The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting

Latest Episodes:

410: How B Team Prepared for ADCC and CJI, with Chris Wojcik Sep 23, 2024

Show notes

Would you like a behind-the-scenes peek at what really goes on at one of the most successful grappling teams in the world as they get ready for ADCC and CJI, the Olympics of grappling?

Today I'm joined by Chris Wojcik, a standout grappler and the author of The Grappler's Diary, and we cover...

The qualifying process for ADCC, the Olympics of Grappling
Training with a herniated disk
How to go from enthusiastic amateur to dedicated professional
What natural athletes need to do differently to compete in a sport rife with steroids
How to train smarter, not harder
Why B Team brought in an external trainer to prepare for ADCC and CJI
ADCC vs CJI rule sets and strategies
The future of CJI
The role of wrestling and wrestling up in submission grappling
Outside vs inside leglocks
Top 3 leglock entries and top 3 leglock finishes
The connection between leglocks and wrestling up
Advice for practitioners feeling overwhelmed with the pace of change in the sport
The mindset required for continual improvement in jiu-jitsu
And more

Follow Chris Wojcik on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegrapplersdiary/ and/or on his substack https://thegrapplersdiary.substack.com/

Check out my podcast-only leglock instructional special at https://www.grappplearts.com/leglocksale

And finally, check out the video version of this episode on my Strenuous Life Podcast Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/aahJznxxEsE

Cheers! Stephan Kesting

409 - Denis Kang, From Underground Bareknuckle Fights to the Biggest MMA Stage in the World Sep 09, 2024

Show notes

Denis was one of the top MMA fighters in the world with wins over Minoru Suzuki, Murilo 'Ninja' Rua, Akihiro Gono and Marvin Eastman. In this interview he opens up about the mindset shift that took him to a 22 fight undefeated streak... how he dealt with the death of his fiance while competing for the biggest MMA organisation in the world... how fighters should know when it's time to quit fighting... and how MMA training has changed since the early days.

This episode is also available on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/bYfPiNUIWa4

Denis teaches at https://pinnaclemma.gymdesk.com/ and can be followed at https://www.instagram.com/thisisdeniskang/

Check out Stephan's new book, 'Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic' at https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

408 - Ramsey Dewey on Effective Combat Sports and What Self Defense Experts Get Wrong Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

407 - 3 Big Lessons Learned During 19 Days of Isolation in the Arctic Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

I just did a 19-day solo canoe trip in the Canadian Arctic, and here are the 3 big lessons I learned!

If you want to see photos and a day-by-day description of the trip please go here: https://essentialwilderness.com/lost-in-the-barrens-a-solo-canoe-trip-on-a-remote-arctic-river/

Order my book "Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic" at the following places: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perseverance-stephan-kesting/1145682384

Indigo/Chapters: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/perseverance-life-and-death-in-the-subarctic/9781639368617.html

If you'd like to subscribe to audio-only form this podcast please find it at the links below:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5NTGdrtMZv8JcxpUBcdREx

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/strenuous-life-podcast-stephan-kesting-grapplearts/id320705565?mt=2

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/stephan-kesting/grapplearts-radio-podcast

Cheers, Stephan Kesting

406 - Goodbye - I Am Out of Here! Jun 21, 2024

Show notes

This podcast episode covers all the details and preparations for a long solo trip in the Arctic that I'm starting today! After 30 hours of driving and a 2 hour bush plane flight to Nueltin Lake I'll be heading north of the treeline direct into the Barren Lands of the Arctic.

Once there, I'll be completely alone and out of touch for 30 days. The only written description of the river is a few pages in a book written by a missionary in the late 1800's.

The trip spans the Thlewiaza, The-Tinne, Kognak and Tha-Anne rivers and will probably include caribou and bear encounters, whitewater and giant ice-covered lakes, and insanely complex navigational challenges.

Once the trip is underway, I'll be sharing a few photos from the field a small satellite device So if you're interested in adventure and how well jiu-jitsu works against giant Hudson Bay Polar Bears then follow along!

The best place to stay current is probably on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/essentialwilderness/), although this page on Essential Wilderness (https://tinyurl.com/nunavutsolo) should have a map that updates with my location once I'm on the water

I believe that pictures from this trip will also get cross-posted on

Threads (https://www.threads.net/@stephan_kesting)

Tiktok (https://www.tiktok.com/@essentialwilderness), and

Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/@essentialwilderness/community)

I'll be back to the world and jiu-jitsu in late July. Hopefully!

Cheers, Stephan

P.S. I'm telling my publisher that this is my official book tour, so if you haven't yet pre-ordered Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic (the story of another trip I did up there) then please help me out!

You can grab it at Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

https://www.amazon.ca/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

Barnes and Noble

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perseverance-stephan-kesting/1145682384

And Indigo. https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/perseverance-life-and-death-in-the-subarctic/9781639368617.html

405 - Three Ways that Training for MMA Fights Has Changed Since the Early UFC Jun 14, 2024

Show notes

Short episode today with my friend Denis Kang sharing three ways that fighters have improved their training methods to get ready for MMA fights.

Denis fought for the first time in 1998 (in an event without gloves) and went on to fight a total of 55 times in events like the UFC, PRIDE, DREAM, Impact FC, M-1 Global, K-1 HERO'S, ROAD FC, and Pancrase.

Denis currently teaches MMA at Pinnacle Martial Arts in Richmond, BC.

404 - What the Hell Happened to MMA? May 14, 2024

Show notes

Luke Thomas is one of the most influential MMA analysts in the game and the host of The Morning Kombat Podcast. I was delighted to talk to him today about

How the sport of MMA has changed
The rise of Eastern European fighters
Why is terrible behaviour of MMA fighters tolerated
Can other MMA organisations ever rival the UFC
Drug testing in the UFC
Fighter unions and the Ali Expansion Act
What Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson means for combat sports
And more!

Check out Luke Thomas's Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/ @LukeThomas

And, if you have a second, please follow my two outdoor adventure accounts to make my book publisher happy! https://www.youtube.com/@essentialwilderness and https://www.instagram.com/essentialwilderness should do the trick!

Thanks ever so much,

Stephan Kesting

403 - Is Bear Spray Better than Guns vs Aggressive Bears? Here's What the Data from 352 Bear Encounters Says... May 07, 2024

Show notes

402 - A BJJ Concept to Help You Through the Tough Times in Life Apr 12, 2024

Show notes

There are times when it feels like life has you trapped on the bottom of mount against a vastly heavier, more experienced opponent intent on mauling you. The steps to deal with these two situations are the same. Pass this on to someone you think it might help,

Stephan Kesting

P.S. I made one little mistake in this podcast: Epictetus was a Greek (not Roman) stoic philosopher who lived in Rome for much of his youth serving the Emperor Nero, so he doubtless knew all about suffering.

401 - Modifying BJJ for Self Defense, with Rachel Honeyman Mar 29, 2024

Show notes

I really enjoyed talking with Rachel Honeyman about modifying BJJ for self defense, which techniques to focus on and which positions to avoid. Rachel has trained in BJJ, the Filipino Martial Arts, Muay Thai, and many other martial arts and runs https://www.fearlessfemmes.com/

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