On this episode, Chewy and Eugene recap their weekend in Las Vegas and discuss what it was like attending the 2024 ADCC Worlds and the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational. We discuss how using the “pit” at CJI effected the matches, our thoughts on the use of rounds, the 10-point must scoring system, open scoring, and judging criteria for the CJI. We also discuss the challenges of the ADCC ruleset, CJI trolls, rule changes that could make the matches more exciting in the ADCC, the biggest upsets and surprises of the tournaments, thoughts on whether Gordon Ryan’s skill is declining, the best performances of the weekend, future match ups, and building a sustainable grappling organization. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

David Avellan is a BJJ black belt, ADCC 2009 Bronze Medalist, creator of “The Kimura Trap System,” and owner of the Freestyle Fighting Academy. On this episode, David shares his start in martial arts, transitioning to wrestling, lessons learned from wrestling, starting a gym with minimal training and no business experience, how he raised money for the gym by running tournaments, how working with Lloyd Irvin changed the trajectory of his business, the importance of culture for a successful gym, mistakes he made in training methodology as a younger grappler, when to develop your toughness, the process of developing the "Kimura Trap System," the benefits of drilling, winning bronze at the 2009 ADCC World Championships, tips on time management, the importance of recovery as you age, how to train optimally, and his thoughts on the ADCC and CJI. If you want to learn more from David, check out https://davidmma.com/join Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

TJ graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 1999 with a degree in Behavioral Sciences. Over the next several years he attended NATO’s premier fighter pilot training course, EURO-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) and became an F-16 fighter pilot. He served overseas in Korea and deployed to Iraq as a combat flight lead, and was recognized as the Hill Air Force Base Flight Lead of the Year in 2005. Later he served as an instructor and evaluator pilot at ENJJPT, overseeing student training and managing several operational components of the program. During that time he also earned an MBA from Texas A&M - Commerce. He retired after more than 20 years of service in 2019. TJ is also a Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt and the Vice President of the “We Defy Foundation.” On this episode, TJ discusses his time in the military as a fighter pilot, what he enjoyed most about being a fighter pilot, why he started Jiu-Jitsu, the importance of Jiu-Jitsu and a community for military veterans, how he got involved with the “We Defy Foundation,” the importance of research to assist with funding, the mission of the “We Defy Foundation," how "We Defy" has impacted the lives of military veterans, learning how to deal with failure through Jiu-Jitsu, and how stopping competing can improve your Jiu-Jitsu. Learn more about the "We Defy Foundation" here: https://wedefyfoundation.org/ Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

Jason 'Blind Fury' Keaton, a visually impaired BJJ black belt and musician, shares his unique journey through martial arts. He discusses how his background in Wing Chun influenced his BJJ training and the importance of improving from challenging positions. Jason touches on his recovery from a severe neck injury, blending physical fitness with healing. He also reflects on how concepts from music parallel martial arts mastery, and reveals the story behind his nickname. His insights are both inspiring and humorous, shedding light on resilience and personal growth.

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss how setting expectations in Jiu-Jitsu can make you fragile as well as lead to frustration in training. We also discuss how to build a healthy ego in Jiu-Jitsu. We talk about getting caught by less experienced training partners, how we are constantly changing, the importance of having a plan, the book “The Worry Cure,” for dealing with rumination, what we get wrong about the ego, how to help students get out of a rut, focusing on the “small wins” in training, and how competing can help your ego and build more grit. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss the best advice they would give or wish they got through each belt rank in Jiu-Jitsu. We also discuss the most powerful technique to employ in BJJ (learn to experiment, how to avoid stagnation in BJJ, and the benefit of teaching. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss two rules for Jiu-Jitsu. Rule #1 - Expect to get thrown off a horse into a pile of manure. Chewy shares a story of getting thrown off of a horse and how the expectation of this possibility helped with the discomfort and difficulty of the process of learning to ride. We discuss the realization that struggles and difficulties are a part of getting better at Jiu-Jitsu, expect that there will be difficulties with learning Jiu-Jitsu, why failure is the "buy in" for improving, avoiding failure will hold you back, and the goal in training should be to develop skills. Rule #2 - When your lungs are burning…look fresh! Chewy shares a story of a tough tournament match where even though he was tired, looking fresh gave him the edge over his opponent. We also discuss why showing fatigue will give your opponent a boost, the importance of paying attention to your opponent’s breathing pattern, how much of Jiu-Jitsu is mental vs. physical, why the physical precedes the mental when building confidence, why Jiu-Jitsu is a philosophy of doing, update your ego through challenging yourself, and move towards your fears. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

Michael Pixley, a national champion wrestler and ADCC trials winner, discusses his wrestling background, takedown techniques, and transition to Jiu-Jitsu. They talk about wrestling vs. Jiu-Jitsu practices, the ADCC rule set, weight gain challenges, and training experiences in hot environments. The podcast also covers wrestling techniques, relaxation, aspirations in competing, and discovering techniques in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene do a live recording of the podcast and discuss the importance of building a solid system of escapes from side control.  We also discuss if escaping from side control is the most difficult position to escape from, the approach you should take when escaping side control and what people lack the most, if escaping is a skill learned in the instructional setting or from experience, the biggest misconception when escaping side control, one quality or attribute to give you the ability to become amazing at escapes, and the “Iron Squirrel.”  Q&A:  Is it better to look for escapes such as shrimping, ghost escape, inverting, or waiting on your opponent to move? If Chewy has learned something new when teaching a technique? What side control escapes chain together well based on common reactions? What’s the best way to escape once you get flattened out? What is the best way to shoot a single leg takedown? How to improve cardio for BJJ? What to do when you’re the smallest person in the gym? How to implement information from an instructional into training? If you’re interested in picking up Chewy’s new side control escape series check out the link: https://www.chewjitsu.io/sales-page1718800981045 Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss the importance of building a strong defensive side control to create a better offensive Jiu-Jitsu game. We discuss how initially we focus on bottom side control defense as newer grapplers, but eventually stop focusing on this part of our game. We also discuss why having poor defense can make your offense less effective, how a solid defense will improve your submission rate in competition, why confidence in your escapes works like a safety net, why grapplers panic in bottom side control, the first step in getting better at side control escapes, why Chewy decided to start focusing on his bottom side control escapes as a BJJ brown belt, the biggest and most common mistakes in relation to escapes and defense, and the importance of mastering a handful of techniques. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast