Fighting Matters – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan (BJJ Mental Models) is joined by Tim Lee Peterson for a candid conversation about the UFC’s growing alignment with far-right politics. They discuss how combat sports are being used as a cultural vehicle for political extremism, including the visible support of authoritarian figures and the platforming of openly fascist athletes.

The discussion explores how these developments impact the broader martial arts community, the role of disinformation, and the danger of normalizing political violence and exclusionary ideologies in a sport that should be about inclusion, discipline, and mutual respect.

🎙️ Follow Steve: @bjjmentalmodels on Instagram and Threads
🎙️ Follow Tim: @timothyleepeterson on Instagram and Threads

The word fascism gets thrown around a lot, but words have meanings and fascism does not mean “ all the things that I don’t like”. in this video, I go through the 10 pillars of fascism as laid out by Jason Stanley in his book, How Fascism Works.

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan (BJJ Mental Models), Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ), and Mike Mahaffey (Magic BJJ) discuss the backlash to a recent viral post about Jiu-Jitsu’s historical links to fascism, and how that history continues to shape the culture of the sport today.

They also talk about Joe Rogan’s evolving role in martial arts media, the influence of the manosphere, and the challenges of having honest conversations in a polarized environment.

Topics include:
– Why critiques of Jiu-Jitsu history often feel personal
– Whether and how to separate the art from its founders
– Joe Rogan’s influence and responsibility as a media figure
– The impact of social media, tribalism, and identity
– The manosphere’s reach into martial arts culture
– What it might take to build a more open and inclusive community

#BJJ #JoeRogan #JiuJitsu #Manosphere #MartialArts #FightingMatters #BJJPodcast

Is Jiu-Jitsu just about choking people—or can it actually make the world better?

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan (BJJ Mental Models), Jeff Shaw (Bellingham BJJ), Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ), and Mike Mahaffey (Old Bastard BJJ) dive into how martial artists are stepping up to support their communities during turbulent times. From running charity seminars for LGBTQ+ and immigrant groups, to facing political backlash and online trolls, the crew lays it all out—with jokes, passion, and a bit of Moon Knight cosplay.

🌀 What does “conservatism” mean on the mats?
🔥 What happens when martial artists use their platforms to fight for more than just submissions?
🤝 How can YOU make a difference in your gym, even if you’re “just” a white belt?

Drop a comment with your own stories or ideas. Let’s build something better—together.

#BJJCommunity #FightingMatters #JiuJitsuForGood #MartialArtsPodcast #SteveKwan #JeffShaw #JesseWalker #MikeMahaffey #BJJFundraisers #TransRights #ImmigrantSupport #BJJMentalModels #BJJPodcast

Stephan Kesting, Mike Mahaffey, Jeff Shaw, and Jesse Walker have an unfiltered, deeply personal conversation about the growing political divide in the combat sports world.

They discuss recent developments with Conor McGregor, Dana White, Andrew Tate, and Cain Velasquez, and the reaction of the MMA community to those events.  They also address how hero fantasies can have negative and unintended consequences, how children of all nationalities should be protected, and how real change requires genuine commitment and action from individuals.

👉 Like, share, and subscribe if you want to see more honest conversations like this.

📌 Featuring:
 • Stephan Kesting (Grapplearts)
 • Mike Mahaffey (Old Bastard BJJ)
 • Jeff Shaw (Bellingham BJJ)
 • Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ)

#BJJ #Politics #JiuJitsu #MMA #MartialArts #Fascism #ProgressiveJiuJitsu #CombatSports #BJJMentalModels

In this special roundtable episode, Stephan Kesting, Steve Kwan, Jeff Shaw, and Jesse Walker for an unfiltered, deeply personal conversation about the growing political divide in the combat sports world.

They tackle tough questions:
 • Why has far-right ideology gained traction in Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and pro wrestling?
 • Is it really possible—or responsible—to “keep politics out of the gym”?
 • How do we support vulnerable communities and still create welcoming, inclusive spaces on the mats?
 • What does it actually mean to be a responsible coach, gym owner, or practitioner in 2025?

This isn’t just a political rant—it’s a call to action for those who still believe martial arts can be a force for good.

👉 Like, share, and subscribe if you want to see more honest conversations like this.

📌 Featuring:
 • Stephan Kesting (Grapplearts)
 • Steve Kwan (BJJ Mental Models)
 • Jeff Shaw (Bellingham BJJ)
 • Jesse Walker (Rough Hands BJJ)

#BJJ #Politics #JiuJitsu #MMA #MartialArts #Fascism #ProgressiveJiuJitsu #CombatSports #BJJMentalModels

Why do so many women quit Jiu-Jitsu—and what can we do to fix it?

In this candid and eye-opening episode, Fighting Matters sits down with Shelby York of Rough Hands BJJ to talk about the real reasons women leave the sport. From casual misogyny to unsafe training environments, Shelby shares the often overlooked struggles women face in martial arts—and what coaches, training partners, and gym owners can actually do to make things better.

Also featuring hosts Steve Kwan, Jesse Walker, and Mike Mahaffey.

✅ Topics include:
 • The subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways women are pushed out
 • Why some gyms feel unsafe—and how to fix that
 • How to build a culture where women want to train
 • The difference between intimacy and sexualization on the mats
 • Shelby’s own stories of navigating the martial arts world as a coach

👉 Whether you run a gym or just want to be a better training partner, this conversation is a must-listen.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introductions
02:23 Women in Martial Arts: Experiences and Challenges
07:07 Shelby's Martial Arts Background and Perspectives
10:29 The Misogyny Problem in Martial Arts
16:13 Navigating Gender Dynamics in the Gym
24:41 Addressing Subtle Forms of Misogyny
26:09 Understanding Victim Blame in Self-Defense
27:16 The Role of Physical Attributes in Martial Arts
28:11 Gaslighting in Martial Arts Training
30:14 Communication Styles in Self-Defense Training
32:19 Addressing Sexual Assault in Self-Defense
35:07 The Importance of Women's Voices in Martial Arts
36:45 Recognizing Trusted Aggressors
39:14 The Reality of Self-Defense Situations
40:21 Empowering Women to Speak Up
42:26 Navigating Male Receptivity in Conversations
47:45 Creating a Safe Training Environment
53:02 Challenging Gender Stereotypes in Sports
55:04 Navigating Gender Dynamics in Training
57:53 Empowerment and Consent in Martial Arts
01:00:14 Creating Safe Spaces in Jiu-Jitsu
01:03:01 Building an Inclusive Gym Culture
01:10:10 The Importance of Genuine Interactions

#jiujitsu #bjj #womensbjj #martialarts #selfdefense #grapplingculture #fightingmatters

🎙️ A candid roundtable on tariffs, economic disruption, and the fight to preserve Jiu-Jitsu communities during hard times.

In this episode of Fighting Matters, co-hosts Steve Kwan, Jesse Walker, and Jeff Shaw take a hard look at how Trump’s tariff policies and looming economic challenges are threatening Jiu-Jitsu gyms across North America. Drawing from their experiences as gym owners, content creators, and lifelong martial artists, they explore how Jiu-Jitsu businesses can survive—and even thrive—through solidarity, long-term thinking, and real community-building.

This conversation isn’t about partisan politics. It’s about practical survival strategies for the martial arts world—and why now, more than ever, community must come first.

⸻

👥 Featuring:

Steve Kwan ‪@bjjmentalmodels‬
Jesse Walker ‪@roughhandsbjj‬
Jeff Shaw ‪@bellinghambjj‬

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• How tariffs and border restrictions threaten Jiu-Jitsu gyms
• Why wealth concentration hurts martial arts communities
• How to recession-proof your academy today
• The hidden risks of economic downturns for small businesses
• Why Jiu-Jitsu must become more than just a sport
• How generosity, community, and loyalty can save your gym
• Practical ways to support students and staff through hardship

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📖 Chapters:

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and WrestleMania Discussion
05:06 Impact of Current Events on Jiu-Jitsu Businesses
09:56 Challenges Faced by Gym Owners
15:08 Community Building and Brand Loyalty
20:03 Economic Insights and Strategies for Survival
25:01 Opportunities in Crisis
30:04 Concluding Thoughts on Wealth and Responsibility
41:42 Navigating Economic Challenges in Jiu Jitsu
48:24 Building Community Through Jiu Jitsu
57:45 Long-Term Thinking in Business
01:03:19 Supporting Local Businesses Over Corporations
01:04:11 Addressing Misogyny in Jiu Jitsu

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💬 Notable Quotes:

“You don’t save a gym by cutting your people.” – Jeff
“Generosity is the strongest brand you can build.” – Steve
“Investing in your community pays bigger dividends than saving pennies.” – Jesse

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🎯 For Listeners Who:

• Own or manage a martial arts gym
• Want to protect their community from economic shocks
• Believe small businesses are worth fighting for
• Are looking for real-world survival strategies for martial arts
• Value leadership, loyalty, and resilience over short-term profits

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💬 Your thoughts matter—join the conversation in the comments below.

🎧 Subscribe to Fighting Matters for open, honest dialogue on martial arts, community, and survival in a changing world.

#JiuJitsu #MartialArts #Tariffs #Recession #BJJCommunity #FightingMatters #SmallBusiness #CommunityBuilding #BJJPodcast #TrumpTariffs #MartialArtsTalk

🎙️ A candid roundtable on tribalism, culture wars, and the struggle to preserve community in Jiu-Jitsu and beyond.

In this episode of Fighting Matters, co-hosts Steve Kwan, Mike Mahaffey, Jesse Walker, and Timothy Lee Peterson take a hard look at how identity politics and ideological polarization are affecting the martial arts world. Drawing from their own experiences as coaches, practitioners, and community leaders, they explore how social division is creeping onto the mats—and how we can push back with empathy, respect, and clarity.

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👥 Featuring:

Steve Kwan ‪@bjjmentalmodels‬
Mike Mahaffey ‪@OldBastardBJJ‬
Jesse Walker ‪@roughhandsbjj‬
Timothy Lee Peterson ‪@timothyleepeterson‬

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🧠 Topics We Cover:

• Why identity has become central to modern conflict
• How online behavior and purity tests are dividing gyms
• The difference between ignorance and harm
• How to handle mistakes without driving people away
• Why modeling values is more powerful than policing language
• Creating psychologically safe spaces for real learning and growth
• How martial arts can teach us to communicate across ideological lines

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Exploring Identity in Political Discourse
05:53 The Impact of Tribalism on Communication
11:00 Navigating Conversations with Empathy
17:36 The Role of Language in Identity
22:26 Building Bridges Through Understanding
36:35 Navigating Identity and Respect
39:16 Mistakes and Forgiveness in Communication
40:37 Bridging Divides Through Understanding
42:36 The Importance of Interests Over Positions
46:00 Creating a Culture of Tolerance for Mistakes
50:18 Psychological Safety in Conversations
54:10 Modeling Behavior for Change
01:00:15 The Power of Language in Understanding
01:04:06 Asking the Right Questions to Understand Perspectives

🎙️ A deep dive into how Trump’s anti-Canada rhetoric flipped the Canadian election—and what it means for martial artists on both sides of the border.

In this episode of Fighting Matters, Steve Kwan is joined by longtime friend and grappling legend Stephan Kesting for a raw, unfiltered conversation about Canada’s 2025 federal election. They unpack how the rise of MAGA-style politics north of the border sparked a national backlash, ultimately reshaping Canadian leadership—and exposing fractures in the martial arts world.

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👥 Featuring:

Steve Kwan ‪@bjjmentalmodels‬
Stephan Kesting ‪@StephanKesting‬

⸻

🧠 Topics We Cover:

• Why Trump’s threats to Canada changed the outcome of the election
• The rise—and rejection—of MAGA politics in Canadian culture
• How COVID and the Freedom Convoy broke the Jiu-Jitsu community
• What American martial artists need to understand about their influence abroad
• Whether Canada can still trust its southern neighbor

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📖 Chapters:

00:00 Canadian Elections and Political Landscape
09:08 Trudeau's Downfall and the Rise of Mark Carney
17:58 The Freedom Convoy and Its Impact on Society
32:58 The Division in the Martial Arts Community
35:12 The Impact of Information Bubbles
39:32 Reality Check: The Pandemic's Influence
43:15 Political Dynamics in Canada
50:05 The Future of Canadian Politics
57:25 Cross-Border Relations and Travel Concerns
01:02:09 Understanding Perspectives: The Info Bubble Challenge