I Suck At Jiu Jitsu Show

Josh McKinney

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. #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
  2. #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
  3. #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
  4. #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
  5. #370 "Sitting Guard is SOFT" | 951-Hot-Take #2

    Apr 16

    #370 "Sitting Guard is SOFT" | 951-Hot-Take #2

    Guard pulling is SOFT… or is it just smarter? In this Hot Takes Hotline episode of the I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show, we dive straight into one of the most heated debates in jiu jitsu. Is sitting guard weak, or are people just mad they can’t pass it? The episode kicks off with an all-time caller who works a brutal blue collar job and makes a case that might completely flip how you see guard pulling. If you “sit at work,” you don’t get to complain about someone sitting guard. From there, it only gets more unhinged. We get into whether turtle guard is actually a guard or just a bad habit, why people care way too much about medals that don’t matter, and the ongoing gi vs no gi argument about what’s actually “realistic” in a fight. There’s also a hilarious breakdown of people waiting for you to get tired before asking you to roll, and why that mindset might be holding you back more than helping. Some takes are brutally honest, some are completely ridiculous, and a few might actually change how you train. Along the way, we talk about the difference between technique and strength, how rule sets shape your game, and why most people arguing about jiu jitsu online are missing the bigger picture. At the end of the day, this episode proves one thing. Everyone in jiu jitsu has an opinion, and most of them are insane. Drop your hottest take in the comments, call in to 951 HOT TAKE, and if you see someone sitting guard this week… go pass it. ISAJJ Rash Guards:  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 0:00 “Guard Pulling is SOFT”… Until This Guy Spoke 8:31 The Truth About Masters Medals (Nobody Admits This) 16:51 Waiting Until I’m Tired to Roll is PATHETIC 22:34 “You Only Won Because You’re Small” 🤡 29:37 Turtle Guard is FAKE… Or Is It? 37:09 “Let’s Roll Light” is the Biggest Lie in BJJ 39:12 Why Instructionals Are So Hard to Follow 43:53 Do Skull Rash Guards Kill Your Cardio? 😂 46:47 Ecological Training vs Drilling (Who’s Right?) 52:55 Signing Up “Unapproved” is SOFT Behavior 59:14 The Worst Guy at Morning Class 💀 1:02:34 No-Gi is NOT More Realistic (Hot Take) 1:14:02 Rubber Guard = Essential Oils of BJJ

    1h 18m
  6. #369 Learn BJJ 10x Faster | 3-Step System

    Apr 9

    #369 Learn BJJ 10x Faster | 3-Step System

    This episode is the exact system I used to help students go from white belt to blue belt in months, not years. After 18+ years of training and coaching, I realized something: 👉 Most people are training wrong. 👉 And it’s why they get better WAY slower than they should. So in this episode, I break down the 3-step formula to learn Jiu-Jitsu 10x faster. This is a system I’ve refined over years of coaching and competition. This is the same framework behind “Master Any Position in 6 Weeks”… but simplified so you can apply it immediately. Master Any Position in 6 Weeks: https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/6 Greatest Guard Passing Seminar Ever: https://youtu.be/aDAwqBVoDP4 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 00:00 The 10x Jiu-Jitsu Secret (Why Most People Learn Too Slow) 03:00 The Old Way vs The Fast Way (What Actually Works) 05:40 The 3-Step Formula Explained 06:00 Step 1: Focus (Why You’re Getting Nowhere) 09:45 How to Choose the RIGHT Focus (Most People Mess This Up) 12:30 The 80% Rule (Fix What’s Actually Happening to You) 14:00 The Excuse Trap (Why You’re Not Improving) 16:40 The “Jiu-Jitsu ADD” Problem 21:50 Why Reflection After Training Matters 25:20 Step 2: Fight (How You Actually Get Better) 26:30 Understanding vs Reps (You Need BOTH) 28:00 Why Drilling Alone Fails 30:00 The Truth About Competition Reps (Underrated Advantage) 32:00 When Drilling DOES Work 34:20 Constraints Training (Pros & Cons) 36:00 The “Designated Winner” Hack (Game-Changer) 41:10 Positional Sparring Done RIGHT 43:00 Why Most People Waste Their Rounds 44:40 Step 3: Feedback (The Missing Piece) 45:30 Why Wins & Losses Are a TERRIBLE Metric 47:30 The Right Way to Measure Progress 49:00 How Black Belts Actually Train 50:10 Creating Your Own Metrics 52:30 Why Your Coach Won’t Fix This For You 54:40 The Ultimate Test: Can You Teach It? 57:00 The Loop That Makes You Dangerous 58:40 How to Repeat This Forever (Endless Progress) 59:30 Final Thoughts + How to Apply This Today

    1h 1m
4.9
out of 5
234 Ratings

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

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