I Suck At Jiu Jitsu Show

Josh McKinney
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Jiu-Jitsu is hard. Join host Josh McKinney on his forever quest to "suck less at jiu-jitsu." Learn from high level black belts, in depth conversations, and off the wall rants by the host himself. It is guaranteed that each episode will help you suck just a little less at jiu-jitsu, or your money back. Josh McKinney is an accomplished adult black belt competitor with a "suck-less" mindset that can help anyone progress

  1. #378 10 Rules for Surviving White Belt

    2d ago

    #378 10 Rules for Surviving White Belt

    Every BJJ white belt needs this. When you start Jiu Jitsu, you don’t know the positions, you don’t know the rules, you don’t know the etiquette, and worst of all… you don’t know what you don’t know. So after 18 years of training and 13 years of teaching beginners, I made the White Belt Survival Guide I wish someone gave me on day one. These are the 10 white belt mistakes that keep people confused, injured, frustrated, annoying to train with, and worst of all… stuck at white belt forever. If you’re brand new to BJJ, trying to get to blue belt, constantly getting smashed, addicted to YouTube techniques, scared to ask your coach questions, rolling way too hard, or wondering why everyone else seems to be improving faster than you, this episode is for you. This is not just “beginner advice.” This is how to survive white belt, stop sucking faster, avoid quitting, and actually become dangerous on the mats. Watch this before your next Jiu Jitsu class! Subscribe to the I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show for weekly BJJ advice, mindset, training stories, and questionable life choices that help you suck just a little bit less at Jiu Jitsu. Get my free ebook The Competitor’s Journey: simplifyingjiujitsu.com Get a free copy of jiu jitsu for imbeciles: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck Sponsored by Datsusara: Use code ISUCK at dsgear.com Get Champions Stay Present(mindset hacks for competition): https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/csp 0:00 Every White Belt Starts Completely Lost 2:02 There Is No Perfect Time to Start BJJ 8:46 The Skill That Makes White Belts Improve Faster 16:02 Jiu Jitsu Will Ruin Your Social Life 21:53 The Truth About Consistency 30:03 Why White Belts Need to Pay Attention 35:06 Winning in the Gym Is Not the Goal 44:27 Jiu Jitsu Does Not Automatically Make You Better 56:28 Do YouTube BJJ Moves Actually Work? 1:00:59 If It Hurts, Tap 1:04:04 Recovery Rules White Belts Ignore 1:10:22 Volume vs Intensity: How White Belts Stay on the Mat 1:14:34 Final Advice for Every White Belt

    1h 15m
  2. #377 The 3 Reasons You Keep Losing BJJ Competitons

    Jun 4

    #377 The 3 Reasons You Keep Losing BJJ Competitons

    Have you ever walked into a Jiu Jitsu tournament feeling ready… and then got absolutely smashed in the first round?You trained hard. You thought you were prepared. You knew some techniques. Maybe you even had a plan.Then the match started and everything fell apart.In this episode, I’m breaking down 3 mindsets that might be the real reason you keep losing BJJ matches — not because you don’t know enough moves, not because the ref screwed you, and not because your opponent was just “stronger.”My name is Josh McKinney (@thejoshmckinney) and after 18 years of competing, coaching, winning, losing, and watching students go through the same patterns over and over again, I’ve noticed that most people don’t lose because of one big technical mistake.They lose because they don’t understand how to perform on command.They lose because they get trapped in the wrong story after a bad match.They lose because they walk into chaos with no real plan and hope their Jiu Jitsu magically shows up.If you’re a white belt, blue belt, purple belt, or anyone trying hard to compete but you can’t figure out why you keep falling short, this episode is for you.We’ll talk about competition mindset, game planning, pacing, exchanges, staying present, and how to actually compete in your own match instead of just “seeing what happens.”Get my free ebook The Competitor’s Journey:simplifyingjiujitsu.comGet a free copy of jiu jitsu for imbeciles: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuckSponsored by Datsusara:Use code ISUCK at dsgear.comGet Champions Stay Present(mindset hacks for competition): https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/csp Chapters: 0:00 Why you keep losing BJJ matches2:34 Mistake #1: The learner’s mindset5:06 How to actually perform on competition day7:00 Finding your real competition A-game9:47 Performance mindset vs. learner mindset10:54 Free gift: The Competitor’s Journey12:24 Mistake #2: Victim mentality15:05 The brutal truth about losing in front of everyone16:13 The match I thought I won17:01 Understanding exchanges and pacing20:22 Why I should have turned it up sooner23:18 Free BJJ Mental Models course24:33 The wildest victim mentality story ever31:24 Take responsibility for your own doodoo33:09 Why excuses ruin your Jiu Jitsu37:21 Datsusara hemp gear38:49 Mistake #3: The chaos mindset40:43 The opposite of chaos is being present43:00 Why “just see what happens” loses matches44:32 How I stopped losing at adult black belt46:02 Why your game plan has to be simple49:04 The 3 mindsets that decide your matches50:02 Why my coach changed my finals game plan53:28 Being present in your training camp55:17 Know the rules, know your opponent56:44 Why losing is part of becoming dangerous57:39 Final thoughts

    58 min
  3. #376 Rose Miller: How to Learn Jiu Jitsu Faster! | Rosierollz

    May 28

    #376 Rose Miller: How to Learn Jiu Jitsu Faster! | Rosierollz

    Rose Miller, aka @rosierollz, is everywhere on BJJ Instagram right now because she does something that sounds simple but is actually incredibly rare: she gives simple but helpful advice.In this episode of the I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show, Rose and I talk about how to actually learn Jiu Jitsu faster, why so many people waste years training without a real plan, and how a black belt thinks about improvement differently than a beginner.We get into her start in Jiu Jitsu, losing a lot early, competing, getting injured, learning how to learn, teaching white belts and blue belts, creating BJJ content, CLA/ecological training, drilling, women leading in Jiu Jitsu, and why starting every round from your knees is probably making your Jiu Jitsu worse.This is not just a “do these 3 moves” episode. This is a conversation about how to train smarter, how to think better, and how to keep getting better at Jiu Jitsu without making your entire life miserable.Follow Rose on Instagram: @rosierollzGet my free ebook The Competitor’s Journey:simplifyingjiujitsu.comGet a free copy of jiu jitsu for imbeciles: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuckSponsored by Datsusara:Use code ISUCK at dsgear.com 00:00 Intro00:46 How Rose Miller got into Jiu Jitsu03:31 Why Jiu Jitsu gave Rose structure and direction05:28 Starting at Gracie South Bay with elite women08:45 Rose’s first Jiu Jitsu competition11:18 Losing a lot and learning how to learn13:02 Why Rose refused to quit Jiu Jitsu15:09 The original goal of becoming a black belt16:30 What changes when you finally get your black belt18:19 Injuries, COVID, concussions, and loving the process22:01 Becoming a “try-hard hobbyist”25:17 Why Rose makes beginner-friendly BJJ content29:13 Rose’s intention behind creating content34:10 Women leading in Jiu Jitsu40:42 Training in San Diego vs smaller Jiu Jitsu scenes43:56 Cross-training, loyalty, and gym culture47:23 Would Rose be different if she started at a hobbyist gym?49:57 Using competition as a learning tool53:06 Why Rose’s Jiu Jitsu content works57:31 Drilling, CLA, and live training1:04:33 Why CLA people can be so annoying1:07:10 Advice for beginners learning Jiu Jitsu today1:10:27 Stop starting rounds from the knees1:12:34 Why Jiu Jitsu standup is still evolving1:16:37 Is Jiu Jitsu Brazilian or American?1:17:50 Final thoughts

    1h 18m
  4. #375 Jena Bishop: Why BJJ Doesn't work in MMA

    May 21

    #375 Jena Bishop: Why BJJ Doesn't work in MMA

    BJJ works… until it doesn’t. In this episode, I sit down with Jena Bishop, a BJJ World Champion, elite grappler, and now professional MMA fighter, to talk about the brutal truth of taking world-class Jiu-Jitsu into the cage. Jena has beaten some of the biggest names in grappling, including Mackenzie Dern, Angelica Galvão, Luiza Monteiro, and Gabi McComb. But after transitioning into MMA, she learned something most Jiu-Jitsu athletes don’t want to hear: Your sport Jiu-Jitsu game might not survive punches, wrestling, scrambles, and people who refuse to play guard. We talk about why guard pulling doesn’t translate, why being on top matters more than ever, why some elite grappling styles fail in MMA, how striking changes every position, and what BJJ athletes need to fix before stepping into a cage. Jena also opens up about burnout, fight week anxiety, weight cuts, PFL, the current state of women’s safety in Jiu-Jitsu, and why the culture of hero-worship in BJJ has created serious problems. This is one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on the show. Get my free competition training ebook, The Competitor’s Journey: simplifyingjiujitsu.com/comp Sponsored by Datsusara: Use code ISUCK at dsgear.com Free BJJ Mental Models course: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck What You’ll Learn Why elite BJJ doesn’t automatically work in MMA Why pulling guard is usually a terrible idea in a fight How punches change guard, back control, leg locks, and top pressure Why Jena stopped training mostly in the gi The biggest mistake Jiu-Jitsu athletes make when transitioning to MMA How fight camp, burnout, weight cutting, and mindset really work Why Jena believes BJJ culture needs to stop protecting the wrong people 0:00 Intro 0:50 Jena’s biggest BJJ wins 1:53 Why Jena switched to MMA 4:36 Getting punched changes everything 6:11 Finding her first MMA fight 9:14 Training BJJ vs training MMA 11:41 Why guard pulling fails in MMA 14:35 Bad BJJ habits for fighting 15:35 Why half guard works in MMA 18:11 Why top position matters most 18:49 MMA rounds vs BJJ matches 21:00 Preparing for opponents 24:10 Jena’s fighting style 25:26 How Jena handles fight nerves 29:44 Burnout and fight camp 33:40 Weight cut karaoke 37:35 Post-weigh-in ritual 39:00 Cutting weight for MMA 42:23 Fight week routine 45:34 Jena’s MMA goals 48:27 Should MMA fighters train gi? 54:22 BJJ habits that don’t translate 56:19 Why elite grapplers struggle in MMA 58:04 Wrestling exposes BJJ athletes 1:00:25 BJJ culture problems 1:05:20 Protecting women and kids in BJJ 1:09:57 Leaving toxic gyms 1:13:03 Annoying BJJ gym characters 1:14:43 Jena’s next PFL fight

    1h 16m
  5. #374 Beatrice Jin: Build Your Competition Game

    May 14

    #374 Beatrice Jin: Build Your Competition Game

    Is your Jiu-Jitsu gameplan actually helping you win… or are you just collecting random techniques? In this episode, I sit down with Beatrice Jin( ⁨@berimbozo⁩ ), black belt competitor, coach, and one of the funniest creators in Jiu-Jitsu, to talk about how to build a real competition game instead of just “getting better at everything.” Beatrice breaks down why specificity matters, how she rebuilt her own game after tough losses, why most technique content misses the point, and how competitors should think about grips, guards, training rounds, and strategy if they actually want to improve. We also talk about guard pulling, drilling, women’s open mats, funny Jiu-Jitsu content, competing at black belt, and why your gameplan might suck. What you’ll learn: - Why “training everything” can hold you back - How to build a specific A-game for competition - Why your grips matter more than your moves - How Beatrice structures competition training - Why guard pulling might be the smartest strategy - When drilling helps — and when it’s a waste of time - How to stop training randomly and start training with intent Try this in training: Pick one primary guard, one secondary guard, and one grip sequence you want to force. Start rounds from there. Your goal is not to “do Jiu-Jitsu.” Your goal is to get to your spot, score first, submit first, or learn exactly where your game breaks. Get Josh’s free competition prep ebook, The Competitor’s Journey, at simplifyingjiujitsu.com/comp Get Rob Biernacki’s free Jiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles course from BJJ Mental Models at bjjmentalmodels.com/suck Check out Datsusara hemp gear and use promo code ISUCK at dsgear.com for 10% off. New episodes of the I Suck At Jiu-Jitsu Show every Thursday. Subscribe so you can suck less at Jiu-Jitsu. 0:00 Beatrice Jin Joins The Show 1:50 Why The Whiteboard Videos Went Viral 7:03 Being A Serious Competitor AND A Meme 10:49 Why Most BJJ Technique Videos Suck 18:35 Why Black Belt Competition Feels Different 23:45 There Are No Mindset Tricks 26:36 How Beatrice Trains Between Competitions 28:33 Should Competitors Actually Drill? 31:01 Why She Added K Guard 32:15 How To Build Your Competition Game 35:47 Beatrice’s Genius Competition Class 48:18 Should Women Train With Men? 52:41 Guard Pulling Is Mathematically Correct 54:04 If Your Guard Gets Passed, You Deserve To Lose 1:09:06 How To Suck Less At Jiu-Jitsu

    1h 15m
  6. #373 "Let's Roll Light" is a LIE! | 951-HOT-TAKE #3

    May 7

    #373 "Let's Roll Light" is a LIE! | 951-HOT-TAKE #3

    I asked the internet for their hottest BJJ takes… and honestly, this was a mistake. In this episode of The I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show, Josh, Bryce, and Brian react to listener-submitted BJJ hot takes that range from painfully true to completely unhinged. We talk about injured training partners who still roll like it’s ADCC finals, why “let’s roll light” basically means nothing, whether you should wash your belt, why middle-aged blue belts might have the biggest target in the gym, and whether submission-only rulesets are actually ruining grappling. If you’ve ever had a teammate say “I’m injured, let’s go light” and then immediately try to kill you… this episode is for you. Call the Hot Takes Hotline Got a BJJ hot take? Call 951-HOT-TAKE and leave us your worst, funniest, or most controversial jiu-jitsu opinion. We may roast you. We may agree with you. We may accidentally start a gym war. Get Josh’s free competition prep ebook, The Competitor’s Journey, at simplifyingjiujitsu.com Get Rob Biernacki’s free Jiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles course from BJJ Mental Models at bjjmentalmodels.com/suck Check out Datsusara hemp gear and use promo code ISUCK at dsgear.com for 10% off.

    1h 30m
  7. #372 Should YOU Compete in Jiu Jitsu?

    Apr 30

    #372 Should YOU Compete in Jiu Jitsu?

    Should You Compete or Waste Money? If you’ve ever sat on the fence about competing in Jiu-Jitsu… this episode is for you. We break down the real reasons people compete (and the lies they tell themselves), whether tournaments are actually worth the money, and how competition can completely change your Jiu-Jitsu, and your mindset. This isn’t just ADCC vs IBJJF. It’s about who competition is for, who it’s NOT for, and how to actually get value out of it. If you’re a competitor (or thinking about becoming one), this episode will help you decide: 👉 Should you compete at all? 👉 Which tournaments actually make sense for you? 👉 And how to stop overthinking it and just go. Why most people compete (and why they’re wrong) The real benefit of competition (it’s not medals) How competition forces faster improvement ADCC vs IBJJF: pros, cons, and who they’re for Why local tournaments might be the smartest move The biggest mistake beginners make with competing How to know if competing is right for YOU Add 1 “performance day” per week (competition-style rounds only) Stop talking about competing, be about competing Treat each tournament like a rep, not a result Compete more locally before chasing “big” events 🔥 What You’ll Learn🥋 Try This in Training (Mini Playbook) Add 1 “performance day” per week (competition-style rounds only) Stop talking about competing, be about competing Treat each tournament like a rep, not a result Compete more locally before chasing “big” events ISAJJ Rash Guards: https://imposedwill.com/collections/i-suck-at-jiu-jitsu-showJiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles, feat. Rob Biernacki(FREE): https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/isuckDatsusara 10% OFF with Promo Code “ISUCK”: https://www.dsgear.com/ The Competitor’s Journey: https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/comp 00:00 – Should You Even Compete? 01:00 – Why People Say They Compete 02:00 – The Truth: Competing Is Selfish 05:00 – The Real Value of Competition 07:00 – Competition vs “Who’s Better” 08:30 – Why Competition Forces Growth 10:30 – Stop Talking, Start Competing 12:00 – The “Performance Day” Hack 15:00 – Why Competition Changes You 18:00 – Regret & Missed Opportunities 21:00 – Fear of Competing Explained 23:00 – Just Sign Up (Big Mistake People Make) 24:30 – Which Tournaments Matter? 26:00 – ADCC vs IBJJF Overview 27:30 – IBJJF Pros 33:30 – IBJJF Cons (Cost, Politics) 38:00 – ADCC Pros (Clout, Culture) 43:00 – ADCC Cons (Organization Issues) 48:00 – Local Tournaments Explained 49:30 – Why You Should Compete More Often 53:30 – The Real Answer: Just Compete 55:00 – What To Do After You Lose 59:00 – Why Competition Changes You Forever 1:02:00 – Final Advice for Competitors

    1h 6m
  8. #371 The Greatest BJJ Matches of All Time!

    Apr 23

    #371 The Greatest BJJ Matches of All Time!

    The greatest BJJ matches of all time… who made the top 10? This isn’t just a list of exciting fights. These are the matches that actually changed jiu jitsu. The ones that shifted the meta, shocked people, or proved something nobody saw coming. I ranked them off four things. How important they were to the sport, the story going into the match, how fun they are to watch, and whether the result flipped expectations. You’ll probably disagree with something on here. Good. That’s kind of the point. From Roger vs Buchecha to Eddie shocking the Gracies, to some newer matches that quietly changed the game, this is the list that tells the story of BJJ. Drop your number one in the comments and tell me what I got wrong. ISAJJ Rash Guards: https://imposedwill.com/collections/i-suck-at-jiu-jitsu-show Jiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles, feat. Rob Biernacki(FREE): https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck Datsusara 10% OFF with Promo Code “ISUCK”: https://www.dsgear.com/  The Competitor’s Journey: https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/comp

    1h 7m
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About

Jiu-Jitsu is hard. Join host Josh McKinney on his forever quest to "suck less at jiu-jitsu." Learn from high level black belts, in depth conversations, and off the wall rants by the host himself. It is guaranteed that each episode will help you suck just a little less at jiu-jitsu, or your money back. Josh McKinney is an accomplished adult black belt competitor with a "suck-less" mindset that can help anyone progress

Information

  • Creator
    Josh McKinney
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    397
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Josh McKinney
  • Show Website
    I Suck At Jiu Jitsu Show

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