The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset

Peter M. Deeley Jr. and Lucas Rubbo
  • 4.9 (35)
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When you improve your Jiujitsu, you improve your life. Lessons on the mat are life lessons. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Welcome to The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset.

  1. 23H AGO

    Professor Steve Maxwell on Old-School Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Challenge Matches, and Training for Longevity

    Professor Steve Maxwell on Wrestling, Early Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Challenge Matches, and Training for Longevity   Host Pete Deeley interviews Professor Steve Maxwell on Jiujitsu Mindset about how wrestling and strength training shaped his life, his early lifting roots near York Barbell, and how wrestling built conditioning, toughness, and skills that carried into jiu-jitsu. Maxwell describes training in the early Gracie Academy era with Rorion, Royce, Rickson, and others, emphasizing self-defense, distance management, takedowns, and principles ("invisible jiu-jitsu") versus today's sport-focused trends. He recounts early seminars in Philadelphia, challenge matches, and a 42-minute fight as a purple belt against a larger NCAA Division III wrestling champion that ended in an arm-triangle choke. Maxwell discusses teaching quality, business realities of running schools, his joint and shoulder issues (blaming kettlebell snatches), and offers longevity advice: tap early, avoid ego and competition injuries, use slow bodyweight/isometrics, partial hangs, breath work, and seek appropriate training partners.   00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:34 Strength Training Roots 02:46 Wrestling Mindset Edge 06:20 Old School BJJ vs Sport 09:10 Philly Gym and Gracie Visits 14:43 Gracie Lineage Stories 19:45 Challenge Match Era 21:42 42 Minute Wrestler Fight 27:59 BJJ Origins and Judo Shift 31:22 Learning to Teach Like Gracie 32:01 Master Teacher Praise 32:26 Motor Learning Meets Jiu Jitsu 32:59 Learning Through Translation 33:30 Invisible Jiu Jitsu Principles 35:24 Why Many Schools Struggle 37:04 Business Lessons From Bernie 39:03 Playing the Long Game 40:58 Leverage Over Athleticism 42:51 Void Belt System Explained 45:39 Old Man Game Mindset 46:02 Shoulder Pain And Kettlebells 47:23 Hanging And Copper Protocol 51:29 Slow Strength Training 53:38 Superhero Name And Father Story 55:45 Black Belt History And Coral Belt 57:23 Playful Learning And Breathwork 01:00:56 Final Training Plans Goodbye

    1h 3m

  2. 6D AGO

    Professor Jack Taufer on Learning, Longevity, Competition & "Invisible" Jiu-Jitsu

    Professor Jack Taufer on Jiu-Jitsu Learning, Longevity, and "Invisible" Mechanics Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Jack Taufer to The Jiu Jitsu Mindset and asks how Jiu Jitsu has shaped his life since starting at 15 in 1995, compared with paths like skateboarding, basketball, woodworking influences from his late father, or a possible finance career. They discuss jiu-jitsu as technical and physics-based yet expressed differently by each person, how skateboarding contributed balance, and how learning differs from other sports through constant adaptation to an opponent. Taufer describes visualization, changes in training media from VHS to YouTube, and his view that competition can accelerate progress but isn't necessary. He shares memorable rolls with Rickson Gracie, "invisible jiu-jitsu" mechanics like posture, weight distribution, and training with eyes closed, plus stories about confidence gains in students and gym culture enforcing safety and respect.   00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:48 Life Without Jiu Jitsu 02:48 Engineering Meets Art 05:43 Gymnastics and Skate Roots 08:10 How We Learn Jiu Jitsu 12:31 Visualization and Video Era 15:39 Competition and Stress Tests 19:12 Why People Train 23:33 Most Memorable Rolls 26:18 The 40 Minute War 28:06 Wrestler Surprise Roll 28:28 Invisible Jiu Jitsu Explained 31:06 Physics Behind Pressure 33:47 Eyes Closed Connection 37:00 Longevity And Purpose 41:48 Jiu Jitsu Beyond Self Defense 46:55 Early Gym Reality Check 49:46 Confidence Through Technique 53:05 Superhero Name Farewell

    56 min

  3. MAR 26

    Think Street, Train Sport, Practice Art with Professor Chris Haueter

    CHRIS HAUETER 6th Degree Black Belt 6th degree Black Belt and member of the dirty dozen (the first 12 non-Brazilian black belts). Chris was the first American to submit a Brazilian in competition, the first American to compete as a black belt at the Mundials in Brazil and he continues to travel the world spreading his Jiu Jitsu philosophy of think street, train sport and practice art. He is also known for his golden rules of grappling, coining the term combat base as the base with one knee up and one knee down, and saying, "It is not about who is good, but who is left. It's time on the mat. You will be somewhere in ten years, you might as well be a black belt too. Just don't quit." Show Notes:     00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:31 Gi and Shirt Memories 03:24 Dream Academy Vision 05:59 Life Without Jiu Jitsu 08:36 Flow State and The Zone 11:23 Fear and Honest Training 14:03 Combat Sports Compared 15:43 Guard as Jiu Jitsu Core 19:01 Community and Lost Knowledge 21:51 Competition and Ego Fear 26:25 Who Should Compete 27:10 Competing For Fun 27:54 Training To Learn 29:18 Aging And Injuries 29:42 Rehab Role Models 31:26 Combat Based Updates 32:16 Graphic Novel Vision 35:02 Tech Genius Myth 36:24 Primal Nature Explained 38:44 Real Violence Memories 42:56 Jiu Jitsu Changes Lives 44:34 Spiritual Invisible Jiu Jitsu 47:05 Learning Like Calculus 48:59 Superhero Ethics 51:42 Hero Journey Wrap Up

    54 min

  4. MAR 7

    Tait Fletcher on Jiu-Jitsu, Truth, Persistence, and Healing

    Tait Fletcher on Jiu-Jitsu, Truth, Persistence, and Healing Pete Deeley interviews Professor Tait Fletcher about how combat sports shaped his life and character. Fletcher traces his path from Dog Brothers stick fighting to early Jiu Jitsu training in the 1990s, learning from figures including Arlan Sanford, Amal Easton, later also receiving a black belt from Eddie Bravo. He describes competing widely, fighting in MMA, training with notable fighters, and appearing on The Ultimate Fighter Season 3, emphasizing Eddie Bravo's systematic coaching. The conversation focuses on jiu-jitsu as a source of truth, humility, community, and accelerated learning, stating that teammates improve together through generosity rather than ego. Fletcher discusses plateaus, staying the course, finding joy in training, and how a severe head injury in 2019 led him to rely on Jiu Jitsu, discipline, curiosity, and community to recover and re-engage with life, advocating responsibility, eliminating complaints, and consistent action toward one's destiny. 00:00 Welcome and Introduction 00:50 Why Combat Sports 02:04 Dog Brothers to Groundwork 03:54 Early BJJ and First Coaches 05:08 Competition and Breakthroughs 06:16 Black Belts and LA Move 09:55 Jiu Jitsu Shaves Time 11:02 Truth and Gym Culture 15:57 Ego Checks and Mentors 25:09 Injury Recovery and Resilience 28:24 Curiosity and Healing Forward 30:45 Act Reflect Repeat 32:04 Life Is A Beta Test 32:26 Jiu Jitsu Finds The Path 33:02 The Artist Roadmap 35:32 Create For Yourself 36:37 Stay Ready For Opportunity 37:42 Curiosity Meets Faith 40:16 Suffer Well In Training 44:37 Resist Complaining 47:18 Move A Muscle 49:02 Everyone Is An Artist 53:20 Jiu Jitsu And Presence 55:29 Grandparent Presence Lessons 01:00:46 Gratitude And Goodbye

    1h 3m

  5. MAR 6

    Professor Scott Burr on Radical Accountability and Training with Rickson Gracie

    Host Pete Deeley interviews Professor Scott Burr on how jiu-jitsu shaped his life by enforcing radical accountability, honesty, and responsibility for results. Burr describes coming from a traditional Korean striking art through MMA into Jiu-Jitsu, valuing its endless depth and continuous intellectual challenge, similar to writing. He explains his learning style as principle-driven, needing clear parameters and an overview before rapid improvement, and notes turning points like suddenly applying armbar concepts. Professor Burr discusses adding judo later to improve getting fights to the ground, and reflects on a painful but instructive amateur MMA loss that included a quick guillotine and revealed training blind spots. He says he learned most from strong, inexperienced opponents and details transformative training with Rickson Gracie, shifting from logic-based technique to sensitivity and a new "operating system."   00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 00:51 Life Without Jiu Jitsu 02:26 Radical Accountability 05:03 How He Found Jiu Jitsu 06:10 Endless Rabbit Holes 08:33 Work Ethic Over Talent 10:38 Principles First Learning 12:40 Judo and Takedown Gaps 16:50 Overwhelm and True North 17:41 Traumatic Fight Lessons 20:19 Training Room Blind Spots 21:29 Memorable Rolls Question 22:31 Learning From Tough Rounds 22:54 MMA Reality Check 24:17 Strong Guy Lessons 25:45 Why Control Matters 27:16 Training With Hixson 29:06 New Operating System 32:52 Prereqs And Timing 34:34 Beyond Logic To Sensitivity 38:03 Invisible Jiu Jitsu 39:07 Stories And Signoff

    42 min

  6. FEB 27

    Jiu-Jitsu as a Force Multiplier: Clay Cox on Ownership, Timing, and Raising Lions

    Jiu-Jitsu as a Force Multiplier Ownership, Awareness, and Leadership with Clay Cox, a Black Belt under the legendary Rickson Gracie. Host Pete Deeley opens by recounting being submitted at a well-run Phoenix tournament and promotes JiujitsuMindset.com, Submission Coffee, and the Jiujitsu Mindset Online Academy kids class before interviewing Clay, a long-time jiu-jitsu practitioner and business leader. Clay describes starting jiu-jitsu at 19, his disciplined military-family upbringing, and a tech career path from early internet work to MCI, Verizon Wireless, Google, and leading a major business unit supporting data-center infrastructure for major tech companies. They discuss how jiu-jitsu translates to business through emotional intelligence, situational awareness, timing, humility, and "ownership," plus cultivating adaptability and learning through pressure. Clay shares a memorable de-escalation incident at Universal on Christmas Eve, and a story of helping a bullied, nonverbal youth succeed in a submission-only tournament with controlled gentleness. Clay's nickname "Shamu" comes from Carlos Enrique Elias "Caique"   00:00 Welcome and Tournament Story 01:09 Meet Clay and Jiu Jitsu Impact 03:37 Tech Career Journey 06:47 Jiu Jitsu in Business 09:06 Ownership and Awareness 15:32 Learning Mindset and Resilience 22:25 Competition and Hunger 27:54 Educated Instincts for Safety 31:00 Raising Boys on the Mat 32:04 Coaches as Father Figures 33:59 Leadership and Black Belt Responsibility 34:59 Universal Bar Confrontation 43:28 Deescalation and Life Lessons 45:45 Protecting Daughters and Restraint 49:27 Jiu Jitsu Changes Lives 52:17 Tournament Breakthrough Story 54:55 Jiu Jitsu as Meditation 56:07 The Shmoo Nickname 58:20 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

    1 hr

  7. FEB 21

    "We Can Get Back What They Took From You" — Coach Donavin Britt on Martial Arts, Manhood, and Transformation

    Coach Donavin Britt on Building Las Vegas Combat Academy, Mental Toughness, and Protecting Gym Culture   Host Pete Deeley interviews Coach Donavin Britt on The Jiu Jitsu Mindset, discussing Britt's path from apprenticing under instructor Roger Donofrio into becoming a Krav Maga and self-defense-first gym owner who later added jiu-jitsu and MMA. He describes earning high-level training under figures including Sgt. Major Nir Maman (as the first American certified instructor), Darren Levine, and John Whitman, and discusses the importance of standards, mental toughness, and having a purpose bigger than oneself. Britt addresses misconceptions and quality-control issues in Krav Maga, his motivation to compete in jiu-jitsu (including winning at NAGA while representing Krav Maga on his rashguard), and how sparring and competition serve as stress tests while differing from real self-defense. He recounts a memorable fight from the 1990s loss-prevention work in Oakland involving a drug-impaired suspect who required a rear-naked choke to stop, using it to emphasize the need for a varied skill set. Britt also strongly condemns misconduct in martial arts settings, details removing a student with a troubling history involving women to protect members, and argues men and coaches must "guard the mat" and enforce clear consequences to keep women safe. He shares a transformative student story about a teenager, Angel, who was assaulted and regained confidence through training and sparring, connecting it to mentorship, accountability, and coaching built on consistent care and firm parameters. The episode ends with Deeley inviting Britt to return for further discussion.   00:00 Welcome Back + Coffee & Kids Program Plug 00:33 Meet Coach Donavin Britt 01:36 Life Without Martial Arts? From Student to Instructor via Apprenticeship 02:29 How Krav Maga Instructors Are Really Made (Not a Weekend Cert) 03:53 2008 Crash, Failed Smoothie Franchise, and Betting the Last $500 on a Gym 06:26 Building Las Vegas Combat Academy: Growth, Identity, and the 'Krav Guy' Label 08:38 Crossing Into Jiu-Jitsu: Competing at NAGA and Repping Krav on the Gi 13:36 Iron Will & Legacy: Training for Something Bigger Than Yourself 14:21 Work Ethic Roots: Poverty, Family Pressure, and Grandfather's Alaska Story 19:22 How Martial Arts Learning Differs: Physicality, Emotion, and Self-Defense Intent 22:44 Calling Out Toxic Gym Culture: Protecting Women and 'Guarding the Mat' 27:49 Gym Dating Drama: Standards, Respect, and Zero Tolerance for Fights 29:06 Most Memorable Fight: Loss Prevention Brawls in 90s Oakland 33:53 Competition vs Real Violence: Why Sparring Matters (and Its Limits) 37:58 "It's Just Pain": Teaching Kids Hurt vs Injured & Fighting vs Self-Defense 40:21 Cross-Training and Combat Sports Programming That Improves Self-Defense 42:48 Student Transformation Story: Angel's Sparring Breakthrough 49:52 Coaching, Accountability, and the "Rules of the Tribe" (Maximum Effort) 53:48 Final Thoughts: Self-Help Through Martial Arts & Closing the Conversation

    56 min

  8. FEB 14

    Finding Power in Grappling: Awareness, Perception, and Judgment with Eddie Fyvie

    Host Pete Deeley welcomes listeners back to The Jujitsu Mindset, promotes Submission Coffee, the JiujitsuMindset.com store, and a Jiujitsu Mindset Online Academy kids class for ages 7–12, then interviews professor Eddie Fyvie. Fyvie describes growing up in a rough upstate New York neighborhood with a single father in AA, being bullied, and finding direction through sports. He recounts starting peewee wrestling after being drawn to a pro-wrestling ring, using a double-leg takedown and cradle on a neighborhood bully, then discovering UFC 1 and Royce Gracie, which cemented his commitment to grappling and led to enthusiastic early training in 1998 via a club learning from videotapes rather than formal instruction. Fyvie discusses how early exposure to adversity created numbness and forced maturity, and he outlines his view that being "reasonable" relates to one's relationship with force; he also explains how jiu-jitsu can provide controlled "gradient exposure" to stress for resilience without overwhelming students. He contrasts jiu-jitsu skill acquisition with other sports due to close contact and stress as a barrier to learning, and he comments on the shift from self-defense contexts to skill-versus-skill rolling. On competition, Fyvie says his perspective has changed: he supports competing only as a personal choice, noting potential negatives and that some students—especially kids—can be overwhelmed and quit after tournaments. His most memorable fight is his first MMA bout in Atlantic City at Boardwalk Hall against Jim Miller, describing the surreal reality of the moment, the perceived danger, and the crowd's hostility. He distinguishes different "tranches" of violence (kids, adults, law enforcement, military, MMA) and calls MMA psychologically strange because it involves willful violence without a direct cause. Fyvie explains that after leaving ownership of his academy, he is now teaching full-time in a new business, and he began a focused inquiry into why people quit, plateau, lose motivation, or feel confused—teaching 40–50 classes a week and turning insights into long-form writing. He introduces his book "Understanding Jiu-Jitsu," describes writing as clarifying and therapeutic, and notes topics such as belt imposter feelings and older beginners questioning their place. He discusses the importance of language and communication for teaching and understanding, shares that he disliked school but read extensively (including Russian literature), and recounts a pivotal moment teaching law enforcement: realizing techniques might be used immediately in real encounters and feeling heightened responsibility. Fyvie directs listeners to eddiefyvie.com and his Substack, where he plans to publish an article a day for a year, and he and Deeley close with an invitation to continue the conversation in a future episode.   00:00 Welcome Back + JiuJitsu Mindset Updates (Submission Coffee, Kids Academy) 01:03 Meet Professor Eddie Fyvie: A Mind-Body Commitment to Jiu-Jitsu 02:10 Growing Up Tough: Finding Direction Through Sports 04:05 1998 Training Scene: Learning from Tapes, Fighting Mentality, and Early Wrestling 05:33 The 'Superpower' Moment + Discovering UFC 1 & Royce Gracie 08:42 Maturity Under Pressure: Numbness, Force, and Becoming 'Reasonable' 11:25 Parenting & Stress Inoculation: Teaching Resilience the Safe Way 14:30 Why Jiu-Jitsu Is Different: Closeness, Stress Barriers, and Skill-vs-Skill Learning 18:27 Competition in Development: When It Helps—and When It Hurts 20:49 Most Memorable Moment Tease: The First MMA Fight as a Culmination 21:31 First MMA Fight Reality Check: Walking Out to Face Jim Miller 22:45 When the Crowd Turns: Fear, Pressure, and 'What Am I Doing Here?' 23:59 Different Kinds of Violence: Kids, Street Fights, Military, and MMA 25:50 Why MMA Is Psychologically Strange: Manufactured Animosity & Fighting Without Cause 28:16 From Fighter to Writer-Teacher: Leaving the Academy & Going All-In on Teaching 28:45 The Black Belt Question That Sparked a 3-Year Deep Dive (and a Book) 30:57 Why People Quit Jiu-Jitsu: Plateaus, Motivation, Belts, and Unspoken Emotions 33:22 Love of Language: Communication as the 'Universal Solvent' 38:04 Teaching That Matters: The Moment a Cop Used Last Week's Takedown 40:33 Where to Find the Book & Substack + Closing Thoughts

    44 min
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4.9
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About

When you improve your Jiujitsu, you improve your life. Lessons on the mat are life lessons. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Welcome to The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset.

Information

  • Creator
    Peter M. Deeley Jr. and Lucas Rubbo
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    130
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Show Website
    The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset

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