Category Archives: Interview

Epi 253 Interview with Rafael Lovato Sr.

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This week we have an interview with Rafael Lovato Sr. We talk about everything from martial arts to pipe organs.

We talk about:

  • Having a rough upbringing that should have ended him up in prison or dead
  • Setting real goals
  • BJJ helping kids
  • Martial arts for him when he was a kid
  • His start training BJJ with Carlos Machado
  • What he saw in Rafael Lovato Jr. that made him think he would be one of the best in the world
  • Jiu-Jitsu and MMA
  • Jiu-Jitsu and self defence
  • Requiring BJJ students to learn some striking
  • Why every student should try compeating
  • Playing the pipe organ
  • Music and Jiu-Jitsu
  • What music has done for his BJJ
  • How he avoids injuring his fingers while rolling on the mat

Links:

Quote of the week: “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Wishing is not enough; we must do.” Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Article of the week: Just Do As Little Bit …

We are ranked #22 on this list of BJJ blogs https://blog.feedspot.com/bjj_blogs/

 

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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 250 Live Tim Sledd and Roli Delgado Recording at The BjjBrick Summer camp

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This weekend was the BjjBrick Summer Camp at Fox Fitness. This episode is the first time the entire BjjBrick crew is together for a recording. We are also joined by Tim Sledd and Roli Delgado.

Great weekend of BJJ in Wichita Kansas hosted by Fox Fitness BJJ

This weekend Tim did a kids workshop and a pressure workshop. Roli showed some of his leg lock system.

Quote of the week from Kevan Jr “If you can’t find a good person in this world be one.”

Links

Epi 238 Roy Harris The Jiu Jitsu Answer Man

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This week we bring you an interview with Roy Harris. Roy has been training martial arts since 1981. He brings a wealth of BJJ knowledge and wonderful explanations to this interview.  We cover topics from new students all the way to how to run a school.

We talk about:

  • Becoming the Jiu-Jitsu Answer Man online many years ago
  • How the internet has changed and effected learning BJJ
  • Writing his book The Jiu-JItsu Answer Man
  • Why bridging is so powerful
  • Some unstoppable movements in BJJ
  • Using pressure differently in BJJ
  • Tightness vs pressure
  • Why positions are so important to understand
  • What to look for in finding good training partners
  • Dealing with injuries and attitude
  • Tips for instructors to run a great class
  • Advice for law enforcement officers that train BJJ

Links:

Quote of the week: “A little impatience will spoil great plans.” Chinese Proverb

Article of the week: 5 AWESOME LOW EFFORT WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR BJJ TECHNIQUE LEARNING

The BjjBrick Summer Camp in Wichita Kansas

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

Epi 228 Teaching and Competing with Miriam Cardoso

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This week we have an interview with 3 stripe bjj black belt Miriam Cardoso. Miriam is training with Team Elite in Redmond, Washington.

Photo Credit Alegnafoto.com

We talk about:

  • Competing as a kid
  • Why she likes to compete against her opponents best game
  • Why she avoids the idea of a tune up tournament
  • Getting injured in an open class tournament
  • The story of getting her black belt
  • Running a BJJ gym
  • The joy of watching her students compete
  • She set the current record for our family feud game

Links:

Quote of the week: “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” Carl Jung

Article of the week: If They Can’t Stop You, It’s Not Wrong

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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 226 Tim Sledd Applies Pressure and Enjoys the Process

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We are happy to have one of our listener favorites return to the podcast.  Tim Sledd is always a wealth of information when it comes to all things BJJ.

Tim Sledd bjj black belt atos

We talk about:

  • His personal history with BJJ
  • Moving to Indiana
  • Using heavy pressure from side control
  • The leg drag
  • Flavor of the day techniques
  • Some of his favorite submissions
  • Culture inside a BJJ school
  • Things to look for when looking at culture of a school
  • Building a relationship with his students

Links:

Quote of the week: “To become a champion requires a good mental attitude toward preparation. You have to accept the most tedious task with pleasure.” Bruce Lee

Article of the week: The White Stripe: A Neurotic Conversation I Had With Myself

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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 225 Road Warriors Ryan and Zach Gehl

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This week we have an interview with Ryan and Zach Gehl. Zach is a blue belt training out of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada with a long list of competition accomplishments. To follow Zach or learn more about him check out his Instagram theroadwarrior1 This is also a BjjBrick Extra episode. We hope to bring you an extra episode every month, thanks to our newest team member Joe.

We talk about:

  • Training and school
  • Learning BJJ and MMA
  • Having trouble with early competitions
  • Competing with kids and adults
  • Traveling and training
  • How to avoid injury while on the road
  • The benefits of martial arts
  • Using Jiu-Jitsu to win wrestling matches

BJJ Tip: we talk about active toes

Q&A: We answer a question about dealing with rough teammates

 

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Epi 223 Burning Up the Mats With Richard Byrne and KASAI

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This week on The BjjBrick Podcast we have Richard Byrne. Richard is a 56 year old Black Belt and life long banker. Recently he started the professional grappling event KASAI, this event featured many of today’s top grapplers.

We talk about:

  • His start to BJJ and Kickboxing
  • Traveling for business and training BJJ
  • Advice on taking private lessons
  • Why he started KASAI and his goals
  • Making KASAI the best that he can
  • The meaning of KASAI, a fire or conflict that rages out of control
  • Long germ goals of KASAI

Links:

Quote of the week: “success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they cannot lose.” Bill Gates

Article of the week: 12 reasons why Jiu-Jitsu is the perfect compliment to any martial art

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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 222 Jiu Jitsu in Trinidad & Tobago with Rondel Benjamin

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This week on The BjjBrick Podcast we have BJJ Brown Belt Rondel Benjamin from Trinidad and Tobago. We cover a fun variety of topics including BJJ, stick fighting, free diving and much more.

We talk about:

  • Island life on Trinidad & Tobago
  • Trying to use the internet instead of finding a coach
  • Going away for business and learning BJJ
  • Combat sports and Trinidad & Tobago
  • Calinda a type of stick fighting practiced in Trinidad and Tobago
  • Exposing Calinda to the BJJ students
  • The people who have influenced him the most
  • The 5 pillars of Jiu-Jitsu
  • How his reason for doing Jiu-Jitsu has changed
  • How learning how to control your breathing you can better control your body and mind
  • The benefits of free diving for BJJ

Links:

Quote of the week: “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.” E.F. Schumacher

Article of the week: Grappling With Age

We also continue playing family feud at the end of the show

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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 217 Australia’s Rising Grappling Star Craig Jones

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Craig Jones shocked his opponents and the world with his performance at ADCC this year and we are excited to have him this week on The BjjBrick Podcast.

We talk about:

  • His start with BJJ
  • Why some students like no-gi more
  • How he developed his Z guard game
  • His training for ADCC 2017
  • Training for the rule set
  • His matches with Leandro Lo, Murilo Santana, Keenan Cornelius, Xande Ribeiro and Chael Sonnen
  • Making the change from a grappling hobby to a serious sport
  • His plans in the future
  • Training and traveling
  • Training on a tight schedule

Links:

Quote of the week: “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” William Arthur Ward

Article of the week: The Nine Mental Skills of Successful Athletes

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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 216 BJJ in Cyprus with Black Belt Nick Unander

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This week we have an interview with Nick Unander. Nick is a friend and former coach of Joe. Nick has been training martial arts since 1986. You can find Nick teaching and training BJJ in the island paradise of Cyprus.

We talk about:

  • His start in martial arts (Tae Kwon Do)
  • His first experience with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
  • Make Jiu-Jitsu a career
  • Doing early MMA matches
  • Opening a martial arts school
  • Moving and opening new BJJ schools
  • Training under Marcelo Alonso
  • What new students should focus on learning
  • What he looks for in a blue belt
  • Blue belt blues (blue belts that quit training)
  • His thoughts on compeititon
  • His phrase Jiu-Jitsu will either take you, make you, or break you

Links:

Quote of the week: “Wise sayings often fall on barren ground, but a kind word is never thrown away.” Arthur Helps

Article of the week: Overcoming Fear in BJJ

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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