BJJ Mental Models

This week, we're joined by Hillary VanOrnum!  Hillary is a black belt under James Foster and the head instructor at Unicorn Jiu Jitsu.  In this episode, Hillary discusses her philosophy for making BJJ an inclusive "safe place for violence."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://premium.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/Let them know you're an educated grappler with our merch:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/store/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

Seb Lavoie is a frequent BJJ Mental Models guest, BJJ black belt, CrossFit athlete, gym owner, and retired RCMP Sergeant Major.  Earlier in 2021, Seb experienced a freak accident in which the muscles in his leg necrotized and had to be removed.  Seb survived, but now has significantly reduced functionality in his leg and is facing the possibility of amputation.  Seb has always worked in physically demanding fields, so this loss significantly alters his life moving forward.In this episode, Seb shares his story, his experience with prescription painkillers, his recovery process, and his understanding of what life will be like moving forward.  This is a raw, heartfelt discussion and a must-listen for any athlete facing catastrophic injury.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://premium.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/Let them know you're an educated grappler with our merch:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/store/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from BJJ Mental Models!  On a personal note, I'd just like to thank you for supporting us.  Whether you support us on BJJ Mental Models Premium, read the newsletter, or listen to the podcast, I'm really and truly grateful that you've chosen to invest your valuable time and attention in our work.  It really, truly means a lot to me, and you've enriched my life tremendously.  So a sincere thank you, from me to you....aaaaaaaaaaaaanyway, I got you a Christmas present.  😅Here's the backstory.  Emily Kwok is in the process of launching her own limited-run podcast: The Master & The Apprentice.  I will be producing this podcast for her, in which she interviews standout performers and explores the relationships between students and their mentors.In one of these interviews, she speaks candidly with Dominyka Obelenyte.  I'd like to give you this episode early.As you probably know, Emily Kwok and Dominyka Obelenyte are two of our most popular guests.  They're both Marcelo Garcia black belts, they're both multi-time BJJ world champions, and they both make for incredible Jiu-Jitsu conversation.  What you might not know is that they've had a long-time mentor/student relationship, and Dominyka relies on Emily's mentorship for guidance and support.So I hope you enjoy this incredible and candid conversation between a BJJ mentor and her apprentice.  It's a really raw, heartfelt conversation and I enjoyed editing it greatly.  I think you'll love it too.Sign up for Emily Kwok's newsletter and she'll notify you when The Master & The Apprentice launches!https://emilykwok.com/

Jon Thomas is back!  This week, Jon continues a topic he brought up in his last BJJ Mental Models appearance: the pitfalls of principles.Jon's YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/user/SnakePlisken09Jon's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jonthomasbjjJon's website:https://www.jonthomasbjj.comMental models discussed in this episode:Concepts Over Techniqueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques/Do What Workshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/do-what-works/Incremental Learninghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/incremental-learning/Systematic Abandonmenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/systematic-abandonment/Shuharihttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/shuhari/Probabilistic Thinkinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/probabilistic-thinking/Funnelinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/funneling/Predictable Responseshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/predictable-responses/Form to Leave Formhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/form-to-leave-form/Train With Purposehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/train-with-purpose/Flowhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/flow/Mindfulnesshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/mindfulness/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://premium.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/Let them know you're an educated grappler with our merch:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/store/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

This week we're joined by Kristina Barlaan!  Kristina is a 2nd degree black belt under Caio Terra.  Kristina breaks down the details behind one of her favorite techniques: the bow & arrow choke.Kristina's three tips for perfecting the bow & arrow:Ensure you have the correct grip (make a fist, wrist not bent)Hide your elbowGet the correct angle.Check out Kristina's bow & arrow techniques on her Digitsu back attacks instructional:https://bit.ly/3q4vHKP (on demand) https://bit.ly/3Gx6Fu5 (DVD)Mental models discussed in this episode:Dilemmahttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/dilemma/Committed Techniqueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/committed-techniques/3 Joint Rulehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/3-joint-rule/Myopiahttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/myopia/Win Conditionshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/win-conditions/Return on Investmenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/return-on-investment/Technique Chaininghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/technique-chaining/Path of Least Resistancehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/path-of-least-resistance/Rotational Controlhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/rotational-control/Critical Control Pointshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/critical-control-points/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://premium.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/Let them know you're an educated grappler with our merch:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/store/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

This week, we're joined by "The Villain" Chris Paines!  Chris is a BJJ black belt under Priit Mihkelson, and an advocate for concept-based BJJ instruction.  In this episode, Chris discusses his personal journey into Jiu-Jitsu concepts, and how he uses concepts to teach his students.Mental models discussed in this episode:Limb Coilinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/limb-coiling/Grips Dictate Positionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/grips-dictate-position/Concepts Over Techniqueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques/Shuharihttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/shuhari/Elbow-Knee Connectionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/elbow-knee-connection/Core Mechanicshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/core-mechanics/3 Joint Rulehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/3-joint-rule/Direct vs. Proxy Controlhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/direct-vs-proxy-control/Inversionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/inversion/Anatomic Hierarchyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/anatomic-hierarchy/Do What Workshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/do-what-works/Defense Paradoxhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/defense-paradox/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://premium.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/Let them know you're an educated grappler with our merch:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/store/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

This week we're joined again by Stephan Kesting!  Stephan is in the process of releasing his new Omoplata 2.0 instructional, so what better time than now to break down the mechanics of this underutilized submission?Get Stephan's new Omoplata 2.0 instructional here:https://www.grapplearts.com/omoplata/Mental models discussed in this episode:Waypointshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/waypoints/Technique Chaininghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/technique-chaining/Myopiahttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/myopia/Predictable Responseshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/predictable-responses/Theory of Alignmenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/theory-of-alignment/Committed Techniqueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/committed-techniques/Direct vs. Proxy Controlhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/direct-vs-proxy-control/Critical Control Pointshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/critical-control-points/Prevention Over Curehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/prevention-over-cure/Body Tetheringhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/body-tethering/Ratchet Controlhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ratchet-control/Ulysses Contractshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ulysses-contracts/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://premium.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/Let them know you're an educated grappler with our merch:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/store/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

This week, we're joined by Jiu-Jitsu journalist extraordinaire Averi Clements!  Fresh off her incredible run at the Jiu-Jitsu Times, Averi joins us to discuss her passion: our shared responsibility for making this sport as inclusive and clean as it can be.Referenced in this episode:The Call Is Coming From Inside The Gym, by Averi Clementshttps://www.jiujitsutimes.com/the-call-is-coming-from-inside-the-gym/Mental models discussed in this episode:Respect People, Not Positionshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/respect-people-not-positions/Keep Your Identity Smallhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-your-identity-small/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://premium.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/Let them know you're an educated grappler with our merch:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/store/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

This week, we're joined again by Olympic Judo legend Travis Stevens!  Travis discusses the goal-setting methodology he uses to coach and prepare his students for elite-level competition.Mental models discussed in this episode:Short-term/Long-term Paradoxhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/short-term-long-term-paradox/Compartmentalizationhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/compartmentalization/Mindfulnesshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/mindfulness/Levels of Competitionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/levels-of-competition/Systematic Abandonmenthttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/systematic-abandonment/Respect People, Not Positionshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/respect-people-not-positions/Self-Competitionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-competition/Habits Over Resultshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/habits-over-results/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://premium.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/Let them know you're an educated grappler with our merch:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/store/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

This week, we're joined by Malachy Friedman!  Malachy is a second-degree black belt under Ricardo Liborio and the founder of Black Label Martial Arts.  Malachy shares his strategy and philosophy for guard passing.Follow Malachy on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/malachyfriedman/Visit Malachy's website:https://www.malachyfriedman.com/Mental models discussed in this episode:Economy of Motionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/economy-of-motion/Path of Least Resistancehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/path-of-least-resistance/Layers of Guardhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/layers-of-guard/Phases of Passinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/phases-of-passing/Concepts Over Techniqueshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques/Predictable Responseshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/predictable-responses/Myopiahttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/myopia/Placeholdershttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/placeholders/Technique Chaininghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/technique-chaining/Cognitive Loadhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-load/Train With Purposehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/train-with-purpose/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://premium.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/Let them know you're an educated grappler with our merch:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/store/Follow us on social:https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/Music by Enterprize:https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/