BJJ Mental Models

Steve Kwan
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Your guide to a conceptual and intelligent Jiu-Jitsu approach.  BJJ black belt Steve Kwan and a slate of expert guests explain the concepts, strategies, and tactics behind the gentle art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

  1. 5 hr ago

    Ep. 397: Risk Management in BJJ, feat. Jake Luigi

    This week, we're joined again by Jake Luigi! Jake is a jiu-jitsu analyst who made his name studying professional match footage, and he runs OutlierDB, an analytics database for grappling. In this episode, Jake lays out a three-part framework for managing risk: name the worst-case scenario, watch for the key indicators that it's coming, and only attack hard once those indicators are in your favor. Topics include: risk-reward analysis, points of control, grip fighting, terminal positions, and Goodhart's Law. Subscribe to Less Impressed More Involved on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LIMIBJJ Check out OutlierDB: https://outlierdb.com Mental models discussed in this episode: Return on Investment https://bjjmentalmodels.com/return-on-investment Building Your Triggers https://bjjmentalmodels.com/building-your-triggers Double Trouble https://bjjmentalmodels.com/double-trouble Cognitive Load https://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-load Constraints-Led Approach https://bjjmentalmodels.com/constraints-led-approach Availability Heuristic https://bjjmentalmodels.com/availability-heuristic Points of Control https://bjjmentalmodels.com/points-of-control Terminal Positions https://bjjmentalmodels.com/terminal-positions Invariants https://bjjmentalmodels.com/invariants Grips Dictate Position https://bjjmentalmodels.com/grips-dictate-position Kuzushi https://bjjmentalmodels.com/kuzushi Rotational Control https://bjjmentalmodels.com/rotational-control Goodhart's Law https://bjjmentalmodels.com/goodharts-law ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium! The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free: https://bjjmentalmodels.com Need more BJJ Mental Models? Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter Learn more mental models in our online database: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database Follow us on social: https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels Music by Enterprize: https://enterprize.bandcamp.com

    1hr 3min
  2. Mini Ep. 112: Coiling

    4 days ago

    Mini Ep. 112: Coiling

    In this mini-episode, we discuss coiling, or retracting your limbs and neck. It denies access to our body's vulnerable levers and positions us to explosively generate force. Staying coiled is a smart "default" position if you're not sure what to do. But there are times when you need to uncoil, and that is when: #1: there's a productive reason to do so, and #2: you can do so safely and without giving up a lever. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium! The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free: https://bjjmentalmodels.com Need more BJJ Mental Models? Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter Learn more mental models in our online database: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database Follow us on social: https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

    7 min

  3. 22 Jun

    Ep. 396: Relative Strength, feat. Will Weisser

    This week, we're joined by Will Weisser! Will is a jiu-jitsu black belt, co-founder of the competition-tracking site JiuJitsu.net, and author of the new book Scientific Jiu-Jitsu: A Unified Theory of Grappling. In this episode, Will lays out that unified theory: the idea that every jiu-jitsu technique exists to raise your own strength or reduce your opponent's. Topics include: relative strength, frames and misdirection, body alignment, and why being strong works. Get Will's book, Scientific Jiu-Jitsu: A Unified Theory of Grappling: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594390355 Check out JiuJitsu.net: https://jiujitsu.net Follow Will on Instagram: https://instagram.com/weisserwill Mental models discussed in this episode: Theory of Alignment https://bjjmentalmodels.com/theory-of-alignment Dominant Angles https://bjjmentalmodels.com/dominant-angles Anatomic Hierarchy https://bjjmentalmodels.com/anatomic-hierarchy Kuzushi https://bjjmentalmodels.com/kuzushi Controlling the Distance https://bjjmentalmodels.com/controlling-the-distance Dilemmas https://bjjmentalmodels.com/dilemma Kinetic Chains https://bjjmentalmodels.com/kinetic-chains Overwhelming Force https://bjjmentalmodels.com/overwhelming-force ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium! The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free: https://bjjmentalmodels.com Need more BJJ Mental Models? Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter Learn more mental models in our online database: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database Follow us on social: https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels Music by Enterprize: https://enterprize.bandcamp.com

    1hr 7min
  4. Mini Ep. 111: Porcupine Strategy

    18 Jun

    Mini Ep. 111: Porcupine Strategy

    In this mini-episode, we discuss porcupine strategy: the art of making your defense so painful that your aggressors think twice. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium! The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free: https://bjjmentalmodels.com Need more BJJ Mental Models? Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter Learn more mental models in our online database: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database Follow us on social: https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

    6 min

  5. 15 Jun

    Ep. 395: Take the Slack Out, feat. Jesse Walker

    This week, we're joined by Jesse Walker! Jesse is the head coach and co-founder of Rough Hands BJJ in Louisville, Kentucky, and a frequent BJJ Mental Models collaborator. In this episode, Jesse makes the case for loading a joint with tension before you ever start the breaking mechanics, so the finish takes a fraction of the effort. Topics include: adding traction before the break, the order of operations of a joint lock, backing up to retighten a loose position, fixing the much-maligned Americana, and leglock safety through control. Train with Jesse at Rough Hands BJJ: https://roughhandsbjj.com Follow Rough Hands on Instagram: https://instagram.com/roughhandsbjj Mental models discussed in this episode: Breaking Mechanics https://bjjmentalmodels.com/breaking-mechanics 3 Joint Rule https://bjjmentalmodels.com/3-joint-rule Double Trouble https://bjjmentalmodels.com/double-trouble Core Mechanics https://bjjmentalmodels.com/core-mechanics ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium! The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free: https://bjjmentalmodels.com Need more BJJ Mental Models? Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter Learn more mental models in our online database: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database Follow us on social: https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels Music by Enterprize: https://enterprize.bandcamp.com

    52 min
  6. Mini Ep. 110: Mind the Gap

    11 Jun

    Mini Ep. 110: Mind the Gap

    In this mini-episode, we discuss "mind the gap:" a no-gi gripping concept that prevents your opponent from pulling or circling their hand free. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium! The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free: https://bjjmentalmodels.com Need more BJJ Mental Models? Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter Learn more mental models in our online database: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database Follow us on social: https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

    8 min

  7. 8 Jun

    Ep. 394: Position Series: No-Gi Lasso, feat. Rob Biernacki

    This week we're joined again by Rob Biernacki! Rob is the head instructor of Island Top Team and the mind behind BJJ Concepts. In this episode, Rob breaks down how he built a working no-gi version of the lasso, a position long considered gi-only. Topics include: minding the gap in no-gi grips, the inverted grip, the omoplata as a control system, wedging, and hybrid lasso guards. Rob on Instagram: https://instagram.com/islandtopteam Learn from Rob at BJJ Concepts: https://bjjconcepts.net Get Rob's No-Gi Lasso instructional: https://bjjconcepts.net/instructionals Mental models discussed in this episode: Do What Works https://bjjmentalmodels.com/do-what-works Grips Dictate Position https://bjjmentalmodels.com/grips-dictate-position Prioritize Longevity https://bjjmentalmodels.com/prioritize-longevity Mind the Gap https://bjjmentalmodels.com/mind-the-gap Kinetic Chains https://bjjmentalmodels.com/kinetic-chains Core Mechanics https://bjjmentalmodels.com/core-mechanics Scientific Method https://bjjmentalmodels.com/scientific-method ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium! The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free: https://bjjmentalmodels.com Need more BJJ Mental Models? Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter Learn more mental models in our online database: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database Follow us on social: https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels Music by Enterprize: https://enterprize.bandcamp.com

    55 min
  8. Mini Ep. 109: Overwhelming Force

    4 Jun

    Mini Ep. 109: Overwhelming Force

    In this mini-episode, we discuss overwhelming force: the idea that we maximize our power by using the most of our body's weapons against the least of our opponent's. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium! The world's LARGEST library of jiu-jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free: https://bjjmentalmodels.com Need more BJJ Mental Models? Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter Learn more mental models in our online database: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database Follow us on social: https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

    11 min
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About

Your guide to a conceptual and intelligent Jiu-Jitsu approach.  BJJ black belt Steve Kwan and a slate of expert guests explain the concepts, strategies, and tactics behind the gentle art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Information

  • Creator
    Steve Kwan
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    529
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 BJJ Mental Models
  • Show Website
    BJJ Mental Models

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