Breaking The Guard Podcast

BTG 200 - I'm getting too old for this

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0700

Two old veterans of the fight game tasted defeat this weekend. One of them walked away from the game, while the other one is still holding out. I'll revisit this topic of the purpose of continuing to compete in sport as an older athlete.

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BTG 199 - A Flying Disaster

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:00:00 -0700

After 5 years waiting for his return from a terrible leg break, Conor does the unthinkable and blows out his knee doing a flying kick. I'll remark on this incident and reflect on the coaching and strategy behind this as well.

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BTG 198 - Walking and chewing gum at the same time

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:00:00 -0700

I'm turning 45 tomorrow, so I reflect back on some important ideas I have come to realize this year. First, the importance of systems in being an effective multi-tasker. Second, measuring everything is not always necessary, and trusting your TRAINED intuition can be more valuable.

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BTG 197 - Crime and Punishment

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0700

Fresh off the heels of another fouling scandal at UFC Fight Night 280, I put more teeth into my agreements for being much harsher on scoring fouls, also talking about my view on crime and punishment in general.

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BTG 196 - McGregor finally coming back to MMA?

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0700

Conor McGregor has teased fans for years about his return, but it seems this time it's finally happening on July 11th against none other than Max Holloway. He has waited too long, or can he revive his career and have a glorious return?

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BTG 195 - UFC Freedom 250

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0700

UFC Freedom 250 went off without problems, as no weather issues, bugs, or heat set back this event with a 100% finish rate. I'll review the whole fight card, what I liked about it, what I didn't like, and the implications of the title fights.

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BTG 194 - Off Day

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:00 -0700

I think it's safe to say that everyone has "off" days, where you underperform in a very noticeable way. Sometimes these off days are hard on you, especially for top performers gearing up for another event - a bad day can feel like a disaster. I'll talk about how I handle these and would council others to.

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BTG 193 - UFC BJJ Opens

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0700

The UFC BJJ moves into the amateur tournament circuit, butting heads with IBJJF and ADCC. They have signaled one thing in the ruleset that can be a GAMECHANGER for grappling, and if pulled off, can kill off one of the things that drags down the sport.

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BTG 192 - Freak Shows

Mon, 25 May 2026 15:00:29 -0700

We have a few freak shows this weekend, and it seems we are going back to the circus for sporting events. I give my take on sensationalist nature of marketing events, and what the athletic commissions responsibilities to fighter safety tie into this.

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BTG 191 - MVP MMA DOA?

Mon, 18 May 2026 20:00:00 -0700

MVP MMA made history as the first MMA promotion to be on Netflix. I also got a lot of eye balls, and the main card was all finishes. Sounds like a knockout, except it wasn't. It also makes me worried if it has a future, or will it just feed off past stars and fade away? I also talk about my recent travels, and the importance of discipline.

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BTG 190 - Damage

Mon, 11 May 2026 09:00:00 -0700

In MMA, damage is the key determining factor of victory. Grapplers seem to forget that, as this past UFC has shown. I'll hammer in on why it's so important, and what these fighters have to focus on if they want to make it to the next level in the sport.

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BTG 189 - Which Physical Asset Do You Pick?

Mon, 04 May 2026 09:00:00 -0700

If you had to pick between weight, strength, speed, flexibility, or endurance to maximize for combat, which would you choose? I'll do a deep dive into each of these attributes, what I believe there relevance is to each combat sport, and ultimately what I would pick.

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BTG 188 - The Wisdom in Taking a Knee

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0700

I was reminded of the wisdom in taking a knee the past weekend, watching UFC Fight Night 274. Aljo "took a knee" in round 3 after surviving a tight guillotine and rolling to his back. He ended up giving up his back as well. But while he looked weathered and beaten walking to the stool, round 4 proved to me he was being tactical, as he had his most dominant round afterwards.

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BTG 187 - Abandon Ship

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0700

I have had a frustrating week, and on three circumstances I have come across the a similar roadblock. I share my stories and what I hope to learn from them, so you can avoid ending up at the bottom of the ocean.

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BTG 186 - Show No Mercy

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0700

UFC 327 was a solid card top to bottom, with a mix of knockouts, submissions, and close decisions. One thing that stood out is in the main event, there was a moment where one fighter got injured, and rather than pouncing on the opportunity, the opponent backed away. It wasn't just one instance, but several. This mercy was paid back by getting finished, and I highlight why I have always urged playing for keeps and not being a nice guy in the cage.

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BTG 185 - The best fights have this

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0700

If you have ever wondered why most UFC Fight Nights or most grappling events don't have the same pull as a well sold fight like McGregor fight, I'll share with you what I think, and how other promoters can learn from that.

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BTG 184 - Taking a break before you break

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0700

When you are obsessed with training, it can be hard to take a break from it. It feels like you are killing the momentum you have built up, and all of the hard work to develop strong discipline and good habits can be lost with a vacation. However, you might be grinding your gears without realizing it, and doing more harm than good by grinding.

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BTG 183 - The Problem with Keeping Score

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0700

If you have listened to me before, you know that I'm big into measuring. I journal, I record everything I eat, and I track my workouts daily. But, keeping score during training can backfire on you, especially if you are looking to evolve. I'll share some insights into this and how to find balance between staying accountable while being adaptable.

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BTG 182 - Keep your promises

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0700

Someone who cannot keep their promises is not someone you can trust or count on. We often think of this in terms of others, but what about yourself? Are you accountable for your own goals and promises?

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BTG 181 - Getting the Job Done

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0700

I review UFC 326, which had some solid matchmaking. However, some fights were a bit more drawn out and tactically won, with a few notable matches using lots of ground control but no damage or submission threats. On one hand, I understand as a fighter you got to get the win. But as a spectator, it can be very boring to see a long match with a lot of nothing. I also talk about the opening week for PGF 9 and how it contrasts with other grappling promotions.

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BTG 180 - Getting Dirty

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0800

If you are expecting a referee to save you from a dirty fighter, think again. As I will explain here, the best way to deal with a dirty fighter is to get in the mud with them. I also discuss UFC Fight Night and RAF 6, where the dirty fighting tactics started between Georgio Poullas and Armen Tsarukyan

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BTG 179 - Measured Chaos

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0800

Being chaotic is a dangerous state of mind, as there is no telling what you will do and the consequences they will render. However, measured chaos is brilliant for precisely that reason. Sean Strickland utilizes this concept very well on and off the microphone. We will discuss the main card of UFC Fight Night 267, and delve in the potential future of the UFC Middleweight division.

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BTG 178 - Quick Sand

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0800

In this constantly evolving game, it can be tempting to always try to do move into the next new thing. That isn't always prudent, as you can rush into a mistake and start to sink. I'll discuss this in context to grappling and MMA, UFC's new stance on cutting athletes, and why a champion shouldn't rush to defend their title.

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BTG 177 - Being on the Cutting Edge

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0800

After a quick review of the latest UFC Fight Night, I discuss being on the cutting edge. Whether it is technology or ideas, it is a risky game. Lots of people will question, discredit and even hate you for entertaining innovate ideas. But without bold men and women, we would stagnate as a culture. I share my views on this in regards to the latest spat between Craig Jones and Gordon Ryan, arguing about a position I have dabbled in for over 10 years now.

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BTG 176 - Adapt or Die

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0800

I start off reviewing Polaris 35, which in my opinion was not that fun of a watch. Once again, bad rulesets seem to have removed the incentive from athletes to go after submissions and make for boring match ups.

I then dig into UFC 235, which had some fun match ups and finishes. But on a few of the match ups I see a common theme - fighters not adapting or getting stagnate.

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BTG 175 - UFC on Paramount Delivers

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0800

After what seems forever without a UFC, we had a solid card with lots of great action, with the main event being a great fight. I recap the card, talk about the new bonus structure of the UFC, and old problems that are still lurking.

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BTG 174 - I need a taste of my own medicine

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0800

I just realized that I am not holding myself to the same standards as a serious student and instructor with my own progression in the martial arts. That has to change, and I'll outline how I plan to tackle this problem.

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BTG 173 - Kill or be Killed

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0800

We are still in a drought for MMA events, but we did have a real professional wrestling event with some interesting match ups and MMA crossovers. I then talk about the importance of having the warrior mindset when competing - even if you are an amateur.

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BTG 172 - Looking Back

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0800

With little news in combat sports, I take a look back over the past year and reflect upon things I have done and learned. I then look forward to what I wish to do next.

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BTG 171 - Character over Talent

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0800

There has been more headlines this year about either unethical or immoral actions from athletes versus achievements or wins. I think that should say a lot about what we should be valuing in an athlete as a coach, but just in case, I will layout my case in detail.

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BTG 170 - When to call it quits

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0800

We had a strange mix of crossover fight sport events, from MMA to boxing and BJJ to wrestling, with a crossover of ages of 20-30 year old competing with 40+ athletes. Oddly enough, the older athletes were winning, which leads one to ask when is the right time to stop?

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BTG 169 - I'm done playing with you

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0800

There comes a time where even you favorite moves get put on the shelf to sit and collect dust. Today's podcast discusses when and why that should happen, talking about shifts in both the mental and physical landscape.

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BTG 168 - Revenge

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0800

We had several notable rematches in combat sports this weekend, one in WNO between Felipe Pena vs Luke Griffith, the other in UFC 322 with Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan. I talk about the challenge of overcoming a previous defeat, the rest of the fights in UFC 322 main card, and recap my holiday travels with a note about yielding.

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BTG 167 - The most neglected skillset of champions

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0800

If there is one aspect that is neglected in training, it's what I'm going to be talking about on this episode. Whether you are a hobbyist, a competitor, or a professional athlete, most ignore this key aspect that defines all champions.

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BTG 166 - Lighter divisions taking the spotlight

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0800

UFC Fight Night Qatar's main card was filled with great action - lots of KOs and a submission. But now that the dust has settled, the lightweight and welterweight divisions are looking far more promising compared to the dismal state of the heavyweight division.

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BTG 165 - Dominance can be boring

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0800

UFC 322 was a great night at fights, but the ending left a bad aftertaste in my mouth. There were plenty of hard fought matches, KOs, and submissions, but the co-main and main events where shows of complete dominance without finishing pressure.

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BTG 164 - Private Lesson Mastery

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0800

Can you learn martial arts purely from private lessons?

Yes, but highly unlikely and not a desirable way of doing so in my opinion. I give my reasons and what I believe is the best approach to using private lessons and instructional courses.

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BTG 163 - Rigged Fights

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0800

UFC Fight Night 263 had a bunch of finishes in the forms of KOs and submissions, but the things people are talking about are more eye gouges and a potential fixed fight. I'll give my take on that and discuss Polaris 34 and the continued leg lock revolution.

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BTG 162 - Is Tom Aspinall Cursed?

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0700

UFC 321's Heavyweight Championship main event, Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane, was supposed to be an exciting match. Instead, we got the most anti-climatic finish I can recall in UFC heavyweight history. Besides being the champion, Tom doesn't seem to be having any luck with making a legacy. Worse yet, some people are blaming him for what happened.

I also briefly recap the recent WNO absolute tournament, and then talk about Renato Canuto's second pro MMA fight and how I would structure his career.

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BTG 161 - Quitting on the Stool

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0700

The top three fights of UFC Fight Night 262 had a lot to comment about, with one of the fighters quitting on the stool and unable to continue fighting. I give my take on that and how fouls should be scored.

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BTG 160 - Doing the Mental Legwork

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0700

It's pretty common to see fighters get broken, or get mentally beat. I discuss this phenomenon, how to avoid it and employ it yourself, giving some personal anecdotes of my competition history in the process. Whether you train for fun or compete, this is an important lesson to learn that most people skip out on.

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BTG 159: UFC 320 was a great showcase for MMA

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0700

UFC 320 was a great card, and one of the best PPVs this year in my opinion. The final 7 fights had 6 finishes, with lots of action, submissions, and knock outs. Even the one fight that went to decision was entertaining with twists and turns throughout. I give my review and breakdown of the fights, and potential match making for the champions.

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BTG 158 - Where do you go from here?

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0700

Following the UFC Fight Night in Perth, I discuss the devastating aftermath of Carlos Ulberg versus Dominic Reyes, and the controversy between Jake Matthews and Neil Magny. I then revisit Derek Moneyberg, who apparently is going to be sueing Sean Strickland, who also poked at Jake Shields that poked back at him.

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BTG 157 - Dusting Off Old Moves

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0700

When everyone is focusing on the latest techniques, sometimes it pays off to go back to the classics and reintroduce them. I explore one particular technique I'm bringing back and how you can to.

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BTG 156 - Fighting Nerds suffer another loss

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0700

The Fighting Nerds had boasted a long undefeated streak, with there core team all being undefeated in the UFC. Unfortunately for them, that streak has been snapped this year, and Saturday put the final nail in the coffin for the team's momentum. Where does that put them now?

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BTG 155: Stop Being Lazy and Get Fit

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0700

This episode is different than any episode I have ever done, as I filmed it while lifting. I wanted to talk about fitness and not being lazy, so I figured what better way to do than while simultaneously doing a lift. Besides seeing how I'm lifting and being able to copy my routine, I talk about the bigger challenge for most people - the mental hurdles. I crush excuses, go over reasons people are stuck, and how to overcome them.

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BTG 154 - CJI 2 Didn't Deliver

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I'll cut to the chase - CJI 2 was not good in my opinion. Instead of building on the success of the first event and tweaking things, the redesign of the event created all sorts of new problems. I talk about all my gripes with the ruleset, pacing, promotional material and then of course the matches and results.

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BTG 153 - Everyone Should Fight

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I have been sent a bunch of videos last week of random street fights, and we had one notable MMA fighter's son, Rampage Jackson, really hurt someone badly in what was supposed to be a worked event. This once again urges me to get everyone into training, and at the very least, understand what a fight is and isn't.

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BTG 152 - Too Cool Under Pressure

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0700

Is it possible to be too cool under pressure? I argue yes, and I use this UFC as evidence of it. I also go over the main card fights and my takes.

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BTG 151 - Bottom grappling in MMA is not a good strategy

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0700

Last week I was singing the praises of leg locks. This week, I have to remind you that was specific to grappling, as we just saw how a leg lock heavy game plan was heavily punished in MMA, and in general, bottom grappling.

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BTG 150 - Are Aoki Locks Too Dangerous?

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0700

These past couple of weeks of professional have made an impression on me, in that Aoki locks are very dangerous leg locks that are not to be played around with. Does that mean we should ban them from the sport?

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BTG 149 - Improving Cardio and Shitty Wrestling

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I start off talking about my new love/hate affair with the assault bike, and what I hope to gain from it. There were a lot of events this past week, from PGF, UFC, PFL, BJJ Stars, WNO, CFC, and EBI. I go over some of the results of these events, and what I think grappling can learn from the PGF and CJI/UFC BJJ.

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BTG 148 - PGF and Struggles with Strategy Implementation

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0700

The 8th season of the PGF (Professional Grappling League) starts this Wednesday here in Las Vegas. I give my thoughts on the big changes in this season's format, and a couple of critiques. I then talk about my progress in changing my strength and conditioning routine, and how I'm struggling to implement a new mat strategy.

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BTG 147 - Write it in Stone

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0700

It's not the first time I talk about the power of putting your thoughts and ideas in physical form, and after you finish listening to this, you will understand why it won't be the last time either. I will focus on the importance of documenting problems in your life, from training to relationships, and how writing it down, taking pictures, or filming it makes it "real" versus just floating around in your head.

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BTG 146 - What I have learned in 44 years

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I turned 44 today, and I reflect on what adjustments I want to make and what I have learned and continue to learn, and the secret to not getting bored.

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BTG 145 - Unstoppable Champions

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0700

In the aftermath of UFC 317, we have a stable of champions that have impressive win streaks, with no major contenders in sight. Now that it seems the UFC has ended the ability to be a double champion, perhaps we have some long reigning champions like we did in the good old days. Will that be a good thing or a bad thing? I also recap the results of the AIGA world championships on Sunday, and why I think team grappling competitions got it wrong.

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BTG 144 - The End of an Era

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I return from my trip to Florida with a new black belt, review more episodes of the UFC BJJ show, discuss the main event of that last UFC fight night between Hill vs Rountree, and finally, talk about the announcement of the official retirement of Jon Jones.

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BTG 143 - Enhanced Combat Sports League

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I was asked about my stance on PEDs after a previous podcast, and while I have talked about me thoughts about them on several podcasts, I have never focused on it entirely. So I dedicate the first half of this podcast to that. I then answer a different question, which was how would I feel of having a "clean" fight league and an "enhanced" fight league.

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BTG 142 - I'm the crazy one

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0700

Spoiler alert, I talk about UFC 316 on this podcast, and I realize I might be a bit crazy. I also talk about the difference between being sore vs being hurt, and some secrets that Merab revealed about his conditioning program.

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BTG 141 - Most Mid UFC Card?

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I don't think anyone was excited about this card, and it seemed to get worse as the event closed in. We had 3 fighters miss weight, one fighter was ill and couldn't fight, and two of the fighters that missed weight ended up dropping out of their fights last minute. This sparks a conversation about weight cutting again, where I really go against the practice and blame the athletic commissions. I close on some new developments with my website, and ask for your help making it even better.

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BTG 140 - What's better, a big team or a small team?

Mon, 26 May 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I talk about the pros and cons of big teams versus small teams, making the case that small teams are usually better. However, it is a bit more nuanced than an objective yes or no answer, so I take a deep dive to explore the differences.

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BTG 139 - Relearning the Basics

Mon, 19 May 2025 09:00:00 -0700

Many people think that once they "learned" something, they never have to revisit the topic ever again. From my experience with life and the martial arts, this is nearly never true. I'm constantly learning new things from something I "knew" decades ago, and some of my best breakthroughs were learning new tidbits about something I'm an expert in.

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BTG 138 - It's okay to just be a champion

Mon, 12 May 2025 09:00:00 -0700

After UFC 315, the topic of double champions becomes an even bigger distraction, as 3 champions are moving towards achieving a double champion status, instead of defending their division. I make the case for why it's better for a champion to stay in their division, instead of trying to grab as my titles as possible.

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BTG 137 - Monday Morning Quarterback

Mon, 05 May 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I become a big critic of fighters and coaches after watching UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs Figueiredo, so I fully aware of my Monday morning quarterbacking. Nonetheless, there is plenty to criticize here, as the main event had one of the worst game plans I have seen in recent history.

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BTG 136 - UFC and BJJ Stars and the Future of New Wave

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0700

Hot off the heels of BJJ Stars 15 and UFC Fight Night: Machado vs Prates, I give a review of the matches that took place and my thoughts on them. I explore the ideas of retiring on your own terms, and the athlete vs warrior mindset. I also discuss a new development with New Wave, which might be a thing of the past.

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BTG 135 - Who is the best Heavyweight in BJJ?

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I review the aftermath of the matches from WNO 27: Duarte vs Rodriguez, and their implications on the heavyweight grappling scene. I can't recall a time where I was more excited about the match ups in heavyweight BJJ, as the top 5 active heavyweights have nearly all traded wins and losses. With Gordon out of the picture, we have chaos, and that makes for some exciting match ups where it's harder to pick winners - even though I did pick this card 100% correctly, I was doubting a few of my picks mid-match.

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BTG 134 - Fighting Smart

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I just got back from my trip to the Turks and Caicos, just in time to watch UFC 314. It was a great night of fights. I break it down, and vent some frustration at fighters that are fighting dumb that if they fought smart, could be winning their fights more.

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BTG 133 - My Bloody Best Fight

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0700

My fight in BodogFIGHT Season 4 was my best MMA fight, and also the most consequential to my whole life. I took the fight on 2 weeks notice, with no training camp prior, with a popped rib and a torn knee. I had every reason not to do it, yet I persisted.

I'll share my story, how I trained alongside future big names like Chael Sonnen, Roy Nelson, Cain Velasquez, Jake Shields, how this helped me get into ADCC 2007, and made the Kimura Trap System possible.

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BTG 132 - The Ultimate Submission Showdown

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I was finally able to watch a match that my brother and I have been trying to see for decades: David Avellan vs Rener Gracie! I was able to find it online (I will post the link below), but I decided to talk about the whole event and my experience with it:

https://tubitv.com/movies/577551/the-ultimate-submission-showdown

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BTG 131 - Don't be a distraction

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I open this episode reviewing UFC Fight Night Edwards vs Brady, before diving into what it means to be a good fan and supporter of a competitor. I was drawn to this topic after watching a video of a spectator that was completely out of control, and becoming a distraction that I felt was a negative influence. I talk about this from the spectator, athlete, and coach's perspective.

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BTG 130 - For the Love of the Game

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0700

I open up this episode sharing one of my beloved competition memories with my brother. I then go off a tangent about how competitors back in the day were in it purely for the love of the game - something that has changed in the modern world.

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BTG 129 - Gun Shy

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0700

We all have seen it happen at some point, perhaps even to ourselves. A fighter enters the cage, and is just absorbing shots, not firing back any offense. Any attacks they make and half pumped, and don't have any heat on them. They are gun shy.

I'll discuss possible reasons why fighters get gun shy, and what we can do from a coaches perspective and as the athlete.

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BTG 128: My Most Humiliating Losses

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0800

Suffering a loss is tough. But suffering a humiliating loss can be especially tough on your ego. I look back at some of my most humiliating losses in my sporting career, and reflect on how I was able to bounce back from them.

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BTG 127 - Eye Pokes Are Too Common To Be Accidental

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0800

UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs Song was a great card, except for the main event, where Henry Cejudo suffered what appeared to be a serious eye poke. I talk about my stance on eye pokes and fouls in general, and why I think there is a lot more cheating than accidents.

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BTG 126 - How I Teach a Seminar

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0800

I returned from a week long trip in Miami to teach at my academy, and reflect on what I call seminar style teaching. It's a slightly different approach, which I outline in more detail, while also going over what I consider optimal ways of structuring content, note taking, and participation in classes.

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BTG 125 - How to Drill like a Pro

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0800

After doing an episode on criticizing the Ecological Approach, I had people ask how to structure drills that were productive and not just static. I'll talk about the difference between static and rehearsed drilling and how to incorporate them into your training.

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BTG 124 - How I Teach a Class

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0800

Last episode I criticized the Ecological Approach to teaching martial arts, so it's only fair I share how I teach a class in what I consider the traditional model of teaching. I outline a sample class structure from start to finish, and explain what components it consists of and why they are there.

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BTG 123 - The Ecological Approach to BJJ

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0800

It seems that my social feed has been getting more posts and articles about the Ecological Approach to training BJJ as opposed to the traditional model of instruction. The ecological approach focuses on setting up games or tasks, and setting constraints and conditions for the players to engage in, instead of teaching individual techniques. I do my best to describe it and give my take on this approach to coaching.

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BTG 122 - UFC 311 Analysis

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0800

The UFC 311 main card was a great night of fights, with a mix of submissions, knock outs, and tough fights. I review each of the fights, highlighting the co-main event, Merab vs Umar, as it was the fight of the night and lived up to the hype.

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BTG 121 - How I nearly drowned 90ft deep in the ocean

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0800

The water was very cold for a guy from Miami, at 68 degrees Fahrenheit. My breathing was deep and slow, which was all that I could hear. After swimming around for a few minutes, I felt the ocean floor once again. I could feel the current moving around me and making it very hard to navigate underwater. I had no idea how much air I had left in my tank, and I was completely alone. I was also completely blind. I was about to make a decision that would decide whether I would live or die.

If you have followed my old blog for a long time, chances are you might have come across this story I shared about my misadventure in scuba diving. I decided to elaborate more on this story and share it on the podcast. There are a lot of lessons I have learned from this near-death experience, I feel it's a good story to revisit.

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BTG 120 - Hero's Death Denied

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0800

I usher in the new year by recounting some old competition stories I had from a few decades ago, revolving around the BJJ Legend Saulo Ribeiro. I share the adversities, the thoughts going through my head, and the lessons learned from my matches against him and others.

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BTG 119 - How I Fix Weight Cutting

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0800

My social feed has had quite a few posts from MMA journalists about fighters "not training seriously" because they are 30-40lbs over their weight class - something that anyone who is in the field knows is a standard weight cut now. I talk about what the current weight cutting situation is, the consequences, and a system I believe could fix it all.

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BTG 118 - How NOT to spoil your athletes

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0800

Every coach has a sob story about how that athlete that betrayed them, used them, or got away. I will go into a few personal anecdotes and explain why it happens, and how to avoid it and help create better relationships with our team.

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BTG 117 - Timing Closed Guard Ankle Locks

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0800

The final UFC Card of the year started slow but ended with a lot of blood and violence, ending with Colby Covington in one of his worst performances to date, while Joaquin Buckley shined like a diamond. I talk about the importance of striking while the iron is hot in regards to timing your career, then move into the role of closed guard in modern MMA and BJJ. Finally, I remark on the resurgence of straight foot locks in grappling.

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BTG 116 - UFC 310, FPI 9 & WNO 25 Review

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0800

There were a lot of events this past week, but I managed to tune in to 3 of them, UFC 310, FPI 9, and WNO 25. I give my reviews, making a few critiques on the athletes and events.

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BTG 115 - Habits maketh the Man

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0800

Have you ever audited your daily activities and really looked carefully at what you are doing and judged whether these habits were moving you in the right direction? If not, perhaps this will convince you if the merit of taking a closer look at your activities and figuring out what is helping and what is hurting.

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BTG 114 - Will the UFC take over BJJ?

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0800

Following the news that Mikey Musumeci was the first signed exclusive UFC grappler, the UFC announces plans to have a reality TV grappling show, and a new grappling league. What does this mean for the future of grappling? I also discuss why I have adopted a 9 day training week instead of the traditional 7 days.

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BTG 113 - Geriatric Fighting

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0800

We had a 42 Stipe Miocic and a 59 year old Mike Tyson headlining two big fight cards this weekend in MMA (UFC 309: Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic) and boxing (Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul), with another 41 year old fighter, Jim Miller, also in the the UFC card. Are older fighters still pursuing their passion, or a paycheck?

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BTG 112 - Samurai Wagyu

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0800

I highlight my trip to Japan and the things that stood out to me from the land of the rising sun. I then review the PGF 7 Worlds Finals, and chime in on Jon Jones comment on Tom Aspinall having done nothing.

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BTG 111 - The Best Time to Start Working

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0800

If you have ever suffering from delayed starts, putting off errands, or stuck in the planning phase, I'm going to give you the kick in the butt you need to get off your ass and get moving. I share a story that took me from planner to executioner - not the killing king though. 😂

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BTG 110 - When Stuck Do What You Fear

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0700

We all have done it. We had a challenge, a task, or just something we are supposed to get done, and we don't do it. We procrastinate, we postpone, we delay, and hope that somehow this thing that NEEDS to be done will magically resolve itself, or that we will one day wake up wanting to do it. However, that rarely, if ever, happens. We need to muster up some courage, and grab the bull by the horns. The idea of conquering your fears is not new, but perhaps this approach if identifying what you need to do based on what you fear might help you expose low hanging fruit that can easily target problem areas in your life.

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BTG 109 - Who is the Baddest man on the planet?

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0700

With the conclusion of Francis Ngannou vs Renan Ferreira, the looming bout between Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic, and Tom Aspinall waiting to unify the heavyweight belt, we have a lot of big, bad man. Who is going to stand on the top of the mountain when it's all said and done?

I also do a review of the grappling world's baddest men, which include Gordon Ryan, Kaynan Duarte, and Nick Rodriguez.

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BTG 108 - Tactics over Techniques

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0700

I have said it before and I'll say it again - all the strength, technique, stamina, or toughness mean nothing without good tactics. The classic example of bringing a knife to a gun fight comes to mind, but you might mistake that as a lesson in having more lethal weaponry. But if your brought a sniper rifle to a close range combat situation versus a knifed attacker, you would also be in a bad spot (bringing a gun to a knife fight).

This played out in UFC Fight Night Vegas 98, as bad tactics caused fighters to lose winnable fights. I highlight a couple of matches and break them down as I saw them.

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BTG 107 - UFC 307 Review

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0700

I sat down and watched the UFC 307 Main card from start to finish last night, and I gave my review of the card. If you watched my preview of the card, I was mostly right on my picks, although I wish I was got more wrong than I did right.

I layer in some critiques of fight strategy across the card, as I felt some fighters choose poor strategies for victory. I also think the Utah crowd was very disgruntled overall, as they booed most of the fights that evening. It definitely was a strange card.

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BTG 106 - Outrageous

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0700

UFC Fight Night 243 in Paris was outrageous. Some wilds fights, finishes, post fight antics, interviews, and fines. I talk about the main and co-main events, my opinion on the athletic commission fining an athlete $250,000 for bad sportsmanship, and why failing a weight cut is inexcusable.

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BTG 105 - Does a Gi or a Belt Matter?

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0700

Kron Gracie recently was quoted for an off hand comment attacking no gi grapplers, lamenting the rising growth of no gi grappling. I comment on this age old battle of gi vs no gi. I also talk about the role belt ranking systems play in martial arts, in light of an old training partner, Evandro Nunes, taking a strong stance against the ranking system.

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BTG 104 - Is MMA for the rich?

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0700

I know prices have been going up for everything these days, but as an MMA fan, supporting the sport has never been so costly. The past Noche UFC had a reported average ticket price of over $1000, with the PPV being $89.95. I talk about my take on these rising prices as both a fan and as a martial arts school owner, and if the fighters are seeing any of this money trickle down into their pockets.

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BTG 103 - BJJ Surpassing MMA?

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0700

I don't think there is a question in that BJJ is surpassing MMA...as far as the growth of the techniques. MMA seems to have stagnated from my point of view, where fights now look the same as fights 10 years ago. Meanwhile, grappling is continuously evolving and developing new positions, techniques, and strategies. I share why I think that is, and what can be done to improve the state of MMA.

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BTG 102 - How to deal with being underprepared

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0700

I return from Miami, Florida after a week of teaching and reconnecting with family only to find myself underprepared for what's next. This is a position just about everyone has encountered, but we all handle it with different approaches and results. I will share how I'm going to handle not being fully trained and ready for my next challenge.

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BTG 101 - A Crisis of Faith

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0700

Some of you wrote me to tell me you enjoyed my stories I told in the Chewjitsu Podcast Interview I had a few weeks ago, so I decided to share one that is very important to me - my crisis with faith. I'm not talking spiritually here, rather, personally - as I had a moment of weakness that cost my the chance at a world title. I share the lessons I learned and how being delusional can be a good thing.

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