

I Suck At Jiu Jitsu Show
Josh McKinney
Jiu-Jitsu is hard. Join host Josh McKinney on his forever quest to "suck less at jiu-jitsu." Learn from high level black belts, in depth conversations, and off the wall rants by the host himself.
It is guaranteed that each episode will help you suck just a little less at jiu-jitsu, or your money back.
Josh McKinney is an accomplished adult black belt competitor with a "suck-less" mindset that can help anyone progress
It is guaranteed that each episode will help you suck just a little less at jiu-jitsu, or your money back.
Josh McKinney is an accomplished adult black belt competitor with a "suck-less" mindset that can help anyone progress
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 4, 2024 • 47min
#264 The Unwritten RULES of Jiu-Jitsu
We all know that "there's no crying in baseball" but is crying allowed in jiu-jitsu?
This question and 4 more will be answered on the newest episode of the I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu Show where host Josh McKinney gives his best advice to keep you on the mats and off of the social media arguments.
Join ISAJJ PRO(April 1st Release of The Trinity of Guard Passing):
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FREE Copy of The 3 Lenses
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Mar 28, 2024 • 57min
#263 The 5 Mistakes I Made in my 16 Year BJJ Journey | #4 is SO COMMON
In this eye-opening episode of the "I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show," host Josh McKinney takes a deep dive into his personal journey, revealing the 5 biggest mistakes he's made over 16 years of practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
From the pitfalls of overconfidence and the importance of choosing the right mentors, to lessons in competition and the value of intentional practice, Josh shares invaluable insights that transcend the mats.
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, this episode is packed with lessons on growth, mindset, and the relentless pursuit of improvement in BJJ and beyond.
Don't miss these critical learnings that could change the course of your Jiu Jitsu journey!
Join ISAJJ PRO(April 1st Release of The Trinity of Guard Passing):
Ask Questions/Suggest Topics for the show
FREE Copy of The 3 Lenses
Follow the show on Instagram
Check out the ISAJJ Youtube Channel

Mar 21, 2024 • 39min
#262 An Ode to Jiu-Jitsu Competition | 3 Terrible Reasons You SHOULD Compete in BJJ
Welcome to a special episode of the "I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show." I'm your host, Josh McKinney, and today, we're diving deep into the heart of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitions. With over 200 episodes behind us, we've explored various facets of BJJ, from techniques and training to mindset and beyond. This episode, however, is a tribute to the transformative power of competition.
Why compete? It's more than just medals and accolades. Competing in BJJ offers a unique opportunity to confront fears, test your skills in real-time, and foster a growth mindset that transcends the mats. Through personal anecdotes and stories from my own journey and those of my students, we'll explore how competition shapes us into not just better practitioners, but resilient individuals.
Whether you're on the fence about signing up for your first tournament or a seasoned competitor, this episode is for you. We'll discuss managing nerves, the importance of testing your game against unknown opponents, and how the mindset developed through competition can help you tackle life's challenges.
So, are you ready to embrace the struggle, learn from fear, and grow through competition? Join me as we celebrate the journey of competing in BJJ.
Join ISAJJ PRO(every course Josh has ever made)
Ask Questions/Suggest Topics for the show
FREE Copy of The 3 Lenses
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Remember to like, subscribe, and share your competition stories in the comments below!

Mar 14, 2024 • 1h 28min
#261 Jared Weiner: What I've Learned from 20 Years at Black Belt
What does BJJ look like after spending 20 years competing and building a HUGE team at Black Belt?
Today we are joined by Jared Weiner to talk lessons learned, match breakdowns, and what jiu jitsu looks like after dedicating such a large part of your life to the art.
Jared is the head of TAC team, an East Coast Based Affiliation, and a team that has recently cemented themselves as one of the top competition teams in the Midwest also.
Enjoy this fun conversation and Jared's awesome perspective that mixes both the old and new schools of jiu jitsu.
Join ISAJJ PRO(every course Josh has ever made)
Ask Questions/Suggest Topics for the show
FREE Copy of The 3 Lenses
Follow the show on Instagram
Check out the ISAJJ Youtube Channel

Mar 7, 2024 • 60min
#260 How Losing Made Me Good at BJJ | My Midwest BJJ Story
In this special episode of the "I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show," your host, Josh McKinney, takes you on a personal journey through his 16 years of training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. With over 200 episodes under our belt, we're diving deep into Josh's story, revealing the highs and lows of his competitive career, his evolving philosophy on training, and how embracing failure has been crucial to his development as an athlete and coach.
Join Josh as he shares intimate details of his early days on the mats, the pivotal moments that shaped his approach to Jiu-Jitsu, and the lessons learned from countless battles lost and won. This episode is not just about the techniques but the mindset that drives success both on and off the mat. Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the show, you'll find inspiration and insight in Josh's story of perseverance, growth, and the relentless pursuit of excellence in Jiu-Jitsu.
Don't forget to subscribe for more episodes that combine interviews with seasoned practitioners and Josh's solo monologues, all designed to teach you something important about Jiu-Jitsu, training, and the mindset required to excel in this art.
The 3 Lenses
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Feb 29, 2024 • 49min
#259 How to Compete (After a Big Life Change)
With a new age group, weight class, and training schedule can host Josh McKinney still compete?
Find out in today's episode where Josh breaks down his matches at the Memphis Open and explains which methods from the podcast worked and which ones didn't!
Check us out at simplfyingjiujitsu.com

Feb 22, 2024 • 1h 34min
#258 Devin Pirata: Competition Training, GOING TO SLEEP, and Making Friends
In today's episode Host Josh McKinney sits down with one of the toughest coaches that he knows, Devin Pirata(@devinpirata).
Devin and Josh discuss coaching methods that led to HUGE SUCCESS for the VaVaPirata BJJ Team.The duo also discusses what it's like being choked unconscious 4 times in the same day.
Black belts and white belts alike will gain so much perspective during this conversation.
Teaching Chest Over Chest at Pirata BJJ
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Feb 15, 2024 • 1h 37min
#257 Nick Sanders and Junior Silva: Competition Hacks, Injuring Each Other, and... Brazilians
In Today's Episode of ISAJJ Join Host, Josh McKinney(@thejoshmckinney) as he sits down with the owners of Revive BJJ(One of the TOUGHEST Bjj Schools in The Country) Nick Sanders and Junior Silva.
Today the trio discusses past competition success(and failures), How Pros Game Plan for a Jiu-Jitsu Match, and the evolution of BJJ
Ask ISAJJ ANYTHING
Pick up the Star Spangled Spider Guard

Feb 8, 2024 • 56min
#256 The ONE Reason you aren't getting Promoted (and How to Fix It)
In today's episode host Josh McKinney(@thejoshmckinney) does a deep dive on the most important thing when it comes to getting good at jiu jitsu.
This episode could have more information on getting very good in a short period of time than any ISAJJ EVER!
Get Duck Guard

Feb 1, 2024 • 1h 28min
#255 Kyle Watson and Steve McKinney: Becoming a GREAT Coach
in today's episode Host Josh McKinney sits down with his coach of 15 years Kyle Watson and Kyle's First Black belt, Steve McKinney.
The trio tries to get to the bottom of what separates the great, good, and bad coaches.
ask us anything: https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/ask