BJJ Mental Models

Latest Episodes:

Mini Ep. 20: Hybrid Choke Mechanics Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

In this week's mini-episode we discuss hybrid choke mechanics! We've already covered the primary types of chokes in Jiu-Jitsu. Now let's talk about what happens when we combine these types of chokes, whether hybrid chokes are "better," and how hybrid chokes muddle complicated topics like rulesets and consent.
Listen to our prior mini-episodes on choke mechanics:
Mini Ep. 16: Blood Choke Mechanics
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15622350-mini-ep-16-blood-choke-mechanics
Mini Ep. 17: Air Choke Mechanics
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15660734-mini-ep-17-air-choke-mechanics
Mini Ep. 18: Compression Choke Mechanics
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15699720-mini-ep-18-compression-choke-mechanics
Mini Ep. 18: Crank Mechanics
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15738946-mini-ep-19-crank-mechanics
Read up on the different types of chokes:
https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/choking-mechanics/
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
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/
Need more BJJ Mental Models?
Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/
Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/
Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

Ep. 302: Short-Form BJJ Content, feat. Tum Energia Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

This week we're joined again by Tum Energia! Thomas Voorn, better known by his nickname Tum Energia, is a BJJ black belt and the founder of Energia Martial Arts. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of Jiu-Jitsu digital content toward short-form content like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Stories. We discuss the implications to BJJ content creators, how practitioners can learn from content of different types, and the ethics of short-form content on our attention spans.
Follow Tum on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/tumenergia
Subscribe to Tum on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@energiamartialarts
Buy Tum's instructionals on BJJ Fanatics:
https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_tum-energia-voorn
Watch Tum's courses on The BJJ Project:
https://www.thebjjproject.com/
Resources discussed in this episode:
Ep. 205: Psychological Safety, feat. Tum Emergia
https://bjj.plus/205
SUBMETA:
https://submeta.io/
The Art of Learning, by Josh Waitzkin:
https://www.joshwaitzkin.com/the-art-of-learning
Farnam Street, by Shane Parrish:
https://fs.blog/
Mental models discussed in this episode:

Learning Modalities
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/learning-modalities/
Funneling
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/funneling/
Hick's Law
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/hicks-law/

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/
Need more BJJ Mental Models?
Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/
Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/
Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/
Music by Enterprize:
https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

Mini Ep. 19: Crank Mechanics Sep 12, 2024

Show notes

In this week's mini-episode we discuss crank mechanics! Cranks are submissions that attack the cervical spine (the neck). We discuss the ethics of cranks, how to engage with them safely, and their relevance to rulesets.
Listen to our prior mini-episodes on choke mechanics:
Mini Ep. 16: Blood Choke Mechanics
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15622350-mini-ep-16-blood-choke-mechanics
Mini Ep. 17: Air Choke Mechanics
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15660734-mini-ep-17-air-choke-mechanics
Mini Ep. 18: Compression Choke Mechanics
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/episodes/15699720-mini-ep-18-compression-choke-mechanics
Read up on the different types of chokes:
https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/choking-mechanics/
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
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/
Need more BJJ Mental Models?
Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/
Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/
Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

Ep. 301: Project-Based BJJ, feat. Josh Vogel Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

This week we're joined by Josh Vogel! Alongside his wife Angie, Josh is a co-founder and head instructor at The Jiu Jitsu Company in Old City, Philadelphia. In this episode, Josh emphasizes the importance of structured class curriculums and a project-based focus, where students develop their skills through specific, measurable 90-day projects targeting various techniques.
Follow Josh on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/joshrvogel
https://www.instagram.com/thejiujitsucompany
Train with Josh at The Jiu-Jitsu Company in Old City PA:
https://www.jiujitsuphilly.com/
Buy 90 Day Project Based Jiu Jitsu by Josh Vogel on BJJ Fanatics:
https://bjjfanatics.com/products/90-day-project-based-jiu-jitsu-by-josh-vogel
Mental models discussed in this episode:

Mnemonics
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/mnemonics/
Technique Chaining
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/technique-chaining/
Funneling
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/funneling/
Diminishing Returns
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/diminishing-returns/
Keep it Playful
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful/
Self-Competition
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-competition/
Planning Paradox
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/planning-paradox/
The Map Is Not the Territory
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/the-map-is-not-the-territory/
Predictable Responses
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/predictable-responses/
Deliberate Practice
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/deliberate-practice/

Mini Ep. 18: Compression Choke Mechanics Sep 05, 2024

Show notes

In this week's mini-episode we discuss compression choke mechanics! Compression chokes involve squeezing your opponent's chest so tightly that their lungs can't expand to take in air. They're a bit silly and not high-percentage, but they're still worth knowing about so you don't wind up on the wrong end of someone else's compression choke highlight reel.
Listen to our prior mini-episodes on choke mechanics:
Mini Ep. 16: Blood Choke Mechanics
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15622350-mini-ep-16-blood-choke-mechanics
Mini Ep. 17: Air Choke Mechanics
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15660734-mini-ep-17-air-choke-mechanics
Read up on the different types of chokes:
https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/choking-mechanics/
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
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/
Need more BJJ Mental Models?
Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/
Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/
Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

Ep. 300: Teachers Who Compete, feat. James "300" Foster Sep 02, 2024

Show notes

For our 300th episode, there's only one guest that'll do: James "300" Foster! James is a 3x black belt masters world champion, 4th degree black belt under Giva Santana, and the head coach at Foster Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In this episode, James shares how teachers who are also active competitors can balance those two priorities, and even synergize them.
Follow James on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/james300foster
Subscribe to James' YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@James300Foster
Listen to James' podcast, Nerdy Mewzings:
https://www.nerdymewzings.com/podcast
Train with James at Foster BJJ:
http://fosterbjj.com/
Mental models discussed in this episode:

Training Handicaps
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/training-handicaps/
You Are What You Train
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/you-are-what-you-train/
Plus, Minus, Equals
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/plus-minus-equals/
Law of Contrast
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/law-of-contrast/

Mini Ep. 17: Air Choke Mechanics Aug 29, 2024

Show notes

In this week's mini-episode we discuss air choke mechanics! Air chokes involve cutting off your opponent's ability to breathe by either compressing their trachea ("windpipe") or covering their mouth. Air chokes often don't act as quickly as blood chokes, but there are ways to speed them up by triggering the gag reflex. We also talk about why air chokes are legitimate techniques and should not be thought of as "dirty."
Listen to our prior mini-episode on blood choke mechanics:
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15622350-mini-ep-16-blood-choke-mechanics
Read up on the different types of chokes:
https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/choking-mechanics/
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
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/
Need more BJJ Mental Models?
Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/
Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/
Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

Ep. 299: Student Assessment, feat. Adam Medlock Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

This week we're joined again by Adam Medlock! Adam is a Braulio Estima black belt and a lead educator from the UK. In this episode, Adam discusses the challenges of student assessment, or how Jiu-Jitsu coaches can measure student progress and the effectiveness of the curriculum. Key points include the introduction of the TLA cycle (Teaching, Learning, and Assessment) and the concept of cumulative disfluency, alongside a critique of one-size-fits-all curricula and seminar-style teaching.
Resources discussed in this episode:
Inside the Black Box: Assessment for Learning in the Classroom, by Paul Black et al.
https://bit.ly/4dUdqqG
Inside the Black Box: Raising Standards Through Classroom Assessment, by Dylan Wiliam & Paul Black
https://kappanonline.org/inside-the-black-box-raising-standards-through-classroom-assessment/
Kolb's Cycle of Reflective Practice — University of Hull
https://libguides.hull.ac.uk/reflectivewriting/kolb
Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov
https://teachlikeachampion.org/books/
The Art of Learning, by Josh Waitzkin
https://www.joshwaitzkin.com/the-art-of-learning
Mental models discussed in this episode:

Cognitive Load
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-load/
Goodhart's Law
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/goodharts-law/
Feedback Loop
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loop/
Teach to Learn
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/teach-to-learn/
Psychological Safety
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/psychological-safety/
Making Smaller Circles
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/making-smaller-circles/

Mini Ep. 16: Blood Choke Mechanics Aug 22, 2024

Show notes

In this week's mini-episode we discuss blood choke mechanics! This is the concept behind all chokes we'd classify as "carotid restraints," where compression on the carotid arteries cuts off blood flow to the brain. We'll discuss the simple "triangle around the head" concept that helps tighten all blood chokes including rear naked chokes, collar chokes, triangle chokes, and head and arm chokes.
Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
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/
Need more BJJ Mental Models?
Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/
Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/
Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

Ep. 298: Working Around Injury, feat. Mandy Schneider Aug 19, 2024

Show notes

This week we're joined by Mandy Schneider! Mandy is a BJJ Mental Models sponsored athlete competing at purple belt out of SOUL FIGHTERS Martial Arts in Allen, Texas. Mandy just underwent surgery for chronic bursitis in her elbow, and in this week's episode, Mandy shares her experience working around injury in Jiu-Jitsu. Topics include the challenges of training through injuries, distinguishing between manageable injuries and those requiring full rest, maintaining mental sharpness and motivation during recovery, and the public perception athletes face regarding injury-related decisions.
Follow Mandy on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mandynschneider
Mental models discussed in this episode:

Prioritize Longevity
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/prioritize-longevity/
Timeframe Paradox
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/timeframe-paradox/
Mental Gatekeeping
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/mental-gatekeeping/
Visualization
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/visualization/
Defensive Thinking
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/defensive-thinking/
Stress and Recovery
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/stress-and-recovery/
Training Handicaps
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/training-handicaps/
Self-Competition
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-competition/

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