Off the Mats Podcast #332- Growing the Sport, Taking Care of the Community

Where is Brazilian jiu-jitsu headed, and what does that mean for the people who actually train? In this solo episode of Off the Mats Podcast, Jake Dante shares his perspective on the current state of BJJ, from professional grappling and athlete opportunities to gym culture and the everyday hobbyist. Jake explores balancing training with family and work, building welcoming gyms, and how social media shapes our expectations around progress, belt promotions, and success. Whether you’re a competitor, a weekend grappler, or stepping onto the mats for the first time, this episode asks what we want jiu-jitsu to become and how we can help it get there.

This week on Off the Mats Podcast, I welcome back David Riedman to celebrate his recent promotion to Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. David reflects on the moments that shaped his approach to BJJ, the challenges of staying consistent, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. We discuss personal growth through jiu-jitsu, his role in the gym, and what he’s looking forward to as he begins this next chapter. A big shout out and thank you to Yamasaki Academy in Rockville, Maryland, and the coaches and training partners who help make these milestones possible. Whether you’re starting out or have spent years on the mats, join us for a conversation about progress, perseverance, and what earning a black belt means.

On this episode of Off the Mats Podcast, I sit down with Drew Wills, creator of Tap In BJJ, to talk about the idea behind the app and what inspired him to build something specifically for the jiu-jitsu community. We get into Drew’s own BJJ journey, his background in technology, and the frustrations that led to the creation of Tap In. Drew explains how the app helps grapplers track their training, find academies, discover open mats and events, connect with the community, and make it easier to train while traveling. We also talk about the academy side of Tap In, including attendance, student retention, communication, and the challenges of building a platform that works for both grapplers and gym owners. Drew shares some of the lessons he’s learned while developing the app, what it takes to grow a BJJ-focused business, and where he hopes Tap In can go in the future. If you train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, run an academy, travel and look for places to train, or just enjoy hearing how people within the community are trying to make BJJ better, this is a conversation worth checking out. Search for Tap In BJJ on iOS and Android, and follow Off the Mats Podcast for more conversations from the jiu-jitsu community.

Naomi Davoudian returns to the Off the Mats Podcast to celebrate a major milestone in her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey: her recent promotion to blue belt. We catch up on what earning the new rank means to her, how her perspective on training has changed since her days as a white belt, and the expectations that come with stepping onto the mats with a new color around her waist. Naomi also reflects on adapting to a new gym and professor, developing her own jiu-jitsu game, and what she wants this next chapter of her journey to look like. We also get into the competition side of BJJ, including her experience at IBJJF Master's International and the realities of preparing to make weight. Naomi opens up about weight cutting, managing her weight leading into competition, and the physical and mental pressure grapplers can put on themselves before they ever step onto the competition mats. From navigating a new belt and setting future goals to preparing for competition and figuring out how to keep enjoying jiu-jitsu for the long haul, this is a conversation about growth, expectations, and continuing to find yourself through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Returning guest Rochelle Potter is back on Off the Mats Podcast, and this time she’s celebrating one of the biggest milestones in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: earning her BJJ black belt. Rochelle and I pick up where our previous conversation left off and look at the natural progression of her journey from purple belt to brown belt and, ultimately, black belt. We talk about how her relationship with jiu-jitsu has changed, the lessons learned through competition, expanding on her role as a coach, helping grow women’s jiu-jitsu, and what it means to now have other grapplers looking to her for guidance. We also revisit a question from our first conversation: What does jiu-jitsu success actually mean? Now, with a black belt around her waist, Rochelle reflects on whether that answer has changed, what the promotion means beyond the rank itself, and what motivates her when there’s no longer another colored belt to chase. This episode is about much more than earning a black belt. It’s about growth, perseverance, coaching, competition, community, and discovering who you become along the way.

This week on the podcast, I welcome back Steve Phillips as we follow up on his fitness journey, continuing from our previous conversation on episode #312 When Steve joined me back in May, we talked about making changes, setting goals, finding motivation, building discipline, and taking better care of yourself. A few months later, we're finding out what happened since then and where we are now. Steve and I talk about the progress he's made, the setbacks he's faced, changes to his workouts and nutrition, staying consistent when life gets in the way, and learning not to let one bad day turn into a bad week. We also get into getting older and staying active, accountability, confidence, the mental side of fitness, and whether his original goals have changed along the way. This isn't a before-and-after success story. It's a conversation about what trying to make lasting changes actually looks like: the wins, the struggles, and everything in between. Whether you're into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, fitness, weight loss, strength training, or simply trying to build healthier habits, there's something in this conversation for anyone who's ever tried to make a change and discovered that starting was the easy part. This week on the podcast, I welcome back Steve Phillips as we follow up on his fitness journey, continuing from our previous conversation on episode #312 When Steve joined me back in May, we talked about making changes, setting goals, finding motivation, building discipline, and taking better care of yourself. A few months later, we’re finding out what happened since then and where we are now. Steve and I talk about the progress he’s made, the setbacks he’s faced, changes to his workouts and nutrition, staying consistent when life gets in the way, and learning not to let one bad day turn into a bad week. We also get into getting older and staying active, accountability, confidence, the mental side of fitness, and whether his original goals have changed along the way. This isn’t a before-and-after success story. It’s a conversation about what trying to make lasting changes actually looks like: the wins, the struggles, and everything in between. Whether you’re into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, fitness, weight loss, strength training, or simply trying to build healthier habits, this conversation has something for anyone who’s ever tried to make a change and discovered that starting was the easy part.

This week on the podcast, I welcome back Crazy 88 MMA Brown Belt Kyle Rocke for a catch-up episode focused on jiu-jitsu, travel, and his recent trip to Barbados. Kyle shares what took him to the island, his experience exploring Barbados, and what happened when he decided to add a little Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the vacation by dropping into a local BJJ academy. We talk about walking into an unfamiliar gym and what it’s like to realize that jiu-jitsu gives you an instant connection with people almost anywhere in the world. We also catch up on Kyle’s current BJJ journey, what he’s been working on back home, how his game has evolved, and whether training while traveling is something more grapplers should experience. Whether you train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, enjoy martial arts travel, or have ever thought about packing your gi on vacation, this episode is a look at how the mats can make a new place feel a little more familiar.

Returning guest Mannuel C. joins me again on the Off the Mats Podcast for a laid-back catch-up conversation about life, jiu-jitsu, personal growth, and everything that’s changed since we last sat down together. We talk about where Mannuel is in life right now, changes in motivation, navigating plateaus, and the importance of the right people and training environment. We also get into changing priorities, personal goals, and what keeps him moving forward through different seasons of life. This episode is less about chasing one specific topic and more about checking in, reconnecting, and having the kind of conversation that happens when two people haven’t sat down together in a while. Whether you train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, enjoy martial arts podcasts, or just appreciate honest conversations about growth and everyday life, this episode has something for you. Follow Off the Mats Podcast for more conversations with grapplers, martial artists, coaches, competitors, and people from throughout the BJJ community.

In this episode of the Off the Mats Nerdcast, I’m joined by Maryland Phil to break down Spider-Man: Brand New Day and share our full thoughts on the latest chapter in Tom Holland’s Spider-Man story. We give our score of the film out of 10, we talk about what worked, what didn’t, our favorite moments, the movie’s biggest weaknesses, and give our official Good, Bad & Ugly before revealing our official Good, Bad & Ugly. We also dive into the latest Marvel X-Men reboot casting news, sharing our reactions to the actors stepping into some of the most iconic mutant roles in Marvel history and discussing what we hope to see when the X-Men officially make their mark on the MCU. Whether you’re a longtime Spider-Man fan, an X-Men reader, or just trying to keep up with everything happening in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, join us for another nerd-filled conversation on the Off the Mats Nerdcast. Topics include: Spider-Man: Brand New Day review, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, Marvel Studios, MCU, X-Men reboot, Marvel X-Men cast, Spider-Man movie ranking, Good Bad & Ugly review, comic book movies, and Marvel news.

In this episode of Off the Mats Podcast, I sit down with my Crazy 88 MMA teammate Renee R., along with her son Joshua and daughter Annalena, to talk about what it’s been like discovering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu together as a family. Renee began training in January 2026 and is still in the early stages of her journey as a white belt, but she has already experienced how quickly jiu-jitsu can become more than just another hobby. We talk about what originally brought her to the mats, the nerves and challenges that come with being a beginner, learning to become comfortable with being uncomfortable, competing early in her journey, and the ways training has started to influence her confidence and mindset away from the gym. Joshua and Annalena also join the conversation to share their own experiences training at Crazy 88 MMA, giving us a look at jiu-jitsu through the eyes of younger athletes and what it’s like when martial arts becomes something the entire family can share. This episode is about more than submissions and techniques. It’s about starting something new, growing together, and finding community through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Whether you’re a longtime grappler, a brand-new white belt, a parent considering martial arts for your kids, or someone wondering what it’s like to begin BJJ, this conversation offers a relatable look at life on and off the mats. Topics include: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for beginners, the white belt experience, kids in jiu-jitsu, family martial arts, BJJ competition, Crazy 88 MMA, confidence, personal growth, and building community through grappling.