Bjjbrick Podcast- Bjj, Jiu-jitsu, Mma, Martial Arts, No-gi And Good Times!

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio This week we have more stories from our listeners.  These are stories about getting injured and overcoming the injury. This episode is packed full of great advice for anyone who has been injured, or if you have a teammate that has been injured. It is important to know what to expect and the advice will help get you back on the mat my friends. Tommy- Our friend Tommy shares his story of his battle with testicular cancer.  He was diagnosed in 2010 with cancer after he found a lump on his testicle (Symptoms and Signs of Testicular cancer). He had surgery and then went through chemotherapy. The chemo was more difficult than the surgery. We talk about getting back on the mats and getting life back to normal. Adam Sachnoff (Big Red)- Check out some of Adam's accomplishments here.  Adam tore his ACL about five years ago doing judo and did not get it fixed  He did physical therapy and continued training and competing without an ACL.  He re-injured his knee while t

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio This week we have stories from our listeners.  These are stories about getting injured and overcoming the injury. This episode is packed full of great advice for anyone who has been injured, or if you have a teammate that has been injured. It is important to know what to expect and the advice will help get you back on the mat my friends. Devin Pirata-(14m20s)   Devin was in his junior year of high school wrestling when he sustained what he thought was a shoulder injury. The injury came back in to play years later when he was a blue belt at a hard training camp.  He experienced intense pain in his right arm and shoulder.  Devin soon lost a lot of muscle mass due to atrophy. He found that he had a complete herniation of c5 and c6 and was told by his doctor that he would never train BJJ again.  After neck surgery he was able start training in three months and has since regained the muscle he had lost from the atrophy.  Devin occasionally has a stiff neck, but

This week we take a break from having a guest on the show and Gary and Byron talk about making changes to your BJJ game. In this episode we talk about: When to make changes to your game Why we prefer certain types of styles Why making changes creates a lot of growth Why it is difficult to make major changes to your game Changing your habits of your rolling style Making changes to get over a plateau Making changes can be a lot of fun When not to make changes Making changes during a match Enter to win one of these great Fuji Sports rash guards. We are giving away a Fuji Sports rash guard (Moko or Robo).  We are doing a contest over the next four episodes. We will pick one of the four episodes at random and then choose a random winner from that episodes pool of people.  You will have 24 hours to respond, then I will try someone else. Ways to enter the contest: Leave a comment on this episodes page. Facebook- Go to our Facebook page and comment, like, or share this episode or the picture later in the week of

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio Ostap Manastryski is a brown belt under Elliott Bayev, he trains and teaches at OpenMat Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Toronto Canada.  Ostap breaks down BJJ videos on his YouTube channel, this is a great resource for anyone wanting to better understand BJJ. We talk about Ostap's YouTube Channel Some of his notable tournament victories Traveling and training BJJ for an extended amount of time Teaching BJJ full time Common mistakes in lower level BJJ How he breaks down tournament footage Advice for students that are going to do their first tournament His first tournament experience Competing a lot in a short amount of time Preparing mentally for a tournament The book With Winning in Mind, and how it has helped him Coaching at a tournament and how to not be a "remote control coach" Tips for coaching Different Mantras that he uses during a match Advice for blue belts overcoming difficulties Researching different BJJ schools Having the proper motivation for tr

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio This week we are joined by Jonathan Thomas.  Jonathan was recently awarded his black belt from Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti. You will find Jonathan training, teaching, and positional sparring at The Alliance headquarters in Atlanta. This interview we talk about: Jonathan's goal in his first tournament Why developing a good guard is so important for beginners Jonathan's basic definition of recomposing Why recomposing is so important to BJJ What attracted him to Jiu-Jitsu How Jiu-Jitsu is like a large series of mini games How he was able to train less than most of his competition and still win Having a logical process to how you train Why mindless drilling does not do much for your development How Jonathan likes to positional spar and break down positions The current rules and how they could change Why passing the guard can be more difficult than using a specific guard How the sport would change if the guard puller got a -1 point His goals in competing His mi

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio Daniel Coyle is a New York Times bestselling author of The Talent Code and The Little Book of Talent.  He is one of the leading authorities on developing talent.  He may not be a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but his ideas about how to practice can help you understand how you learn.  The methods he has found could help catapult your game to the next level and beyond. We start off with these basic definitions: Talent Hotbed- A place that has an unusual amount of extraordinary performers.  These places can be studied and we can learn about their different training techniques. Muscle Memory- This is a not a real thing, all your muscle is controlled from your brain.  Muscle has no memory. Myelin- When you build new skills they are insulated by a myelin sheath.  This sheath gets thicker as you practice and push yourself.  The thicker it becomes the faster and easier your connections become. Deep Practice- This is the sweet spot when you are putting a lot o

In Episode 30 of the BjjBrick podcast we talk with Ryan Hall.  Ryan is widely considered one of the best lightweight submission grapplers in the world.  Ryan owns 50/50 Jiu-Jitsu in Falls Church, Virginia.  He is a Black Belt under Felipe Costa and a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter representing Tristar Gym.  Check out a more detailed bio of Ryan Hall here. In this interview we talk about: Ryan coined the term “50/50” for the widely used position His new gym that he opened and why he moved How his style of Jiu-jitsu will translate to MMA His goals for his MMA career Some of his negative experiences with competing in Jiu-Jitsu Getting back into competitive Jiu-Jitsu The different focuses and challenges of training MMA and BJJ at the same time Making the transition from submission grappling to MMA His next MMA fight on May 31st Using actual MMA fights for live training and ring experience Some common mistakes that BJJ athletes make when doing MMA Performing to the best of your ability and nothing less,

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio Stephen Whittier is a black belt under Roberto Maia.  He has an academy in Wareham Massachusetts Called SBG East Coast.  Stephen has become a huge resource for the over 40 grappler.  He has lots of great advice not just for the over 40 grappler, but anyone who steps on the mat. In this interview with Stephen Whittier we talk about: Why having a specific style can hold you back Why the fundamentals are so important in Jiu-Jitsu Getting on the mat as a 40 plus grappler Dealing with instructors that may not know how to coach the older grappler The differences between teaching and coaching The Aliveness component of jiu-jitsu Starting BJJ as someone in their 50s or 60s The social differences between the younger BJJ students and the older students Finding the right gym for you Why people quit jiu-jitsu after training the first time Why people are drawn to try jiu-jitsu Competing for the first time Why stripping your attributes (speed, strength, flexibility….)

This week we talk to Dwane Clifford about training BJJ and how supplements can be a tool to help you reach your goals. Dwane is a friend that we met on the mats. He has a passion for supplements and helping people reach their goals. Dwane has a philosophy of discovering the customers goals and then helping them find the right supplement or training to help. We talk about:Supplements that help with flexibilitySupplements that aid with staminaWhy Jiu-Jitsu players should steer clear of products with a lot of caffeineTaking care of your jointsHow supplements can help lubricate your jointsWhat fish oil does and does not do for youSome tips for cutting weight, and how using supplements is really a last resortTips on cutting weight without using supplementsGaining size and strengthHow to tell if you are in a bad supplement storeCommon myths in the supplement industrySome of the bad things that happens in the supplement industryAdvice if you are new to taking supplementsOur Sponsor- Fujisports.com Coupon code “BJJBr

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio Allen Hopkins is a 3rd degree black belt under Master Pedro Sauer. His school is in Hattiesburg Mississippi. He attended his first seminar July 13, 1991 it was thought by Grand Master Rorion Gracie. After that seminar Allen Hopkins was hooked on Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.   We talk about:Training Gracie Jiu-Jitsu before the first UFCHis training in Japanese Jiu-JitsuAttending early Gracie Jiu-Jitsu seminarsHow Gracie Jiu-Jitsu got it's start in the United StatesThe Growth of Jiu-JitsuWhat is was like to attend the first UFCSome differences between Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-JitsuHis match back in the day with Eddie Bravo Sponsor: Fujisports.com Coupon code “BJJBrick” for 10% off! Quote of the week: “I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything if it were a nail.” Abraham Maslow Links Article of the week: “Safe Training Rules for Women” Fifty/50 BJJ CailnAllen Hopkins website Team Hopkins Association Pedro Sauer's webs

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio In this weeks episode we talk to Tom Machowicz (Mac) from Fuji Sports. We cover everything from getting your first gi to helping a seasoned veteran figure out what gi is best for competition. This Gi Guide covers:Why do you need a gi?Advantages to training in a giHow judo gis are different from BJJ gisBasic types of gisTips for getting a gi for kids, women and menHow the location the gi is made can effect the qualityDifferent types of weavesHow to get a gi that fits youThe advantages of Rip-stopDifferent types of collarsHow to take care of your giShrinking your gi to get the best fitCommon mistakes with gi careHow to get your gi dry quicklyPutting a patch on a giCustom gis for your teamWhat makes a competition gi? Quote of the week: We got this quote from an email from our friend Santiago. “My teacher is my opponent, my ego is my enemy” Renzo Gracie Article of the week30 Signs You're A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Addict- Matadornetwork.com Our Sponsor- FujiSports.

This week we have an interview with Amber Oxford. Amber is a Blue belt that trains at Wichita Jiu-Jitsu Club. Amber is holding a free event called Girls in Gis on April 12 at the Wichita Jiu-Jitsu Club. When she is not on the mats Amber is a full time nurse and she recently bought a salon it is called Tranquility Salon. Amber also finds time in her busy schedule to compete on a regular basis.Girls in gis started as an open mat for women, it has gotten much bigger. Girls in Gis is a nonprofit organization that helps promote BJJ to women. Amber talks about:Getting more women on your BJJ teamThe Girls in Gis organizationHer experiences competingThe benefits of women doing BJJHow to get a Girls in Gis event to your areaAnd much more Support us by checking out our sponsor Fujisports.com Coupon code "BJJBrick" for 10% off your purchase. Check out the women's Gi selection! Quote of the week: This quote was brought to us by Coach John Connors “Commitment requires an endless series of small painful actions” Phil Stutz

This week we talk about the four basic types of matches you could find yourself in BJJ. We gave each match a symbol, to make it simple. 1) The straight line or arrow (------, ------>). This is a one-sided match that progresses smoothly. This match goes from start to finish with one of the competitors dominating the other. A tip for a tournament is to watch the rest of your bracket as they compete. You might see someones game plan and be able to avoid the dominant parts of their game. 2) The Figure 8. This is a chaotic match. This type of match is typically at the lower levels, because the higher level competitors are more controlling and better at using any dominant position. If you find yourself in a match like this, you can win this match, but you are going to need to fight for it. Try to use the transition to your advantage. Decide your strong part of your game and find a way to get your opponent to that place. If you find yourself behind in a match, you might look for ways to make it more like a figure 8

This week on the podcast we bring you an interview with coach John Connors. John is the author of the e Book “Quick Start Guide to Complete Jiu Jitsu Competition Readiness”. This is a great guide for someone who is an experienced grappler or just starting out. At the age of 35 John found himself in the business world and lacking the fun and excitement of a sport. John started BJJ with Roberto Maia, and the fun and excitement was put back into his fitness. John eventually got his black belt in 2006 from Roberto Maia. John is now 51 years old and is very active on the mat and he also has a passion for coaching. John Connors talks with us about:Meeting goals off the matCoaching BJJ and MMAGrappling for older people and not getting hurtMaking a game plan for competitionDeveloping key movesPositional sparingLimiting your training to get better fasterMaking the most of your training timeCoaching during a matchSetting different goals for your competitionSparing like it is an actual match with a referee and a coachDe

This episode we are covering some of the basics. We are going to break down some of the main positions in BJJ and give you some guidance for each one.   We give tips and general strategies for:GuardSide ControlMountBackStandingTurtleQuote of the week: “When you loose say little, when you win say less.” Matt Hughes Article of the week: nuclearchainsaw.com “11 Things Your Jiu-Jitsu Instructor Won't Tell You”.

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio We both spent a significant amount of time working on escapes. We have had a big increase in confidence with our grappling by getting better at our escapes. It is good to know that you will be able to escape a position. Escapes fall into two categories: Escaping submissions, and escaping positions. Tips:You need to be proficient at escaping from both sides (left and right), you do not get to choose what side is attacked.Put yourself in bad positions, the more you train at them the better you will get at escaping.Escape fast, if you get out of a position fast enough your opponent will not score points.Know the areas that you are weak in and work on them.Roll with people that can push you.Try working on two escapes at the same time.Ask questions, your teammates will be happy to help. We also give some tips for escaping these common submissions:ArmbarTriangle chokeGuillotineChokes in general Quote of the week: “What you everyday matters more than what you do

It is important to take a step back and look at your grappling game.  Are you in a mode where you are trying to accomplish a goal?  Or are you just trying to get better at BJJ in a particular area?     Some examples of the goals mode that we talk about: You have a tournament coming up that you want to do well in. Achieve the next belt in BJJ. To drop some weight. Your goals should be: Tangible Realistic Have a time frame Results focused     Some examples of some areas that you might consider for growth: Get a better defense. Get a better offense. Experiment with a new technique of strategy.   Ways to help develop your growth Go in to a deep study of the area you are growing. Use rolling as an opportunity to try your new stuff. Ask upper belts for help. Make sure you are growing in the correct ways, get some guidance from your coach. You may need to try your new techniques on lower level oponents.         Quote of the week: “you can never defend someone else belt, that is their job.”  Sean Roberts If you catch

This episode is in iTunes, and stitcher radio This week we have another preview of Metamoris 3. We talk to Sean Roberts, he has a match with Zak Maxwell (last weeks interview). Sean Roberts is a Black belt under Ralph Gracie, he is currently training with Checkmat. We talk to Sean about:-What he does to relax-What got him started in BJJ-His thoughts on Royler Gracie Vs. Eddie Bravo-The way he approaches the rules of Metamoris-How the Brown belt Kumite helped prepare him for Metamoris-His thoughts on how Zak Maxwell will approach the match-He shares a couple of personality traits that have helped him get better at BJJ-What he does before an important match, and how it has changed over time-What he was like as a blue belt and purple belt-Tips of competing for the first time, and building your confidence before a competition-His cross country BJJ tour he recently took, and his plans to do another oneQuote of the week: “Every kick in the ass is a step forward” Unknown. If you get kicked in the ass and you don't t

Today we bring you the first episode of our Metamoris 3 preview.  We have an interview with Zak Maxwell, he will be competing in Metamoris 3 against Sean Roberts.  Zak is a black belt he is currently training at Gracie San Diego.   Some of Zak Maxwell's accomplishments: Pan American Champion as Purple and Brown belts. World Champion as a Brown belt. Pan American Absolute as a Brown belt. 3X ADCC pro trials as a Black belt. Metamoris 3 will be the first time Zak has been in a submission only match.  We talk to him about his match with Sean Roberts.  Zak also tells us what it was like for him to start training as a kid.  Zak also offers some of his competition tips.   Zak Maxwell's Gi sponsor is HyperFly.  Swing by their website and if you get a Gi tell them thanks for supporting Zak!     Quote of the week- “Look at what you have, not what you want.” Roy Marsh   Links Article of the week- 10 Tips to help the Non-Competitors Stay Motivated. From Groundworkbjj.com Zak Maxwell's Facebook page Gracie San Diego Hype

This week we bring you a very educational interview with Roy Marsh.  Both Gary and Byron got a lot of knowledge out of talking with Roy, we hope you do too. Roy Marash is a Black Belt under Royce Gracie. He has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2001. Roy's game is always changing but he prefers a top game with a lot of top pressure. His go to guard is the butterfly guard. He trans a lot with the military.Roy talks about:Self defense- he gives some ways he adapts training for his BJJ students to deal with real world situations.Training for a tournament- He give some great advice on developing a strong tournament game.Breaking everything in BJJ down- Roy breaks BJJ down into four factors the two big factors are distance and angle, the two smaller factors are timing and pace.Staying positive after a tournament- If you have something bad to say about your tournament, you should also say something good about the tournament.Roy's House Theory- He wants to fight you in areas that he is good at, this is his hou