BJJ Mental Models
@bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
World's #1 #BJJ education podcast. 🎙️
Where Jiu-Jitsu's best go to grow. 🥋
Podcast, links, and more: 👇
https://linktr.ee/bjjmentalmodels
Where Jiu-Jitsu's best go to grow. 🥋
Podcast, links, and more: 👇
https://linktr.ee/bjjmentalmodels
Pinned
Welcome to Bluesky, #BJJ practitioners! As a housewarming gift, here’s a free copy of COMPETITION & EMOTION, the Jiu-Jitsu audio course on competition mindset from Marcelo Garcia black belt and 4x world champ DOMINYKA OBELENYTE. Hit this link to redeem: bjj.plus/dom
Should Jiu-Jitsu students ask their coach for help, or struggle through on their own?
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/when-is-it...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/when-is-it...
🥋 When is it time to ask for help?
Should Jiu-Jitsu students ask their coach for help, or struggle through on their own?
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Should Jiu-Jitsu students ask their coach for help, or struggle through on their own?
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/when-is-it...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/when-is-it...
We know what a dilemma is, but *why* do they matter? Let's chat about it!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpz9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpz9...
Mini Ep. 89: Dilemmas
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
www.youtube.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:55 AM
We know what a dilemma is, but *why* do they matter? Let's chat about it!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpz9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpz9...
Meanwhile on Reddit...
January 14, 2026 at 3:24 AM
Meanwhile on Reddit...
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 372 is now live! Ryan Rich (head coach at Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu) discusses the difference between pre-made #BJJ games versus building your own.
youtu.be/ly4yhBuHIK8
youtu.be/ly4yhBuHIK8
January 12, 2026 at 11:49 AM
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 372 is now live! Ryan Rich (head coach at Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu) discusses the difference between pre-made #BJJ games versus building your own.
youtu.be/ly4yhBuHIK8
youtu.be/ly4yhBuHIK8
Reposted by BJJ Mental Models
We see a lot of folks trying to rationalize or explain away what ICE is doing, and we want to let you know that you should absolutely not do that. This is an inflection point in history, and how you respond determines how you will be judged forever. Do the right thing and stand up to these monsters.
January 9, 2026 at 4:05 AM
We see a lot of folks trying to rationalize or explain away what ICE is doing, and we want to let you know that you should absolutely not do that. This is an inflection point in history, and how you respond determines how you will be judged forever. Do the right thing and stand up to these monsters.
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss table selection: a concept from poker teaching us that choosing the right environment greatly increases our odds of success.
youtu.be/pvpCveYUGaY
youtu.be/pvpCveYUGaY
Mini Ep. 88: Table Selection
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
January 8, 2026 at 10:28 AM
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss table selection: a concept from poker teaching us that choosing the right environment greatly increases our odds of success.
youtu.be/pvpCveYUGaY
youtu.be/pvpCveYUGaY
BJJ Mental Models episode 371 is live! Todd Richards shares his experience building atop an existing curriculum put in place by his coach, the late Keith Owen.
bjj.plus/371
bjj.plus/371
January 5, 2026 at 9:47 AM
BJJ Mental Models episode 371 is live! Todd Richards shares his experience building atop an existing curriculum put in place by his coach, the late Keith Owen.
bjj.plus/371
bjj.plus/371
Cool BJJ Mental Models stat: Of our 10 most-listened episodes from 2025, HALF the featured guests were women. The metrics don't lie: The #BJJ community at large wants to learn from women. Content creators and event organizers would be wise to remember this in 2026.
January 2, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Cool BJJ Mental Models stat: Of our 10 most-listened episodes from 2025, HALF the featured guests were women. The metrics don't lie: The #BJJ community at large wants to learn from women. Content creators and event organizers would be wise to remember this in 2026.
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss opening salvos: the tactics and strategies you use when entering into an engagement. Ensuring your opening salvo is successful helps tremendously for standup and the engagement phase of guard.
youtu.be/oh3USmQaK5E
youtu.be/oh3USmQaK5E
Mini Ep. 87: Opening Salvos
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
January 1, 2026 at 10:57 AM
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss opening salvos: the tactics and strategies you use when entering into an engagement. Ensuring your opening salvo is successful helps tremendously for standup and the engagement phase of guard.
youtu.be/oh3USmQaK5E
youtu.be/oh3USmQaK5E
I put way too much thought into this. 🤣
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steves-bes...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steves-bes...
Steve's Best Games of 2025
I made a real effort to play as many as possible, so I could answer the question: What was the best video game released in 2025?
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I put way too much thought into this. 🤣
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steves-bes...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steves-bes...
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 370 is now live! This week, we're joined again by Nick Volpe from Dark Bear Jiu-Jitsu! In this episode, Nick breaks down a very holiday-relevant technique: the gift wrap!
Listen now by searching for BJJ Mental Models in your podcast app, or visit this link: bjj.plus/370
Listen now by searching for BJJ Mental Models in your podcast app, or visit this link: bjj.plus/370
December 29, 2025 at 1:52 PM
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 370 is now live! This week, we're joined again by Nick Volpe from Dark Bear Jiu-Jitsu! In this episode, Nick breaks down a very holiday-relevant technique: the gift wrap!
Listen now by searching for BJJ Mental Models in your podcast app, or visit this link: bjj.plus/370
Listen now by searching for BJJ Mental Models in your podcast app, or visit this link: bjj.plus/370
Merry Christmas! Here's a small Jiu-Jitsu stocking stuffer: a treatise on why we should "do what works."
youtu.be/ZBdSgXa1mrU
youtu.be/ZBdSgXa1mrU
Mini Ep. 86: Do What Works
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
December 25, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Merry Christmas! Here's a small Jiu-Jitsu stocking stuffer: a treatise on why we should "do what works."
youtu.be/ZBdSgXa1mrU
youtu.be/ZBdSgXa1mrU
Episode 369 is now live! Nick Salles (co-founder @ Movement Art, Mikey Musumeci black belt) explains what "humility" really means for coaches, and why students deserve control of their training.
youtu.be/M5ORBr8K1QU
youtu.be/M5ORBr8K1QU
Ep. 369: Real Talk About Humility, feat. Nick Salles
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
December 22, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Episode 369 is now live! Nick Salles (co-founder @ Movement Art, Mikey Musumeci black belt) explains what "humility" really means for coaches, and why students deserve control of their training.
youtu.be/M5ORBr8K1QU
youtu.be/M5ORBr8K1QU
You don't need to be explosive to be an effective wrestler.
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/5-reasons-...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/5-reasons-...
🤼 5 reasons your wrestling sucks
You don't need to be explosive to be an effective wrestler.
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:31 PM
You don't need to be explosive to be an effective wrestler.
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/5-reasons-...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/5-reasons-...
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss the certainty heuristic: the natural human tendency to prefer answers that offer a simple, easy solution... even if that solution is wrong.
youtu.be/JdvaXWEmKyo
youtu.be/JdvaXWEmKyo
Mini Ep. 85: Certainty Heuristic
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
December 18, 2025 at 8:47 AM
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss the certainty heuristic: the natural human tendency to prefer answers that offer a simple, easy solution... even if that solution is wrong.
youtu.be/JdvaXWEmKyo
youtu.be/JdvaXWEmKyo
Thomas and Phillip Barreiro (D1 wrestlers & multi-time Canadian national champions) break down their "lazy wrestling" framework.
youtu.be/d_xqX1vofcY
youtu.be/d_xqX1vofcY
Ep. 368: Lazy Wrestling, feat. Thomas & Phillip Barreiro
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
December 15, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Thomas and Phillip Barreiro (D1 wrestlers & multi-time Canadian national champions) break down their "lazy wrestling" framework.
youtu.be/d_xqX1vofcY
youtu.be/d_xqX1vofcY
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins Game of the Year. Very well deserved, this game is an absolute landmark masterpiece. It's such a transcendent piece of art. If you have any love for the medium of video games, and any fond memories of Final Fantasy VII, you owe it to yourself to play this game.
December 12, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins Game of the Year. Very well deserved, this game is an absolute landmark masterpiece. It's such a transcendent piece of art. If you have any love for the medium of video games, and any fond memories of Final Fantasy VII, you owe it to yourself to play this game.
I watched this whole video. It was riveting. What an incredible portrait of one person’s obsession and pursuit of mastery.
youtu.be/9c3oXERMTCM
youtu.be/9c3oXERMTCM
Mike Tyson: The Quest For 1:59
YouTube video by Summoning Salt
youtu.be
December 12, 2025 at 12:43 AM
I watched this whole video. It was riveting. What an incredible portrait of one person’s obsession and pursuit of mastery.
youtu.be/9c3oXERMTCM
youtu.be/9c3oXERMTCM
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss the importance of probabilistic thinking: viewing Jiu-Jitsu as a game of probabilities where your goal is to create (and maintain) the greatest possible chance of success.
youtu.be/XiXq0mQtsww
youtu.be/XiXq0mQtsww
Mini Ep. 84: Probabilistic Thinking
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
December 11, 2025 at 9:50 AM
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss the importance of probabilistic thinking: viewing Jiu-Jitsu as a game of probabilities where your goal is to create (and maintain) the greatest possible chance of success.
youtu.be/XiXq0mQtsww
youtu.be/XiXq0mQtsww
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 367 is now live! Jesse Phillips (Head Coach @ Gentle Giant Jiu-Jitsu) explores burnout in martial arts and real life, often caused by the crushing weight of personal expectations that we place upon ourselves.
youtu.be/UwP4-Npvurk
youtu.be/UwP4-Npvurk
Ep. 367: The Weight of Expectations, feat. Jesse Phillips
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
December 8, 2025 at 10:04 AM
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 367 is now live! Jesse Phillips (Head Coach @ Gentle Giant Jiu-Jitsu) explores burnout in martial arts and real life, often caused by the crushing weight of personal expectations that we place upon ourselves.
youtu.be/UwP4-Npvurk
youtu.be/UwP4-Npvurk
Many of you asked for a write-up on Chris Round's grip fighting scorecard, and you had to know we wouldn't let you down!
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steal-this...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steal-this...
✊ Steal this grip fighting scorecard!
Many of you asked for a write-up on Chris Round's grip fighting scorecard, and you had to know we wouldn't let you down!
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Many of you asked for a write-up on Chris Round's grip fighting scorecard, and you had to know we wouldn't let you down!
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steal-this...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steal-this...
Learning styles are a myth. Use this instead.
youtu.be/vXRBB6aqej4
youtu.be/vXRBB6aqej4
Mini Ep. 83: Learning Modalities
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Learning styles are a myth. Use this instead.
youtu.be/vXRBB6aqej4
youtu.be/vXRBB6aqej4
New bonus podcast! MARCELO GARCIA VS LACHLAN GILES takes center stage as Drew Foster breaks down ONE Fight Night 38’s generational clash. This is from Drew Foster’s excellent State of the Meta podcast, exclusively available on BJJ Mental Models Premium!
youtu.be/wUWUbhbkXTM
youtu.be/wUWUbhbkXTM
BONUS: Marcelo Garcia vs Lachlan Giles Analysis, feat. Drew Foster
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 6:02 AM
New bonus podcast! MARCELO GARCIA VS LACHLAN GILES takes center stage as Drew Foster breaks down ONE Fight Night 38’s generational clash. This is from Drew Foster’s excellent State of the Meta podcast, exclusively available on BJJ Mental Models Premium!
youtu.be/wUWUbhbkXTM
youtu.be/wUWUbhbkXTM
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 366 is now live! #BJJ and Judo black belt Chris Round explains his helpful "gripfighting scorecard."
youtu.be/75P0EXCShBg
youtu.be/75P0EXCShBg
Ep. 366: The Gripfighting Scorecard, feat. Chris Round
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
December 1, 2025 at 11:26 AM
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 366 is now live! #BJJ and Judo black belt Chris Round explains his helpful "gripfighting scorecard."
youtu.be/75P0EXCShBg
youtu.be/75P0EXCShBg