Chokeholds and Chill Podcast

Sometimes the best things in jiu jitsu come from the plans that never worked out. This week, we sit down with Mike “Coach Lobes” Frausto, founder of New Ground Jiu Jitsu, to talk about building something meaningful from the ground up. From pursuing the dream of opening a 10th Planet academy, to relocating and navigating the uncertainty of the pandemic, and eventually teaching out of a one-bedroom...

In this episode, Mallory got to sit down with Laura Kent, a 10th Planet Black Belt, after dropping into one of her women's classes in Allentown, PA a couple of months ago. We talked about Lauras BJJ journey, the women's program she coaches, building up the ladies community in this sport and some upcoming events she has on the calendar!   Thank You to Our Sponsors 🥋 2026 Roll Model Women’s Only Gr...

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mal sit down with Chris Vazquez — better known online as @burro_bjj on Instagram, training out of Goodyear 10th Planet in Arizona Chris represents a side of jiu jitsu a lot of people connect with right now: authentic, community-driven, technical, funny as hell, and not overly polished for the internet. In this episode, we get into: The story behind “Bu...

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, we sit down with Kauhane Harding — Native Hawaiian, United States Coast Guard law enforcement officer, wrestler, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu purple belt training out of Ewa Beach, Hawaii Kauhane grew up in a strict household where discipline wasn’t optional. Between wrestling, family expectations, and eventually finding his way back to jiu jitsu, his path was built...

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn sits down with Adam Benayoun — competitor, coach, dad, and the man behind Black Cat Jiu Jitsu.   Jenn and Adam first connected out in Costa Rica at Hero Academy BJJ, and this conversation picks up right where that energy left off — grounded, honest, and full of laughs.   In this episode, they talk about:   • Adam’s recent competition and what he’s focusing...

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, we sit down with Lucy Berman — MMA fighter, content creator, and the force behind Combat Candy @combatcandies and Combat Crap @combatcrap supplements.   Lucy brings a mix of grit, humor, and honesty that’s hard to ignore. From stepping into the cage to building brands in the combat sports space, she’s doing it all — and doing it her way.   In this episode, we g...

This week we’re joined by Jenna Mattera, a physical therapist, high-level competitor, and brown belt who knows what it means to fight through adversity. Jenna shares her journey from becoming one of the top-ranked rooster weights in IBJJF competition to suffering a shocking arm fracture at World Masters while entering as the #1 seed. We talk about the heartbreak of having a title run cut short, wh...

This week, we’re joined by our great friend Shawn Hammonds — founder of Team Shawn Hammonds Jiu Jitsu out of Nashville .   Shawn’s story blends Nashville music legacy, family values, and jiu jitsu leadership. Growing up with ties to the legendary Grand Ole Opry , music has always been part of Shawn’s life — and now he’s continuing that legacy by writing the next single for Colby Lee Swift from Ame...

This week, it’s just us — real talk, no script, and a conversation that’s been a long time coming. We start with some life and training updates (because it wouldn’t be us without a little chaos), then shift into the heavier stuff — updates on SA cases we’ve discussed before, the ongoing conversation around leadership in jiu-jitsu, and recent events coming to light that have impacted and continue t...

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, we sit down with Brie Marks, PA, founder of Fight Med Collective, longtime healthcare provider & combat sports athlete. Brie’s journey in medicine started back in 2007 as an EMT and has taken her through nearly every level of care — from pre-hospital settings to the ICU. But like so many in healthcare and first responder roles, the weight of that work doesn...

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, we sit down with Chad Kuhn — 2nd degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, lifelong martial artist, gym owner, and the man behind Limitless Tape.   Chad’s journey in martial arts started in 1982 at just 7 years old, and over four decades later, he’s still showing up — training, teaching, and evolving. From earning his black belt under James Clingerman to leading a...

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mal sit down with jiu jitsu black belt Staccia Greenwell to talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention in jiu jitsu — how we bring more women into the sport and, more importantly, how we keep them there.   Staccia has trained and competed across multiple academies throughout the country, earning her black belt in 2024 and building a reputat...

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn sits down with black belt Jiu Jitsu competitor Beatrice Jin to talk about one of the most powerful forces in women’s jiu jitsu: community. Beatrice began training in 2018 after moving to a new city for her career and quickly discovered that the mats could become more than just a place to train—they could become a place where women connect, grow, and suppor...

This week we’re joined by Robyn Henderson @spoonfulofrobyn— chef, white belt, chaos enthusiast, and the only person brave enough to say the quiet parts out loud.   We talk about:   • The absolute psychological mind f*ck that is competing • The adrenaline dump that makes you forget your own name • Crying in your car but still showing up to train the next day • Why training with women isn’t a luxury...

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, we sit down with Danielle Guevara — a longtime pillar in women’s jiu jitsu and a living example of what it means to grow with the sport.   For over a decade, Danielle has attended Roll Models Women’s Only Grappling Camp — returning year after year not just to train, but to build community, sharpen her game, and invest in women’s jiu jitsu when it wasn’t nearly...

In this episode of Chokeholds & Chill, we sit down with Professor Brandon Gebel to talk about the journey from mat rat to gym owner & everything it takes to build a life in jiu-jitsu. Starting in 2012 with no prior wrestling or martial arts background, Brandon committed fully to the art and never looked back. From teaching youth classes as a blue belt to coaching at a UFC gym to earning hi...

In this bonus episode of Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn sits down with Nick “Chewy” Albin to talk about one of the biggest life shifts there is — becoming a parent. We get real about what it looks like to find time for yourself when everything changes, how jiu jitsu fits (or doesn’t) when life gets busy, and why staying on the mats doesn’t always mean training harder — sometimes it means showing up...

Jenn sits down mat-side with Ron Jarman, black belt under Tom DeBlass and the force behind Hero Academy BJJ in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.   This episode cuts straight to who Ron really is — his values, his leadership style, and what he’s building with Hero Academy. We talk vision, intention, and the long game of jiu jitsu, plus what the future holds for Hero as a training destination in 2026.   Ron is...

What does it take to build a lifetime in jiu jitsu—and still love it decades later?   In this episode, Jenn and Mal sit down with Shannon White, 2nd Degree BJJ Black Belt, owner and head coach of True Art BJJ, and a lifelong grappler with over 30 years of wrestling and jiu jitsu experience. Shannon shares his journey from growing up and finding the mats, to competing, running a successful academy,...

In this episode of Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mal sit down with Emily Wooten—law enforcement officer, elite competitor, and a woman whose relationship with jiu jitsu runs far deeper than medals. Emily shares how both jiu jitsu and law enforcement entered her life through the same door: a desire for power, protection, and choice after growing up in instability. We talk about discipline over m...

This week on Chokeholds & Chill, we’re joined by Kari Summers and Mendi Carlson, the women behind Unbreakable Jiu Jitsu Camps.   Training out of the DFW area under Professor Karen Banes, both women are mothers, heavily active competitors, and leaders in the women’s jiu jitsu community. They created Unbreakable with one clear goal: make jiu jitsu more accessible for women by bringing the camp e...

C*nnabis. Jiu Jitsu. Culture shift.   This week on Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mal talk with Chelsea Kossower of Puffco about breaking down stigma and changing the conversation around c*nnabis in combat sports.   We dive into the story behind Puffco becoming an official sponsor of UFC BJJ, what that moment represented for the sport, and the intentional steps taken to make education, responsib...

A quick stats check before we keep rolling.   In this 10-minute episode, Jenn and Mal recap the 2025 season of Chokeholds & Chill—total episodes, total interviews, how many states our guests came from, how many black belts sat across from us, and how many downloads brought the pod to life this year.   Short, sweet, and celebratory. Thanks for being part of the numbers.   Sponsored by: 🧴 Mil U...

Today we’re sitting down with TJ Brownfield — a lifelong martial artist, a traveling coach, and the man responsible for growing the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu footprint here on the Oregon coast. Originally from Colorado, TJ spent time moving around with his wife while she served in the military. After retiring from the tech industry, he dove fully into the world of Jiu-Jitsu.. a journey he actually started...

In today’s episode, we sit down with Heather Woods, a seasoned BJJ black belt, world traveler, world champion competitor & dedicated coach, to unpack her unique path through jiu-jitsu. Heather began her journey with BJJ as a wanderer - traveling the world, exploring different gyms, and immersing herself in various training cultures. Over time, her dedication led her to earn her black belt from...