Episode 313 - BJJ Q&A: BJJ "Off Season," Evolution of BJJ, and Negative Self-Talk

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss the importance of building a strong defensive side control to create a better offensive Jiu-Jitsu game. We discuss how initially we focus on bottom side control defense as newer grapplers, but eventually stop focusing on this part of our game. We also discuss why having poor defense can make your offense less effective, how a solid defense will improve your submission rate in competition, why confidence in your escapes works like a safety net, why grapplers panic in bottom side control, the first step in getting better at side control escapes, why Chewy decided to start focusing on his bottom side control escapes as a BJJ brown belt, the biggest and most common mistakes in relation to escapes and defense, and the importance of mastering a handful of techniques. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss the impact the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) will have on the state of grappling and the upcoming ADCC world championships. We discuss our thoughts on Craig’s motives and strategy when promoting the CJI, the importance of using high quality production to attract spectators, the increased attention that Craig Jones and the CJI has brought to grappling, why the timing of the CJI is bad for the athletes, the pros and cons of splitting the elite grapplers between the two tournaments, the CJI ruleset, the Gabi Garcia vs Craig Jones superfight, and the results of Chewy’s Instagram poll of whether people would attend the CJI, ADCC, or neither. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode, we answer the question of whether you should always focus on “position before submission” in Jiu-Jitsu. We discuss getting chokes without solidifying a position, using leg locks, advantageous positions that aren’t the “traditional”BJJ positions, the benefits of position before submission for beginners, how submissions are initiated through transitions, how tournament rules dictate the grappling style, a rule that is commonly broken in Jiu-Jitsu, and the importance of being coachable. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene answer 5 questions that we received from podcast listeners. We discuss the following topics: What’s the best way to “unlock” the hips? What is Chewy’s favorite historical time period? Should Jiu-Jitsu have an “off season”? Where do we see BJJ evolve in the next 5-15 years? What are some strategies for dealing with the negative voice inside you when you get smashed in training? Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene are joined by BJJ black belt and founder of “BJJ After 40,” Mike Bidwell. Mike joins the podcast to discuss his start in traditional martial arts, how stretching his hips improved the health of his knees, Mike’s favorite stretch to improve hip flexibility, Mike’s most important rule to follow before full rolling, how to “clear the calculator,” the importance of having Jiu-Jitsu as a release, the two critical questions to ask yourself in BJJ, how training evolves as you get older, the utilization of “Precovery,” active recovery, the "Pomodoro Method," how to build good habits, who inspired Mike's coaching, recovering from an injury, how Mike discovered BJJ, and the idea behind "BJJ After 40." To check out the full tournament schedule for The Chewjitsu Open head over to https://chewjitsu.nuwaycombat.com/ Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast  

Amanda Leve is a Jiu-Jitsu black Belt, multiple-time ADCC Trials winner, and former professional MMA fighter. Amanda joins the podcast to discuss how a medical condition abruptly stopped her MMA career and how this encouraged her to dive back into grappling competition, how Amanda got started BJJ, how Amanda developed a passion for MMA, developing a different perspective on practice, how working with a mindset coach helped athletic performance, the importance of a warm up, Amanda’s experience competing against Gabi Garcia, Amanda's tournament prep, dealing with competition anxiety, the importance of posture to show confidence, how to build cardio for grappling, recovery for, how to know when you need to take time off from training, Amanda’s favorite takedown and submission, and the most influential person in her martial arts career. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode, we are joined by multiple time Jiu-Jitsu World Champion and 2022 ADCC bronze medalist, Dante Leon. Dante joins the podcast to discuss his start in grappling, one of the most important aspects of being an elite grappler, how team sports helped with grappling and being a good training partner, what allowed Dante to excel in grappling, when Dante made the jump to becoming a full-time grappler, moving to Ohio from Canada, the importance of a good gym environment and how to get better with a small group of training partners, typical training camp, favorite rules sets and which rules Dante would change, live training vs. positional training vs drilling, the importance of weight-lifting and the method of lifting Dante prefers, thoughts on lifting specifically for grappling, his proudest achievements and goals for the future, and if there was anything that Dante would have done differently throughout his career. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene are joined by Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, high level competitor, and head no-gi coach at Legion AJJ, Sloan "Caveman" Clymer. Sloan discusses the importance of honesty as a coach, how to develop high level submissions, learning Jiu-Jitsu from his dad while training in his barn, moving across the country to pursue grappling, what it was like training under Richie “Boogeyman” Martinez, moving to Legion AJJ and training under Keenan Cornelius, tips on becoming a high level competitor, the importance of taking tough matches, not making a big deal of the wins or losses, some of his most valuable learning experiences from competition, why being nervous is useful before competition, dealing with competition anxiety, and how Sloan got his nickname “Caveman. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

Mike Perez is an ATOS Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, high level competitor, and the 2024 ADCC West Coast Trials +99 KG winner. On this episode, Mike discusses his start in grappling, choosing to train at ATOS Jiu-Jitsu with Andre Galvao, the strategies Mike used against the bigger grappler at the 2024 ADCC West Coast Trials, the main technique Mike avoids against bigger grapplers, why Mike chose to go up in weight to compete at the +99 kg division at ADCC West Coast trials, how to avoid getting crushed by the larger grappler, why Mike made the decision to stop drinking alcohol, the importance of making better lifestyle choices when you get into your 30’s, dealing with nerves and pressure of competition, and Mike's pre-competition routine. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene answer some listener questions. What is one thing that all great competitors do? How to deal with a coach who acts like a “needy ex”? Should you compete in the Adult or Masters division as a 35 year old hobbyist? What is the proper etiquette for rolling with a disabled grappler? How to improve in BJJ with an unpredictable and sometimes limited training schedule? Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Charlotte's Web CBD. Head over to https://bit.ly/chewjitsu30 and use the promo code Chewjitsu30 to get 30% off of your total purchase. Epic Roll BJJ. Check out https://www.epicrollbjj.com and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off of your total purchase. Manscaped. Check out https://www.manscaped.com/ and use the promo code Chewjitsu20 to get 20% off and free shipping! Check out podcast exclusives including conversations with guests, Q&A sessions, and tons more at https://patreon.com/thechewjitsupodcast