Epi 329 Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida

Posted on December 2, 2019 by byronjabara

This week we have 11 time BJJ World Champion Buchecha on the show. We cover a wide range of topics from struggling with competitions as a kid to gi and no-gi training.

We talk about:

Training in seasons of gi and no-gi
His preference for training in the gi
Adapting his game to work in both gi and no-gi
Doing BJJ as a kid
His training schedule
Focusing on one or two tournaments a year
His thought process for deciding if he will compete
Developing the folding pass after an injury
His new folding pass instructional with BJJ Fanatics
Not winning a match for his first eight tournaments
Winning double gold for the first time in 2012
Getting the nickname Buchecha

Links:

Quote of the week: “I’ve seen kids who tie their self-worth to wins and losses and that’s a scary place to be. Kids need to know that they’re human beings first and the love they receive from family is not based off their performance in athletics.” Ben Askren

Article of the week: Improve Your Speed

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 328 Thank You BJJ

Posted on November 25, 2019 by byronjabara

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BJJ has been so great to us over the years. This special Thanksgiving episode we highlight some of the things we are grateful for about BJJ.

Links:

Quote of the week: “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” Robert Frost

Article of the week: 5 Ways to get better at swimming

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 327 David Aguzzi From Grappling Industries

Posted on November 18, 2019 by byronjabara

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This week we have an interview with David Aguzzi founder of Grappling Industries the fastest growing BJJ competition. Grappling Industries has a round robin format that gets competitors lots of matches. They currently sit in the number two spot for biggest BJJ competition organizations.

We talk about:

How Grappling Industries started
The round robin format
The popularity of Gi compared to no-gi
The reasons why no-gi is not as popular as gi
Different belt ranks at tournaments
Grappling Industries competing with NAGA
How Grappling Industries is improving their tournaments
David’s thoughts about the future of BJJ
If BJJ will ever be in the olympics
Having Pro MMA fighters enter a BJJ tournament
Why scrambles cause injuries
Giving points for knee on stomach
Why he recommends that most people don’t cut weight
Some behind the scenes info about a tournament
Some options for people who can’t afford to pay the entry fee
Plans for Grappling Industries in 2020

Links:

Quote of the week: “Good fences make good neighbors” Robert Frost

Article of the week: From a World-Class Rower, Tips to Sharpen Technique

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 326 Martial Artist and Actor Rich Ting

Posted on November 11, 2019 by byronjabara

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This week we have an interview with Martial Artist and Actor Rich Ting. You have seen Rich in, Cinemax’s Warrior and Lone Survivor. Rich is also going to be in the fourth season of The Man In The High Castle.

We talk about:

Starting martial arts as a kid
Always learning and growing
Learning martial arts and the craft of acting
Learning what you love
The Man In The High Castle
Playing Bolo on Cinemax’s Warrior
His role in the movie Lone Survivor

Links:

Quote of the week: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost

Article of the week: How to negotiate your salary

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 325 Trim The Fat From Your BJJ

Posted on November 4, 2019 by byronjabara

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This week we talk about making changes to your game to make it lean and mean.

We talk about:

What is considered “fat” in BJJ
Times we have cut things out of our game
How to identify fat in your game
When is it okay or good to have fat in your jiu-jitsu
The benefits of trimming up your game
Being able to make changes

Links:

Quote of the week: “I’m not one to blow smoke at my players. They kicked our butts on the offensive boards. And it’s not just because the ball came their way.” Gregg Popovich

Article of the week: Staying on a Bull

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 324 ADCC Fan Favorite Lachlan Giles

Posted on October 28, 2019 by byronjabara

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This week we have an interview with ADCC standout Lachlan Giles. Lachlan is coming off an amazing absolute bronze medal performance at adcc 2019. He had submissions over Kaynan Duarte, Patrick Guadio, and Mahamed Aly.

We talk about:

His performance at ADCC 2019
His match in 77kg with Lucas Lepri
A strategy for Kaynan Duarte in the absolute
His match with Patrick Gaudio
What happened in his match with Gordon Ryan
Getting bronze by submitting Mahamed Aly
His new leg lock DVD
Improving his flexibility
His off the mat training
Why working on guard passing is so important
Why he likes to attack the feet from the top

Links:

Quote of the week: “The measure of who we are is how we react to something that doesn’t go our way.” Gregg Popovich

Article of the week: How’s Your Poker Face?

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 323 Coach and Competitor Amal Easton

Posted on October 21, 2019 by byronjabara

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This week we have an interview with BJJ Black Belt Amal Easton. Amal is the rare person that has both been able to compete at a high level and produce high level competitors of BJJ and MMA.

We talk about:

His start to BJJ
Coaching jiu-jitsu
How skying gave him grit that he used on the mats
Moving to Brazil early in his BJJ journey
How teaching BJJ has changed over the years
The academy is a farm or a jungle concept
Creating an environment that is good for everyone
Why some people quit BJJ

Links:

Quote of the week: “It’s not about any one person. You’ve got to get over yourself and realize that it takes a group to get this thing done.” Gregg Popovich

Article of the week chess.com/article/view/how-to-win-a-chess-game

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 322 Alan Shebaro We Defy Foundation

Posted on October 14, 2019 by byronjabara

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This week we have an interview with the Vice President of We Defy Foundation Alan Shebaro. Alan is a 4th degree Black Belt under Professor Chris Haueter.

We talk about:

His start to BJJ and martial arts
Having a tough time as a kid in fights
The We Defy Foundation
Working with Joey Bozik
What We Defy athletes get out of BJJ
His style of teaching a seminar
His neck injury

Links:

Quote of the week: “We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don’t know.” W.H. Auden

Check out our friends at Grappling Rewind Podcast for current info on competitions and upcoming events

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 321 Grappling Legend Gokor Chivichyan

Posted on October 7, 2019 by byronjabara

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This week we have grappling legend Gokor Chivichyan. Gokor has achieved gold at the international level at BJJ, Judo, MMA, and Sambo. He has coached Ronda Rousey, Karo Parisyan, Neil Melanson, and many more

We talk about:

Growing up as a tough kid in Armenia
Starting Wrestling in 1968
Starting Sambo in 1971
Eventually adding Judo to his grappling mix
He also did boxing for four years
Bringing leg locks to the United States 35 years ago
Teaching martial arts

Links:

Gokor’s Website

Quote of the week: “Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, ‘Make me feel important.’ Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life.” -Mary Kay Ash

Article of the week: Learn to Skateboard – Top 5 Tips & Tricks