BJJ Balance

Episode 144 of BJJ Balance starts with Fourth of July chaos, AI photo edits, old-school road trip memories, Game Gear nostalgia, e-bikes, childhood stories, and the kind of random tangents only this podcast can produce. Then the boys get into Craig Jones potentially building a jiu-jitsu destination in Mexico, whether it could become a BJJ retreat-style hub, what that might mean for CJI, and why no...

In Episode 143 of BJJ Balance, Kenny and Matt open with one of the most important questions in modern jiu-jitsu: How long are you allowed to wear your medal after winning a tournament? From there, the conversation goes exactly where you’d expect — gi vs no-gi, why Matt is officially “gi till I die,” Kick livestream plans, Craig Jones being back around the B-Team, ADCC/CJI rumors, internet criticis...

This week on BJJ Balance, Matt and Kenny start with the World Cup and somehow turn it into one of the most honest conversations about culture, America, jiu-jitsu, and why people are not as divided as the internet wants us to believe. The guys talk about how the World Cup brings countries together, how jiu-jitsu does the same thing inside the gym, and why shared struggle can break down walls betwee...

Episode 141 is a full BJJ Balance chaos session. Kenny and Matt talk purple belt promotions, what separates purple belts from brown belts, how to slow your game down, surviving huge training partners, tournament horror stories, pressure passing, half guard, and why jiu-jitsu always makes you feel better even on a bad day. Plus NBA referee rants, podcast growth talk, sponsor jokes, and Matt explain...

This week on BJJ Balance, we dive into something bigger than jiu-jitsu. Mat opens up about hitting a point in life where being comfortable isn't enough anymore. With a great family, a successful career, and a growing podcast, why does the desire for more keep getting louder? We talk about taking calculated risks, building something meaningful, finding the right people to grow with, and why cha...

This week the boys break down a wild IBJJF competition experience, lessons learned from taking an L, why the pressure of competing is addictive, belt promotions, gym culture, patches on gis, building leaders through jiu-jitsu, and the future of the sport. They also dive into Craig Jones speculation, CJI talk, UFC BJJ, promotion standards, and why blue belt is just the beginning. Plus: steroid joke...

This episode of After The Roll goes completely off the rails. The boys break down the rise of UFC BJJ, whether the promotion is actually good for jiu-jitsu, and why fighters are chasing the UFC name. They also dive deep into Mikey Musumeci’s role as the face of UFC BJJ, why some fans love him, and why others think the “cringe” factor is hurting the sport. Then things spiral into: A2 gi slander tou...

Shawn Melanson joins the podcast for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about modern jiu-jitsu. We dive deep into the PGF season, the Phenom team controversy, social media strategy in BJJ, building a personal brand, BJJ Fanatics instructionals, competition culture, gym ownership, training philosophies, and why Sean believes most athletes are leaving money and opportunities on the table...

This episode of BJJ Balance After The Roll gets HEATED .Matt returns from Vegas with stories about Morgan Wallen, gambling losses, and expensive concerts before the conversation completely shifts into one of the most passionate jiu-jitsu debates we’ve had yet. The guys dive deep into: Are jiu-jitsu belts getting watered down? Should “gym belts” be held to the same standard as competitors? Attendan...

In this solo episode of the BJJ Balance Podcast, Kenny goes off-script and lets the audience run the show. From belt progression and imposter syndrome to dealing with wrestlers, shark tanks, and the realities of training—this episode is raw, honest, and unfiltered. This is one of the most real conversations about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—covering the struggles, mindset, and lessons that every grappler...

This episode of BJJ Balance starts off completely unfiltered… and somehow turns into one of our most relatable conversations yet. We kick things off with a hilarious (and chaotic) debate about “White Boy of the Year,” dive into nostalgia from the 90s and early 2000s, and eventually bring it back to what really matters—Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, training, and growth on the mats. From old-school iPods to...

In this episode of the BJJ Balance Podcast, things go completely off the rails early… but somehow circle back into real, valuable jiu-jitsu insight. We talk about gym culture, early morning training sessions, competition prep, and what it really means to grow in jiu-jitsu—both as a student and as a coach. Along the way, we get into some wild side tangents, old-school nostalgia, and the kind of con...

Matt holds it down solo for Episode 132 while Kenny is stuck without internet after the move. This one turns into a full-on chaos episode: Matt recaps his trip to the PGF Finals in Las Vegas, talks about meeting people in the jiu-jitsu scene, tells the story of getting hit with a brutal sickness and ending up at urgent care, reacts to UFC action, and closes things out with some unfiltered listener...

In this episode of BJJ Balance, we kick off our Purple Belt Series and break down what really changes once you hit purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From the mindset shift after promotion, to the pressure (and freedom) that comes with the belt, to why purple belts are some of the most dangerous grapplers on the mats—we cover it all. We also dive into: The difference between blue belt and purple...

Craig Jones just lit the jiu-jitsu world on fire. In Episode 130 of the BJJ Balance Podcast, we break down the insanity of CJI 2.5, the rumored format, the $10,000,000 prize pool, why this feels like a direct shot at exclusive UFC BJJ contracts, and who could actually end up in an 8-man open weight tournament. We also talk about what this could mean for the future of professional grappling, whethe...

In this episode of BJJ Balance, we break down one of the most misunderstood topics in jiu-jitsu:👉 Should you cut weight for tournaments? We dive into: Why most people are cutting weight for the WRONG reasons How bracket size actually matters more than strength Why beginners shouldn’t even be thinking about the scale The difference between BJJ and MMA weight cutting Then… as always… things complet...

In Episode 128 of the BJJ Balance Podcast, we dive deep into the rise of team-based professional grappling and why the Professional Grappling Federation (PGF) may represent the future of the sport. We discuss:• The rise of the Alabama Twisters team• Why PGF rules create more action than traditional tournaments• The contrast between PGF and other grappling leagues• Why stalling calls actually impro...

In this episode of the BJJ Balance Podcast, Kenny and Matt go deep into some wild topics across the jiu-jitsu world and beyond. Matt kicks things off with one of his classic rants — covering fake martial arts instructors on social media, questionable self-defense content, and what actually makes a legitimate academy. The guys also break down the Professional Grappling Federation (PGF) season, disc...

Is wrestling finally back… because of influencers? In this episode of BJJ Balance, we break down the wild RAF fight drama, the influence of personalities like Muggsy and Giorgio, and whether traditional wrestling heads are missing the bigger picture. We also dive into:• UFC BJJ exclusive contracts — smart business or bad for the sport?• Why influencers might be the key to growing wrestling & j...

In Episode 125 of the BJJ Balance Podcast, Matt and Kenny go completely off the rails — and somehow still drop serious gems about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We break down Sean Strickland’s latest fight and betting lines, why Vegas might be behind on MMA analytics, and how personal life can affect fight performance. Then we dive into real BJJ talk:• Why wearing a t-shirt under your gi is controversial• T...

In this episode of BJJ Balance Podcast, we dive deep into the realities of gym culture, purple belt behavior, and the responsibilities that come with leadership on the mats. From hilarious Valentine’s Day “purple belt lifestyle” jokes to serious conversations about gym safety, uncomfortable training partners, and how coaches should handle complaints — this episode covers the full spectrum of jiu-j...

This episode gets raw, unfiltered, and hilarious as we dive into everything from Super Bowl betrayal to real-life home defense scenarios that forced an unexpected apology to the No-Gi community. We talk about:• Why Jiu-Jitsu guys stopped watching “real sports”• Training Gi vs No-Gi for actual self-defense situations• Home invasion reality checks at 3AM• Competition nerves and why every man should...

his episode goes way deeper than competition results. We sit down with a PGF athlete and Las Vegas Kings GM - Travis Thomas, to talk about career-ending injuries, blowing out three ligaments, running out of money, rebuilding from zero, and betting everything on jiu-jitsu anyway. We get into:Triple-ligament knee surgery and the mental side of recoveryComing back to competition after ACL, LCL, and P...

Episode 121 is a long-form, no-filter BJJ conversation covering gym culture, promotions, competition mindset, coaching philosophy, and the kind of off-the-rails tangents that only happen when you hit record and let it fly. We start with a breakdown of a real-life super fight experience and the idea of bringing authentic super-fight energy directly into local gyms. From there, the conversation shif...

In this episode of the BJJ Balance Podcast, we get real about the hidden cost of jiu-jitsu — injuries, surgeries, weight gain fears, and the mental struggle that comes when training is taken away. One of us is dealing with a scaphoid fracture, possible rotator cuff damage, and a full arm cast… which means no rolling, no lifting, and no stress relief. We talk honestly about how hard it is to stay d...