The BJJ Mental Coach Podcast with Gustavo Dantas

Today's guest is Ian McCall. He's a former world champion MMA fighter with over 20 professional fights who competed in the UFC and went to war with some of the best in the world. But Ian's story goes far beyond the cage. After his fighting career, Ian was left with life-altering brain damage. The hits he took didn't just affect his body—they affected his mind, his identity, his purpose. Like so ma...

Dan Uyemura is the CEO of PushPress, a gym management platform serving over 3,000 fitness businesses. But his journey to building a nearly $100 million company wasn't linear—it was shaped by rock bottom, addiction, job loss, and a slow climb back to authenticity. In this episode, we talk about: How Jiu-Jitsu helped his mindset as an entrepreneur The mental game of building (and sustaining) a busin...

🎙️ On this episode of The BJJ Mental Coach Podcast, I’m joined by Dan Lukehart, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and head coach at Brea Jiu-Jitsu in California. Dan shares his journey in Jiu-Jitsu, his experience as a coach, and his approach to developing competitors. We also talk about training mindset, competition preparation, and what he looks for when working with high-level athle...

🎙️ Hywel Teague Third-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Hywel Teague is a renowned commentator, analyst, and podcast host with over 20 years of global experience in jiu-jitsu and combat sports. He was the founding editor of FloGrappling, joining at its creation in 2015 and leading the content team for seven years. From 2022 to 2025, he served as content strategist for the B-Team YouTube ch...

Today I want to share two things with you: 1️⃣ My experience at the 2025 CBJJ/IBJJF Brazilian Nationals — always a powerful journey full of lessons on and off the mats. 2️⃣ And… a really cool announcement I’m excited to share with you! Stick around until the end and let me know in the comments what resonated most with you. Let’s keep growing together! Gustavo Dantas ​⁠ ​⁠  @JockoFuel  20...

Andy shares his powerful journey—from being born in Japan to moving to the U.S. at 16 to chase his dream. Now at 25, he's living that dream: training, teaching, and competing at the highest level. A black belt under André Galvão, Andy has conquered major IBJJF titles and continues to inspire with his work ethic, mindset, and passion for jiu-jitsu. In this episode, we dive into his story, his chall...

🎙️ On episode 153 of The BJJ Mental Coach Podcast, you’ll hear from Fabin Rosa, owner of Fabin Rosa BJJ in Orlando, Florida. 🏆 A 2024 IBJJF Master World Champion, he recently claimed another major title by winning the 2025 IBJJF Pan Championship—right in his backyard of Orlando. 🌴🥇 In this episode, Fabin shares his journey, from his early days in the USA 🇺🇸 to the evolution of his competition m...

In this audio, I share my experience at the 2025 IBJJF Pan Championship. Remember, after every competition, you should re-evaluate four key aspects: technical, strategic, physical, and mental. I’ll discuss three important reflections from my experience, and I hope this information can help you in some way. 📺 Watch the full video now on YouTube: The BJJ Mental Coach 🔹 Stay Connected: 📸 Follow on...

Welcome to Episode 152 of The BJJ Mental Coach Podcast! Today’s guest is Matthew Karakoulakis—a lawyer, accredited mediator, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with nearly 20 years of experience in both law and martial arts. Named Australia’s Most Influential Lawyer, Matthew applies his expertise in negotiation, leadership, and strategy both in business and on the mats. He is a...

I recorded a quick video for YouTube and audio for the podcast, summarizing my experience at the  2025 IBJJF European Championship  in  Lisbon, Portugal.  🇵🇹 This was the first of the four major  IBJJF events  I plan to compete in this year. In the video, I share  three key lessons from the competition that you can keep in mind for your next event. 📺 Watch now o...

In this episode, you’ll hear the inspiring story of Thalys Pontes, owner of Tap BJJ Academy in Rock Hill, South Carolina. At just 24 years old, Thalys, an IBJJF World Champion, has already accumulated a wealth of life experience. From living in Jiu-Jitsu academies, teaching private classes in exchange for food, to traveling and competing in 21 countries, his journey is nothing short of remarkable....

On this GDT #8, I share my experience at the 2024 IBJJF Master Worlds. I’ve compiled two videos from my YouTube channel, plus an intro explaining what the audio is about. If you enjoy these audios and want me to keep posting more YouTube content, please let me know on Instagram @gustavodantasbjj. Gustavo Dantas www.jiujitsutribe.org www.thebjjmentalcoach.com Itunes – https://tinyurl.com/y45kymp4 S...

Welcome to episode 150 of the BJJ Mental Coach Podcast! Today, I’m joined by Nick Haider, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and the founder of Guardian Project Los Angeles. Nick’s journey in martial arts began at just 7 years old after being a victim of bullying, which ignited his passion for self-defense. What started as a way to protect himself evolved into a lifelong commitment to helping others...

Welcome to BJJ Mental Coach Podcast Episode 149. I'm your host Gustavo Dantas, and today we have Derek Price, a former NFL player, jiu-jitsu brown belt, and founder of The Faction Foundation. Derek and I first crossed paths in the early 2000s when he was a chiropractor, and I've been inspired by his journey ever since. This episode is packed with personal development insights and might be my longe...

Join us as we talk with Kevin Lucas, co-founder of New Hope Regeneration. Kevin shares insights on the benefits and applications of stem cell therapy for chronic pain and health challenges. I recently shared my struggle with a neck injury that limited my training and teaching. On December 1, 2023, I received my first stem cell treatment at New Hope Regeneration, combined with continued physiothera...

Jake Watson is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Andre Maracaba, a Junior Golden Gloves Boxing Champion and a 3x Amateur Muay Thai National Champion. He is 26 and He has competed at the highest level of BJJ, being ranked #5 in the -88kgs Division on the FloGrappling Worldwide Black Belt Rankings. As a broadcaster, Jake has actively worked as a Play-by-Play/Color Commentator, On-Air Host, R...

Mike Mella is a 49-year-old published author and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt originally from Sweden and now based in Brazil. Mike shares his journey from discovering BJJ to co-founding BJJKIDS.ORG, a Non-profit organization transforming social projects in Rio's impoverished communities. With a background in psychology and a deep connection to Brazilian culture, Mike brings unique insi...

Watus Cooper is the founder of Unfair Advantage Performance (UAP) in Tempe, Arizona. He is a former D1 Track Athlete, a strength and conditioning coach at the University of Arizona, and a blue belt in jiu-jitsu. At UAP, they specialize in a comprehensive range of services, from the cold plunge and infrared sauna to the restorative power of compression therapy, massage therapy, physical t...

Alex Martinez, 51 years old, 1st-degree black belt, host of the podcast The BJJ Foxcast, and owner of Ares East Mesa in Mesa, Arizona. We talked about starting late in jiu-jitsu at 40 years old and transforming his personal and professional life to pursue his passion almost ten years later.  If you're listening to the audio version, I share my final thoughts on the Interview at...

Meet Ray Freeman, a purple belt in Jiu-jitsu and One Community Jiu-jitsu Club leader in Kansas City, a donation-based program. Instead of standard monthly memberships or contracts, Ray fosters a sense of community by allowing individuals to contribute what they can, making Jiujitsu accessible to those who might otherwise be excluded. Ray's inspiration to establish the One Community Jiujitsu Club s...

Welcome back to another episode of the BJJ Mental Coach podcast. Today, we are excited to welcome back the 4th-degree black belt Jorge Britto. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Jorge transitioned from soccer to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at age 13, deeply immersed in the BJJ world under esteemed mentors at the Gracie Tijuca academy, led by renowned figures such as Vinicius Aieta and Saulo Ribeiro. Taking to heart...

Welcome to episode 141, today, we are excited to have Chatri Sityodtong, the founder, chairman, and CEO of ONE Championship, Asia's largest sports media property.  ONE ranked #2 overall in 2021 digital viewership with over 13.8 billion video views across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. It sits just behind the #1-ranked NBA, which boasts over 14.5 billion for 2021. The UFC is #5, wit...

Welcome to episode 140! Today we have, for the second time, Thomas Rodzynski, 3rd Degree Black Belt, head instructor at the ROL Academy of Jiu Jitsu in Orland Parks, Illinois, and the co-host of The Rol Radio Podcast. I was a guest there on episodes 36 & recently, episode 142. Thomas began his journey in 2000 under the tutelage of the late Grandmaster Carlson Gracie Sr. in Chicago. Beyond...

🎙️🥋 Welcome to the BJJ Mental Coach Podcast episode 139! Today, we are honored to host an incredible guest, Professor Alan Shebaro, a 4th-degree Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, a decorated military veteran, co-founder of the nonprofit We Defy Foundation, and a dedicated coach who has made a significant impact in the martial arts community. 🥋🎖️ Earning his Black Belt from Carlos Machado in 2004 and current...

Welcome to another episode of the BJJ Mental Coach Podcast. Today, James Tomlinson, also known as JT Tenacity, is joining us. James is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Lachlan Giles and a Taekwondo black belt with over 20 years of experience as a strength coach and personal trainer from Australia. As the co-founder of Bulletproof for BJJ, James has designed a program that helps grapplers become strong...