Mat Made Podcast

Mat Made
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Jiu Jitsu Changes Lives and the Mat Made Podcast tells the stories.

Episodes

  1. 06/09/2025

    Rian Gittman’s Wild Jiu Jitsu Journey - From Felon to Faith to Fighter

    “My family was involved in organized crime. I was involved in organized crime, and when I was a young kid, I had already been arrested 20-30 times. I have multiple convictions for multiple violent things but I always believed that God had something better for me”In this powerful episode of Rolling Conversations, Kenny Kim travels to an undisclosed compound in South Florida to sit down with Rian Gittman—a former felon turned pastor, entrepreneur, and black belt.Rian’s journey is anything but ordinary:🔹 From federal prison to founding a church🔹 From organized crime to teaching Jiu Jitsu🔹 From emptiness to building a community where training is paid for in cases of waterHe opens up about the early days of American Top Team, the pressure of past sins, and the philosophy that Jiu Jitsu is the ultimate magnifying glass—exposing the lazy, the prideful, the excuse-makers… and giving them a chance to change.If you’ve ever wondered whether people can truly change, or how Jiu Jitsu and faith can transform lives in the deepest way, this is the episode for you.

    31 min

  2. 02/05/2025

    Chris Wojcik: Mastering the Mental Game: Insights on Competing and Coaching in Jiu-Jitsu

    Alright, guys, we're back with another episode of the rolling conversation, and I've got the man, Chris Wojcik, with me today. Now, Chris has been on a tear lately, and I'm pumped to dive into his jiu-jitsu journey. We're gonna talk about how this guy went from struggling to make ends meet in Chicago to becoming a rising star in the jiu-jitsu world. I mean, the dude's been crushing it - finishing top four at the ADCC trials, competing at the biggest shows, and now he's got seminars popping up all over the place. But it ain't just about the competition, you know? Chris has also been putting in work on the writing side of things. He just dropped his first book, "A Grappler's Diary," and let me tell you, it's a must-read for any jiu-jitsu practitioner. The guy's got a knack for breaking down the mental game and sharing some real-deal life lessons through the lens of the sport. We're gonna dive into Chris's mindset, how he's navigated the ups and downs, and what it takes to make it in this crazy world of jiu-jitsu. Plus, he's gonna give us the inside scoop on what it's like training at the B Team in Austin - that place is like a jiu-jitsu boot camp, man. So buckle up, because this is gonna be a wild ride. You don't wanna miss out on the insights and inspiration that Chris is about to drop. Let's get it!

    1h 10m

  3. 01/09/2025

    Ryan Aitken's Journey from Underdog to Champion

    On this episode of Rolling Conversations, I'm sitting down with my good friend and rising jiu-jitsu star, Ryan Aitken. We're gonna take a deep dive into Ryan's wild ride at PGF Seven - that crazy tournament in Vegas with the chandeliers, coconut waters, and who's who of the jiu-jitsu world in attendance. Ryan was the underdog going in, getting picked last in the draft, but he ended up dominating the competition and taking home the 205-pound title. We're talking about the intense rule set, the crazy injuries, and how Ryan was able to adapt his game to come out on top against that stacked field of killers. But it's not just about the competition - Ryan's also been making major waves on the no-gi circuit, with big wins at ADCC Trials and UFC Fight Pass. The guy's a chameleon, able to excel in all different rule sets, and we're gonna unpack how he's developed that versatility. Beyond the mats, Ryan's also got a really interesting personal story. He's found that balance between his competitive career and his growing family life. We'll get into his relationship, his role as a father figure, and how he's using his platform to inspire the next generation of Atlanta grapplers. This dude's journey is just getting started, and I can't wait for you all to hear his story. So sit back, relax, and get ready for another Rolling Conversation.

    59 min
  4. #2 Din Thomas talks about teaching himself Jiu Jitsu and fighting in bars

    04/10/2023

    #2 Din Thomas talks about teaching himself Jiu Jitsu and fighting in bars

    In our 2nd episode (#2) Kenny Kim interviews one of the OG's of the UFC! We dive into what it was like growing up in a dangerous area and what drove him to become a world champion. Date: Recorded on Feb 8, 2023 Name of podcast: Mat Made Podcast Episode title and number: Season 1 Episode 2 About Din: Din "Yero" Thomas, a seasoned veteran in the world of mixed martial arts, first made his mark in the UFC by competing in the lightweight and welterweight divisions. With an impressive professional record, Thomas has earned notable victories over the likes of Matt Serra, Clay Guida, and Jens Pulver. One of his most memorable achievements was his 2003 submission win against Serra at UFC 41, which showcased his Jiu Jitsu background. After retiring from the UFC in 2013, Din Thomas has transitioned into a highly respected trainer, coach, mentor, and a UFC Commentator sharing his wealth of knowledge with the next generation of fighters. As a coach, he has been instrumental in developing the skills of various MMA talents, including former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley. In his current role, Thomas continues to contribute significantly to the sport, shaping the careers of future champions and maintaining an influential presence within the MMA community. Time-Stamped Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 02:10 - The worst nickname in MMA "Yero" 04:10 - Welcome to the Studio - on the mats 05:50 - Training with Ryan Hall 09:14 - A Typical Day at Work 13:37 - Beginnings in MMA 20:52 - Are UFC fighters being paid enough?28:32 - Jiu Jitsu Roots32:57 - Gi vs No Gi 36:19 - Mat Made Stories51:02 - Find a Jiu-Jitsu Gym58:47 - Best Gym Environments1:06:09 - Chat GPT and Proudest Moment 1:11:12 - Chat GPT - Benefits of Jiu-Jitsu 1:13:48 - What is Next for Din? 1:15:55 - Sponsors Resources mentioned in the episode: - Din's Diaries - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvXzdKJEx7Y - Dana White Looking for a Fight - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VXsb3MPEnQ - Grace Point movie - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20447282/ - UFC 2 - Royce Gracie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5FkzO_Bms8- IBJJF - https://ibjjf.com/- NFL League Minimum - https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/nfl/nfl-league-minimum-salary-bm07/- Royce Gracie - https://www.instagram.com/realroyce/- Ralph Gracie - https://www.instagram.com/ralphgracie/- Marcelo Grosso - https://bjjcoach.com/about-marcello/bio- Ricardo Liborio - https://www.instagram.com/liboriobjj/?hl=en- Mat Made Stories - https://matmade.com/story- Matt Serra's Gym - https://serrabjjacademy.com/ - Chat GPT - https://chat.openai.com/ - Tyron Woodley vs Robby Lawler - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmHmpGhV0rY Contact Info: Go follow Din Thomas on IG - https://www.instagram.com/dinthomas/ Follow Mat Made on all of our social channels to see new cities and daily stories of Jiu Jitsu changing people's lives. ⁠https://www.instagram.com/matmade_show/⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/matmadeshow⁠ ⁠https://www.facebook.com/matmadeshow⁠ Follow Kenny Kim on IG - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/kennykimbjj/⁠ Check out our Mat Made Merch ⁠https://store.matmade.com/⁠ Episode Transcript: https://rb.gy/c8jght Sponsors: Thank you a million times over to our incredible sponsors who make this show happen. Fuji Mats - the best Mats on the planet. These are the mats I have at my gym and they are absolutely the best. Fuji also sells Gi's, home mats to train at home - https://fujimats.com/ - use coupon code "MATMADE" for 10% off your order. Hoist - https://drinkhoist.com/ - Get your gym to start carrying Hoist. It is the absolute best recovery drink you can have after rolling on the mats. Go Follow HOIST on IG at - https://www.instagram.com/drinkhoist/ Share Your Story: Do you have a Mat Made story about how Jiu Jitsu has changed your life? Share it with the world here: ⁠https://matmade.com/story

    1h 17m

  5. 03/19/2023

    #1 Ronaldo Jacare Souza talks Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, new school, and Family

    In our very first episode (#1) Kenny Kim interviews one of the best to ever step on the mats! We dive into what it was like growing up in a dangerous area and what drove him to become a world champion. Date Recorded: Jan 27, 2023 Name of podcast: Mat Made Podcast Episode title and number: Season 1 Episode 1 About Jacare: Ronaldo Jacare Souza is a champion of everything in Jiu Jitsu including ADCC Submission Fighting World Champion and after transitioning to MMA became the Strikeforce Middleweight Champion. Souza and his wife, Larissa Carvalho, have three children and live in Orlando, Florida where he runs his own BJJ academy. Time-Stamped Show Notes: 00:00 - Introduction 02:06 - Welcome to Atlanta 07:40 - The nickname Jacare 09:55 - Growing up in Brazil 12:25 - Starting Jiu-Jitsu 16:19 - Transitioning to MMA 21:10 - Jiu-Jitsu evolving 25:36 - Scared to Fight? 26:45 - Jacare's Academy 27:45 - How to teach Kids Jiu-Jitsu 32:34 - vs Roger Gracie 40:40 - Moving to U.S and Family 46:08 - Chat GPT AI Questions 50:30 - Derek Brunson Kick 51:40 - AI Images 52:40 - Family and Training 55:10 - Stay away from girls 56:23 - Training for MMA 58:22 - Learning Striking 1:03:06 - Mat Made Story 1:04:45 - Living in the gym 1:11:15 - The Great Equalizer 1:16:40 - Any Regrets? + Next Move 1:19:00 - Sponsors Resources mentioned in the episode: Jacare vs Mousasi in Japan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndihPui4wxw Jacare vs Mousasi in UFC - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0UIfD6wYeE Jacare's Academy - https://jacaremartialarts.com/ Fusion X-Cel Fight team in Orlando - https://fusionxcelperformance.com/pro-fight-team/ Jacare vs Roger Gracie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70uOx_bwa74 Chat GPT AI Questions - https://chat.openai.com/chat Derek Brunson Kick - https://youtu.be/jVbAA8vywP4?t=139 Midjourney AI Image - https://www.midjourney.com/ Nino Schembri - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzl8g3KHHh0 Jacare Martial Arts - https://www.instagram.com/jacaremartialarts Contact Info: Go follow Jacare on IG - https://www.instagram.com/ronaldojacare/ Follow Mat Made on all of our social channels to see new cities and daily stories of Jiu Jitsu changing people's lives. https://www.instagram.com/matmade_show/ https://www.facebook.com/matmadeshow/ https://www.facebook.com/matmadeshow/ Follow Kenny Kim on IG - https://www.instagram.com/kennykimbjj/ Check out our Mat Made Merch - https://store.matmade.com/ Transcript Link Episode 1 Transcript Sponsors: Thank you a million times over to our incredible sponsors who make this show happen. Fuji Mats - the best Mats on the planet. These are the mats I have at my gym and they are absolutely the best. Fuji also sells Gi's, home mats to train at home - https://fujimats.com/ - use coupon code "MATMADE" for 10% off your order. Hoist - https://drinkhoist.com/ - Get your gym to start carrying Hoist. It is the absolute best recovery drink you can have after rolling on the mats. Go Follow HOIST on IG at - https://www.instagram.com/drinkhoist/ *Do you have your own Mat Made Story of how Jiu-Jitsu has changed your life? Share it with the world here: https://matmade.com/story

    1h 20m
  • 5 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Jiu Jitsu Changes Lives and the Mat Made Podcast tells the stories.

Information

  • Creator
    Mat Made
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mat Made
  • Show Website
    Mat Made Podcast