJ newsletter at https://www.grapplearts.com/newsletter. Seriously, this is the very best source of BJJ information out there on the internet, delivered to your email inbox. I've sent these emails to over 100,000 people and get regular feedback about how good they are, so check it out. It's completely free and always will be! Cheers Stephan

I think you guys are really going to LOVE this talk I had withJamie Flynn, a British Special Forces operator turned world base jumping champion. Jamie is also a wingsuit pilot, a professional bodyguard, has protected giant tanker ships against Somali pirates, and - surprise, surprise - does BJJ. In this episode we go into the selection procedure used by elite units in the British army, the crazy story of how he started base jumping and parachuting, close calls in Iraq and Afghanistan, triggers in sport for optimal performance, his horrific basejumping injury and the road back to jumping again, confronting Somali pirates, bodyguarding strategies, commonalities between base jumping and jiu-jitsu and more! If you want to watch the video of this podcast then check it out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhobVPvYfto Also make sure to check my latest release, the best-selling Pressure Guard Passing System instructional with BJJ legend Fabio Gurgel at https://www.grapplearts.com/pressure And if you get the chance, a rating or review of this podcast is super appreciated. That sort of stuff REALLY helps! Enjoy Stephan Kesting

"Overnight success feels great after 10 years of playing behind chicken wire in honky Tonks" - Willie Nelson. I recorded this rant halfway up a snowy mountain during a rest break because I was thinking about how willingness to work is MUCH more important than talent or genetics, regardless of whether you're talking about sports, business or music. It's amazing how people don't want to acknowledge how much work went on behind the scenes before a major success...