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Titre
Date
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The Acceleration of Martial Arts Fascism
27 Sep 2026
00:53:49
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Mike Mahaffey connect a month of far-right imagery in combat sports: Nazi salutes and a swastika flag at a kickboxing event in Orlando, an ADCC finalist with a history of posting Nazi salutes, and a Tatami gi pulled over SS-style lightning bolts. They argue this keeps happening because the sport keeps making excuses for it, and that fans can change that by being deliberate about who gets their money.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - Nazi salutes at a Paul Miller kickboxing fight - Josh Saunders' ADCC final loss to Victor Hugo - Tatami's Autsiders gi and its SS-style bolts - Turning Point USA on the UFC BJJ mat - Fuji BJJ's event conduct policy - Voting with your dollars in jiu-jitsu - Buying local in a K-shaped economy
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — A month of hate in fight sports 04:10 — Paul Miller's kickboxing salute 06:37 — Josh Saunders in the ADCC final 08:26 — Tatami's Autsiders gi controversy 14:46 — Josh Saunders' coaching business 17:29 — Voting with your wallet in BJJ 20:14 — Sports have always been political 23:02 — Turning Point USA on UFC BJJ mats 27:39 — Fuji BJJ's event conduct policy 34:53 — How the far right gets normalized 37:47 — Finding ethical jiu-jitsu coaches 40:10 — Far-right versus far-left threats 42:14 — The mood on the ground in the US 45:45 — Fascism and incompetent loyalists 50:39 — Local spending, K-shaped economy
Canada Fuels American Growth
04 Sep 2026
00:59:11
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Stephan Kesting talk through the Canada-US trade war from the Canadian side of the border. They explain why this was never about tariffs, and why Americans are not hearing how much of their own economy runs on Canadian lumber, oil, electricity, and potash, the base ingredient in most fertilizer. Canadian boycotts have already done damage that dropping the tariffs will not undo.
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🔗 Links Mentioned: - FULL SPEECH | Carney explains why Canada suspended trade talks with U.S. — CBC News — https://youtu.be/l-WgOxbWUHk
🧠 Topics Discussed: - What the US demanded in the talks - French labeling and Canadian culture - 51st state rhetoric and sovereignty - Alberta separatism as a wedge - Potash, lumber, and US dependence - The odds of a hot war with Canada - Boycotts as the real pressure
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Two Canadians on the trade war 01:15 — The Welland Canal fake story 03:26 — What American media leaves out 05:49 — This started in January 2025 08:32 — The real reason talks collapsed 10:16 — Quebec and the French language 16:23 — Trump signed the USMCA himself 19:12 — Trust that takes decades to fix 25:10 — Hostile posts are policy now 29:50 — Could this become a shooting war 31:46 — Why Canada can hurt America 35:55 — Potash, lumber, and toilet paper 39:45 — Loyalty picked over competence 47:02 — Where are the American protests 51:33 — Boycotts and voting with dollars 55:10 — A Canadian insurgency and NATO
Tariffs and Jiu-Jitsu Economics
28 Aug 2026
01:15:00
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Jeff Shaw and Jesse Walker are joined by Jose Fernandez, a health economist and purple belt who chairs the economics department at the University of Louisville. He explains who pays for tariffs, why 70% of the world's gis coming out of one country matters for your gear budget, and what gym owners should do about prices and leases while their students are getting squeezed.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - The tight labor market and consumer sentiment - Gym pricing, leases, and rate freezes - Politics in the gym and local elections - Tariffs on gis and rash guards - The AI bubble and robot labor - The federal debt and taxing the rich - Insurance paperwork and doctor hours
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📖 Chapters: 00:00:00 — Introducing Jose Fernandez 00:03:57 — The indicators and the debt 00:06:47 — White belt signups slow down 00:08:51 — Leases, rent, and expansion 00:11:48 — Why you shouldn't cut prices 00:13:38 — Family discounts and freezes 00:19:05 — Politics in the jiu-jitsu gym 00:20:29 — Vote in your local elections 00:25:09 — Who pays the tariff on your gi 00:28:23 — Trade deals without tariffs 00:32:31 — Why the stock market climbs 00:38:00 — Robots replacing human labor 00:47:54 — AI, drones, and modern warfare 00:54:12 — Cheap gas and the oil reserves 01:00:03 — The debt and the sacred cows 01:11:24 — Insurers waste doctor hours
We Gotta Talk About These UFC BJJ Sponsors
21 Aug 2026
00:57:50
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Stephan Kesting pull up a screenshot of the UFC BJJ 10 mat and read the sponsors out loud: the Air National Guard, the AI drone company Anduril, and Turning Point USA. Dana White has spent years insisting the UFC is not political, and you can read the rebuttal off his own mat. They argue the money is there to launder reputations and buy the silence of athletes who do not have many other options.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - The sponsors on the UFC BJJ 10 mat - Anduril and Turning Point USA - Dana White on the UFC not being political - Exclusionary UFC BJJ contracts and ADCC - UFC BJJ viewership and visibility - What UFC BJJ athletes get paid - The chilling effect on athletes who speak out
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Stephan's Arctic expedition 02:21 — Dana White on being political 03:15 — The YAMMA bowl cage, revisited 04:24 — Reading the sponsors on the mat 05:33 — Anduril, the AI drone company 10:09 — Turning Point USA on the mat 16:28 — Could the left buy the same ad? 21:13 — The capture and kill strategy 24:00 — UFC BJJ's viewership problem 28:15 — Owning all of combat sports 32:09 — What UFC BJJ athletes get paid 43:41 — The Sartre quote on fascists 34:45 — The chilling effect on athletes 51:20 — What people can do about it
How COVID Broke the Martial Arts Community
12 Aug 2026
01:10:35
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Jesse Walker and Stephan Kesting (just back from thirty days in the Arctic wilderness) are joined by Dr. Clayton Green, a board certified dermatologist with a PhD in microbiology who worked face to face with patients through the whole pandemic. Clayton and Stephan take apart the conspiracies the pandemic left behind (nanobot tracking chips, the lab leak, RFK Jr.'s claims about Lyme disease) and explain why frightened people reached for them in the first place. Jesse's question runs underneath the whole thing: how did a community built on evidence-based martial arts end up rejecting evidence-based medicine?
🧠 Topics Discussed: - The Big Pharma payment myth, debunked - Fear, certainty, and bad decisions - Fauci as the scapegoat - Changing the guidance was correct - Grapplers rejecting evidence-based medicine - Ivermectin and the grifters targeting grapplers - The genetics that rule out a lab leak - Algorithms and radicalized coaches - Your phone tracks you better than any chip
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📖 Chapters: 00:00:00 — Introducing Dr. Clayton Green, dermatologist 00:01:53 — The Big Pharma payment myth, fully debunked 00:03:57 — Six years on, still no reckoning for COVID 00:05:49 — Fauci as the scapegoat for a whole government 00:08:07 — Fear and anger drive people to false certainty 00:10:12 — The early mask messaging that cost public trust 00:18:11 — Saving the mask supply for hospitals was right 00:23:01 — The vaccine claims held true until Omicron hit 00:26:51 — Reaching for ivermectin over actual medicine 00:29:13 — Operation Warp Speed, the win nobody will claim 00:31:42 — Grapplers rejected evidence-based medicine 00:37:02 — Pleading the fifth to dodge a perjury trap 00:41:45 — Genetic fingerprints rule out a lab leak 00:45:35 — Social media moderation and anti-Asian backlash 00:50:34 — YouTube radicalized Stephan's old instructors 00:53:35 — Debunking nanobot chips, 5G, and snake oil 01:00:37 — RFK Jr. is wrong about Lyme disease origins 01:03:06 — The AIDS-virus sequence myth, taken apart 01:05:17 — Whether we can get the public trust back
Andrew Tate and the zero-consequences era
25 Jul 2026
01:03:59
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Jesse Walker and Mike Mahaffey catch up on a run of recent news where powerful people did awful things and faced no real consequences: Andrew Tate arrested on 42 charges he may never answer for, ICE killings at traffic stops with the FBI reportedly stepping back, an FDA food-safety scare that ended in an apology to a Trump donor, and a Kentucky senator who has vanished while still collecting his seat. What ties it together is a question that hits close to home for two jiu-jitsu coaches: what happens to a country, or a gym, when people only look out for themselves?
🧠 Topics Discussed: - Andrew Tate's arrest in Florida and the 42 charges waiting for him in the UK - Why the manosphere and the administration still hold him up as a model of masculinity - Two ICE killings at traffic stops, deaths in detention, and who answers for them - Voting your pocketbook, and what a community loses when people only care once it hits them - Class versus culture: who is actually making your life harder - The "diarrhea lettuce" scandal and the FDA's apology to a major Trump donor - Mitch McConnell's disappearance, Kentucky's empty seat, and the octogenarian problem - Team-first versus me-first, in politics and in jiu-jitsu
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📖 Chapters: 00:00:00 — Judo at an advanced age and teaching EMS crews to fall 00:02:40 — Andrew Tate arrested, 42 charges, and the purple blouse 00:11:44 — Two ICE killings and the accountability that isn't coming 00:21:03 — Detention deaths and what you'd do if they came for you 00:25:00 — Coaches cheering this on while their communities suffer 00:28:44 — Why people only wake up when it hits their wallet 00:32:06 — Phone banking and the voter just trying to survive 00:37:11 — Nobody survives alone, and who's really to blame 00:40:04 — Diarrhea lettuce and the FDA's apology to a donor 00:44:03 — The jiu-jitsu parallel: team-first beats the selfish island 00:47:31 — Where is Mitch McConnell, and the octogenarian problem 01:00:08 — Photobombing Master Worlds and signing off
The Graham Platner Problem
08 Jul 2026
01:03:27
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ to talk about Graham Platner, the Maine Senate candidate whose campaign has come apart under a run of scandals: a Nazi-associated tattoo, credible sexual assault allegations, and more. They use his collapse to get at a harder question that runs through both politics and jiu-jitsu: why we keep excusing disqualifying behavior from people we want to believe in, and what it costs us when we do.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - Who Graham Platner is and how his campaign fell apart - The Totenkopf tattoo and the "I didn't know what it meant" defense - AIPAC, the rise of antisemitism, and where criticism of Israel ends and conspiracy begins - Why we keep handing passes to people with disqualifying histories - "Due process trolls" and why a courtroom standard isn't the bar for who we associate with - How tolerating bad behavior normalizes it, and the Trump parallel - The same rot in jiu-jitsu: protecting bad actors because they win or teach well - Term limits, aging politicians, and elevating grassroots talent over big names
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Why Fighting Matters isn't a left-wing podcast 01:11 — Who is Graham Platner? 03:24 — The Totenkopf tattoo and the "I didn't know" defense 05:23 — A campaign in freefall 09:15 — AIPAC, antisemitism, and drawing the line 14:11 — Nazi tattoos are disqualifying, even accidental ones 16:38 — Two sets of rules and the Fetterman problem 20:00 — Purity tests vs. keeping your moral compass 24:10 — The jiu-jitsu parallel: bad teammates and PEDs 25:54 — Due process trolls 32:02 — Mamdani and elevating outsider talent 44:34 — Supporting bad actors in jiu-jitsu (Josh Saunders) 49:24 — Being good at jiu-jitsu is not a competitive edge 53:29 — Geriatric politicians and term limits 59:07 — Wrapping up: accountability in practice
The 250th, ADCC, and Izaak Michell
03 Jul 2026
00:58:28
In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, Steve Kwan is joined by Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ and Mike Mahaffey of Old Bastard BJJ on the eve of America's 250th Fourth of July. They open with whether there's anything left to celebrate and end up somewhere harder: the same instinct to look away that got the country here is alive in jiu-jitsu too. The clearest example is Izaak Michell, invited to ADCC while wanted in Texas on sexual assault warrants, and the string of accused and convicted men the sport keeps platforming anyway.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - America's 250th and the state of the July 4th "celebration" - Rebuilding the country instead of defending the old institutions - The normalization that links national politics to jiu-jitsu - Izaak Michell, his ADCC invite, and the Texas arrest warrants - Josh Saunders, Nazi salutes, and the "keep it non-political" excuse - Why "innocent until proven guilty" doesn't settle the ethics - How the sport risks going radioactive the way MMA once did - Redemption tours, silence, and what speaking up actually does
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Big heads, Ace of Bass, and July 4th 02:40 — America's 250th: did the country even make it? 06:33 — Rebuilding the country, not restoring it 10:29 — Mask-off politics, the courts, and the truth 18:23 — How a MAGA influencer's fever broke 20:36 — Holding your nose, in politics and on the mats 24:10 — Who is Izaak Michell, and why ADCC invited him 30:01 — Josh Saunders and "keep it non-political" 35:34 — "Innocent until proven guilty" isn't a free pass 40:15 — What happened to MMA could happen to jiu-jitsu 44:47 — What will you tell your grandkids? 49:19 — No clean leagues left for ethical athletes 51:44 — The redemption tour: Tyson, McGregor, and ADCC 53:07 — What we can actually do about it 56:50 — Closing thoughts and where to find everyone
The Conor McGregor comeback is gross
27 Jun 2026
00:56:46
In this episode of Fighting Matters, co-hosts Jesse Walker and Mike Mahaffey take on Conor McGregor's UFC comeback and the media tour selling it: a man found civilly liable for sexual assault, platformed on Jimmy Fallon like none of it happened, with no apology and no amends. They get into what redemption actually requires, why comedians stopped holding power to account, and the jiu-jitsu community's own habit of looking the other way when the person on the podium has hurt people.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - Conor McGregor's UFC comeback and the media tour behind it - Why the media keeps platforming people who have caused harm - What real redemption requires, and why owning the harm is the price of it - Whether some actions put someone past the point of a comeback - How late-night hosts and comedians stopped holding power to account - What your attention and your money actually endorse - The jiu-jitsu community's habit of platforming people it shouldn't
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Welcome and teeing up the topic 01:16 — McGregor's comeback, and how he got here 04:47 — Turning MMA trash talk up to eleven 08:25 — Pro wrestling, except the harm is real 10:27 — The fall and the Hollywood comeback 13:23 — Does anyone deserve a comeback? 15:27 — Redemption means owning the harm 20:43 — What Mike learned in vocational rehab 26:12 — Our court jesters are failing us 32:36 — When "comedy is back" means punching down 36:37 — No redemption, and whose pocket you fill 47:33 — The IBJJF problem, and being a thoughtful consumer 55:38 — Where to find Jesse and Mike
An honest UFC Freedom 250 critique
19 Jun 2026
01:07:48
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by Jesse Walker of Rough Hands BJJ to talk about the fallout from UFC Freedom 250, the fight card staged on the White House lawn for America's 250th anniversary. Neither of them watched it, because the fights were never the issue. They get into the corruption, the crypto payouts, the comment aimed at Michelle Obama, and why "keeping politics out of fighting" was never a real argument once the President turned the country's 250th birthday into his own fight night.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - Why UFC Freedom 250 was a problem even if the fights were good - The difference between promoting a sport and running a propaganda event - Crypto payouts and the "company store" comparison - The comment aimed at Michelle Obama, and why it was deliberate - Free speech absolutism as a dodge - The alleged Daniel Cormier and Eric Trump text exchange about fixed fights - The paradox of tolerance and why you can't platform extremists - What the UFC would have to do to win fans like Steve and Jesse back
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — What UFC Freedom 250 actually was 05:05 — A for-profit event on the people's lawn 09:10 — Defending the UFC as legitimate sport 14:48 — Propaganda, grift, and crypto payouts 16:40 — The Obama basketball tournament test 22:29 — Was it worth it for the UFC? 27:05 — MMA is an immigrant story 31:05 — The Michelle Obama comment was deliberate 41:26 — Free speech absolutism as moral cowardice 45:52 — The alleged Cormier and Eric Trump texts 51:54 — You can't break bread with extremists 59:33 — What would fix the UFC? 01:07:56 — Where to find Jesse Walker
The UFC Freedom 250 debacle
12 Jun 2026
00:51:47
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Jeff Shaw is joined by Jesse Walker, Mike Mahaffey, and Stephan Kesting to take apart UFC Freedom 250, the card being staged on the White House South Lawn on June 14th. Four martial artists who spent decades loving this sport walk through why an event at the people's house, held on the president's birthday and billed as a celebration of America's 250th, leaves them cold. They get into the spectacle, the money, the sportswashing angle, and the version of this card that could have meant something.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - Why a UFC card at the White House reads as fascist spectacle - The June 14th birthday timing and the "America 250" cover story - The "keep politics out of sports" double standard - Empty seats, military tickets, and who foots the bill - Cage fights as diplomacy, and what sportswashing really is - Theodore Roosevelt, immigration, and the event this could have been - What MMA lost when it stopped being outsider art
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Introducing the panel 02:40 — Fascism, spectacle, and macho posturing 04:30 — A birthday dressed as an anniversary 07:05 — Theater and a regime that believes in nothing 10:16 — Dead enthusiasm and a tourism slump 14:09 — Empty seats, military tickets, and June heat 16:32 — Rogan ringside and bread and circuses 18:53 — Who pays, and who gets held accountable 25:41 — But Roosevelt did it too 30:06 — Cage fights as diplomacy and sportswashing 34:53 — How you'd do it right, and why they can't 40:13 — Can this work at the White House at all? 46:18 — Outsider art and what's been lost
Anti-Trans Hate Is a UFC Marketing Strategy
08 Jun 2026
01:00:44
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan talks with Mike Mahaffey of Old Bastard BJJ about the trans hate pouring out of combat sports, and the fighters who have figured out it pays. They start with Sean Strickland's AI video of himself beating up a trans woman, then get into why guys like Strickland and Jake Shields keep posting this stuff: it riles up a certain kind of fan, and that attention is the product. Recorded during Pride Month, it is also about what the jiu-jitsu community owes its trans members, who take the brunt of this.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - Sean Strickland's anti-trans AI video and the threat behind it - How the "fairness in women's sports" debate gets used as cover for violence - Active clubs, fascism, and the far right's foothold in fight sports - Mike's advocacy work and the threats it brings - The harassment trans grapplers face just for showing up to train - Why fighters profit from anti-trans content - Why "keep politics out of jiu-jitsu" is a cop-out - Raising a trans daughter and changing minds through storytelling
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Welcome and why a Pride episode 02:26 — The Strickland video and the "fairness" cover 08:47 — Active clubs and the far right in fight sports 11:20 — Mike's advocacy and the threats it draws 17:46 — Spite-based activism and trans grapplers under attack 22:30 — Why fighters monetize trans hate 30:04 — Staying neutral is a choice, and the politics myth 34:08 — Pride, gender, and changing norms 40:17 — You don't have to get it to defend it 42:36 — Mike on supporting your trans friends and family 47:35 — Why martial artists have to speak up 51:06 — Mike's fundraiser for the Salus Center
Why did UFC BJJ let Mikey compete with a staph infection?
26 May 2026
01:01:27
In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, Steve Kwan is joined by Jeff Shaw of Bellingham BJJ, Mike Mahaffey of Old Bastard BJJ, and Dr. Clayton Green, a board-certified dermatologist and BJJ practitioner. They get into what happened at UFC BJJ when Mikey Musumeci defended his title against Kevin Dantzler with an active staph infection, went back to the hospital right after the match, and defended the decision by saying he had covered the infection with spats. The conversation covers why staph is more dangerous than people realize, how the UFC has stopped fights like this before but didn't this time, and what gyms and competitors can actually do to be safer.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - What happened at UFC BJJ and Mikey's hospital readmission - Why "I covered it with spats" isn't a defense - How close Ben Askren came to dying from MRSA - Whether BJJ is losing community knowledge about infection risk - How pandemic-era science denial is showing up in jiu-jitsu - How the UFC stopped fights like this before, and didn't this time - The wrestling skin check form and how gyms can use it - Institutional accountability vs dogpiling on the athlete
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Introducing the panel 02:39 — What happened at UFC BJJ 05:16 — Spats aren't condoms 10:09 — How dangerous staph actually is 18:08 — Are we losing community knowledge about infection risk? 25:21 — Why didn't the UFC stop this? 26:34 — Pandemic-era science denial in BJJ 33:13 — The wrestling skin check form 36:45 — How gyms model and enforce safer behavior 40:48 — Advice for young competitors under pressure 50:22 — Institutional accountability vs dogpiling the athlete 53:02 — Closing thoughts
How Jiu-Jitsu Survives the AI Era
21 May 2026
01:34:49
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined again by Dr. David Riedman: 17-year jiu-jitsu practitioner, MIT-trained data analyst, and PhD researcher whose dissertation focused on measuring the accuracy of large language model outputs. David is also the author of the Riedman Report, one of the most popular Substacks on risk, AI, education, and security. The conversation is broken into three parts. Part one is a broad explanation of what modern AI actually is and how it works. Part two covers the cultural and social impact of AI on public life. Part three is about how AI will affect the business of jiu-jitsu and the people who train and run gyms. Steve walks out of the conversation with a take he didn't expect: martial artists may be in a stronger position than people working in tech.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - Why LLMs don't actually think, and why that matters - The political split on AI adoption and why both sides are partially right - Where AI genuinely helps a small business and where it creates risk - Model drift, context dilution, and how guardrails break down in long conversations - Why AI tutorials and AI video can't teach jiu-jitsu - What it means for a sport without a unified registry when anyone can fabricate credentials - The trillion-dollar lock-in: why we may be stuck with LLMs even if they don't work - Why human-service work like coaching may be more durable than tech work
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Reintroducing Dr. David Riedman 03:25 — PART 1: What modern AI actually is 15:39 — Why a confident-looking LLM output can still be wrong 23:12 — PART 2: The cultural and social impact of AI 35:09 — When the stakes are too high to outsource 42:09 — When AI is used to plan a war 50:54 — Model drift and how the guardrails erode 58:23 — PART 3: AI and the business of jiu-jitsu 01:03:11 — Automating the soul out of your gym 01:14:20 — The trillion-dollar bet on a tool that may not work 01:22:06 — Three futures and none of them are good 01:29:46 — What gym owners and practitioners should actually do
A Man Broke Into My Apartment at 4 AM (feat. Andrea Tang)
14 May 2026
00:59:35
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by Andrea Tang: novelist, brown belt at District Martial Arts, and host of BJJ Today on the BJJ Mental Models Premium Network. Three years ago, a serial home invader broke into Andrea's apartment at 4am and tried to sexually assault her in bed. She fought him off using day-one white belt basics. This is a conversation about that night, the years of court proceedings that followed, and what watching the BJJ community treat survivors has taught her about who actually has the courage to speak up.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - Surviving a home invasion at 4am using basic jiu-jitsu - What the court process actually looks like for sexual assault survivors - Why women don't speak up, even with airtight cases - The "porcupine strategy" and why white belt basics matter most in real attacks - Why stranger violence and instructor abuse should not be treated as the same problem - The identity crisis that hits women martial artists when they become victims - How women in combat sports absorb toxic masculinity (and why it costs them) - Busting the "no woman could beat a man" myth
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Welcome and book plug 02:29 — The night a stranger broke in 06:02 — The aftermath and the marks it leaves 09:26 — What the court process actually costs survivors 12:52 — Why so few women ever speak up 26:15 — When muscle memory wakes up before your brain does 33:53 — The porcupine strategy: being a hard target 39:50 — Stranger attacker vs. instructor abuser 44:28 — When the victim is a martial artist 48:56 — Toxic masculinity isn't a men's thing 55:47 — What jiu-jitsu is actually for
How YOU Can Clean Up Jiu-Jitsu
05 May 2026
01:03:41
After yet another sexual abuse case in the BJJ community, the Fighting Matters crew works through a question every grappler eventually has to answer: "What can I, as just a student, actually do about this?" They get into voting with your wallet, the black belt blackmail trap, why we're great at sweating into each other's eyeballs but terrible at conversations, and Mike's framework for delivering hard feedback without lighting the gym on fire.
🧠 Topics Discussed: • Why stewardship of the culture isn't just the gym owner's job • Voting with your wallet when your coach is the problem • The black belt blackmail trap and how to leave anyway • Why jiu-jitsu people are terrible at having actual conversations • Mike's framework for delivering hard feedback without making it personal • When to take it to the coach vs. when to take it public • Jesse's "spectrum of seriousness" and why proportionality matters • Culture guardianship vs. mat enforcer culture • Why culture is what you tolerate, not what you preach
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — A regular student's guide to fixing the sport 02:29 — Stewardship doesn't require owning a school 03:31 — Vote with your wallet 07:56 — Weeks from black belt and the school is rotten 11:17 — Belt blackmail and the myth of permanent lineage 14:45 — Jesse's wild Rio re-belting story 18:49 — We sweat together but won't talk to each other 20:27 — The basic social skills problem in jiu-jitsu 26:46 — Why exit interviews and gym feedback both fail 28:34 — How to receive feedback without killing the next one 30:49 — Jesse's conflict aversion confession 32:04 — Mike's framework: name the behaviour, use I-statements 38:59 — Going public vs. going to the coach first 43:47 — The spectrum of seriousness 50:53 — Spotlighting the good in the community 54:48 — Culture guardianship, not mat enforcement 59:39 — Culture is what you tolerate
Why BJJ Camps Need Less Jiu-Jitsu
24 Apr 2026
01:02:41
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ), Mike Mahaffey (Old Bastard BJJ), and Niamh Bryn (Snowblind BJJ) for a recap of the recent Rough Hands spring camp in Louisville. The four of them argue that the best jiu-jitsu camps are not the ones that cram the most jiu-jitsu in, and that the celebrity instructor model has quietly priced out and burned out the people the sport depends on.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - Why the best parts of a BJJ camp happen off the mat - The celebrity instructor model and how it prices out the average attendee - Why regional and lesser-known coaches often deliver more value - Filtering out bad actors, harassers, and extremists at camps and gyms - Cultural guardianship: why a head coach can't enforce culture alone - People who train jiu-jitsu instead of getting therapy - The collaborative camp format vs the one-marquee-instructor format - How travel and out-of-region training expose your blind spots
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Welcome and intros 02:06 — Recap of the Rough Hands spring camp 04:13 — Less jiu-jitsu, more community time 05:21 — Niamh on jiu-jitsu peripheral events 07:21 — Why getting out of your regional bubble matters 09:15 — Mike: the friendships are why I keep training 12:20 — The celebrity instructor problem 20:54 — Reliable community as camp infrastructure 26:34 — Healthcare, insurance, and traveling for jiu-jitsu 28:36 — Filtering out the bad actors 35:47 — What we actually mean by filtering 41:00 — Niamh on training for the wrong reasons 46:56 — Cultural guardianship at scale 54:20 — The collaborative camp model 58:07 — Plugs, outros, and where to find everyone 1:00:53 — Plugging Gi to Sea with Jeff Shaw
How to Identify "Active Clubs" in BJJ
17 Apr 2026
01:06:03
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by Hannah Gais, a senior research analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center who has tracked white nationalist and neo-Nazi movements since 2016 and also trains jiu-jitsu. They get into how active clubs and far-right groups use combat sports gyms as recruitment grounds, why most practitioners don't see it happening, and what coaches and gym owners can actually do about it.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - How active clubs use gyms to recruit without revealing their intentions - The entryism playbook: how fringe movements infiltrate institutions - Warning signs that someone is testing the waters at your gym - Shifting the Overton window through sports and social media - Jake Shields, the Manosphere, and BJJ's far-right influencer problem - Where gym owners should draw the line - How people leave the movement, and what coaches can do to help
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Introducing Hannah Gais 00:54 — Hannah's work at the SPLC 04:18 — How big is the problem, really? 07:01 — Why the movement has gone mainstream 15:16 — The Overton window and how they shift it 17:45 — Jake Shields and the sane-washing of extremists 20:27 — Warning signs at your gym 24:50 — Immigration as an entry point 31:32 — What white nationalism actually means 39:32 — Entryism: how they build from within 43:05 — What gym owners should watch for 47:57 — Hiding your power level 53:31 — BJJ's far-right influencer problem 55:35 — Where to draw the line 01:00:21 — How people leave the movement 01:03:54 — Hannah's links and the Manosphere documentary
How HEMA Pushed Out White Supremacists (And What BJJ Can Learn)
09 Apr 2026
01:07:27
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Stephan Kesting sit down with Eric Lowe, a 13-year HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) instructor and school founder. HEMA had a serious white supremacist problem, and they actually did something about it. Eric walks through what worked, what didn't, and what BJJ and MMA can steal from the playbook.
🧠 Topics Discussed: - How HEMA's early days were dominated by a near-Nazi gatekeeper (and how the community rejected him) - Why your gym's website and signaling matter more than you think - The Warriors of Ashe: Viking pagans with 30% transgender membership who keep turning away white supremacists - What "welcoming" actually means when your school has real beliefs - Constructing a version of masculinity the far right can't co-opt - Why every martial art sells a fantasy, and how that fantasy either attracts or repels extremists - What HEMA borrowed from Filipino martial arts (and why that matters) - Preserving European martial tradition without white supremacy
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Introducing Eric Lowe and what HEMA is 04:11 — The history of far right infiltration in HEMA 05:29 — John Clements and the "North Korea of HEMA" 09:17 — Viking martial arts and the white supremacist appeal 11:15 — The Warriors of Ashe: Viking pagans who reject Nazis 13:39 — Why how you signal your school matters 19:27 — Symbolism in BJJ vs HEMA 23:10 — The fantasy every martial art sells 27:45 — What positive masculinity actually looks like 37:30 — Building masculine identity without the far right 40:51 — Who gets to own masculinity 45:36 — Dueling culture and honour violence 52:43 — The performative side of all martial arts 01:00:17 — Preserving tradition without white supremacy 01:03:56 — Why women in HEMA matter for everyone 01:05:36 — Where to find Eric
Jiu-Jitsu in the Face of War and Economic Disaster
22 Mar 2026
00:58:23
Today, Jesse, Mike and Stephan discuss the impact of war on everyday life, particularly how the ongoing war in Iran could affect gas prices and essential goods if it continues. Conflicts in the Middle East can turn luxury activities into financial burdens, forcing people to prioritise their spending and making jiu-jitsu training and other leisure activities unaffordable as the cost of everyday living rises.
Jiu-Jitsu Isn't Therapy
19 Mar 2026
01:15:48
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by Matt Tansey and Daniel Millstein: two licensed mental health professionals who also train jiu-jitsu. They attack one of the most repeated claims in the sport ("jiu-jitsu is my therapy"), what's actually true about it, what isn't, and why the distinction matters more than most people think.
🧠 Topics Discussed: • What therapists actually do (and how they differ from coaches) • Why jiu-jitsu can be therapeutic without being therapy • The Dunning-Kruger effect and black belt overconfidence • How jiu-jitsu can help and harm people with trauma • Why male practitioners avoid therapy but embrace pseudoscience • SSRIs, psychedelics, stem cells, and the jiu-jitsu bro health pipeline
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Introducing Matt and Daniel 02:48 — Types of mental health practitioners 06:43 — Can jiu-jitsu be therapeutic? 12:31 — Competence, confidence, and the Dunning-Kruger trap 23:49 — When jiu-jitsu actually helps 26:12 — Overselling jiu-jitsu 28:31 — Trauma, PTSD, and proper disclosure 36:44 — What therapists can't say (but coaches can) 42:57 — Dudes will do anything except go to therapy 50:48 — Ethics, credentials, and the unregulated advice problem 01:00:17 — Psychedelics, stem cells, and anti-SSRI bros
The Invisible Heart of BJJ (w/ Valerie Worthington)
12 Mar 2026
01:00:32
In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, host Steve Kwan sits down with Valerie Worthington: BJJ black belt, professor of educational psychology, and one of the sport's most thoughtful voices on culture and ethics. They dig into why the people doing the most good in jiu-jitsu are also the least visible, what it would actually take to fix BJJ's culture problems, and why opening a gym means signing up for a job nobody prepared you for. This is a conversation about leadership, accountability, and the quiet work of making the sport better.
🧠 Topics Discussed: • Why the good people in BJJ stay invisible • The reality distortion field inside the gym • Why governing bodies might make things worse • Voting with your wallet and saying it out loud • What BJJ never teaches its future gym owners
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Introducing Valerie Worthington 06:33 — Why the good in BJJ stays invisible 12:58 — Should BJJ have a governing body? 21:17 — The reality distortion field inside the gym 33:18 — How the algorithm buries the good stuff 39:28 — Voting with your wallet 43:27 — Modeling the culture you want to see 51:54 — Dunbar's Number and BJJ communities 53:35 — What BJJ never teaches gym owners
How MAGA is Using Religion to Go to War
05 Mar 2026
00:53:59
Stephan Kesting and Jeff Shaw explore the terrifying consequences of MAGA coopting Christianity and using misinterpretations of biblical ideas like the rapture, the apocalypse, and end times theology as justification for going to war with Iran. We also look into Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's religious denomination and find some truly disturbing details.
Discord & Roblox: The pipeline to school shootings (w/ David Riedman)
03 Mar 2026
00:59:18
School violence researcher and Homeland Security expert David Riedman joins Steve and Jesse to break down the radicalization pipeline feeding modern school shootings. David covers how isolated kids get pulled into nihilistic violence through deregulated social media, grooming on Roblox, and private Discord servers, and why your BJJ gym might be one of the most powerful interventions available.
👥 Featuring: • Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels (Host) • Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj (Host) • David Riedman — https://riedmanreport.substack.com (Guest)
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🧠 Topics Discussed: • The Tumbler Ridge shooting and the pattern behind it • How the True Crime Community radicalizes teens online • Roblox as a grooming and recruitment platform • The Discord pipeline from mainstream social media to extremism • Trans shooters and what the data actually says • Nihilism vs. ideological terrorism • Why expelling a troubled kid can make things worse • How BJJ gyms provide the belonging that prevents violence
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Introduction 00:35 — Meet David Riedman 02:13 — Tumbler Ridge and the True Crime Community 08:02 — Understanding nihilistic violence 10:17 — Extremism, terrorism, and how to tell them apart 14:15 — Active clubs and decentralized radicalization 18:40 — Trans shooters: what the data says 22:23 — The Nashville manifesto breakdown 27:51 — Has social media changed anything? 31:45 — The Roblox grooming pipeline 38:40 — Can martial arts gyms use these same tactics for good? 41:53 — Everything that feels new is really old 49:58 — Warning signs for parents and gym owners 54:43 — Closing thoughts
Gordon Ryan & The Epstein Fallout
18 Feb 2026
01:03:18
In this Presidents Day episode, Fighting Matters connects two explosive stories: Gordon Ryan’s inappropriate DMs and the growing fallout from the Epstein file releases. We debate accountability, conspiracy culture, institutional corruption, and whether justice can survive political power. The conversation turns to Jiu-Jitsu’s own culture, red flags in gyms, and what responsibility communities have when systems fail.
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👥 Featuring: • Stephan Kesting — @stephankesting (Host) • Mike Mahaffey — @oldbastardbjj (Host) • Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj (Host)
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🧠 Topics Discussed: • Gordon Ryan DM controversy • The Epstein file releases and redactions • Conspiracy culture vs. evidence • Civil vs. criminal accountability • Power dynamics in martial arts • Red flags when choosing a gym
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Presidents Day cold open 02:17 — Gordon Ryan controversy 03:30 — The Epstein files breakdown 21:27 — Justice, collapse & consequences 32:03 — Jiu-Jitsu governance debate 52:03 — Would you recommend Jiu-Jitsu to women? 01:01:50 — Closing thoughts
Martial Artists Should Get Political
12 Feb 2026
01:04:40
In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan and Jesse Walker are joined by Joshua Peters: martial arts instructor, former school teacher, and current candidate for Anne Arundel County Council. They explore why local politics matters, how martial arts and civic duty intersect, and why “keeping politics out of Jiu-Jitsu” is a myth. This is a conversation about courage, participation, and standing up for your community.
🧠 Topics Discussed: • Why local politics is more powerful than you think • The overlap between martial arts and civic responsibility • Running for office without “main character syndrome” • Virtue signaling, participation, and public courage • Supporting your community beyond the mat
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Introducing Joshua Peters 05:35 — From teaching to running for office 11:30 — Why local government matters 18:42 — Losing, competing, and civic courage 24:25 — Politics inside the Jiu-Jitsu gym 29:49 — “Keep politics out of Jiu-Jitsu?” 35:14 — What it actually takes to run 43:35 — Virtue signaling and public participation 01:03:00 — How to get involved locally
How the USA is Trying to Steal Canada's Oil
06 Feb 2026
01:09:42
In this episode of Fighting Matters, hosts Stephan Kesting and Jeff Shaw are joined by Tyson LaRone (The Warrior Philosopher) to unpack the renewed push for Alberta separatism, its connections to Trump and MAGA, and the growing influence of U.S. political forces in Canadian domestic affairs.
🧠 Topics Discussed: • The Alberta Prosperity Project and separatist rhetoric • U.S. political influence and destabilization narratives • Economic myths around equalization and the “Alberta advantage” • Oil, foreign ownership, and who actually benefits • Grievance politics vs. evidence-based policy • Why martial arts spaces are vulnerable to political radicalization
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Introductions & Alberta separatism overview 01:40 — How real is the threat of separation? 07:20 — U.S. politics, propaganda, and destabilization 12:40 — Economic myths and equalization explained 31:40 — The “Alberta advantage” under scrutiny 52:20 — American corporate interests and oil profits 01:03:00 — Parallels with Ukraine and foreign interference 01:04:50 — Martial arts, gurus, and political influence
How Hate Found a Home in Jiu-Jitsu & MMA
05 Feb 2026
01:23:21
This interview is an excerpt from Dark Martial Arts History, an 8-part audio documentary chronicling the history and rise of extremism in martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. The rest of the documentary is available on BJJ Mental Models Premium, but this piece is relevant to current events, so we're publishing it here for free.
In the sixth episode of Dark Martial Arts History, hosts Ben Van Doren and Eva Schubert are joined by longtime Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu educator and commentator Stephan Kesting. The conversation explores how conspiracy thinking, social-media incentives, and institutional silence have normalized authoritarian and extremist rhetoric within MMA and BJJ. The panel discusses the role of major platforms, the responsibility of fans and businesses, and the challenges practitioners face when harmful ideologies appear inside gyms themselves. Rather than treating extremism as an external threat, this episode asks what the martial arts community has tolerated, and what it must confront moving forward.
The world's LARGEST library of Jiu-Jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free: https://bjjmentalmodels.com
The allegations against Andre Galvao, and subsequent collapse of Atos, have sent shockwaves through the Jiu-Jitsu world. In this episode, Steve Kwan and Jesse Walker unpack the allegations against Atos leadership, the victim statements that triggered a mass exodus, and why this moment feels different from past scandals. We explore abuse of power in martial arts, why competition success can’t excuse ethical failure, and what real accountability could look like, beyond statements and social media posts.
🧠 Topics Discussed: • Allegations against Atos leadership and the resulting collapse • Why this scandal triggered a rapid, unprecedented response • Abuse of power and hierarchy in martial arts culture • DARVO, victim silencing, and why convictions aren’t the only standard • How gyms, athletes, and platforms enable bad actors • Rethinking what "the best" Jiu-Jitsu gym actually means • Economic pressure and collective action as accountability tools
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Why this episode had to happen 02:45 — Victim statements and breaking news 05:10 — Why this collapse feels different 09:25 — Predators, power, and Jiu-Jitsu culture 15:55 — Choosing gyms: competition vs. ethics 20:15 — Why legal standards aren’t enough 26:18 — Accountability beyond statements 33:10 — Platforms, money, and moral responsibility 43:55 — What real action could look like 47:45 — Where the community goes next
You Can’t "Keep Politics Out" Anymore
31 Jan 2026
01:00:32
The idea of “keeping politics out” is no longer tenable, especially in Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts communities. Against the backdrop of escalating political violence, institutional breakdowns, and global instability, we explore the civic responsibility of gym owners, coaches, and athletes, and why silence increasingly amounts to complicity.
🧠 Topics Discussed: • Why “keep politics out of Jiu-Jitsu” is a thought-terminating cliché • Political violence, accountability, and the role of video evidence • Fascism, despair, and overreaction as a martial arts analogy • Civic responsibility for gym owners and community leaders • Why neutrality increasingly favors the status quo
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Welcome & January 2026 reality check 04:40 — Political violence and media narratives 13:30 — Why apolitical stances are collapsing 24:00 — Global consequences and U.S. credibility 31:00 — “Keep politics out of Jiu-Jitsu” examined 45:10 — Martial arts, pressure, and overreaction 54:40 — What regular people can actually do 57:20 — Final thoughts and calls to action
The Minnesota Shootings and What Comes Next
26 Jan 2026
01:31:45
Mother, poet, and US citizen Renée Good was shot by ICE on January 7, closely followed by the shooting of ICU Nurse and US citizen Alex Pretti on January 24th, apparently by members of the Border Patrol. Both Renée and Alex were immediately denounced as "domestic terrorists" by the US administration and an army of bots has been circulating a deluge of easily debunkable falsehood about the two victims.
In this episode of Fighting Matters BJJ black belt Stephan Kesting is joined Tyson Larone, the Warrior Philosopher, to explore why this is all happening, who benefits from this, where is it likely to go, and how does it potentially end. We turn over every rock from the Epstein Files to suppressing the midterm elections to World War III.
And please share this episode with someone it would help.
Racism Can’t Be Ignored in Jiu-Jitsu Gyms (w/ Deon Thompson & Stephen Hall)
23 Jan 2026
01:13:40
Racism, extremism, and exclusion aren’t abstract problems in martial arts. They show up in real gyms, affect real people, and shape who feels safe on the mats. In this episode of Fighting Matters, hosts Mike Mahaffey and Jesse Walker are joined by Deon Thompson and Stephen Hall for a candid, deeply personal conversation about how racism and hate groups intersect with Jiu-Jitsu culture, why “staying neutral” is not an option, and what responsibility coaches carry when they teach people how to fight.
👥 Featuring: • Mike Mahaffey — @oldbastardbjj • Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj • Deon Thompson — @thompsonjiujitsu • Stephen Hall — @bioniqbrassband
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🧠 Topics Discussed: • Racism and extremism in Jiu-Jitsu gyms • Why this isn’t “just politics” • Gym culture and accountability • Belt promotions as endorsements of character • Representation, safety, and who feels welcome • Why silence enables harm • The ethical responsibility of coaches
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 02:10 – Why racism in Jiu-Jitsu can’t be ignored 08:30 – Extremist groups and combat sports 16:45 – Gym culture and leadership responsibility 25:10 – Promotions, character, and accountability 34:40 – Representation and who feels safe on the mats 45:20 – Why neutrality enables harm 57:30 – What coaches must be willing to confront 1:08:00 – Final thoughts and closing remarks
This moment feels like the 1930s
18 Jan 2026
01:09:26
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Stephan Kesting unpack the political chaos of early 2026 and its real-world consequences for martial artists. From international instability and economic shocks to propaganda, media capture, and rising authoritarianism, they discuss why “keeping politics out of jiu-jitsu” is no longer possible... and what individuals can actually do in moments like this.
👥 Featuring: • Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels • Stephan Kesting — @stephankesting
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🧠 Topics Discussed: • Why global politics now directly affect martial arts • Authoritarianism, distraction, and media manipulation • Economic collapse, inflation, and gym sustainability • Voting with your dollars and leaving toxic gyms • Building unlikely coalitions in existential moments • Why silence and “staying apolitical” is no longer neutral
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Opening and Stephan’s rant 03:30 — Distraction politics and global instability 08:20 — Checks, balances, and institutional failure 15:00 — Elections, force, and fear 24:40 — Canada, China, and economic survival 39:00 — Why martial artists can’t ignore this 46:30 — What individuals can actually do 56:10 — Coalitions, Rogan, and strange bedfellows 01:04:40 — Voting with your dollars 01:07:15 — Final thoughts and calls to action
We Must Never Forget January 6th. — Jeff Shaw, Fighting Matters
07 Jan 2026
00:02:59
BJJ's Best and Worst of 2025
30 Dec 2025
01:00:30
This episode of Fighting Matters closes out the year with a no-holds-barred look at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2025. The hosts break down the biggest wins, deepest disappointments, and most important moments that shaped the sport—on and off the mats. From cultural flashpoints to genuine bright spots, this is BJJ’s year in review, warts and all.
👥 Featuring: Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels Mike Mahaffey — @oldbastardbjj Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj
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🧠 Topics Discussed: • The biggest controversies in BJJ in 2025 • Sexual misconduct and accountability in the sport • Extremism, grifters, and bad actors in Jiu-Jitsu • Disappointments and missed opportunities • The year’s most positive moments and standout contributors
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Intro & framing BJJ’s year in review 02:45 — The worst of BJJ in 2025 18:40 — Accountability, abuse, and culture problems 41:10 — Transition to the best of 2025 46:30 — Positive standouts and hopeful trends 58:40 — Final thoughts and looking ahead to 2026
The relentless bullying of trans athletes
18 Dec 2025
00:57:25
In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan, Mike Mahaffey, and Jesse Walker confront the relentless bullying and scapegoating of transgender athletes, especially within combat sports. They unpack how bad-faith arguments, misinformation, and moral panic have turned a tiny minority into a political and cultural punching bag, and discuss what gym owners, coaches, and training partners can do to create safer, more inclusive spaces.
👥 Featuring (Hosts): • Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels • Mike Mahaffey — @oldbastardbjj • Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj
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🧠 Topics Discussed: • How trans athletes became a political and cultural scapegoat • Bullying vs. good-faith discussion around sports and fairness • Why hate movements target small, vulnerable groups • Misogyny, fear, and propaganda in combat sports culture • What gym owners can do to make their spaces safer and inclusive
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Why trans athletes are being targeted 03:30 — Scapegoating and bad-faith arguments 07:45 — Why this problem must be addressed by gym culture 13:10 — Sports, fairness, and fabricated moral panics 21:00 — Propaganda, fear, and political exploitation 42:30 — What coaches and gyms can do differently 54:10 — Final thoughts on dignity, accountability, and inclusion
The True Villain in The Boys (And It's Not Who You Think)
13 Dec 2025
01:22:00
The Fighting Matters crew is joined by Shaun Benson from The Boys to talk about about the show and how it relates to the state of the world right now. Along the way we explore the blurring of lines between credible information and disinformation, the rise of Fascism, and the real bad guy responsible for evil in both The Boys and the real world.
Follow Shaun on Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@shaunybenso and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shaunmbenson/
Craig Jones trolled his way into the NYT
03 Dec 2025
00:58:02
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan and Jesse Walker talk with writer Adrian Nathan West about his New York Times piece on Craig Jones, exploring how trolling, politics, and culture collide in modern Jiu-Jitsu.
🧠 Topics Discussed: • Why Craig Jones is a uniquely effective internet troll • Gordon Ryan’s influence on young grapplers • How Jiu-Jitsu intersects with politics • The importance of fact-checking in modern media • The future of independent journalism • Whether trolling can actually shift culture in BJJ
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 — Welcome & Introductions 02:00 — How the NYT Article Came Together 06:30 — Craig Jones’ Online Persona 12:45 — Gordon Ryan’s Political Influence 18:00 — Why Athletes Shape Public Opinion 25:10 — Left, Right, and Populism in BJJ 32:00 — Fact-Checking for the NYT 38:30 — The Rise of Independent Media 45:20 — AI’s Impact on Journalism 53:00 — Should We All Be Trolls? 57:20 — Where to Find Nate’s Work
How bad BJJ coaches trap you with rank
27 Nov 2025
01:03:52
In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan, Stephan Kesting, and Jesse Walker break down how bad BJJ coaches trap students with rank. They explore how belt pressure becomes a tool for fear and control, why some gyms drift into cult-like behavior, and how to spot red flags before you get stuck.
👥 Featuring: Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels Stephan Kesting — @StephanKesting Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj
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🧠 Topics Discussed: • How bad coaches use rank as leverage • Why students feel trapped in toxic gyms • How cult dynamics show up in BJJ • When to leave and how to stay safe • Why character matters more than belts
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:10 Why rank becomes a trap 10:45 When coaches cross the line 22:30 Cult signs inside BJJ gyms 35:40 How to get out safely 47:20 Why character matters most 59:00 Final thoughts and deals
MAGA Needs an Exit Strategy
19 Nov 2025
01:08:44
In this episode of the Fighting Matters podcast, hosts Steve Kwan, Mike Mahaffey, and Jesse Walker talk about the recent political shift of Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) and her public apology regarding her past rhetoric and actions. They explore the implications of her apology, the need for accountability, and the potential for redemption in politics.
🧠 Topics Discussed: • Marjorie Taylor Greene's recent apology is a rare moment in politics. • The need for accountability and consequences for past actions is crucial. • Creating off-ramps for defectors from harmful ideologies is important. • Empathy and understanding can help bridge political divides. • Misinformation plays a significant role in shaping beliefs and actions. • The rise of extremism poses a serious threat to political discourse. • Finding common ground is essential for moving forward. • Public apologies can pave the way for political redemption. • The importance of community initiatives in addressing social issues. • Engaging in face-to-face conversations can foster understanding.
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Light Banter 01:24 Marjorie Taylor Greene's Political Shift 06:15 The Complexity of Apologies in Politics 10:01 Navigating Human Rights and Political Accountability 17:01 The Role of Redemption in Politics 20:58 Consequences and the Future of Political Figures 28:04 The Need for a Reckoning in Politics 35:14 Navigating Extremism and Hate Groups 37:51 The Dangers of Normalizing Hate 39:22 The Complexity of Redemption 41:30 Assessing Paths to Redemption 44:34 Creating Off-Ramps for Extremists 48:42 The Political Landscape Shift 53:16 Finding Common Ground 01:01:28 Community Action and Food Drives
The UFC Betting Scandal, with Luke Thomas
07 Nov 2025
00:33:34
MMA analyst Luke Thomas joins the Fighting Matters crew to discuss fixing fights in the UFC in particular, and MMA in general. We look at which specific type of fighter is being targeted, who might be behind it, and the role of the FBI in investigating the UFC.
More Luke Thomas MMA analysis on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/lukethomas
Luke Thomas gets political: https://www.youtube.com/@LukeThomasGetsPolitical
Follow Luke Thomas on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethomasnews
Luke Thomas on Substack: https://lthomas.substack.com/
The SNAP & ACA Shutdown Could Choke Jiu-Jitsu Gyms
02 Nov 2025
00:54:41
In this episode, Steve Kwan, Jeff Shaw, and Jesse Walker break down how the ongoing SNAP and ACA shutdown could devastate working-class Americans, and why Jiu-Jitsu gyms will be hit especially hard. They unpack how food assistance and healthcare subsidies keep communities afloat, why cutting them is both illegal and economically disastrous, and how martial artists can take action through solidarity, food drives, and conscious spending.
🧠 Topics Discussed: • What the SNAP shutdown really means for Americans • How ACA cuts raise healthcare costs for everyone • The ripple effect on gyms and small businesses • SNAP’s economic multiplier and why it matters • Why “the cruelty is the point” in U.S. politics • Building community resilience through action
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:15 What SNAP Really Does 05:20 How Food Assistance Fuels the Economy 09:40 Why Jiu-Jitsu Gyms Will Feel the Pain 12:30 Launching the Fighting Matters Food Drive 18:10 Debunking SNAP Myths 24:30 The Affordable Care Act Fallout 28:40 Real Stories of Rising Premiums 33:10 Tax Cuts, Inequality, and Stagnation 40:00 Jiu-Jitsu Analogies for a Broken Economy 45:20 What Gym Owners Can Do 50:10 Voting With Your Wallet 52:00 Final Thoughts: Stay Strong as a Community
Fashion, Fitness, Fighting: How Hate Groups Attract Young Men
31 Oct 2025
01:13:07
In this episode, Steve Kwan sits down with journalist Michael Colborne of Bellingcat to expose how far-right movements use aesthetics and martial arts culture to recruit young men. They discuss the origins of the “active club” network, the rise of far-right fashion and fitness subcultures, and how hate groups weaponize masculinity and community to spread extremism. Michael also shares how visual literacy can help parents, coaches, and martial artists identify warning signs and resist radicalization within their own gyms.
🔗 Links Mentioned: • Michael Colborne’s work — https://www.bellingcat.com/
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👥 Featuring: Steve Kwan — @BJJMentalModels Michael Colborne — https://colborne.bsky.social/
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🧠 Topics Discussed: • How “active clubs” exploit MMA and gym culture • The far-right’s obsession with aesthetics and branding • Recognizing coded extremist symbols and fashion • How online propaganda turns into real-world violence • What parents and coaches can do to push back
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 03:00 What Are Active Clubs? 10:00 The Three F’s: Fashion, Fitness, Fighting 18:00 Symbols, Codes, and Far-Right Aesthetics 28:00 How Hate Groups Recruit 38:00 Warning Signs for Parents and Coaches 53:00 Countering Radicalization in Martial Arts 01:07:00 Humor, Awareness, and Pushing Back
2025 Feels Like a Conspiracy Theory (w/ JimmyTheGiant)
22 Oct 2025
01:25:15
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan sits down with UK political video essayist JimmyTheGiant and Truth Collective founder Chris Ingram to unpack how billionaire networks, social media algorithms, and post-truth politics are reshaping democracy across the globe.
Links mentioned: • JimmyTheGiant on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyTheGiant • The Truth Collective — https://truthcollective.global • BJJ Mental Models — https://bjjmentalmodels.com
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👥 Featuring: Steve Kwan — @BJJMentalModels JimmyTheGiant — @JimmyTheGiant Chris Ingram — The Truth Collective
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🧠 Topics Discussed: • How online radicalization targets young men • The billionaire networks funding global disinformation • Project 2025 and the “post-truth” political era • The rise of rent-seeking capitalism and tech feudalism • Why social isolation fuels extremism • How independent media can fight back
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📖 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Jimmy’s journey out of the alt-right pipeline 09:30 How billionaires weaponized media and politics 18:00 The global export of MAGA conservatism 30:00 Why fascism is resurging worldwide 43:00 The tech economy, AI, and rent-seeking capitalism 56:00 How misinformation thrives in the attention economy 1:10:00 Rebuilding truth through independent media 1:23:00 Closing thoughts and next steps
You should attend the No Kings rally.
18 Oct 2025
00:03:17
When Jiu-Jitsu Coaches Stay Silent (w/ Sonia Sillan)
17 Oct 2025
01:16:16
When gym leaders stay silent, people get hurt. In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan, Stephan Kesting, and Jesse Walker speak with guest Sonia Sillan of Combat Arts Academy about what happens when Jiu-Jitsu coaches fail to protect their students. Together, they unpack the culture of silence in martial arts, the myth of “mat enforcers,” and how real leadership means building safe spaces and speaking up when it matters most.
Combat Arts Academy — https://caaseattle.com Sonia Sillan on Instagram — @combatartsacademy
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👥 Featuring:
Hosts: Steve Kwan — @bjjmentalmodels Stephan Kesting — @stephankesting Jesse Walker — @roughhandsbjj
Guest: Sonia Sillan — @combatartsacademy
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🧠 Topics Discussed:
• Why coaches must speak up about abuse • The dangers of “mat enforcer” culture • How to teach emotional regulation on the mats • Creating a trauma-informed beginner program • Breaking silence and rebuilding trust in Jiu-Jitsu
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📖 Chapters:
00:00 Introductions & Gym Culture 04:20 Why Jiu-Jitsu Needs Beginner Programs 09:45 The Myth of Mat Enforcers 16:00 Emotional Regulation and Rolling Intensity 27:00 Speaking Up to Power 33:40 When Coaches Fail Their Students 36:45 Handling Abuse and Reporting It 44:00 How to Build Safe Gym Culture 53:00 Gaslighting and Victim Blaming in Jiu-Jitsu 1:10:00 Leadership, Integrity, and Doing What’s Right
The Washington Post Is Silencing Journalists (w/ Karen Attiah)
06 Oct 2025
01:21:20
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan (BJJ Mental Models), Jeff Shaw (Bellingham BJJ), and Mike Mahaffey (Old Bastard BJJ) sit down with journalist and Muay Thai fighter Karen Attiah.
Karen was the founding editor of the Washington Post’s Global Opinions section and later a columnist covering race, gender, and culture. After 11 years at the Post, she was abruptly fired (by email) for “violating social media policy.” Her real offense? Speaking honestly about power, violence, and free speech in America.
Together, the panel explores what Karen’s story reveals about censorship, media ownership, and how corporate media is collapsing under the weight of its own contradictions. They dig into the chilling effect on journalists, the influence of billionaires over public discourse, and the uneasy marriage between combat sports and authoritarian regimes.
This is a conversation about free speech, courage, and what it means to fight inside and outside the ring.
Support Karen @ The Golden Hour on Substack: https://karenattiah.substack.com/
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👥 Featuring:
Karen Attiah — Journalist @, The Golden Hour, author, Muay Thai silver medalist Jeff Shaw — @BellinghamBJJ Steve Kwan — @BJJMentalModels Mike Mahaffey — @OldBastardBJJ
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🧠 Topics Discussed:
• Why the Washington Post fired Karen Attiah • The death of free speech in corporate media • Saudi Arabia, sportswashing, and martial arts • How authoritarianism co-opts combat sports • Fighting as therapy, resistance, and truth-telling
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📖 Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Karen Attiah 01:50 Karen's Journey in Journalism 04:15 The Impact of Social Media on Journalism 10:58 The Incident Leading to Termination 14:19 Free Speech and Its Implications 18:48 The Role of Media Ownership 24:03 The Legacy of Jamal Khashoggi 30:41 The Intersection of Combat Sports and Politics 36:09 The Double Standards in Free Speech 43:27 Lessons from Combat Sports 45:37 The Power of Wrestling in Storytelling 48:07 Wrestling and Politics: A Cultural Connection 51:56 Martial Arts: A Personal Journey 59:03 The Intersection of Martial Arts and Politics 01:06:01 Finding Strength in Community and Self-Awareness 01:12:02 The Future of Independent Media and Personal Agency
It’s Happening Too Fast: The News Cycle Is Out of Control
01 Oct 2025
01:08:22
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan (BJJ Mental Models), Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ), and Stephan Kesting (Grapplearts) dive into the chaos of America’s accelerating news cycle. From Charlie Kirk’s assassination to Trump’s authoritarian rhetoric, from RFK Jr.’s war on science to the weaponization of “cancel culture,” the team unpacks why democracy feels like it’s collapsing in real time.
Together, they explore how “flooding the zone” with scandals makes it impossible to process events, why speech and violence aren’t the same but are getting dangerously blurred, and how propaganda is rewriting history before our eyes. Along the way, they connect politics back to the martial arts community, asking whether it’s even possible to “keep politics out of Jiu-Jitsu” when the very freedoms that allow us to train are under threat.
The takeaway: democracy doesn’t collapse in one big moment; it dies fast, in floods of outrage, distraction, and chaos.
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👥 Featuring:
Stephan Kesting — Grapplearts, Essential Wilderness Steve Kwan — BJJ Mental Models Jesse Walker — Rough Hands BJJ
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🧠 Topics We Cover:
• The “flood the zone” strategy and why chaos is the point • Charlie Kirk’s assassination and his canonization into a martyr • Trump’s public calls to prosecute political enemies • Stephen Miller’s funeral speech vs. Joseph Goebbels’ rhetoric • Speech vs. violence — where’s the real line? • Jimmy Kimmel, the FCC, and government-driven censorship • Free speech absolutism and its real limits • The weaponization of propaganda inside martial arts spaces
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📖 Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Fighting Matters 01:02 Round Robin: The Week’s Most Insane News 06:43 Charlie Kirk’s Assassination & Fallout 15:20 Stephen Miller’s Speech vs. Nazi Parallels 20:14 Capitulation, Propaganda, and Corporate Cowardice 27:02 Speech vs. Violence: Where’s the Line? 33:45 Social Media, Disinformation, and Civil War Rhetoric 40:01 Free Speech Absolutism Debunked 47:35 The Charlie Kirk Memorial as Propaganda Theater 54:35 RFK Jr., Autism, and Attacks on Science 01:01:12 Polio, Vaccines, and the Return of Preventable Diseases 01:05:30 Cognitive Dissonance and the MAGA Movement 01:09:00 Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Us
Memes: The New Face of Propaganda
23 Sep 2025
01:05:24
In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan (BJJ Mental Models) and Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ) welcome special guest Dr. Derek Jones. Derek is a BJJ black belt, innovation educator, and retired philosophy professor whose work bridges martial arts, culture, and political thought. Together, the team explores how memes evolved from internet jokes into one of the most powerful tools of propaganda in modern politics.
From Richard Dawkins’ Selfish Gene to AI-driven meme floods, from the shifting Overton Window to the weaponization of humor, this conversation digs into how memes shape culture, spread extremism, and even destabilize democracy. Along the way, we discuss comedy as cover, the dangers of nihilism, and whether memes can still be reclaimed for good.
The takeaway: memes aren’t harmless entertainment; they’re a frontline in the battle over culture, politics, and truth itself.
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👥 Featuring:
Derek Jones — BJJ black belt, social innovator, philosopher Steve Kwan — @BJJMentalModels Jesse Walker — Rough Hands BJJ
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🧠 Topics We Cover:
• What memes really are: from Dawkins to digital culture • How memes spread faster than truth, and why they stick • The Overton Window and cultural manipulation • Comedy, plausible deniability, and “just joking” politics • AI meme factories and the flood of propaganda • The Joker, fascism, and the politics of nihilism • Can memes be used for good?
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📖 Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Fighting Matters 01:01 Meet Derek Jones: Black Belt & Philosopher 03:15 What Is a Meme, Really? 07:13 How Memes Shape Personality and Culture 09:53 Why Anyone Can Now Create Viral Propaganda 14:10 AI and the Future of Meme Warfare 20:14 Memes, Overton Windows, and Shifting Norms 23:55 The Plausible Deniability of Sharing Memes 28:23 Comedy as Cover: From Pepe to Rogan 33:43 The Joker, Fascism, and Mocking the System 37:51 Memes as News and the COVID Meme Boom 41:36 Is Society Getting Dumber, or Just Faster? 46:49 Offloading Memory to AI: Help or Harm? 53:37 Wall-E vs. Terminator: The Real AI Dystopia 55:49 Human Responsibility in an Automated World 59:09 Can Memes Still Be Used for Good? 01:02:26 Levity, Connection, and Fighting Back with Humor 01:03:08 Closing Thoughts