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. 4 hr ago

    Ep. 393: Submission Series: The Woj Lock 2.0, feat Chris Wojcik

    This week, we're joined again by Chris Wojcik! In this episode, Chris rebuilds his approach to the Woj Lock around a few guiding concepts instead of a catalog of techniques. Topics include: the three points of control, proximal vs. distal control, redefining what counts as fundamental, and training leg locks through games instead of memorization. Get Woj Lock 2.0 from BJJ Fanatics: https://bjjfanatics.com/products/woj-lock-2-0-completing-the-leg-lock-game-by-chris-wojcik Subscribe to the Grappler's Diary: https://thegrapplersdiary.substack.com Get the Grappler's Diary book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRS9K6LQ Follow Chris Wojcik on Instagram: https://instagram.com/chrismwojcik Mental models discussed in this episode: Constraints-Led Approach https://bjjmentalmodels.com/constraints-led-approach 3 Joint Rule https://bjjmentalmodels.com/3-joint-rule Proximal and Distal Pathways https://bjjmentalmodels.com/proximal-and-distal-pathways Kuzushi https://bjjmentalmodels.com/kuzushi ⬆️ 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
  2. Mini Ep. 108: Inertia

    4 days ago

    Mini Ep. 108: Inertia

    In this mini-episode, we discuss inertia: a concept from physics explaining that objects are resistant to changes in velocity. 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

  3. 25 May

    Ep. 392: The 90% That Matters, feat. Beatrice Jin

    This week, we're joined by Beatrice Jin! Beatrice is a black belt competing in the IBJJF top 10 at lightweight and middleweight, and she's known across jiu-jitsu social media for her whiteboard reels. In this episode, Beatrice breaks down the 90% of jiu-jitsu that has nothing to do with sparring, and why the work around the mat is what actually builds a career. Topics include: what podium finishes actually feel like, building a women's open mat from three people to thirty, finding the niche only you can fill, and using social media to build trust before asking for the sale. Follow Beatrice on Instagram: https://instagram.com/berimbozo Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@berimbozo Train with Beatrice at Kogaion Academy in Arlington, Virginia: https://kogaionacademy.com Support her merch brand Butt Scooter Jiu Jitsu: https://buttscooterjiujitsu.com Mental models discussed in this episode: Zone of Genius https://bjjmentalmodels.com/zone-of-genius Beginner's Mind https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beginners-mind Inertia https://bjjmentalmodels.com/inertia Consistency https://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistency ⬆️ 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

    51 min
  4. Mini Ep. 107: Emotional Contagion

    21 May

    Mini Ep. 107: Emotional Contagion

    In this mini-episode, we discuss emotional contagion: a psychological and physiological concept that shows us how much our emotions and behavior impact others around us. 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

    9 min

  5. 18 May

    Ep. 391: Am I Getting Better? feat. Josh McKinney

    This week, we're joined by Josh McKinney! Josh is a black belt, head coach at HeadNod Jiu-Jitsu in Southern Illinois, and the host of the I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu podcast. In this episode, Josh shares a framework for self-coaching beyond getting belt promotions, and explains why submission count and belt color are the wrong yardsticks for measuring whether you're getting better. Topics include: false metrics, the over-reliance on your A-game, learning to read old-school black belts, the Henry Akins "how many steps" test, and managing effort as a progress metric. Follow Josh on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thejoshmckinney Listen to the I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@isuckatjiujitsu Call the Hot Take Hotline: 951-HOT-TAKE Train with Josh at HeadNod in Southern Illinois: https://headnodhq.com Mental models discussed in this episode: Self-Competition https://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-competition Goodhart's Law https://bjjmentalmodels.com/goodharts-law Systematic Abandonment https://bjjmentalmodels.com/systematic-abandonment Concepts Over Techniques https://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques Deliberate Practice https://bjjmentalmodels.com/deliberate-practice Resulting Fallacy https://bjjmentalmodels.com/resulting Economy of Motion https://bjjmentalmodels.com/economy-of-motion Making Smaller Circles https://bjjmentalmodels.com/making-smaller-circles Process Over Outcomes https://bjjmentalmodels.com/process-over-outcomes ⬆️ 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 5min
  6. Mini Ep. 106: Cognitive Load

    14 May

    Mini Ep. 106: Cognitive Load

    In this mini-episode, we discuss cognitive load: our brain's working memory (like computer RAM), and how to manage it so we can learn jiu-jitsu more effectively. 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

  7. 11 May

    Ep. 390: Making Jiu-Jitsu Accessible, feat. Ryan Rich & Max Corteggiano

    This week, we're joined by returning champion Ryan Rich and first-timer Max Corteggiano! Ryan is a third-degree black belt who owns Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu in California and was one of the early adopters of the constraints-led approach, and Max is a first-degree black belt from France who runs BJJ Flowcharts. In this episode, Ryan and Max break down what they've learned from building BJJ Games together, a project focused on making CLA simple and accessible for coaches and students. Topics include: simplifying the constraints-led approach, the blended ABC and eco method, designing games around invariants, attention spans in coaching, and ditching the warmup. Check out BJJ Games: https://bjjgames.com Check out BJJ Flowcharts: https://bjjflowcharts.com Train with Ryan at Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu in Granite Bay, CA: https://granitebayjiujitsu.com Mental models discussed in this episode: Constraints-Led Approach https://bjjmentalmodels.com/constraints-led-approach Concepts Over Techniques https://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques Win Conditions https://bjjmentalmodels.com/win-conditions Ecological Dynamics https://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics Cognitive Load https://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-load Invariants https://bjjmentalmodels.com/invariants 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

    58 min
  8. Mini Ep. 105: Double Trouble

    7 May

    Mini Ep. 105: Double Trouble

    In this mini-episode, we discuss double trouble, a concept popularized by John Danaher. Double trouble teaches us that to fully control a near-side limb, we must also control a far-side limb. 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

    10 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
    521
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 BJJ Mental Models
  • Show Website
    BJJ Mental Models

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