The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting

Reaching a state of flow where you respond automatically and correctly to your opponent is the goal of martial arts training. But how do you get there? In this episode I go through what flow is, what it feels like, and some of the triggers and prerequisites for flow to occur. Hint: relaxation, competence, engaging with your environment, and having a single clear goal without distractions are all important. For more information on flow check out the book 'Flow' by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. It's a classic! To find out more about the Pressure Passing System instructional I just released with Fabio Gurgel go to Grapplearts.com/pressure And, as always, a rating or a review for this podcast is super appreciated and super helpful! Stephan

Today I chat with Liz Beaver. She's a fitness writer, BJJ practitioner, adventurer, mental health advocate and self-described 'cantankerous bitch'. It's a wide-ranging yet deeply personal conversation in which we go right for the jugular in many important topics including Workout design Balancing work and workouts using time management Are there people who shouldn't train in martial arts Mental health, depression, anxiety and fitness Suggestions to help overcome mental health issues The critical role that getting outside plays Dealing with injuries And much more Follow Liz on Instagram at @ironbeaverfitness

Today's episode is PURE GOLD for BJJ practitioners and No Gi grapplers. Fabio Gurgel - 4 time BJJ Black Belt World Champion (and trainer of more than 50 other world champions) - talks about his approach to passing the guard, including how to connect your moves, the evolution of guard passing, advice for older grapplers, when you should stop halfway through a guard pass to tire the other guy out, and alternatives to the modern styles of guard passing that rely on mobility, athleticism and floating from side to side above your opponent. Check out Fabio's instructional, The Pressure Passing System, available on DVD, online streaming and in app form at https://www.grapplearts.com/pressure

Eliot Marshall is BJJ black belt and a former professional mixed MMA fighter who also appeared in Season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter show. In today's podcast we talk about how to run a successful BJJ school, the financial incentive structures in MMA fight teams, the physical and mental attributes you need to be a good fighter, making a living off of jiu-jitsu, Elliot's experience with anxiety and depression, his rules for raising kids, and his Gospel of Fire book coming out soon. Find out more about Eliot, his teaching, his podcast and his book at https://eliotmarshall.com/

Red Sullivan is a strength and conditioning expert who has worked with athletes in many different sports to help them realise their athletic potential. In this podcast we go deep into skill vs physical attributes, how body types influence sport, insane underwater workouts with Laird Hamilton, and the difference between improving as a person and improving in training. Find out more about Red and his training services at https://www.theredgimen.com/, or follow him on Instagram at @strictlyred —————————————————— OFFICIAL STEPHAN KESTING LINKS —————————————————— YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/stephankesting INSTAGRAM @Stephan_Kesting https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/grapplearts TWITTER: @stephankesting or https://www.twitter.com/stephankesting ————————————————— STEPHAN'S FREE PDF CHECKLIST OF BJJ POSITIONS https://www.grapplearts.com/book ————————————————— STEPHAN'S MAIN WEBSITE - GRAPPLEARTS.COM Home page: https://www.grapplearts.com/ Stephan's Free BJJ Tips by Email: https://www.grapplearts.com/newsletter Articles, Tips & Techniques: https://www.grapplearts.com/articles —————————————————— STEPHAN'S FREE iOS & ANDROID APPS FOR LEARNING BJJ ON YOUR PHONE The Roadmap for BJJ (Free): https://www.grapplearts.com/roadmap The Grapplearts BJJ Master App (Free): https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp —————————————————— STEPHAN'S SELF DEFENSE TUTORIALS WEBSITE https://www.selfdefensetutorials.com/

Are you flailing around in your guard, trying to react to your opponent, without a clear plan of what to do? If so then this episode is for you! In it Rob Biernacki and I talk about the 3 step order of operations to make sure that you're dominating the guard battle every step of the way. This is from a video shot to support the launch of the 'No Gi de la Riva Formula' in online streaming, DVD and app form. More info about this step-by-step gameplan for the open guard here: www.grapplearts.com/DLR

Daniel Strauss (aka The Raspberry Ape) is a BJJ black belt under 10x World Champion Roger Gracie. But he's also a very serious advocate of strongman training including the development of crazy levels of grip strength. In today's podcast we start with Daniel's victory over Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii at Polaris and BJJ competition strategy and then do a deep dive into strength training for grappling and for its own sake. I think you'll really like this one! Also make sure to check out Daniel's 'Raspberry Ape' podcast on iTunes and wherever fine podcasts are distributed

Rosi Sexton is a true renaissance woman. She fought in BodogFight, EliteXC, Cage Warriors and was the first British Woman to fight in the UFC. But she's also Cambridge educated with a PhD in Theoretical Computer Science, a musician, a writer and a physical therapist. So she knows a thing or two... In this episode we talk about learning new skills, improving in combat sports, and overcoming injuries. From about 38 minutes on we concentrate on neck injuries and the role of neck strengthening in minimising concussion in combat sports. This is an extremely important episode for all martial artists! Check out the "Safe Neck Strengthening for BJJ, with UFC Fighter Rosi Sexton" video that Rosi shot for my Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04ff_tgZGI0 And check out her site at https://www.combatsportsclinic.net/

Does training with grappling dummies actually work to improve your skills? And what else can you do to get better when training time is limited and it's difficult to make it to class as often as you like? This podcast rant is also available in written and video form as an in-depth blog post at https://www.grapplearts.com/will-grappling-dummy-drills-help-bjj/ Regardless of how you decide to solve the problem I wish you good luck with both your time management and your training! Stephan Kesting

Daniel Bohigian is a Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Dave Camarillo, competes actively, and also teaches 'Philosophy of Sport' at San Jose State. In this episode we discussed philosophy vs jiu-jitsu, work vs play, mind vs body, teaching people how to think, why 'leaving your ego at the door' is a bad idea, and much more. Follow Daniel on Instagram at @philosograppler And download my FREE app for iOS and Android devices with more than 457 minutes of black belt BJJ technique at Grapplearts.com/masterapp

Paul Kindzia was immersed in the world of marathon and triathalon for many years before immersing himself in BJJ, even going so far as to write a book on the topic called 'Master Jiu-Jitsu, Master Life'. In this episode we focus on the lessons that can be brought into BJJ training from the endurance sports world, including efficient training, effective recovery, minimisation of injuries and maximising your time on the mat. I really think you'll like this episode and come away with some good 'Aha' moments! Also, I'm releasing the 'Self Defense Guard' as a module in the Grapplearts BJJ Master App right now. This app allows you to take BJJ with you in your pocket wherever you go. Download the app for free at Grapplearts.com/masterapp and then look for the 'Self Defense Guard' module within it!!

Jiu-jitsu black belt Adam Nadow was recently attacked in the street and used his training to defend himself and control his attacker until the police arrived. The video of this confrontation later went viral in the BJJ and self defense community. Adam came on the podcast today to talk about this incident, his training, and the relevance of BJJ to self defense. Video of that fight can be seen here: https://www.grapplearts.com/podcast-with-adam-nadow/ In addition to breaking down the street incident step by step we also talked about the BJJ point system and how it applies to self defense training, the amazing power of adrenaline, and why you should learn to fight even if you also pack heat. If you're interested in this topic please check out my self defense oriented website https://www.selfdefensetutorials.com and sign up for the email newsletter on that site too because I share some really good tidbits from my 35 years of martial arts training! Good luck with your training! Stephan

In this coming year it's 100% certain that some days you'll be the hammer and other days you'll be the nail. This is normal and to be expected. In this podcast I share some advice from Japan and from Ancient Rome that might help you deal with the highs and lows that are inevitable when you're putting it on the line and chasing any sort of goal. Welcome to the New Year and good luck with your training in 2019!! Stephan

How to figure out what makes you train and how to use that to improve your skills. Being self aware about whether you're intrinsically or extrinsically motivated is sports psychology 101 and super important; it will increase your longevity in the sport, keep you enjoying training, and give you some powerful levers with which to manipulate your motivation levels! Check out my latest instructional on the No Gi de la Riva Guard with Rob Biernacki at https://www.grapplearts.com/no-gi-de-la-riva Cheers! Stephan

Cliff Jacobson wrote 'Canoeing Wild Rivers' which was a HUGE influence on me as an outdoorsman (the other two cornerstone books were 'Path of the Paddle' by Bill Mason and 'The Complete Walker' by Colin Fletcher). Cliff has spent decades paddling dangerous rivers in the remote corners of North America and Northern Europe and has some incredibly important lessons to share about mindset, teamwork and risk management. I'm thrilled that we had the opportunity to get him on the podcast. And if you are even thinking about paddling in the wild then buy his damn book - it's a goldmine of information!! https://www.amazon.com/Canoeing-Wild-Rivers-Anniversary-Expedition/dp/1493008250/

Dr Mark Cheng has rehabbed TONS of combat athletes, has trained with some of the best instructors in the world, and has a wealth of experience in the martial arts. In this podcast we cover pressure testing of traditional martial arts. The 8 exercises of the Functional Movement Screen. How training should be for stretching the envelope, not breaking the envelope. Dog Brother's full contact stick fighting. Punch drunk boxers and CTE. Break falling on dirt and concrete, and much more. Check it out - I think you'll like it! Also I've just updated the Grapplearts BJJ Master App so now there's even MORE free material on it. Grab it for iOS or Android for free at https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp - the 'weak side back attacks' module is absolutely amazing!

In this episode Ritchie Yip and I go deep into the sparring process. We explore why it's so hard to transition from from hitting pads to full on sparring, how to avoid head injuries while kickboxing, the importance of continual learning, how to avoid getting tired, and the best ways to have low risk training with high benefit. And if you didn't know it already, I've just released a really cool instructional called The Precision Kickboxing Masterclass in which Ritchie Yip takes you through his best drills, progressions and strategies to get really good at kickboxing really fast. There's a TON of material in it for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. Check it out at https://www.grapplearts.com/kickboxing

Tito Ortiz vs Chuck Liddell got us all talking about it again: when should an MMA fighter retire? In the last 10 years we've learned that brain damage in combat sports is a HUGE problem. CTE makes this retirement question even more critical because if you go beyond a certain threshold of damage then there's no coming back. For more of my thoughts about brain damage and MMA check out https://www.grapplearts.com/does-mma-make-you-stupid-impact-concussions-and-brain-damage-in-mixed-martial-arts/

The ketogenic diet is really hot right now for weight loss, health, disease prevention and longevity. But when your doctor calls you in a panic then you find out that, like with all diets, individual results may vary. This episode is a quick summary of what I ate, how my energy changed, and how my bloodwork went absolutely crazy on the ketogenic diet.

There are 5 ranges of combat, but many martial artists only train in one or two of those ranges. Ideally though you should be at least familiar with each of those ranges to be a complete martial artist and not have any gaping blind spots! I know that many of my listeners will already be familiar with https://www.grapplearts.com but also check out my self defense oriented website https://www.selfdefensetutorials.com

How to train mentally and physically to become a world calibre champion wrestler, with Commonwealth Games gold medalist and 5 times national team member Nick Ungoalah. We go DEEP in this episode and really dig into physical conditioning, honing technique, developing a winning mindset, recovering from injury, fixing imbalances in your body, optimal mental state for competition, and much more. I think you'll like this one, and if you do I would love a rating or review of this podcast on whatever platform you listen to it on! Find out more about Nick at http://ugohp.com.

Rob Biernacki and I sit down to discuss BJJ guard passing from a strategic point of view. When should you pass standing and when should you pass on your knees? When should you go for submission based guard passes and when should you try to force your opponent into a different type of guard? Check out Rob's groundbreaking BJJ Formula at http://grapplearts.com/bjjformula and his amazing leglock instructional at https://www.grapplearts.com/leglocks/

A quick rant about the absolute easiest way to add effective and proven techniques to your game, namely going through the memory banks and trying to figure out what you used to do that worked great that you then stopped doing for no good reason! Check out my Grapplearts BJJ Master App for iOS and Android for free at https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp. It comes with a TON of free material on it, including a complete standalone module on weak side back attacks! Good luck with your training! Stephan

I was thrilled to appear on The Great Flip Podcast to talk about jiu-jitsu, specifically why it's probably the best self defense martial art for women and girls. I hope you enjoy it! Catch up with the work Coach Jody is doing at https://thegreatflip.com/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thegreatflip/, or on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJleGbTwtlTL4GXLMl6sL6A And, as always, a rating or a review of this podcast is super-appreciated. It helps the show grow and acts as an incentive for me to use my very limited time to produce more shows more often! Thanks Stephan

In this episode I talk about the importance of self experimentation and how your results may be different from most other people's. I share some dietary experiments I've been fooling around with and exactly what I've been doing to limit the potential downsides. And yes, I do talk about limiting the downside when dating crazy chicks. Stephan

Rob from McDojoLife has been relentless in his attempts to expose martial arts frauds, exposing everyone from from chi-based knockout masters to ninjas who practise bending joints in the direction they are designed to bend. Honestly some of the videos he's shared with people over the years have been hilarious for all the wrong reasons! In this episode we talk about his favourite frauds, where he gets the biggest hate and pushback from, his own martial arts training history, and his big plans for the future. Follow McDojoLife on Instagram (@mcdojolife), Twitter (@mcdojolife) and his Youtube channel (youtube.com/mcdojolife)

If you're interested in self defense then how do you train techniques that are too deadly to spar realistically, like eye gouges and groin punches, and combine that with the safer sportive techniques that you can learn to apply to against resistance and get really good at? This rant should give you some answers to this perpetual dilemma. Check out my two sites: https://www.grapplearts.com and https://www.selfdefensetutorials.com And if you're a grappler (or interested in grappling) then make sure to download my free app with more than 457 minutes of free video instruction for iOS and android at https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp Thanks! Stephan

My guest is the science advocate generally known as The Genetically Modified Skeptic. In this hard-hitting (and likely controversial) discussion he discusses magical thinking in the martial arts, essential oils, alternative medicine, cult leaders, Jordan Peterson, religion, the anti-vaccine movement, fake cancer cures and much more. I hope you find it interesting and though provoking. Check out Drew's popular youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/geneticallymodifiedskeptic

Iain Abernathy is an author, a 7th degree black belt, and an expert in the application of traditional karate techniques. He joined me on the podcast today to talk about kata as a training method, techniques advancing over time, ancient martial arts training methods, "freezing" between moves in kata, pushback from the traditional karate community, drills to make the application of moves instinctive, and more. Find out more about about Iain, his books, articles, and apps at https://iainabernethy.co.uk

Leadership is easy when things are going well,but is considerably more difficult when all hell is breaking loose and the s**t is hitting the fan. In this episode we look at a common denominator of great leadership in difficult situations, the optimal state of arousal, and a few examples of good and bad leadership in the fire department. If you enjoyed this episode then please subscribe, rate, and review the show. I can't tell you how much that helps and encourages me to pump out episodes more frequently!

JP Dinnell spent nearly a decade in the SEAL teams, including serving with Task Unit Bruiser in Ramadi, Iraq, where he was a point man, machine gunner, and lead sniper for Delta Platoon. He worked with his officers Jocko Willink and Leif Babin on many combat operations, and then used the knowledge he had gained in the field to train the next generation of SEALS. In this conversation we talk about what made JP want to become a Navy SEAL, surviving BUDS and Hell Week, becoming a sniper, managing the risk of killing civilians accidentally, and how principles learned in combat can be applied to civilian life, business, and achieving team goals. More about JP at https://www.echelonfront.com/jeremiah-dinnell

This discussion with multiple time BJJ world champion Fabio Gurgel was amazing. He talked about coming up under Jacare, being trained by Carlson Gracie to fight in Vale Tudo, and then battling Mark 'The Smashing Machine' Kerr in his prime under the old school, no gloves, no rounds, style Brazilian No Holds Barred rules. We also talked about the traditional vs modern jiu-jitsu debate, why the level of BJJ right now is the highest it's ever been, how stalling in matches was worse in the old days, what all world champions have in common, how to create world champions (and keep them on your team), making a living off of jiu-jitsu, and much more. I think you'll love it! If you want to support the podcast then please make sure to rate and review it in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud or wherever you listen to it. That's hugely important and it's really helping! Thanks Stephan

I'm thrilled to have Ando Mierzwa back on the podcast to discuss dealing with fear, overcoming claustrophobia, whether martial arts lessons can be life lessons, training differently based on your age, fitness, and goals, and much more! Find out more about Ando at http://www.senseiando.com And if you do BJJ (or are interested in finding out more about it) make sure you download the Grapplearts BJJ Master App for iOS and Android with more than 457 minutes of FREE black belt instruction at https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp

I LOVED talking to Will Gadd, champion ice climber, X games gold medalist, and extreme adventurer. In this episode we covered his epic climb up Niagara Falls in the winter, organising big climbs, climbing up icebergs and down ice caves in Greenland, dealing with risk and unknowns, close calls, the 25 people he's known who have died in the mountains, fear of loss vs hope of gain, and how to execute on audacious goals. Check out my "Grapplearts Minimum Profile Ear Guard for BJJ and Wrestling" on Amazon.com at https://www.amazon.com/Grapplearts-Wrestling-Cauliflower-Construction-Protection/dp/B01DAYR9ZG

Weight cutting is a fact of life in modern MMA and also in many jiu-jitsu and submission grappling competitions. In this episode Ben Zhuang and I talk about how to cut weight safely, effectively replenishing your body after a weight cut, the differences between cutting weight for day-of vs next-day events, and more. We also talked about strength training, and if you're interested in the exercises, article, or PDF guide that Ben and I talk about then go to https://www.grapplearts.com/bjj-strength-training-the-top-6-exercises/ where it's all free! Also Follow Ben Zhuang on Instagram as @coachbz or by clicking https://www.instagram.com/coachbz/

I really, really enjoyed talking to Shane Adams, the godfather of modern full contact jousting, in this on-site interview. Full contact jousting involves two knights in full armour attack each other on charging horses using solid wooden lances that deliver 2,000 lbs of force. Shattered lances, unhorsings, broken bones, concussions and impacts that feel like you're being hit in the chest with a sledge hammer. Oh, did I mention that dodging, ducking, parrying, and blocking your opponent's lance is NOT allowed? You have to sit there and take it. This is definitely NOT a choreographed Vegas dinner show. Shane and I talk about the physical and mental aspects of jousting, and what distinguishes people who make it through the training to perform in this sport. I really enjoyed the part where he talks about balancing on the knife's edge between the aggression required to do this insane sport, and the zen state of mind you need to properly plan and aim your shot. If you enjoyed this then subscribe to the podcast because I hope to bring Shane back for a longer and more detailed conversation before the end of the year! Check it out, and for more information about full contact jousting check out www.extremejousting.com

BJJ black belt Sim Go and I explore the early days of the Vegas jiu-jitsu and MMA scene, how a 'garage' club can evolve to be a professional school, structuring a class, Marc Laimon's legacy in BJJ, rule sets, transitioning from competitor to instructor, and much more. Find out more about the Cobra Kai school at http://www.ckjj.com Please rate and review my podcast on iTunes or any other platform of your choice - it really helps! And check out all the techniques and training tips on my own site at http://www.grapplearts.com/articles! Cheers, Stephan

I really enjoyed talking with Andreh Anderson who started training in the very early days of North American MMA with famous fighters like Oleg Taktarov and more. We cover the specific ways how MMA (and BJJ) were very different in the early days, tribalism in the martial arts, training in Brazil, making the switch from JKD to jiu-jitsu, the evolution of leglocks, old school jiu-jitsu, and more!

Loved chatting with articulate Seph Smith, Ryan Hall's first BJJ black belt and a Combat Sambo black belt as well! We cover training leglocks safely, competing in Judo and Sambo, his instructional products, potentially career-ending injuries, where the sport of Jiu-jitsu is headed, developing a well rounded game, and tips for performing well in competition. Find out more about Seph's school in Richmond VA at http://www.upstreambjj.com Find out more about Seph's BJJ mini-courses at https://upstream-bjj.teachable.com/courses Follow Seph on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sephwillkillyou/?hl=en Finally, if you enjoyed this episode the single best thing you can do to help me (and get more episodes out for you faster) is to go and subscribe to the podcast right now. I can't tell you how much that moves the needle. And if you've already done that then a rating and review would be super-appreciated. It may seem silly but it REALLY helps! Thank you so much Stephan

OK, I kind of go off on a big rant here about traditional Kung Fu forms and Karate kata based on my years of training Hung Gar, Northern Shaolin, Southern Crane, Hsing I, Tai Chi and Wing Chun Kung Fu. Are they at all useful for learning how to fight? In this episode I refer to an article I wrote called "How to Make Sure Your Martial Art Will Work in the Street" - you can find that here: http://selfdefensetutorials.com/how-to-make-sure-martial-art-work-street/ You can also find the video version of that article, called "5 Steps to Make Your Martial Arts Techniques Functional in Real Life" on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC1-vgMh2l0 OSSSS, Stephan Kesting

In this rant I go off about my single biggest problem with Crossfit, especially when people try to use it as a conditioning method for another sport. I also go into the exact exercises and combinations of exercises which I find particularly dangerous, and how to mitigate these risks. Sign up for my BJJ and martial arts training tips at https://www.grapplearts.com/newsletter

I'm STOKED that Survivorman Les Stroud came on the podcast today!!! We talked adventure, survival skills, navigating in the wilderness, the closest he's come to death while filming, work-life balance, music and more. I hope you enjoy listening to his episode as much as I did recording it for you! Go to http://www.lesstroud.ca to find out more about Les, his appearances, shows, and concerts.

How often and how hard to train are tricky questions. Too much hard training and you'll grind yourself into a pulp. Not enough hard training and you'll never reach your potential or expand the limits of what you think you're capable of. In this episode I dive into the topics of over-training, under-recovery, and the single most important legal supplement for recovery! To support the podcast and allow us to bring you more episodes with more amazing guests consider contributing a buck or two a month at https://www.patreon.com/stephankesting And if you can't do that then please remember that rating or reviewing the podcast on iTunes (or your podcasting platform of choice) is a huge help as well. Train hard, but smart too! Stephan

This was a neat interview I did with Emily Kwok from Princeton BJJ and star of the first How to Defeat the Bigger, Stronger Opponent series. We focused on creating positive learning environments in BJJ, looking at the roles played by the students, the teachers, and instructional technology. We also covered whether I would do anything different if I was starting my BJJ training all over again, competition vs training, and breaking through plateaus. I hope you find this interesting!

How to improve your BJJ almost instantly. No, this isn't hyperbole; microdrilling is a training method that will have immediate effects on your game by finding ways around the sticking points in your techniques. Give it a try and if it works for you then please share this episode with someone you train with who might also find it useful.

This is an important episode because it's all about managing the adrenaline dump and the fight or flight reflex. Shane Fazen from Fight Tips and I talk about what fight or flight feels like, what you can expect in your first few competitions, how to use adrenaline to your advantage, exactly how to use visualisation and meditation to lower your heart rate, stay calm, and actually fight the way you train. If you compete or are interested in self defense don't miss this episode. Find out more about Shane Fazen at http://fighttips.com Download my free video guide for learning BJJ for iOS and Android devices at https://www.grapplearts.com/roadmap And if you found this episode useful please give the podcast a rating and/or a review - that type of support is really helping!

How do you know when to attack? It's actually pretty simple math!! In this episode I share the "what's the score" concept that I learned from Rob Biernacki. At any given point in time both you and your opponent have a score, determined from your base, posture and structure. The relative score tells you whether an attack will succeed or fail. This is a very useful idea and it will allow you to create and recognise opportunities for your sweeps, submissions and guard passes! Videos referred to in this podcast include The Three Most Critical Concepts in Jiu-Jitsu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5RaxEV9fx8 and My New Favourite Triangle Choke Setup https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB2A-hAv04A

In this short rant I talk about 3 or 4 training methods you can use when sparring someone significantly smaller than you so that you BOTH come out winners! These methods also apply, to some degree, to sparring people who are less experienced and not as good as you are. Training time is a limited commodity wo you really want to maximise what you get out of your sparring sessions!

David Brown has spent many decades studying and teaching martial arts, including Muay Thai and Wing Chun. He's also a clinical neuropsychologist which gives him a unique insight into the mindset at work within martial arts cults. Then we also went down some major rabbit holes, including the science of sticking people's brains into scanners and the elimination of disease through new genetic technologies. I hope you like this one as much as I did! 01:02 - A journey through the martial arts 04:15 - The business of running a school 07:51 - Martial arts cults and the psychology of delusion 20:29 - Passive vs authoritative teachings 26:26 - Research in the autism field 44:35 - Treatment of autism 49:37 - Gene modification and CRISPR 57:52 - Muay Thai vs Wing Chun You can find out more about David's school in San Antonio, Texas, at totalconfidencemartialarts.com

In a self defense situation you have to have a high level of environmental awareness to keep track of multiple attackers, improvised weapons, escape routes, etc. Today I'm joined by classical Japanese Jujutsu practitioner Alex Kask to talk about how this important aspect can be incorporated into your training. We also talk about gun grappling, multiple-opponent MMA, 'dirty' fighting techniques like eye gouging and biting, and more! In other relevant news, check out the brand new Grapplearts instructional called The Self Defense Guard at https://www.grapplearts.com/selfdefenseguard. In this organised and detailed course BJJ black belt Ellliott Bayev and I will show you how to correctly use the BJJ closed guard to stay safe in a situation where someone is trying to punch your teeth down your throat!