The Fighters Drinking Coffee Podcast

Scott and Mike
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Fitness

Scott and Mike share their journey through Jiu-Jitsu with the listeners. With nearly 40 years of grappling experience between them, they look to save others time and streamline your training through their experiences, discoveries, and personal struggles. They cover such topics as training, gym culture, competition, Jiu-Jitsu concepts, and more!  Their combined decades of experience in the Jiu-jitsu space, along with expert guests, leads to strong debates and conversations with the goal of assisting the listener in their jiu-jitsu journey. Enjoy the show and streamline your training!

  1. 19h ago

    The Wild World of Jiu-Jitsu Content: Gimmicks, Instruction and Business (Episode 88)

    Hosts Scott and Mike dive into the strange and growing creator culture inside the jiu-jitsu world, unpacking why some athletes make silly, shocking, or provocative content and how that ties into branding and monetization. Using vivid examples, such as a viral “piss” skit and “dirty wrist lock” videos to Hello Kitty singlets and unicycle walkouts, the episode explores how personality, proof of skill, and attention intersect online. The conversation contrasts three main career paths: elite competition (Gordon Ryan, JT Torres, Mikey Musumeci), coaching and seminars, and content-driven influence. Key points include how followers convert (or don’t), the limits of social-media fame, geographic and audience targeting for seminars and private lessons, and why creators should have an endgame for their brand. Listeners will hear practical takeaways about aligning your content with your goals, balancing entertainment with credibility, and the long-term business tradeoffs of chasing attention vs. building coaching or competitive legitimacy. The hosts keep it candid, funny, and opinionated while celebrating the weirdness that makes the jiu-jitsu community interesting. Check us out and submit Combat Confessions at: www.fdcpodcast.com  Please remember to follow, rate and review! or Support the show on our Patreon Want more from Fighters Drinking Coffee: Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXks

  2. Nov 3

    Level Up Your Jiu-Jitsu: Jared McLeod author of The Game of Jiu-Jitsu (Episode 87)

    In this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee we sit down with Jared McLeod, author of The Game of Jiu-Jitsu and a newly promoted black belt, to break down his concise, readable walkthrough for accelerating jiu-jitsu progress. Jared discusses the book’s central metaphors (video-game XP, maps/lands, and avatar selection), practical coaching tips, the metagame (energy bars, knee-cut pressure), weapons vs. powers, leg-lock navigation, and how to get the most from limited training time. He also shares personal stories about refereeing, coaching, and why training with intention matters. Listeners will learn actionable takeaways: how to pick the right focus for your body type, compound consistent practice into rapid gains, use checklists to track progress, and keep students engaged so they stay on the mats. Grab The Game Of Jiu-Jitsu on Amazon for a compact, usable guide to improving your jiu-jitsu. Check us out and submit Combat Confessions at: www.fdcpodcast.com  Please remember to follow, rate and review! or Support the show on our Patreon Want more from Fighters Drinking Coffee: Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXks

  3. Oct 27

    Don't Rush the Grind: Sustainable Training for New Grapplers (Episode 86)

    Hosts Scott Dance and Michael Sutherland break down why new jiu‑jitsu students often end up injured and what coaches and training partners can do to prevent it. They discuss common beginner profiles, from former athletes returning after years off to folks coming straight off the couch, and the physical and mental gaps that create risk. The episode covers practical strategies: expectation‑setting, curated intro classes, managing training cadence (start slow, 2–3 classes/week, plan sustainable goals), pairing novices with experienced partners, and focused strength work to build resilient bodies. The hosts emphasize quality reps over quantity and reframing goals for long‑term progression instead of short bursts that lead to burnout and injury. Scott and Michael also talk coach and community responsibilities: spotting risky behavior, intervening when needed, teaching safe exploration, and staying connected to injured students so they return. They weigh the value of small, teachable bumps versus catastrophic injuries and highlight liability and negligence awareness. To close, the episode’s combat confession is a humorous look at people trying to manufacture cauliflower ear, rounding out an episode that’s equal parts practical coaching advice and candid gym stories. Check us out and submit Combat Confessions at: www.fdcpodcast.com  Please remember to follow, rate and review! or Support the show on our Patreon Want more from Fighters Drinking Coffee: Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXks

  4. Oct 20

    Playing the Game Within the Game: How New Students Can "Win" at Jiu-Jitsu (Episode 85)

    Hosts Scott and Mike discuss how students can get the most from a jiu‑jitsu curriculum, especially when joining classes with mixed skill levels. They cover expectation management for white belts, practical survival goals (e.g., keeping hands out from between hips and armpits), and how to transition from defense to offense. The episode also explores coach and academy responsibilities: onboarding new students, building consistent terminology, class design, retention strategies, and simple customer‑service protocols that improve student experience. Scott and Mike share coach tips for pairing new students, handling missed curriculum segments, and using surveys and staff routines to measure program success. Listeners will walk away with concrete advice for students (ask questions, set micro‑goals, be patient) and for coaches/owners (structured intro classes, staff protocols, handoffs, and small touches that increase retention). The episode closes with listener combat confessions about eye contact while rolling and light banter throughout. Check us out and submit Combat Confessions at: www.fdcpodcast.com  Please remember to follow, rate and review! or Support the show on our Patreon Want more from Fighters Drinking Coffee: Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXks

  5. Oct 13

    Coaching the Heart: Managing Athlete Expectations After a Loss (Episode 84)

    Hosts Scott Dance and Michael Sutherland break down how coaches should manage athlete expectations at tournaments, from the immediate emotional reaction to the mental and physical follow‑ups. They discuss real coaching examples, trust and communication between coach and athlete, and when to push for the next competition.  We discuss some friends such as Big John (double gold at a recent event) and reference Bernardo Faria’s thoughts on the right age to start competing. Key points cover containment strategies (the ‘long lonely walk’), when to give technical feedback, handling overconfident or dismissive responses, and converting losses into productive learning. The episode closes with a combat confession segment and practical takeaways: pre‑manage expectations, tailor feedback to each athlete, use competition as practice, and keep team culture constructive so everyone can grow. Check us out and submit Combat Confessions at: www.fdcpodcast.com  Please remember to follow, rate and review! or Support the show on our Patreon Want more from Fighters Drinking Coffee: Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXks

  6. Oct 6

    From Prestige to Paychecks: How Pro Grappling Is Changing Fast (Episode 83)

    In this episode of Fighters Drinking Coffee we dig into the shifting landscape of no‑gi jiu‑jitsu events: from ADCC’s surprising lack of hype to the disruptive rise of UFC BJJ, PGF and CJI. Hosts discuss athlete invites, dropouts and exclusivity, streaming and paywalls, and how marketing choices (time zones, regional pushes, and platform partnerships) shape who actually watches. We examine the money side: purses versus long‑term monetization through seminars, academies and tutorials, plus what athletes must do to turn competition prestige into a sustainable career. Guests and examples discussed include Gordon, Vagner, Craig, Wojcik and other top competitors and teams, and we compare event formats (the pit/open scored rounds) and organizational strategies. Topics covered: event promotion failures, the influx of new pro leagues, athlete contracts and exclusivity, how competitions function as marketing for coaches and academies, and the practical business advice for grapplers who want to monetize their careers. Expect candid takes, real examples, and the hosts’ usual humor and combat confessions. Check us out and submit Combat Confessions at: www.fdcpodcast.com  Please remember to follow, rate and review! or Support the show on our Patreon Want more from Fighters Drinking Coffee: Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXks

  7. Sep 29

    Constructing a Curriculum Pt 2: Designing Jiu-Jitsu Training Blocks (Episode 82)

    Hosts Scott Dance and Michael Sutherland unpack how they design jiu-jitsu training blocks and single competition practices, using a takedowns block as the main example. They discuss how curricula map from grand yearly goals down to weekly and individual plans, and how coaches balance planned progression with in-the-moment triage. The episode covers differences between competitor-focused and general classes, how to adapt drills for beginners, the 50/50 split of planned versus flexible content, weekly structure, private lessons/office hours for individualization, and business and culture considerations for gym owners and coaches. They close with a lighthearted "combat confession": an Instagram post from a white belt claiming lots of taps and the community reactions that followed—showing how gym culture and humility play into training environments. Check us out and submit Combat Confessions at: www.fdcpodcast.com  Please remember to follow, rate and review! or Support the show on our Patreon Want more from Fighters Drinking Coffee: Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXks

  8. Sep 22

    Constructing a Curriculum Pt 1: How Coaches Build Winning Jiu-Jitsu Drills (Episode 81)

    Hosts Scott Dance and Michael Sutherland break down a 90-minute competition-oriented jiu-jitsu class, explaining the curriculum design and coaching intent behind each segment: a cascading warm-up, skill-based games, guard work, pin-to-submit progressions and a final "king of the hill" endurance/competitive block. The episode covers specific drills (takedown grit, scramble-to-top rules, standing-guard exchanges, knee‑pass pocket work, side-control finishing), teaching principles (simplified win conditions, offense-first mindset, situational practice, stress inoculation) and how to make the most of limited mat time with large groups. Listeners also get coaching tips for competitors, guidance for students adapting unfamiliar drills to their style, and a closing "Combat Confession" news story for a lighter wrap-up. This is Part 1 of a deeper look into class construction and training strategy. Check us out and submit Combat Confessions at: www.fdcpodcast.com  Please remember to follow, rate and review! or Support the show on our Patreon Want more from Fighters Drinking Coffee: Follow us on instagram: @fightersdrinkingcoffee   Join our discord: https://discord.gg/UPmxwuwXks

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Scott and Mike share their journey through Jiu-Jitsu with the listeners. With nearly 40 years of grappling experience between them, they look to save others time and streamline your training through their experiences, discoveries, and personal struggles. They cover such topics as training, gym culture, competition, Jiu-Jitsu concepts, and more!  Their combined decades of experience in the Jiu-jitsu space, along with expert guests, leads to strong debates and conversations with the goal of assisting the listener in their jiu-jitsu journey. Enjoy the show and streamline your training!

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