Category Archives: Interview
Epi 329 Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida
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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:
- Buchecha on BJJ Fanatics
- The Folding Pass
- Shoyoroll
- Checkmat BJJ
- Buchecha on Instagram
- BjjBrick Shop
- Your First Year of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Six BJJ Training Games to Play While Rolling
- Your support is appreciated on Patreon
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 322 Alan Shebaro We Defy Foundation
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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:
- The We Defy Foundation
- BjjBrick Shop
- Your First Year of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Six BJJ Training Games to Play While Rolling
- Your support is appreciated on Patreon
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
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 319 Alia Garcia-Valadez
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Alia is a 39 year old blue belt and an active competitor. She started doing kickboxing and eventually started doing BJJ. She is also a teammate of our very own Joe Thomas.

We talk about:
- Her start to martial arts
- Dealing with health issues that resulted in a stroke or TIA
- Changing her training to protect against future medical issues
- Making goals to get fit
- Promoting women’s Jiu-Jitsu
- Taking a role as a “Team Mom”
- Networking at tournaments
- Training with smaller teammates
- Having fun while training
- Advice for a first tournament
- Changing her mindset for a tournament
- Self talk before a tournament
Links:
Quote of the week:”Persistence overshadows even talent as the most valuable resource shaping the quality of life.” Tony Robbins
Article of the week: Is Jiu-Jitsu Training Violent?
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 318 An Amazing Journey with Stephan Kesting
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We talk about:
- His start with martial arts
- His first experiences with grappling
- Starting Grapplearts.com
- Getting a life saving kidney transplant from his brother
- Doing his 1000 mile canoe expedition
- Some of the tools he carried
- Dealing with difficult weather
- Jiu-jitsu training tips
- Building a big gas tank for the mats
- Being a problem solver
- Dealing with the dangers of the water
- Dealing with isolation
- Staying safe when bears are near
- The cost of a big trip like this
- Pushing your limits
Links:
Quote of the week: The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. Walt Disney
Article of the week: Be A Better Coach by Not Instructing Your Students
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 317 Living the Dream Nick Unander
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This is our second interview with Black Belt Nick Unander. You will find Nick training and teaching in Paralimni Cyprus. Nick had a recent health scare and he updates us on his story and shares much wisdom about his continued BJJ journey.

We talk about:
- Teaching BJJ in Cyprus
- Having tourist train in his academy
- Dealing with a recent health scare
- The roles of a coach
- Making adjustments to his workouts
- Changing his diet to be more healthy
- His plans for travel
- What should new students be working on?
- Training in a difficult environment
- Training on a tight schedule
- Advice for starting BJJ as an older student
Links:
Quote of the week: “Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.” ―W. Clement Stone
Question of the week: As a blue belt, I am going to try no-gi for the first time, any tips?
Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast
The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and Google Play Music for AndriodThis entry was posted in Uncategorized by byronjabara. Bookmark the permalink.
Epi 316 Top Level Competitor Dante Leon
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This week we have an interview with Dante Leon. We cover everything from getting ready for ADCC to tips for the listeners.

We talk about:
- Training both gi and no-gi
- Training with specific rules in mind
- Training for a particular person or training to take on a bracket
- Kicking in the door of the black belt division
- Staying healthy and lifting weights
- Training around injuries
- Training for professional vs recreational
- Getting your mind and body ready for peak performance
- The importance of his team
- Training smart
- Tips for lifting to get better at BJJ
Links:
Quote of the week: “If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” -Napoleon Hill
Article of the week: The Gentle Art of Choking
Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast
The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and Google Play Music for AndriodThis entry was posted in Uncategorized by byronjabara. Bookmark the permalink.
Epi 306 Listener Favorite Matt Thornton
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This week we have an interview with Matt Thornton. We cover topics from running a successful gym to proven training methods that get results.

We talk about:
- Matt’s background in martial arts
- Leading BJJ gym owners
- Teaching how to coach
- He shares some best business practices
- Building a BJJ gym you really enjoy
- Why people start BJJ
- Having a good kids program
- What it means to have a strong women’s program
- Tips on teaching a seminar
- Learning with base, posture, and connection
- Different training methods
Links:
Quote of the week: “The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.” — Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Article of the week: Biggest Jiu-Jitsu Myths
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 271 Black Belt Competitor and Coach Fabiana Borges
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This week we have an interview with Fabiana Borges. You will find Fabiana sharing her 20 years of grappling experience at Gracie Barra San Antonio Texas.
We talk about:
- Her competition history
- How she trains on a busy schedule
- Keeping a weekly schedule
- Doing crossfit for BJJ
- Tips for takedowns
- Avoiding injuries
- Eating healthy most of the time
- Starting and running her own school
- Growing women’s jiu-jitsu
- Running a business as a team
Links:
Quote of the week: “If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Article of the week: Eight Health and Fitness Benefits of Jiu-Jitsu
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 254 Lt. Tyson Kilbey- BJJ, Law Enforcement, and Firearms
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This week we have an interview with Tyson Kilbey. Tyson is a 19 year veteran of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in Kansas. He is also a Jiu-Jitsu instructor and Firearms instructor. This is a great interview that covers many topics on and off the mat.
We talk about:
- His start to martial arts
- Benefits of Jiu-Jitsu for police officers
- How Jiu-Jitsu has reduced the amount of force he needs to use
- Firearms training for conceal carry
- Training with firearms safely
- Teaching firearms safety to kids
- His book Fundamental Handgun Mastery
Links:
Quote of the week: “We generate fears while we sit. We overcome them by action.” Dr. Henry Link
Article of the week: 3 Of The Best BJJ Conditioning Exercises
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