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...

Join us as we talk with Kevin Lucas, co-founder of New Hope Regeneration. Kevin shares insights on the benefits and applications of stem cell therapy for chronic pain and health challenges. I recently shared my struggle with a neck injury that limited my training and teaching. On December 1, 2023, I received my first stem cell treatment at New Hope Regeneration, combined with continued physiotherapy and chiropractic care, which allowed me to return to training and competing. Joining me is...

Jake Watson is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Andre Maracaba, a Junior Golden Gloves Boxing Champion and a 3x Amateur Muay Thai National Champion. He is 26 and He has competed at the highest level of BJJ, being ranked #5 in the -88kgs Division on the FloGrappling Worldwide Black Belt Rankings. As a broadcaster, Jake has actively worked as a Play-by-Play/Color Commentator, On-Air Host, Ring Announcer and Interviewer for over 40 different shows in the past 3 years. At one point in...

Mike Mella is a 49-year-old published author and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt originally from Sweden and now based in Brazil. Mike shares his journey from discovering BJJ to co-founding BJJKIDS.ORG, a Non-profit organization transforming social projects in Rio's impoverished communities. With a background in psychology and a deep connection to Brazilian culture, Mike brings unique insights into personal growth and the transformative power of BJJ. Enjoy! Gustavo...

Watus Cooper is the founder of Unfair Advantage Performance (UAP) in Tempe, Arizona. He is a former D1 Track Athlete, a strength and conditioning coach at the University of Arizona, and a blue belt in jiu-jitsu. At UAP, they specialize in a comprehensive range of services, from the cold plunge and infrared sauna to the restorative power of compression therapy, massage therapy, physical therapy, and corrective exercise. Their mission is to empower individuals to be the healthiest, happiest,...

Alex Martinez, 51 years old, 1st-degree black belt, host of the podcast The BJJ Foxcast, and owner of Ares East Mesa in Mesa, Arizona. We talked about starting late in jiu-jitsu at 40 years old and transforming his personal and professional life to pursue his passion almost ten years later.  If you're listening to the audio version, I share my final thoughts on the Interview at the end of the episode, and I titled this episode "Transform your life".  Enjoy! Gustavo...

Meet Ray Freeman, a purple belt in Jiu-jitsu and One Community Jiu-jitsu Club leader in Kansas City, a donation-based program. Instead of standard monthly memberships or contracts, Ray fosters a sense of community by allowing individuals to contribute what they can, making Jiujitsu accessible to those who might otherwise be excluded. Ray's inspiration to establish the One Community Jiujitsu Club stemmed from a profound realization – beyond aiding in his weight loss journey, Jiujitsu became a...

Welcome back to another episode of the BJJ Mental Coach podcast. Today, we are excited to welcome back the 4th-degree black belt Jorge Britto. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Jorge transitioned from soccer to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at age 13, deeply immersed in the BJJ world under esteemed mentors at the Gracie Tijuca academy, led by renowned figures such as Vinicius Aieta and Saulo Ribeiro. Taking to heart advice to learn English and teaching techniques to further his BJJ career, Jorge dove into...

Welcome to episode 141, today, we are excited to have Chatri Sityodtong, the founder, chairman, and CEO of ONE Championship, Asia's largest sports media property.  ONE ranked #2 overall in 2021 digital viewership with over 13.8 billion video views across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. It sits just behind the #1-ranked NBA, which boasts over 14.5 billion for 2021. The UFC is #5, with 6.6 billion. Chatri has over 35 years of martial arts experience as a student, fighter, teacher, and...

Welcome to episode 140! Today we have, for the second time, Thomas Rodzynski, 3rd Degree Black Belt, head instructor at the ROL Academy of Jiu Jitsu in Orland Parks, Illinois, and the co-host of The Rol Radio Podcast. I was a guest there on episodes 36 & recently, episode 142. Thomas began his journey in 2000 under the tutelage of the late Grandmaster Carlson Gracie Sr. in Chicago. Beyond his very technical skills, Professor Thomas is also known for his commitment to promoting the Jiu...

🎙️🥋 Welcome to the BJJ Mental Coach Podcast episode 139! Today, we are honored to host an incredible guest, Professor Alan Shebaro, a 4th-degree Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, a decorated military veteran, co-founder of the nonprofit We Defy Foundation, and a dedicated coach who has made a significant impact in the martial arts community. 🥋🎖️ Earning his Black Belt from Carlos Machado in 2004 and currently ranked under Professor Chris Haueter, Alan is the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt in the...

Welcome to another episode of the BJJ Mental Coach Podcast. Today, James Tomlinson, also known as JT Tenacity, is joining us. James is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Lachlan Giles and a Taekwondo black belt with over 20 years of experience as a strength coach and personal trainer from Australia. As the co-founder of Bulletproof for BJJ, James has designed a program that helps grapplers become strong and flexible, promoting longevity in the sport. He's also the co-host of the Bulletproof for BJJ...

Today, I interviewed the jiu-jitsu black belt Christina Houck, the co-founder of the nonprofit organization A New Grip, along with Samantha Glenn. The Mission of A New Grip is to help sexually exploited individuals and human trafficked survivors regain their lives and find their inner peace again using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a form of therapy and exercise. Let me give you more information on the matter: Human trafficking is a significant problem worldwide, affecting millions yearly. Most...

Calder Powers is the Executive Director of Guardian Project. Calder grew up in Oakland, California, where he faced numerous challenges during high school. Struggling with low self-esteem and depression, he turned to alcohol and drugs to escape his unhappiness. However, everything changed when he tried his first Jiu-Jitsu class during his senior year. Calder was immediately drawn in by the martial art's fun and violent nature and the sense of community and acceptance he found among his peers....

The GDT #7 is dedicated to Zac Bighorn, a jiu-jitsu athlete who, at the age of 38, was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. Despite the news, Zac continued to train and compete, inspiring his family and friends with his unbreakable spirit, determination, and gratitude. Even when he was weak and told he had only months to live, Zac signed up for tournaments and won matches. The message of Zac's journey is to be grateful for your time on earth, never give up, and pursue your passions with...

Sam Crook is a first-degree black belt, 4-time IBJJF Black Belt National Champion, 4-time British Champion, and the Jiu-Jitsu head coach of the nonprofit organization FRANCIS NGANOU FOUNDATION in the Village of Bati, Cameroon, Africa. His cousin encouraged Sam to start his jiu-jitsu journey to lose weight, and as a result, he began an impressive story that has led him around the World; Sam has trained from London to Rio making stops at multiple places in between to capitalize on world-class...

Welcome to episode 134; today, we have Tiago Mascarenhas. Tiago is a purple belt in jiu-jitsu living in Dublin, Ireland, and a serial entrepreneur passionate about education and learning. He is the co-founder and CEO of SEDA College, a first-class educational institution that offers English language courses to international students. SEDA College was established in 2009 and now welcomes around 2,000 students annually from approximately 40 countries. If you're listening to the Audio Version,...

Welcome to episode 133, I’m your host Gustavo Dantas, and today I interview for the second time, Renato Santos, a jiu-jitsu black belt and the owner of Braus Fight. Their team include big names in the sport such as: ROGER GRACIE, PAULO MIYAO, THALISON SOARES and many others. With a vision to support the growth of BJJ at the same time as providing for the community, in 2014 BRAUS Fight was born. Founded by a couple of entrepreneurs with a shared passion for BJJ, charitable initiatives and...

Jeff Mata is a brown belt under Baret Yoshida, a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, business owner and an athlete. He is the founder and president of Matavation, co-founder of Haabu, Inc. and a partner with Poway Jiu-Jitsu. Very inspirational episode. Enjoy!  Gustavo Dantas www.jiujitsutribe.org www.thebjjmentalcoachpodcast.com Itunes – https://tinyurl.com/y45kymp4 Google Plus – https://tinyurl.com/ydetberf Spotify – https://tinyurl.com/4wxs83y3 #bjjpodcast...

Dr. Mike Piekarski graduated from Binghamton University in New York with a bachelor's degree, it was during this time he found MMA and began competing, eventually turning professional while competing in Muay Thai and submission Grappling also.  After he began his professional MMA career he decided to shift his focus and return to school and earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy.  Upon completion of graduate school Mike moved to Los Angeles and earned his black belt in jiu-jitsu as well as...

Tim Welch is a black belt in jiu-jitsu under Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes. He is a former professional fighter with 23 fights in his career. He currently owns and operates TW BJJ & MMA in Peoria, Arizona, and he is Sean O’Malley’s MMA Head Coach. He is also the host of the podcast Timbo & Sugar Show Podcast & The Red Hawk Recap Podcast. Gustavo Dantas www.jiujitsutribe.org www.thebjjmentalcoachpodcast.com Itunes – https://tinyurl.com/y45kymp4 Google Plus –...

Nicholas Hoekstra is a purple belt under Trevor Rivers as well as a black belt in Judo. He received his Judo black belt in 2011 from former World Champion Katsuhiko Kashiwazaki while attending the International Budo University in Katsuura, Japan. Nick, who is visually impaired, is currently pursuing his Ph.D in Special Education at the University of Kansas. Due his work Nick has had the opportunity to travel the world and always found a place to train no the country he was in and able to find...

Andre Motta is a 5th Black Belt under Andre Pederneiras. He has had an extensive competition career as he ascended through the belts, medaling in almost every major tournament. Today, Andre is an instructor at Vitor Shaolin's academy in New Jersey. Gustavo Dantas www.jiujitsutribe.org www.thebjjmentalcoachpodcast.com Itunes – https://tinyurl.com/y45kymp4 Google Plus – https://tinyurl.com/ydetberf Spotify – https://tinyurl.com/4wxs83y3 #bjjpodcast #jiujitsupodcast

James Clingerman is a 3rd-degree black belt under Anibal Braga. He spends the vast majority of his time teaching at two different schools in Indiana, Endurance BJJ in Zionsville and the Indiana Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Greenwood. James also owns and operates The Fight Hub which is one of the Internet's top resources for online instruction in BJJ. He also has his own instructional videos with BJJ Fanatics. Gustavo Dantas www.jiujitsutribe.org Itunes – https://tinyurl.com/y45kymp4...