Inside the Wave

She Started at 60. She Started at 15. Two women. Two very different paths onto the mat. Same reasons for staying.   Ava Govek walked into Utopia at 14. Six years later, she's a four-stripe blue belt, Utopia's former sales director, and one of the most experienced women in the room.   Deb Pokel walked in at 59. She turned 60 last fall. She just hit her one-year anniversary, runs a Sport Clips franc...

What if the thing you almost didn’t try became the thing that saved your life? In Episode 20 of Inside the Wave, Perry sits down with longtime Utopia black belt Jimmy Kanno to unpack a 14-year journey that started with MMA fandom and a random neon sign—and turned into sobriety, leadership, business ownership, and a black belt earned the hard way. Jimmy began training at 28. At the time, he was wor...

What does athletic development look like when athletes reach the high school years and competition starts to carry real stakes? In this final episode of the four-part youth development series, Perry Wirth sits down again with returning guest Chandler Lewis, sports psychologist, Certified Mental Performance Consultant, and competitive swim coach, to explore the critical stage of ages 15 to 18. At t...

How do you support a young athlete through the middle school years—when bodies are changing fast, emotions run high, and competition starts to feel real? Ages 11-14 are a pivotal phase in athletic development. Growth spurts, social comparison, and rising expectations can either build confidence and resilience—or quietly push kids toward burnout. In this episode of Inside the Wave, Perry Wirth sits...

How can you support your child’s “golden age” of growth without pushing too far, too soon? Between the ages of seven and ten, something amazing happens: kids stop just playing sports and start learning how to compete. In this episode of Inside the Wave, Perry Wirth sits down with returning guest Chandler Lewis, swim coach and Certified Mental Performance Consultant, for Part 2 of their youth devel...

How do you know when your child is ready for competition — and how do you make sure it stays fun? In this first episode of a four-part series on youth sports readiness, host Perry Wirth welcomes back returning guest Chandler Lewis — sports psychologist, personal trainer, and competitive swim coach who has guided thousands of kids from their very first lesson to high-level meets. This installment f...

What does fueling your body actually look like when you’re training BJJ in your 30s and beyond? In this episode, Perry sits down with Kodi—a brown belt, sports nutritionist, and lifelong tinkerer with deep roots in both the kitchen and the gym. They unpack what it really takes to support performance and longevity for grapplers juggling work, family, and training. Highlights include: How to systemi...

What can an ancient philosophy teach you about Jiu-Jitsu—and life? In this episode of Inside the Wave, Perry sits down once again with Jon Friedland—BJJ black belt, longtime instructor, and founder of Neutral Ground—to explore the connection between Stoicism and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. They dive deep into how Stoic principles like emotional control, resilience, and perspective show up on the mats—and...

Ever feel like something’s holding your body back—but you can’t quite pinpoint what it is? In this episode of Inside the Wave, Perry sits down with Keith Shimon, co-founder of Body Activation and a specialist in performance training, injury recovery, and human adaptation. Keith’s been in the game for decades—working with NFL athletes, MLB players, and everyday folks chasing better movement. He sha...

How do you handle frustration when BJJ gets tough?  In this episode of Inside the Wave, I had the honor of sitting down with Chandler Lewis, a Personal Trainer, Competitive Swim Coach, and Master’s graduate in Sports Psychology. We discussed the mental side of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—dealing with frustration, plateaus, and performance anxiety. Chandler broke down real strategies for managing pressure...

In this episode of Inside the Wave, I catch up with Ava, one of the most dedicated members of our Utopia community. From her first day on the mats as a nervous teenager to becoming a key leader in our programs, we've watched her transform into an inspiring role model. We’ve seen her push through challenges, support new students, and truly embody what Utopia stands for. She started out as a student...

What separates a fixed mindset from a growth mindset? In this episode of Inside the Wave, I chat with Coach Vern, Utopia’s Director of Martial Arts, fresh off an intense cage grappling match! We dive into overcoming fear, building resilience, and the small mental shifts that create big life changes. Coach Vern shares powerful stories and practical tools to help you face challenges head-on and grow...

In this episode of Inside the Wave, I sat down with Aaron Rindt—jiu-jitsu practitioner, coach, and longtime member of Utopia. Aaron’s journey is one of resilience and transformation, offering a candid glimpse into how martial arts shaped his life. We explored Aaron’s path from UFC-inspired curiosity to becoming a dedicated jiu-jitsu coach. Key themes include the struggle of balancing family life w...

In this episode of Inside the Wave, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Joby Phillip, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and Doctor of Physical Therapy. With a wrestling background and years of experience in physical therapy, Dr. Joby shared his journey and insights into keeping the body healthy and strong for Jiu-Jitsu. We talked about how Dr. Joby transitioned from working in hospitals t...

In this episode of Inside the Wave, I had the pleasure of sitting down with my friend Dan LaSavage, the founder of Combat Corner, a company that has grown significantly since its inception in 2007. We delved into the fascinating journey of Combat Corner, from its humble beginnings in a small shop next to an Indian restaurant to its current status as a major player in the combat sports equipment in...

In this episode of the Inside the Wave podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Bob Duffy, a longtime friend and a significant figure in both the jiu-jitsu and law enforcement communities. Bob is not only a gym owner but also a seasoned law enforcement officer (LEO) and a dedicated trainer for other officers. Our conversation delved deep into his journey, the integration of martial arts in...

In this episode of "Inside the Wave," I had the pleasure of interviewing Mark England, a communication and mindset coach from Enlifted Coaching. Mark shared his journey from being a former fighter with a victim mentality to becoming a coach who helps others transform their mindset through language and breath control. Mark discussed the importance of mindset and how it is the story we tell ourselve...

Welcome to another exciting episode of the Inside the Wave podcast! In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with two of my favorite students at Utopia Martial Arts, Steve and Audrey. Steve, a dedicated member of the community for 13 years, and Audrey, who started training at the young age of 7, shared their journey in the world of grappling. We delved into their motivations for startin...

Welcome to episode three of Inside the Wave! Today, I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of my dedicated students, Tanner Brooks. Tanner, who owns a tree cutting service, shared his journey into Jiu Jitsu and how it has impacted his life. Tanner recounted how he stumbled upon Jiu Jitsu through a Facebook ad offering a two-week free trial. Intrigued by the idea of trying something new and ge...

In this episode of Inside the Wave podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing my BJJ coach and mentor, Jon Friedland. Jon shared his journey into the world of Jiu-Jitsu, starting in the late 90s after being inspired by the performances of Royce Gracie in the early UFCs. He discussed how the perception of martial arts shifted after witnessing the effectiveness of BJJ in real combat situations. Jon...

Welcome to the first episode of Inside the Wave with Perry Wirth, brought to you by Utopia. Today, we're delving into the heart of our mission at Utopia and exploring why our vision, coupled with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is vital for our community. Join us as we share the inspiring journey of Coach Vern - a military veteran turned technologist, now the passionate Jiu-Jitsu head coach at Utopia. Vern s...