Epi 314 Atos Black Belt Nikki Sullivan

This week we have an interview with Atos Black Belt Nikki Sullivan. Nikki has a wealth of information and her down to earth style is great to hear in the interview.

We talk about:

  • Writing for Belt 2 Belt and Yoga for BJJ
  • Starting martial arts at her college
  • Doing her first BJJ competition
  • Making a change to do BJJ full time
  • Getting her black belt
  • The value of her coaches and teammates
  • Trusting your coach
  • Internal dialog for BJJ
  • Keeping a positive attitude
  • Using movies and music to change your mood
  • When to take time off

Links:

Quote of the week: “A good firefighter knows how, an educated firefighter knows why.” Chris Walker

Article of the week: How do you drag yourself out of the BJJ slump

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

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

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

Epi 90 Atos Black Belt Tim Sledd Part 2

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and RSS link for Andriod

This week we have part 2 of our interview with Tim Sledd. Tim is a 1st degree black belt under  Andre Galvao. Tim not only runs his own gym Small Axe BJJ, he is also the Director of affiliates for Atos. Tim shares lots of information about what is going on behind the scenes at Atos.

If you missed part 1 of this interview check it out first here!

Tim Sledd

Tim Sledd

In part 2 of this interview we talk about:

  • What Atos does differently than other BJJ teams
  • Systems building with your techniques
  • Drilling, and how to drill properly
  • Specific sparing and how it is used
  • Speed drills, flow drills, and fine motor skills drills
  • The culture of Atos
  • The culture of Small Axe BJJ
  • Left brain right brain confusion
  • Advice for a student doing a first tournament
  • How to start off a match strong
  • The Leg Drag

Links:

Quote of the week: ”Everything Should Be Made as Simple as Possible, But Not Simpler” Albert Einstein- Presented by Matt Thorton

Article of the week: “BJJ Promotions, and Lack Thereof” By: White Belt Survival Strategy

First year of BJJ

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

Epi 89 Atos Black Belt Tim Sledd Part 1

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and RSS link for Andriod

This week we have an interview with Tim Sledd. Tim is a 1st degree black belt under  Andre Galvao. Tim not only runs his own gym Small Axe BJJ, he is also the Director of affiliates for Atos. Tim shares lots of information about what is going on behind the scenes at Atos.

Tim Sledd

Tim Sledd

In part 1 of this interview we talk about:

  • His training history
  • Washing your belt and what your belt should mean to you
  • Who helps you get better at BJJ (not just coaches and teammates)
  • Leaving his job as a prosecutor to do BJJ full time
  • Real world lessons matching up with things learned on the mat
  • The name of his gym Small Axe BJJ
  • The idea of a chain saw vs an axe
  • Check out the Bob Marley Small Axe video
  • His thoughts about the berimbolo
  • Building systems in BJJ
  • How purple belts begin to speak the BJJ language
  • Comparisons of BJJ to learning a new language
  • Organizing your jiu-jitsu

Links:

Quote of the week: “The most important thing you can do to get better at jiu-jitsu, is jiu-jitsu” Presented by Eduardo Telles

Article of the week: “Focus on the Fundamentals: No Shame in Your Game” by A skirt on the Mat

First year of BJJ

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

“Small Axe” Bob Marley

Why boasteth thyself
Oh, evil men
Playing smart
And not being clever?
I said, you’re working iniquity
To achieve vanity (if a-so a-so)
But the goodness of Jah, Jah
I-dureth for-I-ver

So if you are the big tree
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down

These are the words
Of my master, keep on tellin’ me
No weak heart
Shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, fall in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it (… fall in it)

If you are the big tree, let me tell you that
We are the small axe, sharp and ready
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down(To cut you down)(To cut you down)

These are the words
Of my master, tellin’ me that
No weak heart
Shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, uh, bury in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall bury in it, uh (… bury in it)

If you are the big, big tree
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
If you are the big, big tree, let me tell you that
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
Sharpened