The Grappling Monthly Podcast

This week, The Grappling Monthly Podcast travels to South Los Angeles to sit and get to know professor Dominick Haider (aka Coach Nick). Prof. Dominick Haider is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the founder of Guardian Project Los Angeles. Martial arts is a deeply personal and rewarding practice that help set him on a path of growth and helping others. From Kickboxing, to MMA, to BJJ, prof....

Grappling Monthly is starting the year off strong with our latest guest: Professor Jaime Mendez III. Prof. Mendez is the owner and head instructor of Renzo Gracie, Los Angeles. He is a former American collegiate  football   free safety , who was an  All-American  at  Kansas State University . He is the Wildcats' all-time career leader in interceptions with 15 and a lifetime practitioner of the mar...

This week The Grappling Monthly Podcast travels to the newest location in the Legacy Brazilian Jiu Jitsu community, Legacy Santa Clarita. Join us and get to know Professor Victor Yushin, owner and head instructor of Legacy Santa Clarita. Victor is a 2nd degree black belt under Prof. Alberto Crane. In this episode, we get to know prof. Yushin and his journey in competitive sport, dance, and martial...

The Grappling Monthly Podcast travels to Pasadena as we sit with Professor Erik D. Cruz aka "Compella", owner and head instructor of 10th Planet Pasadena.  Professor Compella is a third degree black belt under Eddie Bravo. He is an OG of the 10th planet system who has over two decades of experience on the mat training, competing and teaching jiu jitsu and MMA. A lifelong martial artist, in this ep...

The Grappling Monthly Podcast stops by at Gracie Barra Montreal to visit 6th degree BJJ black belt and founder of GB Montreal, Professor Bruno Fernandes! Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, professor Bruno Fernandes is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Carlos Gracie Junior, a multiple time world champion and was the grappling coach of numerous jiu jitsu and mma fighters, including former...

Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:44 Getting to know Professor Bruno Fernandes 21:31 Rio de Janeiro, Jiu Jitsu & Surfing 32:00 How Jiu Jitsu can help tackle mental illness and suffering 51:17 Outro - Reminder to tune in to Part 2 on Oct.28 The Grappling Monthly Podcast stops by at Gracie Barra Montreal to visit 6th degree BJJ black belt and founder of GB Montreal, Professor Bruno Fernandes! Originally...

Season 4 of The Grappling Monthly Podcast rolls on as we explore jiu jitsu in Las Vegas. On this episode we had the privilege of sitting with coach Casey Halstead of 10th Planet Las Vegas.  Wisdom comes with experience. Thank you to @coachcasey10 of @10pvegas for sharing your knowledge and lessons learned with me for SE4 of The Grappling Monthly Podcast! On this episode we get into: 🔥 Retiring fr...

On August 26, 2025 I had the privilege of sitting with former ADCC absolute and IBJJF worlds champion professor Robert Drysdale in his home. Prof. Drysdale is an accomplished fighter, teacher, competitor, and historian who has dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in jiu jitsu. For prof. Drysdale, jitsu jitsu was a means to prove himself. An art he threw himself tirelessly into for decad...

Season 3 of The Grappling Monthly Podcast is all about diving deep into the jiu jitsu scene in the San Fernando Valley. In this episode, I sit with Professor Gabriel Goulart in their beautiful new facility in Arleta: Alliance San Fernando Valley. Born in the city of Uberlandia in Brazil, Professor Gabriel is an accomplished competitor in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu having won numerous IBJJF titles. He has...

The Grappling Monthly Podcast Season 3 deep dive into jiu jitsu in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley continues with our guest on Episode 3: Professor Leonidas Tarca.  In this episode, professor Tarca shares stories from his nearly 30 years of experience in the martial arts as well as training and teaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In this episode we discuss:  - How martial arts can help on and off the m...

Check out a special episode of The Grappling Monthly Podcast Tuesday Sept 16. We get to know coach Drew, his journey, and talk the future of jiu jitsu including the upcoming King of Subs Ventura Open submission only tournament in Camarillo, CA on Sunday October 12, 2025.  Coach Drew is the owner and head instructor of 10th Planet Murrieta and one of the referees for PGF World. His passion for jiu...

The Grappling Monthly Podcast, Season 3 rolls on with our second episode. This time our guest is Professor Mike Frausto (Coach Lobes), owner and founder of New Ground Jiu Jitsu. Prof. Mike shares insights from his years on the mat, training, competing and teaching. In this episode we dive into several topics including:  - how to structure a jiu jitsu class to maximize learning potential for everyo...

Season 3 of the Grappling Monthly Podcast kicks off with our amazing guest professor Fabio Passos, owner and head instructor of Steps BJJ in Sherman Oaks, CA in the San Fernando Valley. Professor Passos is a true martial artist. He is a decorated Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion in gi and no-gi, as well as an accomplished judoka and wrestler. Originally from São Paolo, SP Brazil, Professor Passo...

Join us for the Season 2 Finale of The Grappling Monthly Podcast. This week we're joined by one of the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA in the National Capital Region of Canada, professor Daniel Guillemette. Professor Guillemette has over 40 years of experience and dedication to the martial arts which includes a 6th degree black belt in traditional jiu jitsu, a brown belt in judo, a fourth...

The latest episode of The Grappling Monthly Podcast is out now! Join me to kick off our very first episode in Portuguese (with English subtitles on YouTube) as I sit with Prof. @peninhamelo of @alliancejiujitsumontreal . Prof Peninha shares a lifetime of dedication to the martial arts and life lessons from his journey in capoeira and in jiu jitsu first in Brazil, and after moving to the US and ult...

Season 2 of The Grappling Monthly Podcast rolls on with Episode 4 and guest Professor Chris Rossi.  Prof. Chris has a literal lifetime of experience in the martial arts as well as an approach to learning and teaching which is unique. Now leading Rossi BJJ & Kickboxing in Templeton Québec, Chris is also part founder of Red Shield Supplements, a 100% Canadian-made human performance enhancing nat...

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 3 of The Grappling Monthly Podcast. In this episode, we sit with Professor Éric Nadon of Torus BJJ, a part of Renzo Gracie Team. Éric has dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence in the martial arts and in physical performance. Éric has trained and competed internationally in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He now turns his competitive spirit towards teaching and raising t...

Season 2 of The Grappling Monthly Podcast rolls on! Our guest for episode 2 is Professor Jean-Simon Maurice. Professor Jean-Simon is a black belt in both judo and jiu jitsu. He teaches at Arts Martiaux Derocque in Aylmer Quebec, as well as Evolution Martial Arts HQ in Gatineau, Qc. He is also part owner of Bait Apparel, an up and coming jiu jitsu and martial arts apparel company based in Canada. I...

Celebrate Canada day with a brand new season of The Grappling Monthly Podcast! It all starts with Professor @jorgebrittobjj this Tuesday July 1 at 10am PDT.   In this episode, Professor Britto shares years of lived experience and growth through the art of jiu jitsu. From growing up in Rio de Janeiro and watching legends of jiu jitsu and luta livre compete in the 90’s to becoming one of the most su...

The Grappling Monthly Podcast: Season One Finale with Professor Alberto Crane The Grappling Monthly Podcast closes out its inaugural season with a pioneer of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA: Professor Alberto Crane. Professor Crane is a lifelong martial artist and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in BJJ and mixed martial arts. Born in New Mexico, he discovered Brazilian Jiu Jitsu early an...

Join me as I sit with the owner and head instructor of Legacy Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in West Adams, professor Mark Bradford. In this episode, professor Mark shares insights and experiences from a lifelong dedication to martial arts and training jiu jitsu in New Mexico. We talk about the grappling scene from 2000's to present day and what brought him to take the leap of faith and pursue jiu jitsu full...

Join host Sébastien Maniatopoulos for episode 5 of the inaugural season of The Grappling Monthly Podcast. In this episode, Seb joins professor Bryan Gregerson in his beautiful Legacy Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school located in Pasadena, CA. In this episode we talk about: - The difference between the early days of bjj in the US and today - Whether or not competitors from past generations could compete to...

Join me on The Grappling Monthly Podcast as I sit down with professors Ariel & Vitor, co-founders and head instructors of Legacy Malibu!   In this episode we talk about:   falling in love with jiu jitsu training in Brazil and the US building programs for student success how jiu jitsu can bring people together   And much more!

Season 1 continues with a brand new episode! Join us as we get to know our guest, professor Anthony Cruz, owner and head instructor at Legacy Glendale. In this episode we talk about: 🔥 Finding jiu jitsu in Hollywood 🔥 Teaching & Competing 🔥 Friendships and life lessons 🔥 The value of strong leadership ... and much more!   Like and Subscribe to Grappling Monthly on YouTube!   #TheGrapplingM...

Join host Sebastien Maniatopoulos in Episode 2 as he sits down with Professor Erika Dawn to explore the journey of turning passion into purpose. From following her dreams to building a jiu-jitsu academy rooted in empowerment and community, Erika shares how she’s creating a space where strong, healthy humans can thrive—on and off the mats. Erika Dawn is the owner and head instructor of Legacy West...