BJJ Mental Models

Steve Kwan
  • 4.9 (241)
  • WRESTLING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 1D AGO

    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
  2. Mini Ep. 107: Emotional Contagion

    5D AGO

    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

  3. MAY 18

    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

    1h 5m
  4. Mini Ep. 106: Cognitive Load

    MAY 14

    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

  5. MAY 11

    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
  6. Mini Ep. 105: Double Trouble

    MAY 7

    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

  7. MAY 4

    Ep. 389: The Double Tap, feat. Drew Foster

    This week, we're joined by Drew Foster! Drew is a black belt and coach at Elevate MMA in Durham, North Carolina, chief of staff at PGF, and host of State of the Meta on BJJ Mental Models Premium. In this episode, Drew breaks down the "double tap:" attacking a submission, releasing it, then re-attacking right when their defenses drop. Topics include: the double tap, pattern interrupts, the porcupine strategy, and the constraints-led approach. Follow Drew on Instagram: https://instagram.com/drewdarce Train with Drew at Elevate MMA in Durham, NC: https://elevatemmaacademy.com Check out Drew's instructionals at Darce Dynamics: https://darcedynamics.com Listen to Drew on State of the Meta, exclusive to BJJ Mental Models Premium: https://bjjmentalmodels.com Mental models discussed in this episode: Double Tap https://bjjmentalmodels.com/double-tap Mask Your Intentions https://bjjmentalmodels.com/mask-your-intentions Dilemmas https://bjjmentalmodels.com/dilemma Layers of Strategy https://bjjmentalmodels.com/layers-of-strategy Porcupine Strategy https://bjjmentalmodels.com/porcupine-strategy Pattern Interrupts https://bjjmentalmodels.com/pattern-interrupts Constraints-Led Approach https://bjjmentalmodels.com/constraints-led-approach Cognitive Load https://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-load ⬆️ 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
  8. Mini Ep. 104: Head Position

    APR 30

    Mini Ep. 104: Head Position

    In this mini-episode, we discuss head position, or how to tell if your head and neck are at risk in jiu-jitsu. We use a 3-point framework to determine if our head is safe: Avoid constriction (be safe from squeezing),Avoid impact (be safe from blunt force trauma), andAvoid broken posture (be safe from neck misalignment). 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
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4.9
out of 5
241 Ratings

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
    519
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 BJJ Mental Models
  • Show Website
    BJJ Mental Models

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