#60 - Diren Kartal - I See The Black Belts With No Bum, Get The Most Injuries
Feb 25, 2025
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Diren Kartal, a BJJ purple belt under Roger Gracie and a fitness influencer, shares insights on the intriguing world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He humorously recounts his experience with Turkish oil wrestling alongside Craig Jones. The conversation delves into the diverse personalities in jiu-jitsu, the balance between training and competition, and concerns about steroids in the sport. Kartal also discusses optimizing gym workouts to enhance jiu-jitsu performance, the importance of personalized training, and the evolving landscape of BJJ competitions.
The podcast explores the unique experience and camaraderie of Turkish oil wrestling, highlighting its cultural significance and physical challenges.
Diren Kartal emphasizes the importance of a balanced training regimen that includes strength and conditioning to enhance jiu-jitsu performance.
The discussion addresses the impact of performance-enhancing drugs on jiu-jitsu, stressing the need for integrity and accessibility in the sport.
Deep dives
Turkish Oil Wrestling Experience
The podcast shares an exciting experience of Turkish oil wrestling, a cultural sport where participants are covered in olive oil and grapple outdoors. It emphasizes the physicality of the sport, as competitors struggle not only against each other but also the challenging environment, including the heat and slippery conditions. The host humorously describes the dynamics of the event, noting the playful antics among competitors, such as trying to grab each other's pants as part of the wrestling technique. Overall, this unique experience showcases the blend of tradition and camaraderie within Turkish culture.
Personal Journey into Jiu-Jitsu
The speaker recounts his late entry into jiu-jitsu, starting at age 19, initially sidelined by football aspirations. After experiencing injuries, he shifted focus to jiu-jitsu, training intensively while traveling, and eventually solidified his commitment upon returning to London. He reflects on the evolution of his training, from casual involvement to a dedicated practice, highlighting the influences of peers and mentors that guided him along the way. This journey illustrates the potential for growth and learning in grappling, which can be both fulfilling and transformative.
Competition Insights and Experiences
The podcast discusses the speaker's competitive experiences in jiu-jitsu, emphasizing his enjoyment of participating in various local competitions. He highlights that competing brings out a different energy, allowing him to engage with more intensity compared to regular training sessions. Notably, the speaker describes a mixture of excitement and pressure that comes from performing in front of an audience, motivating him to hone his skills. He expresses a desire to embrace more competitions moving forward, setting goals for growth and improvement in his jiu-jitsu journey.
Training Philosophy and Balancing Jiu-Jitsu
A critical aspect discussed is the speaker's training philosophy, particularly the importance of balancing jiu-jitsu with strength and conditioning work. He suggests that a minimum of two strength-training sessions per week can enhance performance and longevity in the sport, as these help maintain strength and prevent injuries. Moreover, he recommends focusing on movement quality, engaging in mobility work, and ensuring active recovery to complement intensive jiu-jitsu practice. This holistic approach underscores the significance of physical health in sustaining a successful training routine.
Growth of Jiu-Jitsu and Its Aspirations
The conversation touches on the potential mainstream growth of jiu-jitsu and the challenges it faces, including issues with performance-enhancing drugs. The speaker reflects on the disparity between those who train naturally versus those who may rely on steroids, contemplating the impact of professionalism versus amateurism in the sport. He stresses the need for a unified rule set and clearer distinctions to enhance the sport's accessibility to new audiences. Ultimately, the discussion revolves around the hope that the sport continues to grow while maintaining integrity and promoting healthy competition.
Fitness Business and Online Expansion
The speaker shares insights into his fitness business, having transitioned to an online model in 2017, which has gained significant traction both in the UK and abroad. He emphasizes catering to the Turkish audience, utilizing a large following to promote accessible fitness content. Additionally, he discusses offering retreats centered on fitness, combining workout sessions with leisure activities like surfing and boxing. This trend highlights the shift towards virtual fitness solutions and the desire for engaging, experiential offerings in the health and wellness sector.
Expect to get the grapplers perspective on how Craig Jones ended up being oiled up in Turkey wrestling, the different personalities in jiu jitsu, if the nerds are good or bad, what the best gym work is to supplement your jiu jitsu, if steroids are ruining our sport and much more.
Diren Kartal is a BJJ Purple Belt under Roger Gracie and one of the best known Fitness Authorities and Influencers in the UK and Turkey. Diren has spent time and trained with some the biggest names in the sport.
Extra Stuff: Insta - https://www.instagram.com/diren.kartal/
00:00 Intro 03:00 Turkish Oil Wrestling with Craig Jones 10:37 Thoughts on CJI 20:33 Jiu Jitsu Superstars 25:01 Personalities in Jiu Jitsu 32:54 When Diren Started BJJ 38:46 Dangerous White Belts 41:42 Competing 46:19 Best Approach to Training 54:26 Find What Works For You 58:23 Best BJJ / Gym Split 01:08:18 Steroids in Jiu Jitsu 01:16:35 Can BJJ Be Mainstream? 01:23:30 What Diren Does
Co-Hosts: Paul Johnson (Glasses) and Danny Allen (Beard) Audio and Video Edited, and Produced by Paul Johnson Insta - https://www.instagram.com/bodyforbjj and https://www.instagram.com/rollingstrongbjj
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