

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

24 snips
Apr 24, 2025 • 10min
Mini Ep. 51: Technique Chaining
In this week's mini-episode we explain the importance of technique chaining, and why "Jiu-Jitsu is the space between the techniques."Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintroDon'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/⚠️ 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

65 snips
Apr 21, 2025 • 57min
Ep. 334: Project-Based Gameplanning, feat. Josh Vogel & Dr. Mike Israetel
This week we're joined by two BJJMM alumni: Josh Vogel and Dr. Mike Israetel! In this episode, Josh and Mike discuss the unique way they build gameplans at The Jiu-Jitsu Company.Follow Josh and Mike on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/joshrvogelhttps://www.instagram.com/drmikeisraetelSubscribe to Josh and Mike on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@thejiujitsucompanyhttps://www.youtube.com/@RenaissancePeriodizationGet Josh's instructional, 90 Day Project Based Jiu Jitsu:https://bjjfanatics.com/products/90-day-project-based-jiu-jitsu-by-josh-vogelGet ripped with Mike at RP Strength:https://rpstrength.com/Resources mentioned in this episode:Arguing to Convince series, by Dr. Mike Israetel — YouTubehttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyqKj7LwU2RufCp8SzFQy3Nb1FaHpsCLuMental models discussed in this episode:Asymmetric Warfarehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/asymmetric-warfare/Zone of Geniushttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/zone-of-genius/Defend with Purposehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/defend-with-purpose/Funnelinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/funneling/Technique Chaininghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/technique-chaining/Dictate the Pacehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/dictate-the-pace/Tokui Wazahttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/tokui-waza/Dilemmahttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/dilemma/Plus, Minus, Equalshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/plus-minus-equals/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:⚠️ 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

21 snips
Apr 17, 2025 • 9min
Mini Ep. 50: Phases of Passing
This mini-discussion dives into the essential phases of guard passing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: disentangle, control, and pass. The hosts highlight common beginner mistakes while emphasizing how these phases are interlinked. Listeners will gain insights into improving their grappling techniques and overall effectiveness on the mat.

11 snips
Apr 14, 2025 • 1h 4min
Ep. 333: Coaching for All Levels, feat. Nick Volpe
Nick Volpe, black belt head coach at Dark Bear Jiu-Jitsu, shares his passion for making Jiu-Jitsu coaching accessible to all levels. He emphasizes the importance of teaching the 'why' behind techniques and empowering students through self-organized learning. The conversation delves into the significance of timing in Jiu-Jitsu, adaptable coaching, and creating a fun, community-driven training atmosphere. Volpe also highlights the role of friendly competition in personal growth, making the journey of learning Jiu-Jitsu engaging for everyone.

15 snips
Apr 10, 2025 • 12min
Mini Ep. 49: Phases of Guard
Delve into the fascinating phases of guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Learn about engagement, maintenance, and retention strategies that elevate your game. This discussion emphasizes understanding concepts over just memorizing techniques. Insightful tips help players effectively manage their guard positions while enhancing overall performance. Get ready to refine your skills with these invaluable insights!

23 snips
Apr 7, 2025 • 59min
Ep. 332: Half Guard Passing, feat. Mo Black
Mo Black, a reigning champion at Main Character Jiu-Jitsu and an instructor at Tabula Rasa BJJ, joins the conversation to dive into the nuances of half guard passing. She shares insightful techniques, emphasizing the importance of head position and controlling distance. Mo highlights the value of adaptability while contrasting different passing methods. Listeners also learn about creating submission threats and maintaining pressure to enhance guard passing success. This is a treasure trove of knowledge for both beginners and seasoned practitioners!

4 snips
Apr 3, 2025 • 6min
Mini Ep. 48: Kaizen
Explore the Japanese concept of kaizen, which means continuous improvement. Discover how this philosophy can transform your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practice by fostering incremental progress. Focus on mastery through process-based goals instead of just outcomes. Learn the value of breaking down training into manageable parts and the importance of reflective practice after each session. Unlock your potential by embracing a mindset of consistent growth and personal development!

8 snips
Apr 1, 2025 • 35min
Ep. 331: The Problem With Lapel Guard, feat. Stephan Kesting
Stephan Kesting, a legendary Jiu-Jitsu instructor known for his insights on grappling and wilderness skills, joins to tackle the controversial lapel guard technique. He discusses its potential dangers and argues for its ban by the IBJJF. The conversation dives into the evolution of grappling styles and the socio-political implications within the BJJ community. With a light-hearted twist, they humorously launch a cryptocurrency to support grapplers and explore testosterone's role in performance, keeping the dialogue both engaging and thought-provoking.

38 snips
Mar 31, 2025 • 1h 9min
Ep. 330: The Student's Guide to Eco, feat. Noah Shaffner & Greg Souders
This week features Noah Shaffner, a rising Jiu-Jitsu competitor trained under the constraints-led approach, and his coach, Greg Souders. They dive into innovative training methodologies that emphasize experiential learning and ecological dynamics. Noah shares his journey adapting to a game-based style, while Greg discusses the importance of using external cues for enhancing performance. Together, they explore redefining coaching relationships and fostering community within Jiu-Jitsu, advocating for a more organic approach to skill acquisition.

Mar 27, 2025 • 7min
Mini Ep. 47: Investing in Loss
Explore the concept of 'investing in loss' and how it transforms failures into stepping stones for success. Delve into personal stories that highlight the importance of setbacks in mastering skills, particularly in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Discover how reframing losses can foster a growth mindset, motivating you to tackle challenges and embrace difficulties as valuable lessons for improvement.


