BJJ Mental Models – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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BJJ Mental Models

Steve Kwan

Sports

Health & Fitness

Frequency: 1 episode/5d. Total Eps: 539

Your guide to a conceptual and intelligent Jiu-Jitsu approach. BJJ black belt Steve Kwan and a slate of expert guests explain the concepts, strategies, and tactics behind the gentle art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - wrestling
20/08/2026
#39
🇬🇧 Great Britain - wrestling
20/08/2026
#66
🇩🇪 Germany - wrestling
20/08/2026
#29
🇺🇸 USA - wrestling
20/08/2026
#40
🇫🇷 France - wrestling
20/08/2026
#22
🇨🇦 Canada - wrestling
19/08/2026
#36
🇬🇧 Great Britain - wrestling
19/08/2026
#53
🇩🇪 Germany - wrestling
19/08/2026
#21
🇺🇸 USA - wrestling
19/08/2026
#39
🇫🇷 France - wrestling
19/08/2026
#14

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta
882 shares
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/jake
880 shares
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/49off
848 shares

https://www.instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
544 shares
https://www.instagram.com/islandtopteam
18 shares
https://www.instagram.com/stephan_kesting
8 shares

https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
773 shares
https://www.facebook.com/priit.mihkelson
4 shares
https://www.facebook.com/doctorkickassDPT
2 shares

RSS feed quality and score

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 48%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

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Mini Ep. 17: Air Choke Mechanics

Thursday, August 29, 2024 • Duration 10:05

In this week's mini-episode we discuss air choke mechanics! Air chokes involve cutting off your opponent's ability to breathe by either compressing their trachea ("windpipe") or covering their mouth. Air chokes often don't act as quickly as blood chokes, but there are ways to speed them up by triggering the gag reflex. We also talk about why air chokes are legitimate techniques and should not be thought of as "dirty."

Listen to our prior mini-episode on blood choke mechanics:
https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/15622350-mini-ep-16-blood-choke-mechanics

Read up on the different types of chokes:
https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/choking-mechanics/

Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro

Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

Sign up here for a free trial:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/

Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!

MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

Read moreCollapse

Ep. 299: Student Assessment, feat. Adam Medlock

Episode 299

Monday, August 26, 2024 • Duration 01:02:02

This week we're joined again by Adam Medlock! Adam is a Braulio Estima black belt and a lead educator from the UK. In this episode, Adam discusses the challenges of student assessment, or how Jiu-Jitsu coaches can measure student progress and the effectiveness of the curriculum. Key points include the introduction of the TLA cycle (Teaching, Learning, and Assessment) and the concept of cumulative disfluency, alongside a critique of one-size-fits-all curricula and seminar-style teaching.

Resources discussed in this episode:

Inside the Black Box: Assessment for Learning in the Classroom, by Paul Black et al.
https://bit.ly/4dUdqqG

Inside the Black Box: Raising Standards Through Classroom Assessment, by Dylan Wiliam & Paul Black
https://kappanonline.org/inside-the-black-box-raising-standards-through-classroom-assessment/

Kolb's Cycle of Reflective Practice — University of Hull
https://libguides.hull.ac.uk/reflectivewriting/kolb

Teach Like a Champion, by Doug Lemov
https://teachlikeachampion.org/books/

The Art of Learning, by Josh Waitzkin
https://www.joshwaitzkin.com/the-art-of-learning

Mental models discussed in this episode:

Cognitive Load
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/cognitive-load/
Goodhart's Law
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/goodharts-law/
Feedback Loop

Mini Ep. 12: The Anatomic Hierarchy

Thursday, July 25, 2024 • Duration 08:53

In this week's mini-episode, we're discussing the anatomic hierarchy! The anatomic hierarchy is a simple but powerful mental model that organizes our body into six major tools, from strongest to weakest: our torso, our two legs, our two arms, and our head. The anatomic hierarchy teaches us that when attacking, we should use as many of our weapons as possible, especially the stronger ones. And we'll also have better success if we're attacking a weaker part of our opponent's body.

Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro

Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

Sign up here for a free trial:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/

Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

Follow us on social:
https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!

MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:

Ep. 221: Getting Better Faster, feat. Jozef Chen

Episode 221

Monday, March 6, 2023 • Duration 01:00:47

This week we're joined by Jozef Chen! Jozef is a member of the B Team and has been a BJJ Mental Models community member since the early days. Jozef is also known for how rapidly he developed his skillset as a Jiu-Jitsu athlete. In this episode, Jozef shares his method, with some great insights into Josh Waitzkin's work, growth versus performance, innovators versus honers, competitive esports, and other cool avenues you might not have considered in your learning journey.

Follow Jozef on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jozefchenjj/

Resources discussed in this episode:

The Art of Learning, by Josh Waitzkin
https://amzn.to/3XilAkq

The Will to Keep Winning, by Daigo "The Beast" Umehara
https://amzn.to/41zTDYq

The Two Types of Gamers (Honers vs. Innovators) — Core-A Gaming
https://youtu.be/C3q5nSqGXr4

Mental models discussed in this episode:

Form to Leave Form
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/form-to-leave-form/
Making Smaller Circles
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/making-smaller-circles/
Shuhari
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/shuhari/
Investing in Loss
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/investing-in-loss/
Path of Least Resistance
http://bjjmentalmodels.com/path-of-least-resistance/

SPECIAL: Gym Rats and Giving Back 2.0, feat. Andrew Wiltse

Saturday, March 4, 2023 • Duration 56:43

In this special bonus episode, Andrew Wiltse from Daisy Fresh and Wiltse Bros BJJ joins us for a raw and transparent conversation about mental health, the future of Jiu-Jitsu, and how we can best support our athletes.

Wiltse Bros. on BJJ Fanatics:
https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_andrew-wiltse

Wiltse Bros. on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/WiltseBrothersBJJ

Wiltse Bros. on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/WiltseBrothersBJJ/

Resource mentioned in this episode:
How to Win, by Rafael Lovato Jr.
https://www.timelessjiujitsu.com/how-to-win

Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

If you love the podcast, you’ll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

Sign up here for a free trial:
https://premium.bjjmentalmodels.com/

Need more BJJ Mental Models?

Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

Follow us on social:Music by Enterprize:

Ep. 220: Note-Taking for Jiu-Jitsu, feat. Rachel Ranschau

Episode 220

Monday, February 27, 2023 • Duration 01:04:13

This week we're joined by Rachel Ranschau! Rachel is a black belt under André Galvão and an avid Jiu-Jitsu note-taker. In this episode, Rachel shares her approach to note-taking, and explains how it accelerates information retention and skill development.

Follow Rachel on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/rachelranschau/

Check out Rachel's Jiu Jitsu X instructional, Systematically Starting Sleeves:
https://bit.ly/3Z6nwgA

Mental models discussed in this episode:

Effortful Retrieval
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/effortful-retrieval/
Train With Purpose
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/train-with-purpose/
Extreme Ownership
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/extreme-ownership/
Feedback Loop
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loop/
Intention
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/intention/
Naming Concepts
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/naming-concepts/
Spaced Repetition
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/spaced-repetition/
Ulysses Contracts
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/ulysses-contracts/

Ep. 219: Think Like an Analyst, feat. Jake Luigi

Episode 219

Monday, February 20, 2023 • Duration 58:30

This week we're joined by Jake Luigi! Jake is best known as the creator of the hugely popular BJJ YouTube channel, Less Impressed More Involved. In this episode, Jake explains his analytical approach, which he used to create one of the most essential Jiu-Jitsu resources on YouTube. A great listen for anyone interested in research and tape study.

Jake's YouTube channel - Less Impressed More Involved:
https://www.youtube.com/@LIMIBJJ

Jake's podcast - 1-800-BJJ-HELP:
https://1800bjjhelp.buzzsprout.com/

Jake's instructional - Less Impressed More Half Guard Passing:
https://limibjj.mykajabi.com/

Mental models discussed in this episode:

Making Smaller Circles
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/making-smaller-circles/
Train With Purpose
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/train-with-purpose/
Resulting Fallacy
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/resulting/
Investing in Loss
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/investing-in-loss/
80/20 Rule
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/80-20-rule/
Concepts Over Techniques
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques/

Ep. 218: Overcoming Competition Anxiety, feat. Amanda Bruse

Episode 218

Monday, February 13, 2023 • Duration 58:38

This week we're joined by Amanda Bruse! Amanda is a new black belt under André Galvão, and just joined the BJJ Mental Models review team! In this episode, Amanda provides some great perspective on how competitors can navigate competition anxiety.

Follow Amanda on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/amandabruse.bjj/

Book referenced on the podcast:
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
https://amzn.to/3W8v8xs

Mental models discussed in this episode:

Growth From Discomfort
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/growth-from-discomfort/
Incremental Learning
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/incremental-learning/
You Are What You Train
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/you-are-what-you-train/
Technique Visualization
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/technique-visualization/
Habits Over Results
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/habits-over-results/
Perception-Action Coupling
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/perception-action-coupling/
Investing in Loss
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/investing-in-loss/

Ep. 217: World-Class From Anywhere, feat. Margot Ciccarelli

Episode 217

Monday, February 6, 2023 • Duration 01:00:28

This week we're joined again by BJJMM team member and fan favorite Margot Ciccarelli! They call her "The Nomadic Mars" for a reason: Margot has lived the nomadic lifestyle and has trained at gyms all around the world. In this episode, Margot shares her tips for becoming a world-class athlete from anywhere in the world.

Follow Margot on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/margotciccarelli/

Get coaching from Margot:
https://margotciccarelli.com/

Mental models discussed in this episode:

Intention
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/intention/
Idea Communism
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/idea-communism/
Feedback Loop
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/feedback-loop/
Growth Mindset
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/growth-mindset/
Keep Your Identity Small
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/keep-your-identity-small/
Scientific Method
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/scientific-method/
Investing in Loss
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/investing-in-loss/
Plus, Minus, Equals
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/plus-minus-equals/

Ep. 216: How Instructors Learn, feat. Taylor Biagi

Episode 216

Monday, January 30, 2023 • Duration 54:05

This week we're joined by Taylor Biagi! Taylor is the founder and head instructor at Taylor Biagi Jiu Jitsu in Chicago. In this episode, Steve and Taylor talk about how instructors learn, and how their learning journey is different from that of a student.

Follow Taylor on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/taylorbiagibjj/

Taylor's website:
https://taylorbiagijiujitsu.com/

Taylor's email:
info@taylorbiagijiujitsu.com

Resources referenced in this podcast:

The Danaher Diaries, by Heroes of the Art
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087MD1M33

Ep. 214: Mental Performance Coaching, feat. Justin Su'a
https://bjj.plus/214

Ep. 207: The Kaboom Kids BJJ Framework, feat. Kabir Bath
https://bjj.plus/207

Mental models discussed in this episode:

Raise the Level in the Room
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/raise-the-level-in-the-room/
First Principles
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/first-principles/
Concepts Over Techniques
https://bjjmentalmodels.com/concepts-over-techniques/
Naming Concepts
https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/naming-concepts/

BJJ Mental Models – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

BJJ Mental Models – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other99+

Instagram99+

Facebook23

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other99+

Instagram99+

Facebook23

Apple Podcasts

Spotify