In this episode of The Highest Levels, Emily and Joe attempt to answer the question: Are the sacrifices we make for Jiu-Jitsu worth it?  Topics include: optimizing performance in Jiu-Jitsu while navigating injuries and personal responsibilities, the physical and emotional challenges of training with injuries, the balance between mental toughness and physical well-being, and how the evolving demographics in Jiu-Jitsu influence training methods.Follow Emily on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/emilykwokbjj/Follow Joe on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/bjj_meditations/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/

In this week's mini-episode we explain rotational control, a mental model that helps us better secure positions and complete submissions.  Rotational control involves either preventing your opponent from rotating their torso, or allowing them to rotate so you can follow and improve your position.  Achieving rotational control usually requires you to occupy their elbow-knee space along their torso, or restrict the movement of their far arm/leg so they can't spin.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/

In the third episode of Jiu-Jitsu Polarities, Emily Kwok delves into the balance between holding on and letting go in both martial arts and everyday life.  Topics include how grip tightness affects the practicality of Jiu-Jitsu techniques, the significance of grips and control, and the psychological aspects of gripping, particularly for beginners. The need for a balanced approach to gripping is highlighted, alongside tips for optimizing technique and the dangers of over-gripping.Follow Emily on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/emilykwokbjjVisit Emily's website:https://www.emilykwok.com/Resources discussed in this episode:BJJMM Ep. 276: Polarity Mapping, feat. Emily Kwokhttps://bjj.plus/276Polarity Management: A Summary Introduction, by Dr. Barry Johnsonhttps://bit.ly/4fvo7jJPolarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems, by Dr. Barry Johnsonhttps://amzn.to/3PpPMspMental models discussed in this episode: The Map Is Not the Territoryhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/the-map-is-not-the-territory/ Grips Dictate Positionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/grips-dictate-position/ Tipping Pointshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/tipping-points/ Placeholdershttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/placeholders/ Countergrippinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/countergripping/ Constant and Variable Tensionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/constant-and-variable-tension/ Trading Uphttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/trading-up/ Feedback Loophttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loop/ Momentumhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/momentum/ Static vs. Dynamic Controlhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/static-vs-dynamic-control/ Cognitive Dissonancehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-dissonance/ You Are What You Trainhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/you-are-what-you-train/ Defensive Thinkinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/defensive-thinking/ 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/

This week we're joined again by Eliot Marshall!  Eliot is a BJJ black belt, retired UFC fighter, and owner of Easton Training Center in Colorado.  In this episode, Eliot explains the 4 elements that every successful Jiu-Jitsu gym needs to nail: sales, marketing, product, and culture.Follow Eliot on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/firemarshall205Train at Easton Training Center in Colorado:https://eastonbjj.com/Grow your BJJ gym with Easton Online:https://www.easton.online/Mental models discussed in this episode: Abundance Mindsethttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/abundance-mindset/ Race to the Bottomhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/race-to-the-bottom/ Ulysses Contractshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/ulysses-contracts/ Survivorship Biashttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/survivorship-bias/ Consistencyhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistency/ 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/

In this week's mini-episode we explain waypoints, also known as "pitstops."  Waypoints are positions of power where you are particularly well-trained, and feel comfortable that you can outgun your opponent due to experience and skill within the position.  Waypoints aren't necessarily the common point-scoring positions, but can instead be "positions within positions" that occur along the way.  Examples of common waypoints include the split squat, double unders, and topside quarter guard.Before you listen to this episode, check out:Mini Ep. 35: Tokui Wazahttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16364687-mini-ep-35-tokui-wazaMini Ep. 34: Zone of Geniushttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16337686-mini-ep-34-zone-of-geniusMini Ep. 33: Layers of Strategyhttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16303959-mini-ep-33-layers-of-strategyMini Ep. 32: Funnelinghttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16266002-mini-ep-32-funnelingMini Ep. 31: Asymmetric Warfarehttps://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16225783-mini-ep-31-asymmetric-warfareGet 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/

In the second episode of Jiu-Jitsu Polarities, Emily discusses the balance between offense and defense, and how they exist on a spectrum rather than as opposites. Emily illustrates scenarios where practitioners become imbalanced, the need for awareness of both strategies, the importance of self-advocacy in training, cognitive dissonance, the relevance of objective self-assessment, and the utility of polarity mapping for identifying key strategies in Jiu-Jitsu practice.Follow Emily on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/emilykwokbjjVisit Emily's website:https://www.emilykwok.com/Resources discussed in this episode:BJJMM Ep. 276: Polarity Mapping, feat. Emily Kwokhttps://bjj.plus/276Polarity Management: A Summary Introduction, by Dr. Barry Johnsonhttps://bit.ly/4fvo7jJPolarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems, by Dr. Barry Johnsonhttps://amzn.to/3PpPMspMental models discussed in this episode: Dictate the Pacehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/dictate-the-pace/ Defense Paradoxhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/defense-paradox/ Survivorship Biashttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/survivorship-bias/ Myopiahttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/myopia/ Probabilistic Thinkinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/probabilistic-thinking/ Windows of Opportunityhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/windows-of-opportunity/ Cognitive Dissonancehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-dissonance/ Tipping Pointshttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/tipping-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://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/

This week we're joined again by Beatrice Jin!  Beatrice is a black belt competitor and coach from Kogaion Academy in Arlington, Virginia.  In this episode, we continue our conversation from Beatrice's last visit about how to "stop being nice" when sparring.  Topics include the essential concepts of assertiveness and aggressiveness in BJJ, the cultural influences that shape one’s approach to the sport, the significance of a competitive mindset, the necessity of pushing personal boundaries during training, and the importance of consent and managing expectations in training environments.Follow Beatrice on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/berimbozoTrain with Beatrice at Kogaion Academy:https://www.kogaionacademy.org/Check out Beatrice's awesome merch @ Butt Scooter:https://buttscooterjiujitsu.com/Resources discussed in this episode:BJJMM Ep. 284: Stop Being Nice, feat. Beatrice Jinhttps://bjj.plus/284Mental models discussed in this episode: Defensive Thinkinghttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/defensive-thinking/ Position Over Submissionhttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/position-over-submission/ The Golden Rulehttps://bjjmentalmodels.com/golden-rule/ 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/