Lifestyle

During the filming of the Carlos Maia docuseries, the cameras kept rolling after the official shoot — capturing this spontaneous, heartfelt exchange between Flavio Almeida and Carlos Maia. They revisit early memories from the 1990s: rivalries that shaped Gracie Barra, long road trips to represent the team, and the pride of wearing the GB patch. What begins as a nostalgic moment becomes a powerful reflection on legacy, identity, and the deeper purpose behind Jiu-Jitsu. These are the very principles that inspired GB2, the new Gracie Barra curriculum led by Professor Maia — a structured path that transforms this spirit into daily training, helping students and instructors alike grow with clarity, consistency, and purpose. Explore More: ➡️ Discover GB2 — The New Curriculum with Carlos Maia: https://online.graciebarra.com/pages/gb2-carlos-maia

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss the idea of discipline and the misconceptions about discipline. We discuss why discipline is about flexibility, what all success is built on, how to develop the ability to be flexible and not get off track, the importance of being reflective, habit stacking, having contrast, how to prioritize the most important tasks, how to train your subconscious to support you, how to improve efficiency, focusing on things you can control, and why people respond different to adversity. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Check out "Athlethc" at https://athlethc.com/ and use the code Chewjitsu10 to get 10% off of your order of hemp-derived THC performance mints. Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to **https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30** and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://epicrollbjj.com/ and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

🎥 Proud Sponsor Alert 🙌 Brazilian Top Team is honored to sponsor our incredible local high school athletes through TNL TV commercials! We believe in supporting the next generation of leaders — on and off the mats. 🥋💪✨ Their hard work, discipline, and dedication inspire us every day, and we’re proud to stand behind their bright futures. #BrazilianTopTeam #BTTTexas #SupportLocalAthletes #TNLTV #ProudSponsor #JiuJitsuFamily #FutureChampions #CommunityStrong #HighSchoolAthletes #SanAntonio

When gym leaders stay silent, people get hurt. In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan, Stephan Kesting, and Jesse Walker speak with guest Sonia Sillan of Combat Arts Academy about what happens when Jiu-Jitsu coaches fail to protect their students. Together, they unpack the culture of silence in martial arts, the myth of “mat enforcers,” and how real leadership means building safe spaces and speaking up when it matters most. Combat Arts Academy — https://caaseattle.com Sonia Sillan on Instagram — @combatartsacademy ⸻ 👥 Featuring: Hosts: Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels Stephan Kesting — @stephankesting Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj Guest: Sonia Sillan — @combatartsacademy ⸻ 🧠 Topics Discussed: • Why coaches must speak up about abuse • The dangers of “mat enforcer” culture • How to teach emotional regulation on the mats • Creating a trauma-informed beginner program • Breaking silence and rebuilding trust in Jiu-Jitsu ⸻ 📖 Chapters: 00:00 Introductions & Gym Culture 04:20 Why Jiu-Jitsu Needs Beginner Programs 09:45 The Myth of Mat Enforcers 16:00 Emotional Regulation and Rolling Intensity 27:00 Speaking Up to Power 33:40 When Coaches Fail Their Students 36:45 Handling Abuse and Reporting It 44:00 How to Build Safe Gym Culture 53:00 Gaslighting and Victim Blaming in Jiu-Jitsu 1:10:00 Leadership, Integrity, and Doing What’s Right

After 17 years I'm Quitting BJJ If you want to know why, listen to the episode. [HeadnodHQ Home of American Jiu-Jitsu](https://headnodhq.com/welcome-to-headnod-home-of-american-jiu-jitsu/) Jiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles (FREE) [BJJ Mental Models](https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck) [sportshygiene.com](http://sportshygiene.com) Promo Code “ISUCK” [Datsusara](https://www.dsgear.com/) 10% OFF with Promo Code “ISUCK” [The Competitor’s Journey](https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/comp) Join[⁠ISAJJ PRO](https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/suck) (ALL of Josh’s Courses in One Place) Follow the show on[⁠ Instagram⁠](https://www.instagram.com/isuckatjiujitsushow) [⁠Check out the ISAJJ Youtube Channel⁠](https://www.youtube.com/@JoshMcKinney)

Robert Drysdale joins the show to share his latest research on the history of BJJ. He also discusses the ways that commercialization has helped and hurt the art and his thoughts on professional grappling's influence on the culture and future of BJJ

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss the "Golden Rule" of competition. We discuss why the way you win is just as important as if you win, doing the honorable thing in competition, why how you go about daily training is important for your success, why competitions are "controlled aggression" and not "animosity," what makes competing so unique, and the experience of coaching a student in a tournament. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Check out "Athlethc" at https://athlethc.com/ and use the code Chewjitsu10 to get 10% off of your order of hemp-derived THC performance mints. Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to **https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30** and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://epicrollbjj.com/ and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

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Last night was an awesome one at Atos Winter Garden! Rai from AOJ taught our kids No-Gi competition class, and the energy was amazing. The kids learned so much, had fun, and ended the class with a game where they won prizes like Geese, No-Gi sets, and Acai! Thank you, Rai, for sharing your knowledge and experience with our team. As Professor Lucas Pinheiro said, in the end it’s always about Jiu-Jitsu - learning, evolving, and having fun, not about teams. 📍 Atos Winter Garden www.AtosWinterGarden.com @AtosWinterGarden | @LucasPinheirobjj

In this week's mini-episode, we discuss the **curse of knowledge:** a cognitive bias explaining why it's hard for experts to relate to beginners. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE: [https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro](https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro) **Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!** If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at **a fraction of the cost of a single private.** Sign up here for a free trial: [https://bjjmentalmodels.com/](https://bjjmentalmodels.com/) **Need more BJJ Mental Models?** Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter: [https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/](https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/) Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database: [https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/](https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/) Follow us on social: [https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/](https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/) [https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/](https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/) ⚠️**NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!** **MINDSET FOR BETAS,** our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at: [https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta](https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta)

What is required of a black belt? What is required of a blue?Today Josh(@thejoshmckinney) defines every belt and exactly what you should be focused on at every belt.This episode is literally made for everyone white to black belt! Jiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles, feat. Rob Biernacki(FREE): [⁠https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck⁠](https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck) [⁠sportshygiene.com⁠](http://sportshygiene.com) Promo Code “ISUCK” Datsusara 10% OFF with Promo Code “ISUCK”: [⁠https://www.dsgear.com/⁠](https://www.dsgear.com/) Master ANY Position in 6 Weeks: [⁠https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/6⁠](https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/6) Join ISAJJ PRO(ALL of Josh’s Courses in One Place): [⁠https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/suck](https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/suck)

Every Sunday at 5pm, a group of like-minded grapplers gather at High Noon BJJ to finish the week strong with a challenging, intense, and competition-focused session. These Sunday Sessions are always characterized by hard work, high spirits, and an absolute willingness to sharpen the sword by any means necessary. No gym politics, no bad attitudes, and no nonsense. Just a bunch of grapplers trying to get better together. As a result, they've become something I eagerly look forward to every week. This session is free and open to all competition minded grapplers with only one rule: You can't quit. See you on the mats! ⚔️ 🎵: Adrian Berengeur - Thoughts

There’s a time to be serious, and a time to laugh it off. That balance is what builds real trust between student and teacher. On the mats, it’s not just about technique — it’s about understanding each other, growing together, and creating a space where hard work and good energy can coexist. 💪 The best relationships on the mats are built with sweat, patience, and a little bit of laughter. That’s how we all get better. 👊 #ATJiuJitsuNYC #JiuJitsuNYC #Jiujitsu #JacksonHeightsJiujitsu #MartialArts #BJJLife #TrustTheProcess #CoachAndStudent #Teamwork #GrowthMindset #RespectOnTheMats #JiuJitsuFamily #DisciplineAndFun #TrainHardStayHumble #QueensJiujitsu

Tournaments come with their ups and downs — you take the good with the bad. Three days of Pans will test your mind, body, and spirit. But in between the battles and exhaustion, there are moments of laughter, growth, and shared purpose. Those memories matter — maybe not as much as gold medals, but they remind us why we do this. Every match, every challenge, every smile helps us grow and move forward. 💪🔥 Oss! #ATJiuJitsuNYC #JiuJitsuNYC #JacksonHeightsJiuJitsu #Elmhurst #NoGiPans #BJJLife #JiuJitsuJourney #MartialArts #NYCBJJ #JiuJitsuFamily #BJJLifestyle #RollForever #BJJMotivation #TrainHard #StayReady #JiuJitsuCommunity #GrapplingLife #MindOverMatter