The Ageless Warrior Lab

David Meyer

Dave Meyer | Host, Ageless Warrior Lab podcast | President & Co-founder of Food System Innovations and Humane American Animal Foundation  Join BJJ coral belt, Gang of Eight and Dirty Dozen member Dave Meyer as we draw wisdom from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the martial arts and explore how it applies to your life, success in business, and your long-term health. Dave Meyer is a pioneering American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) practitioner, and accomplished non-profit founder and Philanthropist. He is an eleven-time world champion in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is the current world champion in his age/weight division in the no-gi format. Dave co-founded and served as CEO of Adopt-a-Pet.com for two decades, turning it into the world's largest nonprofit homeless pet adoption website and helping save millions of animals, before its acquisition by Mars Inc. Today, Dave leads Humane America Animal Foundation and Food System Innovations, working on farm animal welfare and a healthy and sustainable food system. He frequently advises U.S. lawmakers on these issues, and has raised and deployed over $160 million in philanthropic capital as part of his work in the nonprofit space. In his athletic career, Dave has risen to the highest ranks of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He earned his black belt from Rigan Machado in 1996 and ranked among the first Americans ("the Dirty Dozen") to do so. He was the first American to medal at the black belt level at the BJJ World Championships in Brazil in 1998. Dave is one of just several Americans to achieve the rank of coral belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a group now referred to as the “Gang of Eight”. He continues to compete at the world championship level, winning world championship titles in his age division. As a martial artist and instructor, he taught at UCLA, Steven Seagal's Tenshin Dojo, and developed a globally used grappling curriculum with John Will, including customized material for Chuck Norris's UFAF association. He has written several books on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, including "Training for Competition: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Grappling". Meyer also played a critical role in post-Katrina animal rescue, co-authored books pet care, and co-founded a Haiti orphanage for children with HIV, exemplifying a lifetime of impactful leadership in both martial arts and philanthropy. Dave resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, and continues to coach BJJ athletes and compete at the world championship level. He is the President & Co-Founder of Humane America Animal Foundation and Food System Innovations, of which the Ageless Warrior Lab is a project.

  1. 3 days ago

    Randy Couture: From Army to UFC Champion to Hollywood Star | EP 53

    Description: In this interview, UFC legend Randy "The Natural" Couture sits down to unpack a career defined by improbable timing. A former U.S. Army sergeant and three-time NCAA All-American wrestler. He fought his first MMA fight in UFC 13 at 33 years old and became a two-division world champion. Randy traces his path from a Pacific Northwest wrestling mat to Olympic alternate status, then into the chaotic, unregulated early days of "no holds barred" fighting. He fought alongside names like Tank Abbott, Mark Coleman, and Mark Kerr, and breaks down the mindset that carried him through six championship reigns and a comeback at age 47. The conversation moves well beyond the cage, covering his surprising second act in Hollywood alongside Sylvester Stallone in The Expendables, his outspoken advocacy for fighter pay and the flaws in MMA's promoter-sanctioning system, a near-fatal heart attack, his current work supporting veterans through the Xtreme Couture GI Foundation, and — most recently — his unexpected leap into 280-mph NHRA drag racing in his sixties. It's a wide-ranging, candid look at mastery, reinvention, and what it means to stay laser-focused across a lifetime of high-stakes second acts. Contacts for Randy: X (Twitter) - https://x.com/Randy_Couture Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/xcnatch/ Xtreme Couture GI Foundation - www.XCGIF.org Merging Vets and Players (MVP) - www.vetsandplayers.org Xtreme Couture GI Foundation - https://www.xtremecoutureg.org/ Xtreme Couture (training center, Las Vegas) - https://www.xtremecouture.com/ Books: Becoming the Natural: My Life In and Out of the Cage -https://www.amazon.com/-/he/Becoming-Natural-Life-Out-Cage/dp/1439153361 Wrestling for Fighting: The Natural Way - https://a.co/d/08Ti6Jxr Extreme Training: The Fighter's Ultimate Fitness Manual - https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Training-Fighters-Ultimate-Fitness/dp/1450724981 Topic Links: Straight Blast Gym - https://www.straightblastgym.com/ Matt Thornton https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Thornton_(martial_artist) Robert Follis - https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/coaches/1229-robert-follis Nate Cory - https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/nate-cory Nate Quarry - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nate_Quarry Chris Haueter - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Haueter Rigan Machado - https://www.riganbjj.com/ PFL (Professional Fighters League) - https://www.pflmma.com/ Jacaré (Ronaldo Souza) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronaldo_Souza Randy Couture vs. Jacaré Souza grappling match (PSL "X-Mission," 2006) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_q4Yf0SdAM Robert Drysdale - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Drysdale Ricco Rodriguez - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricco_Rodriguez Boxing Works (Hermosa Beach) - https://www.boxingworks.com/ Vitor Belfort - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitor_Belfort Maurice Smith - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Smith_(fighter) Mark Coleman - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Coleman Tank Abbott - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_Abbott John McCarthy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCarthy_(referee) Mark Kerr - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Kerr_(fighter) Kurt Angle - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Angle John Will - https://www.redcatacademy.com.au/john_will.html Tito Ortiz - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito_Ortiz Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant%C3%B4nio_Rodrigo_Nogueira Royce Gracie - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royce_Gracie Rorion Gracie - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorion_Gracie Team Quest - https://www.tapology.com/gyms/124-team-quest Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club - https://sunkistkids.org/ Shannon Williams - https://www.themat.com/halloffame/hall-of-fame-detail?PN=Shannon_Williams Mike Valentine (Practical Martial Arts) - https://www.practicalmartialarts.net/ Vision Quest (film) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vision_Quest_(film) MMAFA - https://mmafa.org/ Muhammad Ali Act - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali_Boxing_Reform_Act Lorenzo Fertitta - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_Fertitta Zuffa - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zuffa Conor McGregor - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conor_McGregor Jake Paul - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Paul Ronda Rousey - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronda_Rousey Chuck Liddell - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Liddell Cradle 2 the Grave (film) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_2_the_Grave https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scorpion_King_2:Rise_of_a_Warrior The Scorpion King (film) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scorpion_King Gersh Agency - https://www.gershagency.com/ Brigitte Nielsen - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigitte_Nielsen The Expendables (franchise) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expendables(franchise) Barry Primus - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Primus The Smashing Machine (film) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smashing_Machine_(2025_film) Matt Lindland - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Lindland Jerry Anderson - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0031578/ Brock Lesnar - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brock_Lesnar NHRA - https://www.nhra.com/ SCAG Power Equipment - https://www.scag.com/ Frank Hawley - https://www.frankhawley.com/ Rico Chiperelli - https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/coaches/2088-rico-chiperelli Jay Glazer - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Glazer Unbreakable (book) - https://www.amazon.com/Unbreakable-Story-Passion-Perseverance-Purpose/dp/1476776299 Waves to War (documentary) - https://wavestowar.com/ Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja Get in touch! This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, editor & coproducer by Ryan Turner, producer & marketing Robbie Lockie, music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

  2. 2 Sept

    Eddie Bravo: Developing 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu & Where His Creative Style Comes From | EP 52

    In this interview, 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu founder Eddie Bravo sits down with longtime training partner and friend David Meyer to share the story behind one of the biggest upsets in grappling history — his legendary submission win over Royler Gracie at ADCC. Eddie opens up about his early days training at the Machado Academy in the 1990s, the origins of the name "Twister" and the rubber guard, and how traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lacked systematic drilling. The conversation dives deep into Eddie's creative process, his unlikely path from strip club DJ to Man Show writer (with the help of Joe Rogan) to jiu jitsu innovator, and the philosophy of "reps over everything" that built 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu into a global grappling movement. Along the way, David and Eddie trade stories about the early Gracie challenge matches, training with the Machado brothers, Ken Shamrock's visit to the academy, and the mindset shifts that shaped two of jiu jitsu's most influential figures. Whether you're a BJJ practitioner, MMA fan, or grappling history enthusiast, this episode is packed with rare behind-the-scenes stories, jiu jitsu history, and hard-earned lessons on creativity, persistence, and building something no one else was doing. Contacts for Eddie Bravo: 10th planet BJJ - https://www.10thplanetjj.com/ Eddie Bravo Invitational EBI - https://www.instagram.com/ebiofficial/?hl=en Eddie's podcast- Look Into It - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW8L4f9Vbw8M&si=xEZ0mjWBgfXDT-ot Eddies Music Hook Thieves" — Eddie's band - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3dqndc6A7nTKUsaYFd8ncv?si=mCpJDCs7RO26WKWO1ds0NA "If Lana Covered" — Eddie's YouTube playlist - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXYGaNm4UxrckR5cFaMIn_IA4ZK-VJnuT&si=ITjaEu77L11hwNkz Eddie's Books: Jiu Jitsu Unleashed https://a.co/d/00Ow5LPi Mastering the Rubber Guard https://a.co/d/01eIGH37 Advanced Rubber Guard https://a.co/d/08oqRKJT Mastering the Twister https://a.co/d/04zXEET9 Some clips used for commentary. Original sources linked below Eddie Bravo vs Royler Gracie ADCC 2003 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewTGXah4GXE&t=11s Eddie Bravo vs Royler Gracie Metamoris 2014 rematch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dWuG0oQnpw Dr. D Schultz Slaps Reporter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeJepvj5tn4 Dominic Lobo Gogoplata Knockout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S25cwU5xUk Richie BoogeyMan Martinez Rubber Guard Finish at No Gi Worlds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Twqr2beqjw Topic Links: Royce Gracie — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royce_Gracie Rickson Gracie — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickson_Gracie Carlos Machado — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Machado_(fighter) Jean Jacques Machado — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Jacques_Machado John "Johnny" Machado — https://johnmachadobjj.com/professor-john-machado/ Rigan Machado — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigan_Machado Ken Shamrock — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Shamrock Masakatsu Funaki — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masakatsu_Funaki Ricco Rodriguez — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricco_Rodriguez Randy Couture — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Couture Bart Vale — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Vale Chris Haueter — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Haueter Royler Gracie — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royler_Gracie Marcio Feitosa — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcio_Feitosa Joe Moreira — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Moreira Renzo Gracie — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renzo_Gracie ADCC — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADCC_Submission_Fighting_World_Championship Leo Vieira — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9o_Vieira The Man Show — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Show Joe Rogan — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Rogan Hulk Hogan — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulk_Hogan Fedor Emelianenko — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedor_Emelianenko Israel Adesanya — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Adesanya Lana Del Rey — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lana_Del_Rey Suno — https://suno.com/discover Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A Get in touch! This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, editor & coproducer by Ryan Turner, producer & marketing Robbie Lockie, music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

  3. 5 Aug

    Felicia Oh: Started BJJ at 33, Became a Black Belt Under TWO Legends | EP 51

    In this interview, BJJ black belt Felicia Oh sits down to share her remarkable journey from starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at age 33 to becoming a black belt under both Jean Jacques Machado and Eddie Bravo, a rare distinction only a handful of grapplers hold. The conversation covers what it was like training as a small woman in the male-dominated early days of BJJ, competing at ADCC and the FILA Worlds, and practical advice for smaller grapplers dealing with bigger, stronger opponents. Felicia also opens up about the camaraderie among the "Dirty Dozen" pioneering women in the sport, her take on gi versus no-gi training, BJJ's realistic limits as self-defense, adapting her game through injuries and a battle with Epstein-Barr virus, and her unexpected career as an MMA inspector and judge for the state athletic commission. Packed with candid stories and hard-earned wisdom, this episode is a must-watch for grapplers, MMA fans, and anyone interested in martial arts history and women's role in combat sports. Contacts for interviewee: Instagram (official) - https://www.instagram.com/felicia0h/ USA Dojo profile (Big John McCarthy's UTA bio) - https://www.usadojo.com/felicia-oh/ Herb Dean's referee training https://www.herbdean.com/ John McCarthy's referee training https://www.mmareferee.com/ Topic Links: Felicia Oh - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felicia_OhwikipediaJean Jacques Machado - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Jacques_MachadowikipediaRigan Machado - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigan_MachadoEddie Bravo - https://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-fighters/eddie-bravobjjheroesJohn McCarthy ("Big John") - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCarthy_(referee)wikipediaADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) - https://adcc-official.com/adcc-officialIBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) - https://ibjjf.com/ibjjf10th Planet Jiu Jitsu - https://www.10thplanetjj.com/10thplanetjj!0th Planet Phoenix - https://www.10thplanetphx.com/Jean Jacques Machado Academy - https://www.jjmachado.com/jjmachadoRenzo Gracie Academy - https://renzogracieacademy.com/renzogracieacademyBlack Sheep Jiu Jitsu - https://www.blacksheepjiujitsu.com/blacksheepjiujitsu Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A Get in touch! This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, editor & coproducer by Ryan Turner, producer & marketing Robbie Lockie, music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

  4. 25 Jul

    Ryron Gracie - The Philosophy Behind Gracie Jiu-Jitsu | EP 50

    In this conversation with Ryron Gracie — grandson of Grandmaster Hélio Gracie and son of UFC co-founder Rorion Gracie, Ryron breaks down the true philosophy of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, exploring the critical differences between sport BJJ, self-defense training, and MMA, and why he believes "there are no bad positions" in jiu-jitsu, only bad situations. Filmed at the Gracie University in Los Angeles, Ryron shares deep insights on staying calm under pressure, principles he learned from his grandfather Hélio, and how slowing down and prioritizing positional control can transform how you handle conflict both on the mat and in real life. He also discusses SafeWrap, an innovative proprietary restraint system developed for healthcare and law enforcement that uses two-person lateral control to safely subdue individuals without joint locks, chokes, or pain compliance. The discussion goes further into ego, patience, teaching philosophy, and how jiu-jitsu principles like timing, misdirection, and non-attachment show up everywhere — from parenting to business negotiations to everyday interactions. Whether you're a BJJ practitioner, MMA fan, or interested in self-defense, martial arts psychology, and the Gracie family legacy, this episode offers rare wisdom from one of the most respected voices in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu today Contacts for Ryron Gracie: "Gracie University" (official website) - https://www.gracieuniversity.comgracieuniversity "The Gracie Breakdown" (YouTube channel with brother Rener) - https://www.youtube.com/graciebreakdownyoutube "Ryron Gracie" (Instagram) - https://www.instagram.com/ryrongracieinstagram "Ryron Gracie" (X/Twitter) - https://x.com/RyronGracie Some clips used for commentary.  Original sources linked below Royce Gracie vs Kimo UFC 3 Classic Fight - https://youtu.be/kCdh-PXYZMs?si=WUkmcXm_kW2p6nGS Topic Links: "Rigan Machado" (BJJ instructor David trained with) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigan_Machadopaste.txt "UFC" (Ultimate Fighting Championship) - https://www.ufc.compaste.txt "Royce Gracie" (early UFC fighter, sparked BJJ's US popularity) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royce_Graciepaste.txt "Hélio Gracie" (Ryron's grandfather, founder of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hélio_Graciepaste.txt "Rorion Gracie" (Ryron's father, UFC co-founder) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorion_Graciepaste.txt "Jean Jacques Machado" (David's coach, defense-first philosophy) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Jacques_Machadopaste.txt "Rener Gracie" (Ryron's brother and business partner) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rener_Graciewikipedia "Safe Wrap" (Gracie two-on-one restraint system) - https://www.gracieuniversity.com Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A Get in touch! This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, editor & coproducer by Ryan Turner, producer & marketing Robbie Lockie, music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

  5. 17 Jul

    The Longevity Blueprint - Part 2: Diet, Ego & the Truth About Longevity in BJJ | EP 49

    In this episode, Dave shares the second half of his two-part series on longevity in sports, focusing on his final two "secret laws." He calls out the importance of diet that sees beyond simple terms like  "processed" and "natural" , and offers practical guidance on what, how much, and when to eat, including insights on portion control, eating slowly, and intermittent fasting. He then turns to attitude, exploring how taming your ego, adapting your training as you age, and staying mentally youthful are essential for longevity in BJJ and beyond. Drawing on personal stories from decades on the mat, Dave closes with wisdom on building habits that create a "pull towards health," reminding listeners that small, consistent actions compound over time to shape a stronger, more resilient future self. Topics & People Mentioned 2009 University of Oxford obesity study: Moderate obesity takes years off life expectancy 2023 Harvard meal-timing study: Late-Night Eating Impact – Harvard Medical Schoolhms.harvard 16:8 intermittent fasting protocol: Harvard Meal Timing Study detailshms.harvard Dan Millman (author): Official website – The Peaceful Warrior's Wa Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A Get in touch! This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, editor & coproducer by Ryan Turner, producer & marketing Robbie Lockie, music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

  6. 10 Jul

    The Longevity Blueprint: 4 Laws to Keep You Training - Part 1 | EP 48

    In this deep dive on how to stay strong, flexible, and injury-free as you age, I discuss the four essential laws for longevity in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and combat sports. Drawing from decades of BJJ training experience at nearly 64 years old, I break down why protecting your joints is the single most important factor in athletic longevity, and reveal the critical difference between flexibility and mobility. Learn practical strategies for injury prevention and recovery, including yoga techniques, massage therapy, and self-myofascial release tools. Whether you're a competitive grappler, martial artist, or anyone looking to age well and stay active for decades to come, this episode delivers actionable, real-world wisdom on joint health, mobility training, and building the kind of functional strength that keeps you moving pain-free for life. This is part one of a two-part series on longevity, with part two covering diet and mindset still to come. Topic Links: Foam Roller - https://www.trxtraining.com/products/foam-roller Stick Roller - https://a.co/d/0764Fse6 Inversion Table - https://buyereviews.com/inversion-table Massage Gun - https://hyperice.com/products/hypervolt-3-pro Whale Therapeutic Back Bench - https://beanproducts.com/products/whale-therapeutic-back-bench Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A Get in touch! This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, editor & coproducer by Ryan Turner, producer & marketing Robbie Lockie, music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

  7. 1 Jul

    15 BJJ Principles to Outsmart, Outmaneuver, & Outlast Anyone | Ep 47

    I've spent 36 years in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — competing, winning world titles (and losing them), and learning from every moment on the mat. In this episode, I'm sharing 15 battle-tested strategies for achieving victory in grappling, business, and life.  Winning isn't about overpowering your opponent — it's about positioning, timing, adaptation, and psychology. Whether you're a competitor looking to sharpen your game or an entrepreneur trying to outmaneuver the competition, these principles have helped me build and sell businesses, lead a major nonprofit, and succeed across multiple arenas. If you're a grappler, you'll find direct application on the mat. If you're in business, I break down how to generalize these principles for success. Subscribe and never miss a new episode. Topics & People Mentioned: Grace Hopper - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Hopper Wayne Gretzky - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Gretzky Apple Inc. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc. Nokia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia BlackBerry - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackBerry_Limited Motorola - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola Steve Jobs - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs Amazon Web Services (AWS) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Web_Services IBM - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM HP - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_Inc. Microsoft - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft John Will - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Will_(martial_artist) Rigan Machado - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigan_Machado Jean Jacques Machado - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Machado George St-Pierre (GSP) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_St-Pierre Gene LeBell - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_LeBell Southwest Airlines - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_Airlines United Airlines - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines American Airlines - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Airlines Delta Air Lines - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Air_Lines Google - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google Amazon Fresh - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Fresh Instacart - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instacart Coors Brewing Company - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coors_Brewing_Company Facebook - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook Instagram - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instagram WhatsApp - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WhatsApp X (formerly Twitter) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Corp. Hershey's - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hershey_Company SkinnyPop - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkinnyPop Pirate's Booty - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirate%27s_Booty Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A Get in touch! This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, editor & coproducer by Ryan Turner, producer & marketing Robbie Lockie, music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

  8. 16 Jun

    Rorion Gracie: The Man Who Brought BJJ to America and Started the UFC | EP 46

    In this in‑depth interview with Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu grandmaster Professor Rorion Gracie, eldest son of Hélio Gracie and co‑creator of the UFC, we explore the origins of Gracie Jiu‑Jitsu, the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and why BJJ is such an effective self‑defense system. Rorion shares how he brought Jiu‑Jitsu to America, the philosophy behind the Gracie Academy and Gracie University, and what separates sport BJJ from real‑world self‑defense. We also dive into the Gracie Diet, how BJJ can transform your life, and what makes a truly great instructor and student on and off the mats. If you’re interested in martial arts history, Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu fundamentals, or the evolution of UFC and modern MMA, this conversation is a must‑watch. Contacts for interviewee: RorionGracie.com GracieMuseum.com  Books: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu https://www.amazon.com/GRACIE-JIU-JITSU-Revised-Helio-Gracie/dp/0975941135/ The Gracie Diet https://www.amazon.com/Gracie-Diet-Revised-Rorion/dp/0975941100 Some clips used for commentary. Original sources linked below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X_LpYdUAo4&t=32s Topic Links: Gracie University https://www.gracieuniversity.com/ Gracie/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Action (videotape) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X_LpYdUAo4&t=1090s Royce Gracie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royce_Gracie Hélio Gracie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A9lio_Gracie Carlos Gracie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Gracie Rigan Machado https://www.theacademybeverlyhills.com/instructors/rigan-machado/ John Milius https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Milius Cesar Gracie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Gracie_Jiu-Jitsu John Will https://www.redcatacademy.com.au/john_will.html Gracie Diet https://gracieone.com/the-gracie-diet-the-complete-guide-to-understanding-and-applying-it-in-your-daily-life/ Music “Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1UoJ?si=eISl0YfaQ-yLThljs48j5A Get in touch! This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, editor & coproducer by Ryan Turner, producer & marketing Robbie Lockie, music kindly provided by Robel Borja.

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Dave Meyer | Host, Ageless Warrior Lab podcast | President & Co-founder of Food System Innovations and Humane American Animal Foundation  Join BJJ coral belt, Gang of Eight and Dirty Dozen member Dave Meyer as we draw wisdom from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the martial arts and explore how it applies to your life, success in business, and your long-term health. Dave Meyer is a pioneering American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) practitioner, and accomplished non-profit founder and Philanthropist. He is an eleven-time world champion in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and is the current world champion in his age/weight division in the no-gi format. Dave co-founded and served as CEO of Adopt-a-Pet.com for two decades, turning it into the world's largest nonprofit homeless pet adoption website and helping save millions of animals, before its acquisition by Mars Inc. Today, Dave leads Humane America Animal Foundation and Food System Innovations, working on farm animal welfare and a healthy and sustainable food system. He frequently advises U.S. lawmakers on these issues, and has raised and deployed over $160 million in philanthropic capital as part of his work in the nonprofit space. In his athletic career, Dave has risen to the highest ranks of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He earned his black belt from Rigan Machado in 1996 and ranked among the first Americans ("the Dirty Dozen") to do so. He was the first American to medal at the black belt level at the BJJ World Championships in Brazil in 1998. Dave is one of just several Americans to achieve the rank of coral belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a group now referred to as the “Gang of Eight”. He continues to compete at the world championship level, winning world championship titles in his age division. As a martial artist and instructor, he taught at UCLA, Steven Seagal's Tenshin Dojo, and developed a globally used grappling curriculum with John Will, including customized material for Chuck Norris's UFAF association. He has written several books on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, including "Training for Competition: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Grappling". Meyer also played a critical role in post-Katrina animal rescue, co-authored books pet care, and co-founded a Haiti orphanage for children with HIV, exemplifying a lifetime of impactful leadership in both martial arts and philanthropy. Dave resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, and continues to coach BJJ athletes and compete at the world championship level. He is the President & Co-Founder of Humane America Animal Foundation and Food System Innovations, of which the Ageless Warrior Lab is a project.

Information

  • Creator
    David Meyer
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Ageless Warrior Lab | A Dave Meyer Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Ageless Warrior Lab