

BJJ Mental Models
Steve Kwan
Your guide to a conceptual and intelligent Jiu-Jitsu approach. BJJ black belt Steve Kwan and a slate of expert guests explain the concepts, strategies, and tactics behind the gentle art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Episodes
Mentioned books

8 snips
Jul 29, 2024 • 1h 18min
Ep. 295: Organizing Knowledge, feat. Sebastian Brosche
Sebastian Brosche, a BJJ black belt and founder of Yoga for BJJ and Teach Grappling, dives into the intricacies of organizing knowledge in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He emphasizes the importance of structured teaching strategies to enhance beginner experiences and reduce dropout rates. Sebastian advocates for a simplified curriculum focused on foundational skills, effective mentorship, and community support. He also discusses the significance of time management in coaching and highlights innovative educational methods to foster student growth in the sport.

8 snips
Jul 25, 2024 • 9min
Mini Ep. 12: The Anatomic Hierarchy
Discussing the anatomic hierarchy in jiu-jitsu, organizing body parts from strongest to weakest for effective techniques. Emphasizing the importance of using multiple weapons and targeting weaker body parts during attacks.

6 snips
Jul 22, 2024 • 57min
Ep. 294: Unconventional Jiu-Jitsu Careers, feat. Kiaya Jackson
Kiaya Jackson, a Jiu-Jitsu competitor, shares her unconventional career journey in the sport, emphasizing the power of consistency in social media and content creation. She also discusses creating avatars for product design, maximizing audience engagement, and navigating challenges in the jiu-jitsu apparel business.

8 snips
Jul 18, 2024 • 12min
Mini Ep. 11: Posts
Explore the strategic use of posts in Jiu-Jitsu, an essential element for maintaining base and creating attack opportunities. Learn about the importance of posts in controlling opponents and setting up attacks. Dive into the core mechanics of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, understanding the concept of 'posting' and its relation to injury prevention.

Jul 15, 2024 • 1h 6min
Ep. 293: The 3-Fold View of Jiu-Jitsu, feat. Charles Harriott
This week we're joined by Charles Harriott! Charles is a BJJ black belt, professional seminar instructor, and content creator. In this episode, Charles introduces a mental model he calls "the 3-fold view of Jiu-Jitsu." We discuss the three lenses through which Charles views Jiu-Jitsu and how these different perspectives work together to help him better understand the art. Follow Charles on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/charlesharriottSubscribe to Charles on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/c/CharlesHarriottBook seminars & privates with Charles:https://www.charlesharriott.com/Support Charles on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/charlesharriottGet Charles' instructionals on BJJ Fanatics:https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/dvd/fighter_charles-harriottMental models discussed in this episode:The Map Is Not the Territoryhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/the-map-is-not-the-territory/Cognitive Loadhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-load/Incremental Learninghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/incremental-learning/Critical Control Pointshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/critical-control-points/Respect People, Not Positionshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/respect-people-not-positions/Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.Sign up here for a free trial:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/Need more BJJ Mental Models?Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

8 snips
Jul 11, 2024 • 7min
Mini Ep. 10: Hooks
Dive into the fascinating world of hooks in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! Discover how they serve as a powerful tracking mechanism, allowing grapplers to maintain control and off-balance their opponents. The hosts break down the mechanics of hooks, comparing them to clamps and highlighting their adaptability across different guards. They also share useful strategies for refining these techniques, making it clear how essential hooks are in mastering the art of Jiu-Jitsu.

12 snips
Jul 8, 2024 • 59min
Ep. 292: The Paradox of Control, feat. Jesse Walker
Jesse Walker, a black belt under Chris Haueter and head coach at Rough Hands BJJ in Kentucky, discusses the paradox of control in Jiu-Jitsu, emphasizing sacrificing control for movement when attacking. They explore concepts like technique chaining, predictable responses, and staying loose. Also, they touch on surprising opponents, unconventional strategies, and the benefits of a supportive learning environment.

8 snips
Jul 4, 2024 • 7min
Mini Ep. 9: Clamps
In this mini-episode, they discuss clamps in Jiu-Jitsu, focusing on using limbs to create closed circuits around opponents like in closed guard or seatbelt. The importance of strong clamps and avoiding overconfidence is highlighted. The chapter emphasizes the significance of having a well-thought-out plan when using clamps in Jiu-Jitsu to avoid being manipulated by opponents.

Jul 1, 2024 • 1h 5min
Ep. 291: Difficult Coaching Conversations, feat. Ben Van Doren
Ben Van Doren, a Lucas Lepri black belt and head instructor at Deep Blue Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, discusses navigating difficult coaching conversations in the Jiu Jitsu community. Topics include professionalism in gym environments, effective delivery mechanisms for tough conversations, and cultivating the skill of handling challenging dialogues with grace.

7 snips
Jun 27, 2024 • 8min
Mini Ep. 8: Wedges
Explore the importance of wedges in Jiu-Jitsu, including blocking wedges for immobilizing opponents and prying wedges for breaking defenses. Learn how wedges can enhance control and create openings in grappling techniques.


