Gracie Jiu Jitsu Rocks! podcast

Dr. Gaetano (Guy) Scuderi, is an orthopaedic and spine surgeon and  4th degree black belt under the Velente brothers. He has been a practitioner of martial arts since his youth, with experience in Aikido, Kickboxing, Boxing, Shoot Fighting, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Judo, Japanese Jūjutsu, and Brazilian Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He has been a part of the Valente Brothers family for nearly 20 years and He owns Jup...

Robert Drysdale is a world renowned Jiu Jitsu & MMA competitor. He is the co-founder of Zenith BJJ and founder of Drysdale BJJ.  He's an IBJJF black belt world champion and a ADCC world champion. He had an 8-0 MMA record. In this interview he talks about the "golden era" of BJJ, the early days in Brazil, what made him (and all successful people)  so successful, what part accountability and ego pla...

North Carolina had some great representation at the 2019 Masters World Championships! In this episode we talk to the people that medaled at this year's event including Geeta Bhat (the Jiu Jitsu Cowgirl), Daniel Branch, Chris Lewter, Lourdes  Cantu (Lola Funki Munkii), Logan Gulick, Trevor Burns, Kim Rice and Dave Owens.

Nick "Chewy" Albin is a BJJ black belt and world class competitor and instructor. He's the owner and head instructor of Derby City MMA in louisville KY, and creator of the brand "ChewJitsu" which includes the extremely popular  website ChewJitsu.net, Youtube channel and podcast. In this interview he discusses his recent Double Gold lwin, his philosophy on Competition, the importance of controlling...

Helio Soncea is a the co-founder of Gracie Barra, an accomplished competitor and world champion, and a world renowned instructor and coach. In this episode he discusses how Gracie Barra was started, training with Renzo Gracie and the Machados, why Renzo is his "guardian angel, his relationship with Carolos Gracie Jr, advice on staying on the mat long term, facing his idol, Royler Gracie, on the ma...

Eli Knight of Knight Jiu Jitsu is a 2nd degree Royce Gracie Black Belt and professor, and Senior Supervising Instructor of Three Rivers Martial Arts Academy in Paducah, KY.  In this interview Eli discusses training at the Gracie academy back in the day, early UFCs, first thing he remembers about Royce, Gracie's teaching abilities and what it takes to be a great teacher/instructor, the long road to...

Eli Knight of Knight Jiu Jitsu is a 2nd degree Royce Gracie Black Belt and professor, and Senior Supervising Instructor of Three Rivers Martial Arts Academy in Paducah, KY.  In this interview Eli discusses training at the Gracie academy back in the day, early UFCs, first thing he remembers about Royce, Gracie's teaching abilities and what it takes to be a great teacher/instructor, the long road to...

Robin is one of Relson Gracie's 10 first black belts. He's the owner & head instructor of Relson Gracie Columbus. Robin  has completed in some of the world's largest competitions, winning the Gracie Nationals and Arnold Gracie World championships multiple times, and is known for his exceptional coaching abilities. His mission is to empower as many people as possible through the power of Gracie Jiu...

In this interesting and lively discussion, professors Keith Owen, Greg Nelson, and Mark Cukro discuss what it takes to stay on the mat long term-well into your years. Keith Owen (The Rhino) is a Pedro Sauer Black Belt and founder of team Rhino. Greg Nelson is Pedro Sauer's first black belt and a world renowned MMA coach (including coach to 3 UFC champions). Mark Cukro is also a Pedro Sauer Black B...

World renowned Jiu Jitsu and MMA competitor and coach, Tom DeBlass, discusses many topics, including what fatherhood means to him, his dad's struggles with addictions and the impact on him, living your own life, training for fun and flexing to the person you're rolling with, heated/intense  training sessions, unrealistic online videos, intermittent fasting, fitness, his faith, tragedy of people do...

Joel Garcia is a BJJ black belt & owner of Embrace Martial arts, in WS, where he teaches BJJ and Muay Thai, and is an official representative of American Killer Bees association.  He is an incredibly knowledgeable BJJ, Muay Thai, and MMA coach & instructor, and a truly exceptional ambassador for the martial arts. In this interview he discusses his academy and how he ended up in NC; God First sloga...

Aaron Sundstrom, roving reporter for the show, discusses the recent Jiu Jitsu Lifestyle Summit (with mini interviews with Ryron Gracie, Jackson Fortunato , Elroy Spoonface Powell , and Patrick Christopher & Mikayla June , as well as his background, etc. Aaron is a very interesting person so don't miss this chance to learn more about him, as well as hear all about the JJLS including the speakers, t...

Physical Culture & BJJ: A discussion with Henry Akins, Roy Dean, John Frankl, and Robb Wolf. In this episode we dive into topics like can doing jiu jitsu  create imbalances in our bodies, what we can do to correct these imbalances, and what are the elements of effective cross training, etc.

Roger Gracie is a 10 time Jiu-Jitsu world champion. He is the grandson of GM Carlos Gracie and Son of Mauricio Gomes  and Reila Gracie. He is considered by many to be the best Jiu Jitsu competitor in history. In this interview he discussed  Moving from Brazil to London, his father influence on him, awarding his first black belt, Competition mindset and what makes him different, most memorable matc...

Matt Arroyo, Rob Kahn black belt, owner of Gracie Tampa South, veteran of UFC, TUF, ADCC, and EBI,  discusses training fighters, How he got onto the TUF show and what that experience was like, Robb Kahn's influence on his Jiu Jitsu and life, his thoughts on Kron Gracie's UFC debut, Matt Serra's impact on his Jiu Jitsu, his company: the Jiu Jitsu Lifestyle and his blueprint series of instructionals...

Jason Culbreth, Royce Gracie black belt and owner and head instructor at Cary has over 25 years of Martial Arts experience, including Wrestling, Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As an undefeated Mixed Martial Arts fighter and active Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor, Jason has medaled in many local and international events, including winning the 2016 Masters Worlds. As one of the pione...

Sophia Mcdermott -  1st Australian female to receive a BJJ black belt, 4 x State, National, Pan Pacific and Pan American Champion, as well as a 2 x No Gi World Champion and a World Champion. She has  also won the Ms Figure competition multiple times and is k nown for her awesome work in the fitness industry,, particularly in the realm of empowering women. In this episode we discuss competition, pe...

Professor Roy Marsh & Professor Mark Cukro discuss building a positive academy culture.  During the discussion we talk about a host of things such as what it means to have a great academy culture and why it's so important;  the elements of a great culture, examples of not so good cultures (epic fails ); how the culture affects attraction, retention, and quality of the experience for the students;...

2018 Recap: This episode features clips from Bas Rutten, Flavio Almeiad, Saulo Rebeiro, Make Biddwell, and Alvaro Romano.

"The Turtle Master" Eduardo Telles discusses how he started Jiu Jitsu, competing at the highest levels, what it takes to be a world class competitor, changing your training as you get older, working with kids, IBJJf and other organizations/competitions such as EBI,how boogie boarding helped his jiu Jitsu, his love for surfing, major influencers on his life and Jiu Jitsu, his family, and more!

Professor Mike Diaz, Pedro Sauer Black Belt and owner of Park City Jiu Jitsu, discusses his martial arts journey, lessons he learned on the way to black belt, his relationship with Master Sauer, training in a high altitude environment, Ginastica Natural, his music, the biggest influences on his life, etc

Saulo Ribeiro, 5th degree black belt, 6  time world champion in 5 different weight classes, IBJJF Hall of Fame member, founder of the University of Jiu Jitsu and author of Jiu Jitsu University. In the interview he discussed training Rafael Lavato Jr and his relationship with him, his early days of training, growing up with Xande as his brother and the special bond they have, what it takes to be su...

 Ralston Gracie, Gracie Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, son of Grand Master Carley Gracie, and grandson of the late great Grand Master Carlos Gracie, discusses growing up with GM Carley as his father and lessons he learned from him, having Clark Gracie as his brother, the impact and legacy of GM Carlos, holistic health, why food is so important to health, and much more.... 

Professor Flavio Almeida, Executive director of Gracie Barra North America, 4th degree Black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr, and Co owner and head instructor of multiple Gracie Barra academies in AZ and CA. He recently won the Worlds Masters 2 division at the IFBJJ Masters World championships, making him a 3xs masters world champion. In this interview he talks about his recent victory at the masters...

Dr. Peter Goldman, better known as "Dr.; Pete,"  Chiropractic physician and founder of Zone school of healing. He's a BJJ Black Belt under Carlos Sapão and black belt in Oyama full contact Karate. He  is  the personal chiropractor to many of the world's top professional athletes, from UFC fighters, to NFL and NHL players, pro cyclists, and Olympians. In this interview he talks about his journey in...