Marine Corps veteran, competitive judoka, and coach Billy Gavigan joins us on this episode of the BLACK & BLUE Podcast. We talk through his entire journey from wrestling in upstate New York to discovering judo, training and competing while stationed in Japan with the Marines, and how getting back on the mats in 2022 helped him rebuild his health, focus, and drive. Billy gets into his background working in military EOD and counterterrorism, sharing the exact mindset it takes to stay calm in high-pressure situations and how those lessons carry over into real estate, coaching, and competition. We also dive into his training as he prepares for a veteran world title run, breaking down judo fundamentals, balance, timing, and why mastering the basics matters more than chasing flashy moves. We also have an honest conversation about what it’s going to take to grow judo in the States. We compare youth programs overseas to the American system, talk about why merging judo, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu makes complete grapplers, and why more academies need to focus on stand-up and real self-defense.If you want a masterclass in grappling fundamentals, mental toughness under fire, and the discipline of a lifelong martial artist, tune in. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 01:45 - Wrestling Roots & Transition to Judo 03:34 - Marine Corps Judo & Training in Japan 06:01 - Coming Out of Retirement & Weight Loss Transformation 11:09 - Marine Corps EOD Bomb Squad & Blackwater Contracting 18:16 - Kodokan vs. IJF Judo Rules Explained 25:28 - The Physics of Judo: Technique Over Pure Strength 36:42 - Why Judo Banned Leg Grabs & Rule Evolution 45:00 - Why BJJ Practitioners Must Learn Stand-Up Grappling 55:18 - Real Estate Success & Giving Back Through Coaching What we cover in this episode: From Upstate Wrestling to Japan: Billy’s path into judo and his experience training alongside elite judoka while stationed overseas.Mindset Under Pressure: Translating the mental discipline of military EOD and counterterrorism into business, sports, and daily life.Chasing a World Title: Billy’s 2022 return to the mats, his current training cycle, and competing on the veteran world stage.Judo Fundamentals & Technique: Why balance, off-balancing, timing, and clean basics beat brute force every time.Fixing Grappling in America: The difference between international youth development and the U.S. scene, plus why integrating judo, BJJ, and wrestling creates complete martial artists.Building Community & What’s Next: Coaching at the club level, self-defense awareness, and Billy’s upcoming instructionals.This episode delivers a raw trainer’s perspective on combat sports, high-level grappling, and mental discipline. Drop your questions in the comments and subscribe for weekly breakdowns. 👉 Subscribe to the hosts: Host: @1MoreRep365 Co-Host: @coachjustinnyc Guest Starring: @billygavigan http://billygavigan.com 🌍 Listen on the Go: Find the BLACK & BLUE Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.