Monthly Archives: July 2016

BjjBrick Q&A Q8 Changing Schools & BJJ For Self Defense

Posted on by

Question”Hey Byron ,you and Gary are great, love the podcast, it has helped me through these 11 months in my BJJ journey so far, I recently got promoted to blue belt and was so excited when I did but now I’m questioning whether I’m in the right school since They mainly focus on sport. I’ve always felt that sport JJ would be enough to defend myself in a street fight, takedown, control (mount, side control) submit if need to. My question is since I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about the effectiveness of BJJ is lacking due to sport oriented academies, is Sport BJJ enough for self defense or should I consider changing schools? which would be hard since I’ve made many friends there and wouldn’t want to leave. Thanks for your time”

Epi 145 Daniel Strauss The Raspberry Ape

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week we bring you an exciting interview with Daniel Strauss also know as “The Raspberry Ape”. Daniel is one of the top European grapplers, focusing mostly on no-gi. Daniel is a black belt training under Roger Gracie and Nick Brooks.No gi Daniel Strauss

We talk about:

  • What got him started in Jiu-Jitsu
  • What he does off the mat to get stronger
  • Bending horse shoes
  • Developing grip strength
  • Why he likes the butterfly guard for no-gi
  • The culture of BJJ and strong man
  • The Raspberry Ape Podcast
  • His views on getting a new belt in BJJ
  • How he gets mentally focused to compete
  • Advice for doing a tournament for the first time
  • Dealing with nerves and pressure
  • Dealing with bad days
  • Why being a blue belt is fun
  • Showing vs teaching a technique
  • Training with your mind off of the mat

Links:

Quote of the week: “Small changes can make a big difference”

Article of the week: Samurai Business Man Destroys Competition By Training Employees In BJJ

Your-First-Year-Of-BJJ-artwork-1199

If you are interested in supporting The BjjBrick Podcast find out how here

The BjjBrick Wall of Support is being constructed and you can help

BJJBrick Wall

Also we have episode 3 of mat tales called “bad camera work”

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and Google Play Music for Andriod

BjjBrick Q&A Q7 Uncooperative Teammates

Posted on by

Here is the question from an email.

Hi! After almost two and a half years of training regularly I’ve just gotten my blue belt yesterday. I train in a small school in a small town in Croatia, our instructors are purple belts and every now again we get visited by our affiliate leader or other black belts from out affiliation, We have a group of about 15 guys so training partners are scarce and we can’t pick and choose our partners like in bigger schools and my problem is that some of my training partners show some kind of unwillingness for cooperation while rolling or drilling techniques. For example, if we agree on a light roll I’ll go light and let my partner finish his techniques and try out new stuff, but when I try to do so it turns into a deatmatch. I’ve tried talking to them, giving them hints and out right telling them but nothing has changed. This happens when learning new techniques too.  I feel this is a very big obstacle for my progress as I miss training only when I’m sick or have serious injury. We’re the only school in town and others are too far away for every day training. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Epi 144 Shannon Kitchen Shares His Amazing Story

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week we bring you an amazing story from Shannon Kitchen. Shannon is a blue belt training in Kentucky under Relson Gracie. Shannon has a spinal cord injury leaving him paralyzed from the bellybutton down, and he is legally blind. This interview will leave you motivated to keep training and enjoying the process. Shannon Kitchen BJJ 1

We talk about:

  • How he injured his spinal cord
  • Doing self defense from a wheelchair
  • Starting BJJ
  • His favorite techniques
  • How BJJ has helped his balance
  • What it was like to get his blue belt
  • Rolling for the first time
  • Grapplers heart
  • Rolling with glass still in his face under his skin

Links:

Quote of the week:  “A lot of my intensity in wrestling was due to my mental preparation before the matches. I got myself into a different world.” Dan Gable

Article of the week: Roll Longer As A BJJ White Belt With These Simple Tips

Your-First-Year-Of-BJJ-artwork-1199

If you are interested in supporting The BjjBrick Podcast find out how here

The BjjBrick Wall of Support is being constructed and you can help

BJJBrick Wall

In this episode we also have episode 2 of mat tales “Brown Gi Pants”

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and Google Play Music for Andriod

BjjBrick Q&A Q6 Building Your Confidence As A New Student

Posted on by

Here is the question submitted via email.

I am fairly new to BJJ but not to martial arts in general. BJJ has always enticed me because of the fluid flow of the art plus the confidence and humility of its practitioners. I have mainly trained in striking arts and I have to say the brotherhood that I see between the students in Jiu-jitsu is so different. With that being said there is a lot of intimidation. I have never been one to have the most self confidence and I hope that BJJ will change that, which I believe it will. My question is getting over the fear, for lack of a better word, of rolling with folks. It’s not that I am “afraid” to do it but it’s very defeating sometimes when almost instantly you feel weak and beaten as soon as you start. I enjoy drilling and working technique but when we roll at the end of class it kind of gets to me. Is that to be expected? I know talking with other students they have basically said it kind of sucks when you first start but just to keep doing it and it will get better. I know that with continued work it will get better but how do I address the apprehension now? I do know giving up is not an option for me because I have given up in the past on things. Not because it was tough but because I think my self esteem gets the better of me. I know I have to keep pushing because I really want to develop my self not only physically but mentally too.

Thanks for your time. Keep up the great work.

Regards,
Jason

Epi 143 3rd Degree Black Belt Alan Shebaro

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week we bring you an interview with Alan Shebaro. Alan is a 3rd degree Black Belt under Carlos Machado. Not only does he have a Black Belt in BJJ he also has a long list of experience in the military.

Alan Shebaro second from the left.

Alan Shebaro second from the left.

We talk about:

  • What BJJ was like when he first started
  • Transitioning from a guard player to a top player
  • A few of the operations he was involved in over seas
  • The importance of teaching the “why” behind techniques
  • The idea of not being able to train outside your school
  • Why most people have a hard time coaching him
  • The status of BJJ in Dallas
  • We Defy Foundation
  • Mission 22
  • Working with Joey Bozik
  • The importance of working take downs
  • His views on guard pulling
  • Chris Haueter
  • Brian Marvin
  • How to be a certified We Defy Foundation affiliate

Links:

Quote of the week: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson Shared by Kristina Barlaan

Article of the week: Confessions of a hobbyist black belt

Gary and Byron also talk about putting a blue stripe on your BJJ belt as a sign to support law enforcement.

Your-First-Year-Of-BJJ-artwork-1199

If you are interested in supporting The BjjBrick Podcast find out how here

The BjjBrick Wall of Support is being constructed and you can help

BJJBrick Wall

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and Google Play Music for Andriod

Epi 142 Black Belt Kristina Barlaan Part 2

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week we bring part 2 of our interview with BJJ black belt Kristina Barlaan. Kristina is a top level black belt competitor under Caio Terra. She recently took silver at worlds her first year in the black belt division.Kristina Barlann bjj

We talk about:

  • Her competition history at worlds
  • Competing in the adult division vs the masters division
  • Getting sliver her first time in the black belt division
  • The mental side of competing against people you have watched for years
  • Her strategy for doing the open weight division as a light feather weight
  • Her plans for the rest of 2016
  • Advice for people doing their first tournament
  • Accepting being nervous
  • Dealing with the difficult things that come with tough training

Links:

Quote of the week: “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” Benjamin Franklin

Article of the week: “How to train and adult at the same time”

Your-First-Year-Of-BJJ-artwork-1199

If you are interested in supporting The BjjBrick Podcast find out how here

The BjjBrick Wall of Support is being constructed and you can help

BJJBrick Wall

Gary tells us about his upcoming audio book about BJJ and Tap dancing.

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and Google Play Music for Andriod