BJJ Mental Models

Latest Episodes:

Mini Ep. 15: Dominant Angles Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

In this week's mini-episode we discuss dominant angles! The concept of dominant angles is more complicated than "being behind or beside your opponent." It's more about positioning your body relative to theirs such that their arms, legs, and other weapons can't come into play.
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. 297: Leaving Your Gym, feat. David Figueroa-Martinez Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

This week we're joined again by David Figueroa-Martinez! David is a black belt, instructor, and writer training out of Gracie La Mesa in California. In this episode, David discusses one of the most difficult — but sometimes essential — decisions that many grapplers will face during their journey: the decision to leave their gym.
Follow David on social:
https://www.instagram.com/dfm.2099
https://www.threads.net/@dfm.2099
David's website:
https://dfm2099.me/
Support David via DawnBreakers BJJ:
https://www.dawnbreakersbjj.com/
Mental models discussed in this episode:

Prevention Over Cure
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/prevention-over-cure/
Loss Aversion
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/loss-aversion/
Cognitive Dissonance
https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-dissonance/
Keep it Playful
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-it-playful/
Psychological Safety
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/psychological-safety/

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. 14: Countergripping Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

In this week's mini-episode, we discuss countergripping! There are three ways to counter a grip:

breaking the grip (stripping their fingers),
inverting the grip (pummeling to make the grip our own), or
changing the angle (which can render the grip useless).

In general, breaking the grip is the least efficient option, changing the angle is the most efficient, and inverting the grip is in between.
Note that we want our grips to be dominant grips, meaning that they give us more control than they give to our opponent.
Listen to our prior mini-episode, "grips dictate position," before this one:
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15489555-mini-ep-13-grips-dictate-position
Read more about countergripping:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/countergripping
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. 296: Adapting on the Fly, feat. Tom "TP" Grant Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

This week we're joined by Tom "TP" Grant! Tom Grant, also known by the writer's handle TP Grant, is a BJJ black belt under Issac Riggs and an MMA/BJJ writer best known for his work at Bloody Elbow and Bleacher Report. In this episode, Tom discusses the importance of adapting on the fly. Techniques are rarely executed exactly as taught; they're usually improvised.
Read History of Jiu-Jitsu, by TP Grant:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/654500-history-of-jiu-jitsu-coming-to-america-and-the-birth-of-the-ufc
Train with Tom at Evolution MMA in Chicago:
https://www.evolutionmmachicago.com/
Mental models discussed in this episode:

Ecological Dynamics
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/
Do What Works
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/do-what-works/
Position Over Submission
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/position-over-submission/
Windows of Opportunity
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/windows-of-opportunity/
Theory of Alignment
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/theory-of-alignment/
Labeling
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/labeling/

Mini Ep. 13: Grips Dictate Position Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

In this week's mini-episode, we discuss one of Steve's favorite mental models: grips dictate position! As the name implies, whoever wins the grip fight in Jiu-Jitsu often dictates the position. Focus on winning the grip fight before attempting to advance position or secure a submission.
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. 295: Organizing Knowledge, feat. Sebastian Brosche Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

This week we're joined by Sebastian Brosche! Sebastian is a BJJ black belt, the founder of the legendary platform Yoga for BJJ. In this episode, we discuss knowledge organization, effective teaching strategies, curriculum development, standardization, instructor education, and the future of Jiu-Jitsu education.
Follow Sebastian on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/yogaforbjj
Join Yoga for BJJ:
https://yogaforbjj.net/
Mental models discussed in this episode:

Curse of Knowledge
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/curse-of-knowledge/
Beginner's Mind
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beginners-mind/
Making Smaller Circles
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/making-smaller-circles/
Psychological Safety
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/psychological-safety/
Cognitive Load
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-load/
Incremental Learning
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/incremental-learning/
Concepts Over Techniques
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques/
Ecological Dynamics
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/ecological-dynamics/
Inversion
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/inversion/
Rapoport's Rules
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/rapoports-rules/

Mini Ep. 12: The Anatomic Hierarchy Jul 25, 2024

Show notes

In this week's mini-episode, we're discussing the anatomic hierarchy! The anatomic hierarchy is a simple but powerful mental model that organizes our body into six major tools, from strongest to weakest: our torso, our two legs, our two arms, and our head. The anatomic hierarchy teaches us that when attacking, we should use as many of our weapons as possible, especially the stronger ones. And we'll also have better success if we're attacking a weaker part of our opponent's body.
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. 294: Unconventional Jiu-Jitsu Careers, feat. Kiaya Jackson Jul 22, 2024

Show notes

This week we're joined by Kiaya Jackson! Kiaya is the founder of SoPro Collective and a Jiu-Jitsu competitor representing Brandon Mccaghren from 10th Planet Decatur. In this episode, Kiaya explains her unconventional journey into a Jiu-Jitsu career, and shares her playbook for making a living in the sport beyond the usual athlete and coach career paths.
Follow Kiaya on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/kiaya.j
SoPro Training — Kiaya's coaching brand:
https://www.soprotraining.com/
SoPro Apparel — Kiaya's apparel brand:
https://soproapparel.com/
Resources discussed in this episode:
Million Dollar Weekend, by Noah Kagan
https://noahkagan.com/mdwbook/
Mental models discussed in this episode:

Loss Aversion
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/loss-aversion/
Consistency
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistency/
Feedback Loop
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loop/
80/20 Rule
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/80-20-rule/

Mini Ep. 11: Posts Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

In this week's mini-episode, we're discussing posts, the last of the six core mechanics of Jiu-Jitsu! Posts occur when you use an extremity of your body to connect with and base off a platform like the floor. Posts are important for maintaining your own base and creating opportunities to attack your opponent. This is the sixth in a six-part series of mini-episodes we're doing on the core mechanics of Jiu-Jitsu: frames, levers, wedges, clamps, hooks, and posts.
Further study:
Mini Ep. 6: Frames
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15242269-mini-ep-6-frames
Mini Ep. 7: Levers
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15282009-mini-ep-7-levers
Mini Ep. 8: Wedges
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15318897-mini-ep-8-wedges
Mini Ep. 9: Clamps
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15359561-mini-ep-9-clamps
Mini Ep. 10: Hooks
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15389178-mini-ep-10-hooks
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. 293: The 3-Fold View of Jiu-Jitsu, feat. Charles Harriott Jul 15, 2024

Show notes

This week we're joined by Charles Harriott! Charles is a BJJ black belt, professional seminar instructor, and content creator. In this episode, Charles introduces a mental model he calls "the 3-fold view of Jiu-Jitsu." We discuss the three lenses through which Charles views Jiu-Jitsu and how these different perspectives work together to help him better understand the art.
Follow Charles on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/charlesharriott
Subscribe to Charles on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/CharlesHarriott
Book seminars & privates with Charles:
https://www.charlesharriott.com/
Support Charles on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/charlesharriott
Get Charles' instructionals on BJJ Fanatics:
https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/dvd/fighter_charles-harriott
Mental models discussed in this episode:

The Map Is Not the Territory
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/the-map-is-not-the-territory/
Cognitive Load
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-load/
Incremental Learning
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/incremental-learning/
Critical Control Points
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/critical-control-points/
Respect People, Not Positions
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/respect-people-not-positions/

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