The BJJ Mental Coach Podcast with Gustavo Dantas – Details, episodes & analysis

🎙️ Hywel Teague

Third-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Hywel Teague is a renowned commentator, analyst, and podcast host with over 20 years of global experience in jiu-jitsu and combat sports.

He was the founding editor of FloGrappling, joining at its creation in 2015 and leading the content team for seven years. From 2022 to 2025, he served as content strategist for the B-Team YouTube channel, collaborating closely with Craig Jones to redefine modern jiu-jitsu media.

His voice has been heard commentating at major events such as the ADCC World Championships, IBJJF World Championships, ADXC, AIGA, and many others.

Alongside Matt Benyon (Scramble and Polaris co-founder), Hywel co-hosts the Unknown Pressures Podcast, continuing to shape the storytelling and media landscape of jiu-jitsu worldwide.

Enjoy!

Gustavo Dantas

www.thebjjmentalcoach.com

www.jiujitsutribe.org

INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/gustavodantasbjj

PODCAST UNKNOWN PRESSURES https://youtube.com/@UnknownPressures?si=cVSCXlqZ5yqzSMyQ

SPOTIFY https://open.spotify.com/show/61hk0ul9sltg2sKJyPNnjo?si=NFQhPJmZT-yP0uqGdErgow

Today I want to share two things with you:

1️⃣ My experience at the 2025 CBJJ/IBJJF Brazilian Nationals — always a powerful journey full of lessons on and off the mats.

2️⃣ And… a really cool announcement I’m excited to share with you!

Stick around until the end and let me know in the comments what resonated most with you. Let’s keep growing together!

Gustavo Dantas

​⁠ ​⁠ @JockoFuel 

20% off da sua primeira compra 💵

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#BrazilianNationals2025 #BJJMindset #APlusAthlete #MenteBlindada #OnAndOffTheMats #ibjjf #cbjj #gustavodantasbjj #jockowillink #jockofuel #thebjjmentalcoach

Welcome to BJJ Mental Coach Podcast Episode 149. I'm your host Gustavo Dantas, and today we have Derek Price, a former NFL player, jiu-jitsu brown belt, and founder of The Faction Foundation. Derek and I first crossed paths in the early 2000s when he was a chiropractor, and I've been inspired by his journey ever since. This episode is packed with personal development insights and might be my longest one yet, but it's worth it for all the great lessons Derek shares. Here's a quick intro:

Derek Price has transitioned from NFL player and CEO of publicly traded hospitals to impactful personal coaching. Drawing on his experiences in the NFL, medical field, and CEO boardrooms, Derek has created a powerful success system for driven individuals. He founded The Faction Foundation to offer ambitious professionals the same comprehensive plan, playbook, coaching, and team support typically reserved for top athletes, doctors, and business leaders. Married for 30 years with three daughters, Derek is dedicated to sharing these tools with those who previously lacked access.

If you're listening to the audio version, stay tuned for my final thoughts at the end of the episode, and why I titled it: "If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you."

Also, check out www.thebjjmentalcoach.com for updated content that might help you on your journey. Enjoy the episode!

Gustavo Dantas

www.jiujitsutribe.org

www.thebjjmentalcoachpodcast.com

Itunes – https://tinyurl.com/y45kymp4

Spotify – https://tinyurl.com/4wxs83y3

Resources:

@derekcprice

https://thefactionfoundation.com/

Our supporters

BRAUS Fight & JJ Tribe – https://brausfight.com/?braus=jiujitsutribe

Use CODE jiujitsutribe to receive 10% your purchase

Mauricio “Tinguinha” Mariano is a 5th-degree back belt, the owner of Tinguinha Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Yorba Linda, California, and also the national director for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program for all UFC Gyms.

He talked about the importance of having mentors in your life, his struggle with asking for help, which I resonate very much so and my take away from the interview was when I asked him about a suggestion to all aspiring entrepreneurs, and his answer inspired me to title this episode: “Find your passion and live it.”

Stick around for my final thoughts after the interview when I talk about the correlation between passion and authenticity.

Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! I would love to hear your feedback about the show; you can reach me at info@thebjjmentalcoach.com

Enjoy the podcast! OSS!

Gustavo Dantas

Itunes – https://tinyurl.com/y45kymp4
Google Plus – https://tinyurl.com/ydetberf
Stitcher – http://tinyurl.com/y52f5u6z
The BJJ Mental Coach Podcast – https://tinyurl.com/y3zqkcmx

Sources:

https://www.tinguinha.com 

Book suggestion: 

How to win friends and influence people

Yasi Pujols is a purple belt under Pablo Silva and has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Texas in Austin. Yasi works with BJJ athletes to overcome anxiety and performance nerves.

This episode we talked a little bit more about Jiu-Jitsu then usual, she shared her competition experiences and dealing with performance anxiety. She also talked about the importance of aspiring or experienced entrepreneurs to understand WHY they do what they do.

My take away came right at the beginning of the interview when I asked: “How do you feel jiu-jitsu relates to life?” And her answer inspired me to title this episode Developing your mental fortitude.

Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! I would love to hear your feedback about the show; you can reach me at info@thebjjmentalcoach.com

Enjoy the podcast! OSS!

Gustavo Dantas

The BJJ Mental Coach – https://tinyurl.com/yxm44kkj
Itunes – https://tinyurl.com/y45kymp4
Google Plus – https://tinyurl.com/ydetberf
Stitcher – http://tinyurl.com/y52f5u6z

Sources:

https://www.facebook.com/dr.yasifit/

Book: Think and Growth Rich 

Lucas Lepri is a nine-time black belt World Champion(Gi & No-Gi) who is in the Hall of Fame of the IBJJF.

He talked about the struggles of balancing being a professional athlete, a husband, and father, and a business owner.

During the interview, he mentioned that after he won his first black belt World title in 2007, he started to pressure himself in competitions saying things like: “Now, I’m a World Champion, I have to win. I’m expected to win. My sponsors expect me to win. I can’t lose to this guy or that guy…”

For the next six years, Lucas got stuck on this mindset until he started to train his mind with the book PSYCHOLOGY OF CHAMPIONS, which helped him to perform to the best of his abilities again, not losing a match at the World Championship from 2014 to 2019.

And inspired by his book’s suggestion, I decided to title this episode Psychology of Champions. And for my final thoughts after the interview, I read the book to share with you my takeaway, but hopefully, you get inspired to read the book as well and implement some of the tactics of the Psychology of Champions.

Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! I would love to hear your feedback about the show; you can reach me at info@thebjjmentalcoach.com

Enjoy the podcast! OSS!

Gustavo Dantas

Itunes – https://tinyurl.com/y45kymp4
Google Plus – https://tinyurl.com/ydetberf
Stitcher – http://tinyurl.com/y52f5u6z

https://lepribjjonline.com
https://lepribjj.com

Book Suggestion:

Psychology of Champions

Andre Terencio is a fourth-degree black belt Andre Terencio, the co-founder of Brazil-021 School of Jiu-Jitsu, with multiple locations in the U.S, Canada, and Brazil, he is also the co-founder of the Brazil-021 Social Project.

He shared the importance of persistence and practice in everything you do, he shared a couple of success stories from the Brazil-021 Social Project, and my takeaway from the interview was when I asked him about a piece of advice he would give to the younger Andre when he moved to the United States, and his answer inspired me to title this episode Focusing on the process.

Stick around for my final thoughts after the interview when I expand on my takeaway with you. Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! I would love to hear your feedback about the show; you can reach me at info@thebjjmentalcoach.com

Enjoy the podcast! OSS!

Gustavo Dantas

The BJJ mental Coach – https://tinyurl.com/y63mepjx
Itunes – https://tinyurl.com/y45kymp4
Google Plus – https://tinyurl.com/ydetberf
Stitcher – http://tinyurl.com/y52f5u6z

http://www.brazil021.com/

Book Recommendation:

Mindset (Carol Dweck)

Mahamed Aly is an IBJJF Black Belt Adult World Champion Gi & No-Gi. He shared the early days of his career, the challenge of balancing the life of a professional athlete while building his personal brand and spending time with his family.

During the interview, the word commitment popped up a few times, which inspired me to title this episode: “Be committed to your vision.”

Stick around for my final thoughts after the interview when I share my takeaway with you. Stay tuned right after Jiu-Jitsu Tribe’s message.

Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! I would love to hear your feedback about the show; you can reach me at info@thebjjmentalcoach.com

Enjoy the Podcast!

Gustavo Dantas

The BJJ Mental Coach – https://tinyurl.com/yxrbomkh
Itunes – https://tinyurl.com/y45kymp4
Google Plus – https://tinyurl.com/ydetberf
Stitcher – http://tinyurl.com/y52f5u6z

Mahamed Aly YouTube Channel
Instagram @alybjj

Book recommendation: Psychology of Champions (David Ryback)

Andre “Dedeco” Almeida is a fifth-degree black belt serial entrepreneur. Besides being the co-owner of the New England United BJJ Team, he is the co-founder of Origin USA, along with Pete Roberts, our guest from episode number five, and MOST recently the co-owner of DDn’Co LifeStyle Clothing Brand.

He shared his early days teaching in Brazil then eventually the tough transition to the United States and also about partnerships in business, which inspired me to title this episode MAKING A BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP WORK.

Stick around for my final thoughts after the interview when I expand on the topic and share with you 7 Tips for Making a Business Partnership Work.

Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! I would love to hear your feedback about the show; you can reach me at info@thebjjmentalcoach.com

Enjoy the podcast! OSS!

Gustavo Dantas

The BJJ Mental Coach – https://tinyurl.com/y2pen9gx
Itunes – https://tinyurl.com/y45kymp4
Google Plus – https://tinyurl.com/ydetberf
Stitcher – http://tinyurl.com/y52f5u6z

Sources:

DDnCo Lifestyle Clothing Brand – https://www.ddnco.com/collections/ddnco

Origin USA – https://originmaine.com

Book – Start with why (Simon Sinek)

Podcast – Hands and Daylight Podcast

Justin McGibbon is a brown belt in jiu-jitsu under the ibjjf hall of Famer Robson Moura. Besides running his academy, the RMNU Ireland, he also works as an operations manager at a private investigations firm.

He shared the struggles of balancing two jobs and family time since he is married with two kids. The connection between decision making in life and jiu-jitsu, and my take away from the interview was when I asked him some of the struggles so far in his entrepreneurial journey, and his answer inspired me to title this episode Strengthening your Relationships.

Stick around for my final thoughts after the interview when I expand on this topic sharing with you a principle from the book How to win friends & influence people by Dale Carnegie.

Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! I would love to hear your feedback about the show; you can reach me at info@thebjjmentalcoach.com

Enjoy the podcast! OSS!

Gustavo Dantas

The BJJ Mental Coach Podcast – https://tinyurl.com/y2v6u6nn
Itunes – https://tinyurl.com/y45kymp4
Google Plus – https://tinyurl.com/ydetberf
Stitcher – http://tinyurl.com/y52f5u6z

www.rmnuireland.com

Book suggestions

Think and grow Rich – Napoleon Hill

4-Hour Workweek – Tim Ferris

Crush it – Gary Vaynerchuk