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. Mini Ep. 87: Opening Salvos

    3 DAYS AGO

    Mini Ep. 87: Opening Salvos

    In this week's mini-episode, we discuss opening salvos: the tactics and strategies you use when entering into an engagement. Ensuring your opening salvo is successful helps tremendously for standup and the engagement phase of guard. 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 ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models! MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

    7 min

  2. 6 DAYS AGO

    Ep. 370: The Gift Wrap, feat. Nick Volpe

    This week, we're joined again by Nick Volpe from Dark Bear Jiu-Jitsu! In this episode, Nick breaks down a very holiday-relevant technique: the gift wrap! Follow Nick on Instagram: https://instagram.com/darkbeardojo Train with Nick at Dark Bear Jiu-Jitsu in Staten Island, NY: https://darkbearjiujitsu.com Mental models discussed in this episode: Crossing the Center https://bjjmentalmodels.com/crossing-the-center Priit's 45° Rule https://bjjmentalmodels.com/priits-45-degree-rule Predictable Responses https://bjjmentalmodels.com/predictable-responses Center of Gravity https://bjjmentalmodels.com/center-of-gravity Asymmetric Warfare https://bjjmentalmodels.com/asymmetric-warfare Probabilistic Thinking https://bjjmentalmodels.com/probabilistic-thinking ⬆️ 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 ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models! MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

    52 min
  3. Mini Ep. 86: Do What Works

    25/12/2025

    Mini Ep. 86: Do What Works

    In this week's mini-episode, we discuss the importance of doing what works. If a) you can do it against good opponents, b) you can do it repeatedly, and c) it aligns with your goals, then it's a good technique regardless of what anyone else says. 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 ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models! MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

    5 min

  4. 22/12/2025

    Ep. 369: Real Talk About Humility, feat. Nick Salles

    This week, we're joined by Nick Salles! Nick is a black belt under Mikey Musumeci and co-founder of Movement Art Jiu-Jitsu. In this episode, Nick discusses epistemic humility: a scientific philosophy reminding us that our knowledge is always incomplete. Topics include: democratic learning environments, creating conditions for exploration, constraints-led training, recoverable vs. unrecoverable errors, gym culture, and the limits of AI in skill acquisition. Follow Nick on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatnicksalles Train with Nick at Movement Art Jiu-Jitsu in Warminster, PA: https://www.movementart.online Learn online with Nick at Movement Art Online: https://movementartonline.com Mental models discussed in this episode: Silver Bullet Fallacy https://bjjmentalmodels.com/silver-bullet-fallacy Growth From Discomfort https://bjjmentalmodels.com/growth-from-discomfort Zone of Proximal Development https://bjjmentalmodels.com/zone-of-proximal-development Reframing https://bjjmentalmodels.com/reframing Self-Organization https://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-organization Recoverable vs. Unrecoverable Errors https://bjjmentalmodels.com/recoverable-vs-unrecoverable-errors Discipline Equals Freedom https://bjjmentalmodels.com/discipline-equals-freedom Effortful Retrieval https://bjjmentalmodels.com/effortful-retrieval ⬆️ 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 ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models! MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

    1h 14m
  5. Mini Ep. 85: Certainty Heuristic

    18/12/2025

    Mini Ep. 85: Certainty Heuristic

    In this week's mini-episode, we discuss the certainty heuristic: the natural human tendency to prefer answers that offer a simple, easy solution... even if that solution is wrong. 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 ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models! MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

    7 min

  6. 15/12/2025

    Ep. 368: Lazy Wrestling, feat. Thomas & Phillip Barreiro

    This week, we're joined by Thomas and Phillip Barreiro! They're both Division 1 wrestlers and multi-time Canadian national champions, plus the operators of Good Mind Grappling: an organization using wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu to address youth trauma. In this episode, Thomas and Phillip break down their "lazy wrestling" framework. They explain how effective stand-up grappling doesn’t require explosiveness, but instead relies on frames, hand fighting, pressure, and positional control. This episode reframes wrestling for Jiu-Jitsu athletes seeking safer, more sustainable ways to stay on top and dictate the match. Support Good Mind Grappling: https://goodmindgrappling.com Follow Good Mind Grappling on social: https://facebook.com/goodmindgrappling https://instagram.com/goodmindgrappling Join the Lazy Wrestling mailing list: https://lazywrestling.com Mental models discussed in this episode: Inside Channel Control https://bjjmentalmodels.com/inside-channel-control Controlling the Distance https://bjjmentalmodels.com/controlling-the-distance Core Mechanics https://bjjmentalmodels.com/core-mechanics Grips Dictate Position https://bjjmentalmodels.com/grips-dictate-position Opening Salvos https://bjjmentalmodels.com/opening-salvos Asymmetric Warfare https://bjjmentalmodels.com/asymmetric-warfare ⬆️ 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 ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models! MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

    57 min
  7. Mini Ep. 84: Probabilistic Thinking

    11/12/2025

    Mini Ep. 84: Probabilistic Thinking

    In this week's mini-episode, we discuss the importance of probabilistic thinking: viewing Jiu-Jitsu as a game of probabilities where your goal is to create (and maintain) the greatest possible chance of success. 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 ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models! MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

    7 min

  8. 08/12/2025

    Ep. 367: The Weight of Expectations, feat. Jesse Phillips

    This week, we're joined by Jesse Phillips! Jesse is a BJJ black belt under Brian Johnson and the head coach at Gentle Giant Jiu-Jitsu. In this episode, Jesse explores burnout in martial arts and real life, often caused by the crushing weight of personal expectations that we place upon ourselves. Follow Jesse on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gentlegiantjiujitsu Train with Jesse at Gentle Giant Jiu-Jitsu in Seattle, WA: https://www.gg-jj.com Mental models discussed in this episode: Survivorship Bias https://bjjmentalmodels.com/survivorship-bias Self-Competition https://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-competition Compartmentalization https://bjjmentalmodels.com/compartmentalization Keep Your Identity Small https://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-your-identity-small Stress and Recovery https://bjjmentalmodels.com/stress-and-recovery ⬆️ 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 ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models! MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at: https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

    58 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
    476
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 BJJ Mental Models
  • Show Website
    BJJ Mental Models

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