The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset

Peter M. Deeley Jr. and Lucas Rubbo
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Sport
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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. 7 hr ago

    The Body Grows From Stress | Cameron Shayne on Aging, Movement & the Warrior Mind

    Founder of Budokon Cameron Shayne joins Pete Deeley for a deep conversation on the warrior's mind: why a warrior is not an athlete, why the body only grows from stress, how the self-talk of aging quietly holds us back, and how to judge the source of any advice you're given. A masterclass in the mindset underneath the movement. Watch the full video on YouTube: [YouTube link] Submission Coffee: https://submissioncoffee.com · My Jiu Jitsu Journey app on the App Store Follow: @jiujitsumindset IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 Warrior vs. athlete: what martial arts really shapes 10:08 The hero's journey and "make yourself a great person" 24:05 Untangling the body like a junk drawer 31:11 A late black belt, and training with the best in the world 38:30 Learning what you didn't know you didn't know 51:38 The body grows from stress 58:54 Don't talk yourself old 67:41 Be critical about the source of your advice 70:47 Rich vs. happy: knowledge vs. wisdom #jiujitsu #bjj #mindset #budokon

  2. 1 day ago

    Jiu-Jitsu Is the Serenity Prayer | Professor Eli Knight

    Professor Eli Knight returns to The Jiu Jitsu Mindset, and this time we build the conversation around the hero's journey — the call, the crisis, the near-quit, the mentor, and the message he'd leave behind.   Eli is a Royce Gracie black belt and one of the clearest thinkers working in self-defense jiu-jitsu. He talks here about the loss that pushed him into a taekwondo class as a teenager, the cousin who went to jail while he went to martial arts, the year his daughter was born and he nearly walked away from all of it, and why he still isn't sure who he would be without jiu-jitsu.   He also gives one of the best answers we have had on what the art is actually for: "Jiu-jitsu to me is the serenity prayer. It teaches you how to accept things you can't change, how to change things you can, and how to know the difference." And then, at the very end, he takes the whole thing apart again with a bar of soap.   CONNECT WITH PROFESSOR ELI KNIGHT YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KnightJiuJitsu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knight_jiu_jitsu_ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@knightjiujitsu Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/KnightJiuJitsu Instructionals: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/eli-knight   THE JIU JITSU MINDSET Website: https://thejiujitsumindset.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJiuJitsuMindset X: https://x.com/jiujitsumindset Find a school near you: https://thejiujitsumindset.com/pages/jiu-jitsu-schools-near-you   SUPPORTING THE SHOW Submission Coffee — https://submissioncoffee.com  (still not a performance-enhancing drug) My Jiu Jitsu Journey — free to try on the App Store and Google Play    CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome back — year five of the podcast 00:29 Submission Coffee and the My Jiu Jitsu Journey app 01:25 Professor Eli Knight returns: the hero's journey 03:35 Crisis, loss, and the class that caught him 05:28 The soft kid who learned to face chaos 08:45 Zen, Daoism, and what religion didn't give him 10:03 "He went to jail, I went to martial arts" 11:17 It doesn't make you a good person — it reveals you 12:21 Pete's story: six years old outside Macy's 14:48 The year he almost walked away 18:42 The leap of faith into a martial arts career 20:10 "I'm not 100% sure who I am without jiu-jitsu" 22:19 The mentor: "you're off in the woods looking for Yoda" 25:35 Coaching with real care — Fit to Fight and Ryan Hoover 27:05 Instructor vs. coach: knowing what you are 30:36 When the fighter is already redlining 33:21 Technique vs. principle is a false choice 34:57 What he'd want people to take away 36:56 Jiu-jitsu is the serenity prayer 38:57 The bar of soap   #jiujitsu #bjj #brazilianjiujitsu #selfdefense #eliknight #martialarts #thejiujitsumindset

  3. 5 days ago

    Professor Chris Burns: Rickson's "Invisible Jiu-Jitsu" & the Mission of Rickson Gracie United

    Host Pete Deeley talks with Professor Chris about preserving Gracie Jiu-Jitsu—specifically Rickson Gracie's interpretation focused on practical self-defense, common-sense solutions to common attacks, and "invisible jiu-jitsu" principles like connection, base, timing, and control rather than strength or athleticism. Chris explains how self-defense knowledge has been diluted by sport-focused training, why losing this curriculum forces people to "reinvent the wheel," and how he was injured after seeking self-defense but ending up in a sport school. He describes building Rickson Gracie United as a structured, global curriculum with tiers and affiliate academies, adding stress and live sparring, and keeping sport and self-defense unified while making training accessible for beginners, kids, and non-competitors. The conversation also touches on Rickson's character, honesty, boundaries, and how jiu-jitsu teaches realistic self-assessment.   00:00 Welcome and Updates 01:07 Movie References Warmup 03:07 Why Preserve Gracie Jiu Jitsu 08:23 Invisible Jiu Jitsu Basics 09:49 Hickson Gracie Unite Launch 11:05 Making Self Defense Accessible 14:06 What Gets Lost Without It 15:17 Personal Story and Injuries 17:39 Jiu Jitsu Telephone Effect 21:04 Sport Growth and Realism 23:32 Sport and Self Defense Unity 30:52 Who Self Defense Is For 32:18 Training Is Not Fighting 33:08 Trauma Empathy On Mats 34:00 Why Rickson Matters 36:27 Good Person Boundaries 38:13 Honesty Ocean Metaphor 42:55 Teaching Kids Through Play 44:51 Belts Competition Context 46:49 Confidence For Daughters 49:28 Internet Backlash Tribalism 52:52 Open Hand Learning 55:24 Lose To Learn Timing 58:16 Preserving Hickson Legacy 01:00:38 Mats Are Contextual 01:01:57 RGU Links And Farewell

  4. 28 Aug

    Jiu Jitsu Mindsets: Professor Juanta Wolf on Art, Fatherhood, Gym Culture & Competition

    Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Juanta "Tater" Wolf to discuss building a jiu jitsu life and academy while balancing family and community. Pete shares updates on the My Jiu Jitsu Journey app (including a new weight-loss component) and invites gym owners to carry Submission Coffee. Juanta explains that before jiu jitsu he focused on painting and murals, describing his style as therapeutic, abstract "Afro Cubism," and connects that improvisational approach to how he rolls and avoids rigid game plans. He credits becoming a father as the turning point that moved him from hobbyist to daily coach and eventual owner, bringing his son to the academy since four months old. Juanta recounts how he found his first gym through a graffiti painting encounter with coach Aaron, emphasizing serious training paired with fun, welcoming culture, and he shares his love of competition, a memorable injury match win, and a student moment when his cousin's daughter showcased jiu jitsu at a school talent show. He closes with where to follow Prairie Wolf Jujitsu online.   00:00 Welcome and Updates 01:32 Meet Professor Juanta 02:38 Art Before Jiu Jitsu 03:54 Flow State Training 05:25 Fatherhood and Ownership 09:26 Finding the First Gym 11:40 Building a Fun Culture 13:34 Why Compete 17:09 Injury and Breakthrough Win 20:07 Student Impact Story 22:05 Tater Man Nickname 22:42 Where to Follow and Farewell

  5. 16 Aug

    Change, Initiation, and Jiu Jitsu as a Modern Mystery with Professor Jason Hawkins

    Change, Initiation, and Jiu Jitsu as a Modern Mystery with Professor Jason Hawkins The host of The Jiu Jitsu Mindset welcomes Professor Jason Hawkins, promotes the My Jiu Jitsu Journey app's new weight-loss component, and mentions Submission Coffee's wholesale program for gym owners. They discuss change as deep transformation rather than habit tweaks, framing growth as transmuting suffering into consciousness and using a marathon "pain is inevitable, suffering is optional" story plus the Yoga Sutras' "now" as a call to seriousness when ordinary coping fails. They explore initiation as guided "death, burial, resurrection," historically tied to near-death clarity, with compassion distinguishing it from abuse, and note women are "initiated by nature" while men often need imposed rites. They relate initiation to martial arts as modern mystery schools: sacred space, gi/belt symbolism, told-shown-done learning, humility, trust, and moving from technique to principle and "no habit." They cover Nietzsche's camel-lion-child, three paths (hardship, self-study, surrender), boredom as a gatekeeper, devotion vs outcome-seeking, and responsibility as the warrior ethic.   00:00 Welcome and Updates 01:08 Meet Jason Hawkins 01:50 Why People Change 03:04 Pain vs Suffering Story 03:59 Yoga Sutras and Now 06:02 Transformation Not Habits 10:02 Gross to Subtle Path 13:32 What Is Initiation Today 16:35 Near Death and Rites 21:59 Pete's Grandfather Lesson 25:57 Mysteries and Three Steps 31:27 Nietzsche Camel Lion Child 36:21 Iron John Colors and Jiu Jitsu 38:22 Pick Your Moment 38:33 No Habit Mastery 38:46 Rolling With My Son 40:33 Skill Stages Explained 42:01 Mystery School Question 45:05 Sacred Space Rituals 48:13 False Danger Real Growth 52:00 Practice Reverence Discipline 54:16 Warrior Responsibility 01:01:03 Mystery Cannot Be Told 01:04:03 Miracles And Attention 01:05:57 Boredom Gatekeeper 01:08:16 Devotion Over Discipline 01:11:50 Closing Reflections

  6. 7 Aug

    Coach Levi Frank (Super Billy Gilly!)| Developing Self-Belief Through Jiu-Jitsu

    Host Pete Deeley welcomes Coach Levi Frank to The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset, shares updates on Submission Coffee sponsoring the Momentum Martial Arts Competition Team and the ad-free My Jiu Jitsu Journey app, then explores how martial arts transformed Levi's life. Levi explains he lacked confidence before MMA/jiu-jitsu and was influenced by watching UFC, school bullying, and a difficult relationship with his older brother. He credits Professor Darian Cobon with changing his worldview and mindset, replacing false security with confidence built from training and work, helping him calm overthinking and improve daily life. Levi argues competition is necessary because it tests training and changes people mentally regardless of outcome. He recounts a memorable amateur MMA TKO against a striker, following Darian's guidance to secure mount and finish with ground-and-pound. Levi also describes the impact of teaching kids and seeing dramatic confidence and life changes in students, and jokingly adopts the nickname "Super Billy Gilly" for his love of the guillotine.   00:00 Welcome and Sponsors 01:14 Life Without Martial Arts 02:39 Bullying and Early Motivation 04:03 Coach Darian Mindset Shift 05:26 Confidence Beyond the Mats 08:55 Why Competition Matters 11:43 Most Memorable MMA Fight 14:35 Ring vs Schoolyard Violence 18:39 Teaching Kids and Raising Lions 21:21 Gym Transformations and Wins 23:54 Super Billy Gilly Name 24:39 Closing and Next Meetup

  7. 4 Aug

    Professor Kenny Kim on Martial Arts as a Calling, Resilience and Rebuilding

    Host Pete Deeley welcomes back Professor Kenny Kim to discuss when martial arts became a lifelong path for him, starting at age four or five and realizing by high school he wanted a future in martial arts. Kim shares how training helped him overcome racism, bullying, and childhood shyness by building confidence and a desire to lead and teach, even while competing. He describes a major period of disillusionment in his late 20s/early 30s: business stress from running an academy since age 20–21, debt around $100,000, selling his academy for $100,000 to reset, briefly pursuing home inspection and then thriving as a personal trainer before returning to open a new school in 2006. Kim credits close teammates and world champions for shaping him and emphasizes humility, aging as a privilege, and giving back. He also previews Mat Made's expansion: matmade.com now hosts short stories and a large U.S. jiu-jitsu directory with 7,000+ listings and a rebooted, raw vlog-style academy-visit series.   00:00 Welcome and Sponsors 00:58 Kenny Kim Returns 01:48 Martial Arts Beginnings 03:47 Confidence Through Training 06:01 Competitor to Teacher 07:53 Burnout and Debt Spiral 11:39 Starting Over in 2006 14:53 Hustle and Self Learning 16:51 Brothers and Mentors 18:57 Legacy Humility Giving Back 21:52 Mat Made Directory Expansion 23:37 New Raw Vlog Series 25:14 Closing Thanks and Farewell

  8. 24 Jul

    Damien Blotzke on Martial Arts: Life Pivots, Competitions, and Self-Mastery

    Damien Blotzke on Martial Arts as a Life Pivot, Competition, and Self-Mastery Host Pete Deeley opens by promoting the Momentum Martial Arts competition team, joking about "submission coffee" as a performance enhancer, and announcing the ad-free My Jiu-Jitsu Journey app with a small monthly fee. He then interviews fighter Damien Blotzke, who says martial arts shaped his identity and gave him tools for learning, problem-solving, listening, and self-control. Blotzke describes being adopted by his brother Darian and moving to Nevada on short notice as a pivotal fork in the road that placed him in a strong learning environment and allowed him to pursue fighting. He cites Miyamoto Musashi's Book of Five Rings and discusses competition as mental, spiritual, and physical, emphasizing breathwork to quiet his inner critic and fight camp as preparation. He recounts memorable bouts, including his first amateur loss at 16, later success, and a five-round fight where he dominated. Deeley shares his own early competition experience and they discuss Momentum's supportive culture. Blotzke suggests the superhero name "Spike Elbow" and shares social links: dthekidmma and Momentum Martial Arts. 00:00 Welcome and Sponsors 01:24 Meet Damien Blotzke 02:18 Adoption and New Start 07:34 When Martial Arts Clicked 10:49 Musashi and Life Lessons 13:08 Competition and Inner Voice 16:56 Most Memorable Fights 20:17 Host Competition Story 24:21 Momentum Community Impact 27:43 Spike Elbow Superhero 28:52 Where to Follow Damien 29:26 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

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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
    153
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Show Website
    The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset