The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting

Latest Episodes:

280 - The Key Difference Between Training and Competition, with Robert Drysdale Aug 12, 2020

Show notes

Robert Drysdale is one of the most highly decorated American grapplers in history. He remains the only person not born in Brazil to win both the IBJJF World Championships with the gi and the ADCC Open Division without the gi.

Today we talked about the difference between Jiu-Jitsu in competition and in the gym, his research on the early history of jiu-jitsu in Brazil, and his upcoming documentary called, "Closed Guard: The Origins of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil." Find out more about the complicated relationship between Jigoro Kano, Mitsuyo Maeda, Carlos and Helio Gracie, and Kimura.

Check out The Open Guard System available in DVD and online streaming format https://www.grapplearts.com/the-open-guard-system/ and in app format https://www.grapplearts.com/open-guard-system-app-phone-tablet/

Cheers!

Stephan Kesting

279 - Alone Against The North, With Adam Schoalts Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

Adam Shoalts is a professional adventurer and explorer. He has completed a 4,000 km solo trip across the Canadian Arctic, explored unknown rivers in the Hudson Bay Lowlands, and is a fellow in the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. I hope you enjoy his tales of adventure as much as I did!

More about Adam at https://adamshoalts.com/ and follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/adam_shoalts/

278 - BJJ Training Pods and Reasons for Hope During Coronavirus Aug 03, 2020

Show notes

Here's how to organize a BJJ training pod to keep yourself and, more importantly, other people safe during the coronavirus pandemic.

1:11 - What is a Training Pod 1:38 - Why Are Training Pods a Good Idea Right Now, and Reasons for Hope 7:51 - How Many People Should Be In Your Pod and Who Do You Choose? 12:20 - When is a Training Pod Appropriate? 14:20 - Where Can Your Train with Your Pod?

Articles referenced include Guidelines for Opening Up BJJ Academies During the Covid-19 Pandemic with Dr Chris Moriarty: https://www.grapplearts.com/openingupbjj/ and The Cheapest Grappling Mat https://www.grapplearts.com/the-cheapest-grappling-mat/

277 - Longevity in the Sport, with Harrison Helterbrand on The Old Rollers Podcast Jul 27, 2020

Show notes

I was recently featured on The Old Rollers Podcast hosted by Harrison Helterbrand and we dove deep into maintaining your longevity in the sport, skill development, learning styles and taking charge of your own learning process.

Check out The Open Guard System with Jon Thomas at https://www.grapplearts.com/openguard

Download The Grapplearts BJJ Master App for free at https://www.grapplearts.com/masterapp

Follow The Old Rollers Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theoldrollers/

276 - Loyalty, Mental Strength, and Pressure Passing With 4 x World Champion Dominyka Obelenyte Jul 20, 2020

Show notes

Dominyka Obelenyte was born in Lithuania, emigrated to the United States at a very young age, and became a 4 time Pan-Am and World Championship gold medalist. In this interview we talk technique, injury recovery, mindset, effective training, the use and misuse of 'loyalty' in the BJJ world, mental resilience and more. I think you'll really like this one.

Follow Dominyka on Instagram @domdabomburmom/

Also, check out the brand new Open Guard System that I just released in DVD and streaming format at https://www.grapplearts.com/openguard

Cheers,

Stephan

275 - Mask Wearing, The Spanish Flu, and the Axis from Totalitarianism to Anarchy Jul 12, 2020

Show notes

Did you know that there were 'anti mask leagues' in the USA to protest masks during the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic? Neither did I until I started listening to Mitch Lerner.

Mitch is a professor of history at Ohio State University who specialises in 20th century American History and in today's episode we look at the history and politics of pandemics in the United States.

I learned a lot during this conversation and I hope you do too.

Stephan

P.S. Here's the article I reference in the podcast with guidelines for opening up BJJ academies during covid with Dr Chris Moriarty https://www.grapplearts.com/openingupbjj

P.P.S. Here is one excellent summary (not written by me) about the status of the current science behind mask wearing and prevention of covid transmission: https://www.totalem.org/emergency-professionals/podcast-207-myths-on-masks-for-covid-19

274 - Train Often, Test Rarely, with Stephan Kesting Jun 29, 2020

Show notes

The difference between improving every day and setting a personal best every day in sport, training, and martial arts...

Notes and pictures from my 1000 mile solo arctic in 2019: https://www.grapplearts.com/solo

My in-depth discussion with endurance athlete Mike McCastle: https://www.grapplearts.com/pain-is-a-universal-language-with-endurance-athlete-mike-mccastle/

273 - The State of the BJJ-Covid Union with Dr Chris Moriarty Jun 22, 2020

Show notes

Dr Moriarty is a medical doctor and had a long fierce career as a BJJ competitor who previously published guidelines for reopening BJJ academies during the Covid-19 pandemic (grapplearts.com/openingupbjj).

In this followup episode we look at the current state of the epidemic, implications for training, and how to figure out whether cases truly are going up or down in your area.

00:32 - Intro to Doctor Chris Moriarty, BJJ black belt.

02:43 - Where is the USA and the rest of the world at with Covid?

11:50 - Are cases going up just because of an increase in testing?

14:39 - Memorial day, protests, and other reasons that states may be experiencing a rise in Covid infections.

22:90 - Masks and prevention of coronavirus transmission.

25:46 - Is now safe to train BJJ?

33:18 - What about training BJJ with just one partner?

36:27 - On lighting campfires in dry grasslands and taking risks for other people.

38:09 - Signs of hope.

44:34 - The politicisation of mask wearing.

49:37 - Modes of transmission.

51:25 - Final words.

272 - How to Deal with Technique Overwhelm in BJJ Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

There are so many techniques to master and so many different areas in BJJ to get good at that jiu-jitsu can seem totally overwhelming. Here's how to use an 80/20 approach to figuring out what to work on next.

Also grab my detailed breakdown of the basic positions of BJJ for free here: https://www.grapplearts.com/book

Good luck with everything!

Stephan

271 - Division and Conspiracy Theory in the Jiu-Jitsu Community, with Thomas Nadelhoffer Jun 05, 2020

Show notes

Today I'm joined by Thomas Nadelhoffer an associate professor in the philosophy department at the College of Charleston, an affiliate faculty member in psychology and neuroscience, and a BJJ brown belt. We focus our conversation on the tribalism and rampant conspiracy theory acceptance in the BJJ community during this time of crisis.

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