ROLL OR DIE

Back for his second appearance on the show (check out episode #90), this week’s guest is third degree black belt and head coach at Dominance Bentleigh. He shares tales of competing at the World Championships at the Tijuca Tennis Club in Brazil, what makes the culture of Dominance and much more! P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die x MANA T-Shirts available in S, M, L &am...

This week’s guest is a newly minted black belt under Checkmat who has a story not like any other. Not many people can boast to have Michelle Nicolini as their mentor, but this is the case for this week’s guest. Taking Kayte under her wing as a white belt, Michelle has been in Kayte’s corner every step of the way. Kayte shares her journey, including how despite a detached retina, she continues to p...

This week’s guest is something of royalty in New Zealand. Hailing from a famous entertainment family, Anaru fell from a tree of high achievers. Looking to make it big in rugby league, he moved to Newcastle, Australia as a young man and cut his teeth on the scene. He decided that rugby wasn’t for him, discovered jiu jitsu and hasn’t looked back! If you know, you know 🏉➡🤙 P.S. We still have a limi...

This week’s guest is a black belt, a mumma and a huge supporter of women’s jiu jitsu. Reach out to her if you are or know a female who’d be interested to face her on Subversion. No stranger to the big stage, Michelle shares her experiences there, as well as much more. Check this one out! P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die x MANA T-Shirts available in S, M, L & XL -...

Starting jiu jitu in 2004, Kate is the second New Zealand female to receive her black belt and has seen the grappling landscape change dramatically over that time. Kate shares her story of starting off as one of the only females on the mats, to now coaching. Don’t miss this episode to hear the story of one of the first female NZ black belts! P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll...

When a fourth degree black belt is a guest, you know it's going to be a good episode. Even more so when that guest is a black belt who started around the same time as John Will and Peter de Been. Whether it’s telling stories of those early days in Geelong, or what motivates him to keep going after nearly 40 years on the mats, this is a wonderful episode P.S. We still have a limited number of h...

The man behind the Old Man Strength brand, Chris Kahi knows a thing or two about trying to keep up with the younger generation in jiu jitsu. Starting bjj in 2009 and starting OMS in 2016, Chris shares how he has built up his business to be one of the most recognised in the Australian fitness scene. Directing extra attention towards his health and fitness over the past 12 months, Chris explains how...

Mother, black belt, masters competitor and all round bass ass, Alice Grostein knows a thing or two about kicking goals. Starting her jiu jitsu journey in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Alice tried the gentle art in her home country in the 90s, but didn’t enjoy it and shelved it until she moved to the Gold Coast and rediscovered the art with a new-found interest. Interestingly, Alice waited until purple belt t...

Des is a stalwart of the Northern Territory Brazilian Jiu Jitsu scene, and started his martial arts journey with judo while living in Ipswich, Queensland. Des talks us through the grassroots time of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Darwin and the Top End and about the community and friendships that he’s made along the way. Take a listen to this episode that details the growth of the art in one of the most r...

This week’s guest Oli comes to us hot off his open class win at Pans in the adult purple belt division. A 10-time world champion, two-time Euro champion, two-time Brasiliero champion and three-time Abu Dhabi Pro champion, Oli can certainly walk the walk. A very level head on a pair of 18-year-old shoulders and the world really is his oyster! Catch him on Fusion Fighting Championship Vol 11 on 12 J...

One of the most exciting purple belts on the Australian scene is 21-year-old Justin “Juzzy” Robertson. With an explosive, dynamic style, Juzzy shares his story of how he began in the kids’ program at Dominance and how he wishes to take his jiu jitsu all the way to the highest stage in the world. Juzzy shares his mindset around how he persevered through five surgeries and how it has helped him to b...

One of the most successful competitors on the Australian scene joins us this week to share his story. Josh tells us how he began his journey as a professional gamer and it wasn’t until he won tickets to watch the UFC live that he discovered jiu jitsu. Having a natural talent to absorb information easily, Josh has also learnt what it takes to be successful by surrounding himself with successful peo...

This week’s guest is head coach and owner of Dark Carnival in Canberra. In today’s episode, he shares his journey and the importance of having technical knowledge, as well as rolling ability, what it’s like to have a target on your back and his passion behind the Paragon Project - an initiative exclusive to frontline first responders. P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die...

One of the most outspoken people in the Australian jiu jitsu scene, who better than Dan Cherubin to discuss the current state of affairs in the jiu jitsu world. Dan doesn’t hold back as he discusses how behaviour can become cult-like in some clubs, how to grow jiu jitsu in a healthy way and why the jiu jitsu should follow the World Surfing League. A not-to-be-missed episode! P.S. We still have a l...

Do you ever feel like you're just not ‘getting there’ in your Jiu Jitsu journey? Guess what - even the best have moments of doubt. ✨ Murat’s story proves that patience and routine turn beginners into black belts. From basketball to academia to training at the top — he’s mastered focus, discipline, and persistence. 🚀 Whether you're struggling with your next belt, juggling life and trainin...

This week’s guest was John Will’s first brown belt in 1997 and may hold the Australian record for the longest time at brown belt, before he received his black in 2023. If you enjoy the stories from back in the day, you don’t want to miss this episode. From an unsanctioned MMA bout on the roof of the Port of Geelong authority building, to a near miss with the Yakuza while hanging with Baz Rutten in...

This week’s guest lives and breathes jiu jitsu. One of the most active competitors on the scene, Ellen has reached the podium multiple times at the highest level. In this episode, she shares some of the stories behind her successes and how she no longer equates her self worth with her tournament results. Ellen is also very passionately involved in @melwomensbjjcollective, where women from many dif...

When a fourth degree black belt graces our podcast, you know it’s going to be a good one. Get yourself comfortable to listen to stories of someone with 30 years of jiu jitsu experience. Starting his journey at a relatively late age of 30in Sao Paulo, Fabio moved to Sydney, then the Gold Coast and then Hobart. Fabio shares stories of the rivalry between the Brazilians in Australia and the Aussies w...

With a surname like Parr, this week’s guest is no stranger to the fight scene. Starting fighting as a toddler, Jesse has not looked back. This 17 year-old has maturity beyond his years and has a never-give-up attitude. Make sure you tune in to hear how he has gained so much from jiu jitsu and what is next for this young man. P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die x MANA T-...

Fresh off his win at FFC10, this week’s guest is no stranger to the grind. Take a listen to this week’s guest who shares candidly how his improved self-belief has helped him achieve so much recently. After falling short previously, last year Tito learned to fully believe in himself to win ADCC trials and the ultra heavy black belt adult division of no Gi Euros. Now hungry to face some of the best...

Newly minted black belt Coralie shares her embattled story of her journey in jiu jitsu. In her down-to-earth way, she shares her thoughts on many aspects of jiu jitsu and how her many injuries helped her advancement and forced her to work on other areas of her game. As a new black belt, she feels she is only just beginning her journey! P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Di...

Back for another appearance on the show, Antonio brings his energetic delivery that will have you falling off your chair with laughter. Antonio discusses why he always supports the IBJJF and his belief that the IBJJF is like the union for jiu jitsu. We discuss how things have changed since the old days, how the youth jiu jitsu scene is bright and much more! P.S. We still have a limited number of h...

Ari has one of the most interesting journeys of any of our previous guests. Starting off with fencing, then calisthenics, Ari developed a love of grappling, initially Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and then freestyle wrestling. Moving to Australia from the US as a brown belt, Ari recognised the importance of working with each other and finding one’s community. Ari now works closely with the Sydney Silverback...

Faz Logan is the 2025 Grand Slam winner, winning Europeans, Pans, Brasilieros, Asian Open and World Masters at Masters 5 brown belt, being the first and only Australian to do so. Lee Ting is the head coach of Immersion Ringwood who joined him at World Masters and took home gold in the masters 3 black belt lightweight division. In this episode we delve into what makes a champion and how you can lea...

Ivo is a fourth degree judo black belt who represented Australia at the 2012 London Olympics and is the owner and coach of Senshi in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. He moved to Australia from Portugal and started judo with his Dad and sister. They both stopped, but Ivo kept going. He had a major car accident in 2018 and had seven surgeries as a result. Showing the perseverance so prevalent amon...