The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset

Peter M. Deeley Jr. and Lucas Rubbo
  • 5.0 (1)
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When you improve your Jiujitsu, you improve your life. Lessons on the mat are life lessons. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Welcome to The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    A Talk with Rodrigo Freitas: Embracing the Jiu-Jitsu Mindset

    Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Rodrigo Freitas to the Jiu-Jitsu Mindset and discusses how Freitas's life might have differed without jiu-jitsu, noting his background in soccer, swimming, and love of music and travel. Freitas recounts starting jiu-jitsu at 13 in Brazil amid harsh training, hazing, and limited instruction, learning partly from VHS tapes, and says he wasn't naturally skillful but had strong cardio and persistence. They explore competition as optional but valuable at least once, citing a student whose first tournament improved discipline, health, and lifestyle. Freitas names a memorable loss to Leandro Lo by advantage as confidence-building, describes jiu-jitsu as stress inoculation, therapy, and moving meditation with spiritual benefits, and shares a story of a child improving socially and getting off medication. He invites visitors to Inspirit Jiu Jitsu Academy in Redondo Beach (InspiritJiuJitsuAcademy.com) and jokes his superhero name would be Spiderman due to Spiderguard.   00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:52 Life Without Jiu Jitsu 01:32 Sports and Music Roots 04:38 Why Martial Arts Clicked 05:24 Early Jiu Jitsu Struggles 07:33 Old School Gym Culture 10:49 Learning Before YouTube 12:22 Why Jiu Jitsu Endures 14:49 Competition Changes Lives 17:41 Weight Class Motivation 18:39 Memorable Match Leandro Lo 20:24 Losses And Self Mastery 21:48 Stress Inoculation Business 24:03 Jiu Jitsu As Meditation 26:17 Life Changing Student Story 28:59 Humility And Community 30:48 Visit Inspirit Academy 31:52 Training At New Gyms 32:45 Spiderguard Spiderman Wrap

    36 min

  2. 8 MAY

    Professor Eddie Kone on Finding Jiu-Jitsu, Mentorship, and Preserving a Legacy

    Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Eddie Kone to the Jiu-Jitsu Mindset where they explore Cohn's 30-year Jiu Jitsu journey beginning March 12, 1996. Kone describes a troubled youth spent in children's homes and periods of homelessness, developing an ego-driven, scrappy mentality that led him through karate, judo, and Thai boxing before the UFC revealed what he felt was missing. After seeing Royce Gracie on VHS, Kone traveled to Rio, found the Gracie Academy in Botafogo, trained with Royler and encountered Helio Gracie and other icons, immediately quitting striking after being repeatedly submitted. He discusses mentorship, jiu-jitsu's spiritual and community aspects, UK gym politics, competing as a validation tool, a memorable last-minute MMA fight he won by triangle, and student transformations including a blind practitioner and a child with cerebral palsy, emphasizing preserving Helio/Rickson principles and directing listeners to Ricksongracie.com.   00:00 Welcome 02:03 Life Beyond Jiu Jitsu 03:32 Wild Kid Origins 05:27 Street Survival and Mentors 13:32 UFC VHS Sparks Obsession 15:02 Finding the Gracie Academy 17:03 First Roll Reality Check 18:12 Hooked on the Culture 26:01 Jiu Jitsu Spiritual Ethos 28:39 Defense Versus Offense 30:00 Planting Your Flag 30:34 Tribes and Mud Slinging 31:56 Ego and Late Starts 33:42 Why Everyone Competes 35:11 Open Weight Reality Check 37:15 Taking a Fight on Short Notice 39:19 Ego and Controlled Aggression 43:12 Legacy and Finding Home 47:15 Inside Rickson Circle 49:46 Rickson Teaching Magic 54:52 Students Who Transform 57:35 Jujitsu Over Sides 57:53 Farewell

    1hr 2min

  3. 27 APR

    Kindness, Discipline, And Harmony with Professor Jason Cruz

    Jason Cruz Rickson Gracie Jiujitsu "Pure Bred"   Rooted in tradition, Jason's journey began at age seven training on wooden floors and makiwara boards. He earned a Traditional Karate Black Belt and is a Guro in both Pangamot and Lameco Filipino Martial Arts, which along with his experience in Jeet Kune Do served as the foundations for his striking style. A "purebred" Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, Jason's lineage is unbroken from his first trial lesson with Master Rickson Gracie to receiving his black belt from the hands of the Master. A dedicated coach and elite training partner, he is now a sought after coach and has prepared fighters for Professional Competition and played a pivotal role in the first and most recent victory of a Gracie since the early days of UFC.   Today he and his family run Bushido Mountain Dojo in Montana, where the mission of preserving art and spreading the way art Rickson Gracie Jiujitsu and Filipino Martial Arts is his focus.    From Karate to Invisible Jiu-Jitsu: Etiquette, Discipline, and Teaching as Family   Host Pete Deeley interviews Professor Jason about his martial arts journey from karate training at age seven on wood floors to Filipino martial arts and Jeet Kune Do with original Bruce Lee students, and how those experiences shaped his approach to jiu-jitsu. They compare earlier eras—when students "courted" instructors and etiquette was central—to today's more transactional gym culture. Jason describes building a dojo in Montana focused on respect, safety, and community, including white-gi preference, interviews and waiting lists, and treating students as family rather than customers. He recounts driving 80 miles each way for years to train in a Rickson Gracie lineage and shares how "invisible jiu-jitsu" applies off the mat as being a better teacher, husband, and dad. They discuss concepts like stripping away the useless, soft vision, "no technique," and a recent epiphany: "invisible timing," plus student transformations through breathing, kindness, and improved relationships.   00:00 Welcome and Setup 01:36 Early Karate Roots 03:00 Jeet Kune Do Era 05:16 Bruce Lee Philosophy 09:38 Efficiency and Focus 13:14 Invisible Jiu Jitsu 16:18 Building Dojo Culture 20:04 Coffee Shop to Dojo 22:28 Gi Color and Ego 22:57 Dojo Safety Culture 23:52 Dojo as Spiritual Practice 25:03 Chasing the Purest Jiu Jitsu 27:01 Earning Access and Commitment 28:40 Students Not Customers 29:25 Real Life Transformations 33:27 Invisible Timing Epiphany 37:36 Aikido and Mystical Rootedness 41:22 Etiquette and Beginner Mind 44:13 Mind Heart Respect Closing

    47 min

  4. 26 APR

    Professor Dave Meyer: When Someone Calls For Help, You Are the Help

    Host Pete Deeley welcomes Coral Belt Professor Dave Meyer to The Jiu Jitsu Mindset, noting Meyer's Ageless Warrior Lab podcast and his animal welfare work. Meyer explains he began ujitsu jat age six, making it inseparable from his identity, and says martial arts discipline and strategy improved his effectiveness in animal welfare, where he raised $160 million. He connects martial arts ethos—being "the help," defending the weak, and controlling ego—to his choice to advocate for animals, reinforced by his religious upbringing's "repair the world" ethic. Meyer discusses prioritizing time (including choosing not to have a TV), a pivotal wake-up from a cousin's tragic death, and why Jiu Jitsu learning requires partners and constant failure. He argues competition is optional but valuable for stress, learning, and adrenal response, shares memorable matches (including a superfight with Fabio Santos), mentions mentoring Brian Johnson's Seattle school, and briefly recounts playing pop-rock in late-1980s LA.   00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:24 Life Without Jiu Jitsu 04:29 Warrior Ethos and Animal Welfare 08:47 Discipline Time and Focus 13:56 Mortality Wake Up Call 16:40 How Jiu Jitsu Learning Works 20:26 Competition for Everyone 24:09 Adrenaline Stress and Realism 26:06 What Winning Really Means 27:00 Winning Versus Growth 27:50 Competition As Stress Training 28:36 Most Memorable Match 29:55 Black Belt Heartbreak 30:55 Fabio Santos Superfight 33:27 Hot Mat Chaos 35:08 Brazil Trip And Medal 36:01 Mentoring Brian Johnson 38:20 Rock And Roll Years 42:10 LA Talent Clusters 45:22 Martial Arts Mecca LA 47:09 Superhero Name And Podcast

    51 min

  5. 18 APR

    Trauma to Triumph: Dr. Jason Shields and the Power of Jiu Jitsu

    Professor Dr. Jason Shields on Jiu Jitsu, Meditation, Trauma, and Competition   Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Dr. Jason Shields to The Jiu Jitsu Mindset. Dr. Shields describes how Jiu Jitsu uniquely taught him resilience through losing, regaining control, and finding a "home" community, plus the tap as maximal threat with maximal safety. He explains his hyperfocus was cultivated through long-term inner work after severe childhood trauma from his Vietnam-veteran father's PTSD and his mother's healing path via transcendental meditation and supportive communities; he shares a key lesson of finding a thought-free witnessing space to self-regulate. Dr. Shields recounts discovering Jiu-Jitsu on YouTube, starting a club in Norway, and approaching training as a sport with physical preparation. He argues competition can be a powerful mirror and growth catalyst, shares a memorable Italy tournament after his mother's death, and tells how coaching Marit Gabrielsen helped her overcome a trauma-based freeze response through jiu-jitsu.   00:00 Welcome and Sponsor Plug 00:49 Meet Dr. Jason Shields 02:18 What Jujitsu Gave Me 04:39 Hyperfocus and Presence 06:01 Childhood Trauma Origins 08:42 Meditation and Self-Regulation 14:01 Trauma Perspective and Growth 17:20 Discovering Jujitsu on YouTube 20:22 Starting a Club in Norway 22:08 Training Like an Athlete 25:36 Jiu Jitsu as Chaos Partner 27:14 Size Mismatch Realities 28:12 Competition Mindset 29:40 Why Compete at All 31:28 Belts by Winning Worlds 33:55 Tournament Stress Benefits 36:55 Rome Tribute Tournament 42:13 Healing Trauma Through Jiu Jitsu 49:13 Love You Man Persona 50:02 Where to Find Him 50:55 Gratitude and Closing

    53 min

  6. 10 APR

    Crafting a Timeless Path | Rafael Lovato Jr.'s Unstoppable Journey

    Rafael Lovato Jr. on Timeless Jiu-Jitsu, Competition, and Overcoming Adversity Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Rafael Lovato Jr. to discuss passion, discipline, and growth through jiu-jitsu. Lovato reflects that, had he not pursued martial arts, he might have followed music or fitness, influenced by his father, a professional organist and martial artist. They explore links between music, engineering, and jiu-jitsu as arts involving creativity, structure, and problem solving, and Lovato emphasizes open-minded learning across martial arts. Lovato explains how training built resilience during a medical diagnosis received while preparing for a Bellator title fight, and highlights the importance of community support. He argues jiu-jitsu can be started at any age, remains endlessly learnable, and that competition helps reveal "truth," develop presence, and drive preparation. He shares memorable moments, including an MMA title fight and a 2008 Pan final escape, then explains his "timeless" approach—pressure-based, efficient jiu-jitsu that ages well—along with ways to connect via TimelessJitsu.com, LovatoJr.com, camps, retreats, and mobility work.   00:00 Welcome 00:49 Meet Rafael Lovato Jr 01:48 Alternate Life Paths 04:06 Music and Jiu Jitsu Link 06:12 Open Minded Martial Arts 07:32 Health Scare Resilience 11:35 Purpose Beyond Winning 12:42 Why Start Jiu Jitsu Anytime 16:09 Lifelong Student Mindset 18:36 Competition for Everyone 22:41 Preparation Pressure Presence 25:30 Measuring Competition Growth 26:58 Honesty Prevents Injuries 27:12 Most Memorable Fights 29:10 Fatherhood Fuels Fire 30:14 Breaking the Underdog Mindset 31:52 MMA Title Second Gear 32:43 Triangle Escape Breakthrough 35:52 Competition as Life Touchstone 38:43 Timeless Jiu Jitsu Mission 42:00 Style That Ages Well 44:12 How to Train as Masters 45:20 Programs Camps and Retreats 46:25 Mobility Retreat in Montana 48:24 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

    50 min

  7. 4 APR

    Professor Steve Maxwell on Old-School Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Challenge Matches, and Training for Longevity

    Professor Steve Maxwell on Wrestling, Early Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Challenge Matches, and Training for Longevity   Host Pete Deeley interviews Professor Steve Maxwell on Jiujitsu Mindset about how wrestling and strength training shaped his life, his early lifting roots near York Barbell, and how wrestling built conditioning, toughness, and skills that carried into jiu-jitsu. Maxwell describes training in the early Gracie Academy era with Rorion, Royce, Rickson, and others, emphasizing self-defense, distance management, takedowns, and principles ("invisible jiu-jitsu") versus today's sport-focused trends. He recounts early seminars in Philadelphia, challenge matches, and a 42-minute fight as a purple belt against a larger NCAA Division III wrestling champion that ended in an arm-triangle choke. Maxwell discusses teaching quality, business realities of running schools, his joint and shoulder issues (blaming kettlebell snatches), and offers longevity advice: tap early, avoid ego and competition injuries, use slow bodyweight/isometrics, partial hangs, breath work, and seek appropriate training partners.   00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:34 Strength Training Roots 02:46 Wrestling Mindset Edge 06:20 Old School BJJ vs Sport 09:10 Philly Gym and Gracie Visits 14:43 Gracie Lineage Stories 19:45 Challenge Match Era 21:42 42 Minute Wrestler Fight 27:59 BJJ Origins and Judo Shift 31:22 Learning to Teach Like Gracie 32:01 Master Teacher Praise 32:26 Motor Learning Meets Jiu Jitsu 32:59 Learning Through Translation 33:30 Invisible Jiu Jitsu Principles 35:24 Why Many Schools Struggle 37:04 Business Lessons From Bernie 39:03 Playing the Long Game 40:58 Leverage Over Athleticism 42:51 Void Belt System Explained 45:39 Old Man Game Mindset 46:02 Shoulder Pain And Kettlebells 47:23 Hanging And Copper Protocol 51:29 Slow Strength Training 53:38 Superhero Name And Father Story 55:45 Black Belt History And Coral Belt 57:23 Playful Learning And Breathwork 01:00:56 Final Training Plans Goodbye

    1hr 3min

  8. 30 MAR

    Professor Jack Taufer on Learning, Longevity, Competition & "Invisible" Jiu-Jitsu

    Professor Jack Taufer on Jiu-Jitsu Learning, Longevity, and "Invisible" Mechanics Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Jack Taufer to The Jiu Jitsu Mindset and asks how Jiu Jitsu has shaped his life since starting at 15 in 1995, compared with paths like skateboarding, basketball, woodworking influences from his late father, or a possible finance career. They discuss jiu-jitsu as technical and physics-based yet expressed differently by each person, how skateboarding contributed balance, and how learning differs from other sports through constant adaptation to an opponent. Taufer describes visualization, changes in training media from VHS to YouTube, and his view that competition can accelerate progress but isn't necessary. He shares memorable rolls with Rickson Gracie, "invisible jiu-jitsu" mechanics like posture, weight distribution, and training with eyes closed, plus stories about confidence gains in students and gym culture enforcing safety and respect.   00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:48 Life Without Jiu Jitsu 02:48 Engineering Meets Art 05:43 Gymnastics and Skate Roots 08:10 How We Learn Jiu Jitsu 12:31 Visualization and Video Era 15:39 Competition and Stress Tests 19:12 Why People Train 23:33 Most Memorable Rolls 26:18 The 40 Minute War 28:06 Wrestler Surprise Roll 28:28 Invisible Jiu Jitsu Explained 31:06 Physics Behind Pressure 33:47 Eyes Closed Connection 37:00 Longevity And Purpose 41:48 Jiu Jitsu Beyond Self Defense 46:55 Early Gym Reality Check 49:46 Confidence Through Technique 53:05 Superhero Name Farewell

    56 min
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About

When you improve your Jiujitsu, you improve your life. Lessons on the mat are life lessons. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Welcome to The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset.

Information

  • Creator
    Peter M. Deeley Jr. and Lucas Rubbo
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    136
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Show Website
    The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset

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