The BJJ Fanatics Podcast BJJ Fanatics 661: Malachy Friedman
Sep 16, 2025
Malachy Friedman, a third-degree black belt and former pro MMA fighter, returns to share his coaching insights. He dives into the competition mindset and the art of game planning for specific opponents. With a focus on improvisation, he emphasizes adapting techniques in real-time. He also discusses the significance of mental fortitude and emotional intelligence for high-pressure situations. Malachy highlights the balance of hard sparring in training, illustrating how resilience shapes fighter performance.
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Pick High-Return Coaching Areas
- Focus coaching on where you can get the highest payoff given limited time and body capacity.
- Prioritize MMA coaching if you understand cage mechanics and can't commit to every evolving nogi trend.
Fighter Availability Is Unstable
- Fighters often quit or change priorities due to life events like marriage and kids.
- That makes building a long-term MMA stable in some locations unpredictable.
Coach To Mechanics And Habits
- Tailor coaching by body mechanics and learning habits rather than titles or fight count.
- Add small mechanical details to elite athletes to raise efficiency from 85% to 95%.