Open Mat Social Hour

Join us today on a special episode with our first repeat guest, Chris Capetto!! Recently we got a question from a follower on IG on what it's like "Starting BJJ after age 40", so we wanted to answer that question! Chris started Jiu Jitsu in his 50's after a long history of playing other sports, and today he shares with us his experience of how he got into jiu jitsu, some challe...

Join us today as we celebrate 100 EPISODES!!!! In this episode, Kris & Diana go back and forth on busting 10 medical myths we hear often in the jiu jitsu community. We go simple on some, & in more depth on others. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who supports us in any capacity. We are nothing without you all! More episodes to come... Enjoy!

Join us today on a new episode where Kris & Diana talk rehab vs. surgery, in what context it might be better to choose one vs. the other, our new favorite restaurants we will definitely visit soon & what we are currently working on on the mats. Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana is joined by a dear friend, Aaron Ngor. Aaron is an Athletic Trainer & Strength Coach out of Undefeated Athletic Club in Los Angeles. Not only is he an incredible healthcare provider, but he is also an incredible human. This episode is a snippet of the conversations around the future of healthcare Diana & Aaron have off camera. Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Hillary Van Ornum, one of the owners of Unicorn Jiu Jitsu in Portland, OR. Hillary is a 3rd degree black belt, & a magnificent human being. In this episode, she goes through her journey of navigating multiple injuries, a mysterious low back pain (that is 80% manageable now) & her weight loss journey that has brought her back to...

Join us today as Kris & Diana go back and forth on some unconventional advice for older grapplers who are trying to do this jiu jitsu thing for a really long time. This convo took a couple sharp turns, but ultimately came back to the roots lol Enjoy!

Join Diana today on a solo episode to reflect together on what she has learned from starting Open Mat Physio 4 years ago. The journey has been an absolute blessing, but doesn't come without trials and tribulations in all shapes and sizes. Hope you enjoy this reflection!!

Join us today on a new episode where Kris & Diana recap what's new in our lives lately, a recap of CJI/Master Worlds weekend, & answering a question on how to tackle elbow pain from overgripping in jiu jitsu. Hope you enjoy!

FORGIVE ME, I AM STILL LEARNING THIS AUDIO EQUIPMENT - STEP BY STEP, BETTER EACH TIME. ENJOY!! Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Kyle Calkins, a BJJ Black Belt & MMA Coach from West LA. Kyle got his black belt in 2019 and coaches BJJ for MMA at Uprise MMA. In 2023, Kyle sustained a serious knee injury from a freak accident that put him in the operating room. He got...

Join us today as Kris & Diana go back and forth on whether or not jiu jitsu warmups are useless. We also jump into the eco rabbit hole for a quick second, but ultimately give some tips & possible solutions on how to make warmups more effective to promote longevity & health on the mats. Enjoy!

Join us today on a new episode where Kris & I discuss a couple unfortunate events that have happened in the BJJ community lately. As much as it is important to bring awareness to these types of situations in regards to safety, please give anyone involved grace and space to deal with the aftermath. All we can hope is lessons are learned from these events. 

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Isaac Doederlein, my coach at Varsity Jiu Jitsu, an IBJJF World Champion + 2x Brazilian Nationals Champion. Not too long ago, Isaac had the opportunity to compete on the first ever BJJ reality TV show hosted by UFC, which is where he suffered the elbow dislocation heard around the Youtube space.  Today we hear what happened leading up t...

Join us today as Diana explores some things that she's learned about chronic pain in jiu jitsu athletes. It is no surprise that a lot of us struggle with the aftermaths of stacking injuries. With that being said, it is important to understand a couple of principles to go into a rehab process with the right expectations & mindset. Enjoy!

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers!  We talk about some predictions about CJI2 (forgive us, we were not 100% updated on some of the teams, but we did our best with what we knew :')), how social media has played a big role in making rehab too complicated, & some fun things we're looking forward to this next month!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Carl Manabat, a BJJ Black Belt out of Orange County. Carl received his black belt in 2024 after 10.5 years of training. Initially, he came to us with so many different physical ailments that he was unsure could heal. He felt like he had to accept his fate with his injuries until he experienced hope that his body could actually change fo...

Join us today as Diana explores what it means to "listen to your body". This advice isn't often backed up by tangible action steps so today let's talk about why it matters, things to pay attention to, & ways to actually build some body awareness. Enjoy! Research studies cited: Gabbett, T.J. (2016). The training–injury prevention paradox: Should athletes be training smarter...

Join us today as Diana breaks down the history of her debilitating low back pain story from when it started, to how it affected her life to how she resolved most of her pain to how she maintains her low back now. What a journey it's been. This is her story.

Join us today as Diana & Kris explore different modalities we do off the mats to support our jiu jitsu journey. What's the best for you? Let's find out. Enjoy!

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers!  We talk if being a PT has helped us improve our jiu jitsu, excitement over CJI2, as well as a lovely little rant on best fast food restaurants. Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Dr. Lorrain Ko, PT, DPT. Lorrain is by trade a physio who works primarily with muay thai fighters. Her & Diana met at a con-ed course through mutual friends, & eventually Lorrain became a client. In this episode, Lorrain speaks on the reasons why she hired a coach/physio for her injury, as well as her biggest takeaways from this...

Join us today as Diana explores rehab purgatory, why it's so common with jiu jitsu athletes, and ways to break out of it. It's not an easy journey, but with some tweaks, it can change your whole future on the mats. Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana explores why we always seek novelty, how it intrudes our lives, & why it is actually slowing down your rehab or recovery process. Included are a couple questions to hit home for a reality check on what matters. Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Bailey Brady. Surgery is demonized often, which is honestly deserved. But what if there was a case where it was warranted? The small %? What should we do? This is Bailey's story. As much as she didn't want to, it was her right decision. In this episode, Bailey talks to us about how her low back pain got to the severity that it...

Join us today as Diana & Kris explore pain - one of the most complex conversations we could have with our clients. Pain is multi-factorial & can change on a day to day basis. Diana & Kris talk how they communicate between different types of pain, how to tell if the pain is one to push through or to pull back from, & how to listen to the body to create longevity in jiu jitsu. Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana explores why full body assessments are key to developing a good rehab plan for a client. Looking at just one joint is not enough. We need to get a big picture. Enjoy!