The Raspberry Ape Podcast

I'm joined again by strength and conditioning coach Andrew Marshall to discuss training, lifting and the passage of time.

Rick Young is a lifelong martial artist whos full list of accomplishments is too long to note but include: Scotlands first BJJ black belt, judo black belt, Karate black belt, full instructor in JKD under Guru Dan Inosanto, full instructor in CSW under Erik Paulson and much more. In this episode, we talk about Ricks early days into martial arts. His meeting with the Gracies and his experience learn...

Martin Jancsics is one of the world's leading authorities on Stone lifting. In this episode, we talk all about historic stone lifting; its history, the culture, the stories, the myths and the stones themselves. We also discuss how Martin got into stone lifting and how he got so good at it.

Steve Campbell is Manchesters first BJJ black belt and owner of Stealth BJJ. In this episode, we talk about Steves BJJ journey which included living in Brazil for 8 years and all the stories that come along with that.

David Horne is a master of all things strength. Legendary in the grip strength world David has competed in over 300 contest including tug of war, strongman, powerlifting, arm wrestling and grip sports. We discuss Davids journey through strength and all the disciplines he's competed and trained in. He drops continuous knowledge bombs on grip, lifting, injury, strength for BJJ and much more.

Sam Crook is a BJJ black belt and head coach at the Francis Ngannou Foundation, a martial arts based social project in Cameroon. In this episode, we talk about how Sam came to head up the project, what it's like working with the kids, its challenges and how different life in Cameroon is. For more info on the Francis Ngannou Foundation visit: www.francisngannoufoundation.org

Pete "The Greek" Letsos is a Carlson Gracie Jr black belt and founder Rio Jiu Jitsu club. Pete has been training BJJ for over 20 years, starting with Carlson Gracie Jr and spending years living in Brazil training with some of the biggest names in the sport. In this episode, Pete tells tales of old school BJJ in Brazil through the eyes of a gringo and explains why he wants to wristlock the world.

Rosi Sexton is a former professional MMA fighter, Musician, Mathematician, Osteopath and politician. In this episode, I chat to Rosi about her incredibly interesting life. Her unique combination of skills, how she transitioned from maths prodigy to pro-MMA fighter, we take a number of questions from listeners and get some great information on injury treatment and prevention.

Klaus is a strength and conditioning coach and founder of the Black Vikings movement. In this episode, we talk about the founding of the Black Vikings, the sagas, the movements, the mantras, injuries, struggle, axes and more.

Alex Reid is an actor, MMA fighter and Celebrity Big Brother winner. In this episode, we talk about Alex's acting career, his MMA career, being thrust into the media spotlight through big brother, the downside of fame, spirituality and much more.

John Will is Australia's first BJJ black belt and one of the "dirty dozen" - The first 12 non-Brazilians to receive a BJJ black belt. In this episode, we talk about Johns journey in the martial arts, the creation of his magazine; Blitz, training under the Gracie's and Machado's, participating in challenge matches, travelling the world studying martial arts and much more.

Lucio “Lagarto” Rodrigues is a multiple European champion and UAEJJF world champion In this episode we talk about Lucio’s journey into BJJ, having to fight strangers on the weekend before he was allowed to go surf, his friendship with Rickson Gracie, his move to Gracie Barra, his rivalry with Jacare, his battle with cancer and his competitions during and after.

Samantha Cook is a BJJ black belt and one of the UK's finest competitors. In this episode, we talk about Sam's heavy competition schedule, travelling, weight cutting, the growth of women's jiu jitsu, mental health, sleep and near death experiences.

Braulio Estima is a multiple time BJJ World champion, ADCC weight and Absolute champion, and multiple time Pan-American and European champion. In this episode, I sit down with one of the greatest ever BJJ athletes to discuss his incredible career. From his first days on the BJJ mats to being crowned ADCC weight and absolute champion. This episode is sponsored by Yoga for BJJ visit yogaforbjj.net/a...

Ben is an old school UK BJJ legend and one of the earliest British black belts Ben started training in the earliest days of UK BJJ and spent large periods of time training in Brazil with the Gracies. In this episode we talk about Bens journey into combat sports, training in his dads shed, judo legend Steve Gawthorpe, training in Brazil, nutrition, breathing, strength and conditioning, teaching, le...

Lachlan Giles is an elite competitive black belt, coach and physio. In this episode, we talk Australian jiu jitsu, coaching, competition, leg locks, rule sets, running an academy, injuries and more.

Darragh O'Conaill is an Irish BJJ black belt competitor and coach who runs East Coast Jiu Jitsu Academy. In this episode, we talk about Darragh's competition career, how he got into BJJ, his time at the brown belt kumite, how he balances running an academy and competing at an elite level, his and his student's upcoming matches on Polaris 8 and why the Irish are so tough.

Eric is a former professional MMA fighter and the head coach at Phuket top team. In this episode we talk about Eric's pretty wild childhood and youth, how he escaped it, how he got into fighting, his retirement and the move to coaching, nutrition, training and more.

Hooman Tavakolian is a former wrestler, wrestling coach, sports diplomat and philanthropist. In this episode, we discuss how wrestling is deeply built into Iranian culture, an athletes responsibility to give back, Hooman's journey in wrestling after moving to the USA, how sport can help young people and the work that both Hooman and Saeed are doing, through wrestling, to help their communities.

Tom is a BJJ black belt and multiple time nogi world champion. In this episode Tom and I discuss how he got into BJJ, his gymnastics background, training with some of the best in the world at some of the highest level gyms in the world, what's made him successful and how he almost got involved in a gang duel.

Guro Bob Breen is a martial arts pioneer. Renowned in multiple disciplines including Karate, Kali/Escrima, Philipino martial arts and Jeet Kun Do. Bob has been teaching martial arts for over 50 years, he has trained under many of the biggest names in martial arts worldwide and is credited with bringing Filipino martial arts and JKD to the UK. In the episode, we discuss his journey in the martial a...

I'm joined by Luke Dalmedo again to discuss Polaris 8, and many irrelevant things.

Ant Lambert is a former Marine and adventurer. One half of the two-man team; the Mad Explorers. The Mad Explorers have undertaken a challenge they have named "Expedition 5", in which they will attempt to be the first people to cross the worlds 5 biggest Islands by manpower alone. I sit down with Ant after just returning from Greenland, their 4th island of the 5. He tells the stories from all the I...

This episode is a rundown of Quintet grappling 3 event in Las vegas. I sit down with Luke Dalmedo and David Ooi to chat about Quinet 3 and sin city.

Ben Hodgkinson is a BJJ black belt and the director of Grappling Industries Aus and UK. In this episode, we talk about Ben's journey in BJJ, training around the world, his work with Grappling Industries and there first UK event in January next year.