
200 episodes

BJJ Mental Models Steve Kwan
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- Sports
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4.7 • 18 Ratings
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Explore the conceptual side of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Black belt Steve Kwan and a slate of expert guests discuss the mental models, or universal principles, behind the gentle art.
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Ep. 191: Old Bastard Jiu-Jitsu, feat. Mike Mahaffey
This week we're joined by Mike Mahaffey! Mike is a black belt under Chris Haueter, and is a certified Old Bastard. In this week's episode, Mike breaks down the tenets to "Old Bastard Jiu-Jitsu": the old-school style where you give them nothing, minimize movement, and crush them with pressure.
Mike Mahaffey on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/xibalba1972/
Magic BJJ website:
https://magicbjj.com/
Mental models discussed in this episode:
Path of Least Resistance
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/path-of-least-resistance/
Economy of Motion
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/economy-of-motion/
Dictate the Pace
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/dictate-the-pace/
Win Conditions
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/win-conditions/
Controlled Breathing
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/controlled-breathing/
Prioritize Longevity
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/prioritize-longevity/
Theory of Alignment
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/theory-of-alignment/
Limb Coiling
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/limb-coiling/
Constant and Variable Tension
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/constant-and-variable-tension/
Static vs. Dynamic Control
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/static-vs-dynamic-control/
Concepts Over Techniques
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques/
Shifting Platforms
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/shifting-platforms/
Surface Area
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/surface-area/
Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!
If you love the podcast, you’ll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.
Sign up here for a free trial:
https://premium.bjjmentalmodels.com/
Need more BJJ Mental Models?
Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/
Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/
Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/
Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/ -
Ep. 190: Competing After 40, feat. Emily Kwok
This week we're joined again by 3x world champ and Marcelo Garcia black belt, Emily Kwok! Fresh off winning the 2022 Pans, Emily joins us to talk about what it's like to compete after the age of 40. A great chat about what competition looks like as you get older, take on more responsibilities, become more concerned about your health, and achieve a broader life perspective.
Emily's website:
https://emilykwok.com/
Emily’s Instagram:
https://instagram.com/emilykwokbjj/
Emily's podcast, The Master & The Apprentice:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1933788
Mental models discussed in this episode:
Keep it Playful
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful/
Stress and Recovery
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/stress-and-recovery/
Keep Your Identity Small
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-your-identity-small/
Habits Over Results
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/habits-over-results/
Mindfulness
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/mindfulness/
Short-term/Long-term Paradox
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/short-term-long-term-paradox/
Abundance Mindset
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/abundance-mindset/
Loss Aversion
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/loss-aversion/
Defensive Thinking
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/defensive-thinking/
Solid Foundation, Flexible Perimeter
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/solid-foundation-flexible-perimeter/
Psychological Safety
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/psychological-safety/
Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!
If you love the podcast, you’ll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.
Sign up here for a free trial:
https://premium.bjjmentalmodels.com/
Need more BJJ Mental Models?
Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/
Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/
Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/
Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/ -
Ep. 189: The Business of BJJ, feat. Sonia Sillan
This week we're joined by Sonia Sillan! Sonia is a black belt under Hannette Staack and is the owner of Combat Arts Academy of Seattle. In this episode, Sonia shares her honest advice on how to build a BJJ business. Topics include financing, business partners, affiliations, customer onboarding, customer contracts, trial classes, class safety, and volunteers vs. employees.
Sonia's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/soniasillan/
Combat Arts Academy Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/combatartsacademy/
Combat Arts Academy website:
https://caaseattle.com/
Mental models discussed in this episode:
Psychological Safety
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/psychological-safety/
Prioritize Longevity
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/prioritize-longevity/
Stress & Recovery
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/stress-and-recovery/
Respect People, Not Positions
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/respect-people-not-positions/
Abundance Mindset
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/abundance-mindset/
80/20 Rule
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/80-20-rule/
Loss Aversion
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/loss-aversion/
Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!
If you love the podcast, you’ll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.
Sign up here for a free trial:
https://premium.bjjmentalmodels.com/
Need more BJJ Mental Models?
Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/
Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/
Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/
Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/ -
Ep. 188: Position Series: Knee Shield, feat. Malachy Friedman
This week we're joined again by Malachy Friedman! Malachy breaks down mental models for the knee shield half guard.
Get Malachy's knee shield instructionals on Jiu Jitsu X:
https://jiujitsux.com/profile/malachyf/
Malachy's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/malachyfriedman/
Mental models discussed in this episode:
Controlling the Distance
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/controlling-the-distance/
Predictable Responses
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/predictable-responses/
Funneling
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/funneling/
Solid Foundation, Flexible Perimeter
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/solid-foundation-flexible-perimeter/
Critical Control Points
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/critical-control-points/
Incremental Learning
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/incremental-learning/
Limb Coiling
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/limb-coiling/
Dominant Angles
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/dominant-angles/
Placeholders
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/placeholders/
Elbow-Knee Connection
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/elbow-knee-connection/
Waypoints
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/waypoints/
Technique Chaining
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/technique-chaining/
Committed Techniques
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/committed-techniques/
Win Conditions
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/win-conditions/
Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!
If you love the podcast, you’ll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.
Sign up here for a free trial:
https://premium.bjjmentalmodels.com/
Need more BJJ Mental Models?
Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/
Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/
Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/
Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/ -
Ep. 187: Range of Motion, feat. Ryan Hurst
This week we're joined by Ryan Hurst! Ryan is the head coach at GMB Fitness, the creators of the popular Elements program for strength & flexibility. In this episode, Ryan introduces GMB's concepts for expanding your range of motion, shares tips on injury prevention, and explains why most BJJ warmups are suboptimal.
GMB on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/GMBFitnessSkills
GMB's Website:
https://gmb.io/
GMB on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/gmbfitness/
Contact GMB:
info@gmb.io
Mental models discussed in this episode:
Prevention Over Cure
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/prevention-over-cure/
Core Mechanics
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/core-mechanics/
Solid Frames
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/solid-frames/
Keep it Playful
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful/
Feedback Loop
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loop/
Intention
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/intention/
Goodhart’s Law
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/goodharts-law/
Consistency
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistency/
Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!
If you love the podcast, you’ll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.
Sign up here for a free trial:
https://premium.bjjmentalmodels.com/
Need more BJJ Mental Models?
Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/
Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/
Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/
Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/ -
Ep. 186: Unorthodoxy & Innovation, feat. Micah Brakefield
This week we're joined by Micah Brakefield! Micah holds dual BJJ black belts under Don Whitefield and Nabil Salameh, and is the head coach at 10th Planet Etobicoke. Micah joins us to discuss the importance of unorthodoxy and creativity in Jiu-Jitsu.
Micah's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/micahbrakefield/
Micah’s Twitter:
https://mobile.twitter.com/micahbrakefield/
Train with Micah at 10th Planet Etobicoke:
https://10thplanetetobicoke.com/
Mental models discussed in this episode:
Do What Works
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/do-what-works/
Idea Communism
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/idea-communism/
Beginner's Mind
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beginners-mind/
Investing in Loss
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/investing-in-loss/
Growth From Discomfort
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/growth-from-discomfort/
Short-term/Long-term Paradox
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/short-term-long-term-paradox/
Pattern Interrupts
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/pattern-interrupts/
Mindfulness
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/mindfulness/
Win Conditions
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/win-conditions/
Keep It Playful
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful/
Table Selection
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/table-selection/
Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!
If you love the podcast, you’ll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.
Sign up here for a free trial:
https://premium.bjjmentalmodels.com/
Need more BJJ Mental Models?
Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/
Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/
Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/
Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/
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