The ROL Radio - Hosted by Thomas Rozdzynski

Send us Fan Mail Rafael “The Triangle” Costa began training BJJ at the age of 11 in Rio and is now an instructor at one of the largest BJJ academies in the world.   Whether teaching private lessons or a class of 80, Rafa approaches all aspects of BJJ on an extremely professional level. Listen as Rafa talks about what he believes it takes to be a competitor and instructor in the world of Jiu Jitsu....

Send us Fan Mail Are you evolving? After speaking with Chris Haueter, Thomas and Gary discuss the evolution of BJJ and how the individual needs to continuously evolve within the art. http://www.therolradio.com https://www.instagram.com/therolradio/ https://www.facebook.com/therolradio/ https://www.combatbase.com/ https://www.instagram.com/combatbaseclub/ https://www.instagram.com/chrishaueter96/ h...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of RŌL Radio we have an artist, martial artist, Marine Veteran, and one of the first non Brazilian BJJ black belts, a group known as the BJJ Dirty Dozen, Chris Haueter. Listen as Chris tells his story of training in California garages with the legends of BJJ, competing in Gracie Challenge matches, and what it is like rolling with the man most consider the greatest...

Send us Fan Mail Do you approach your training, or anything else for that matter, strategically? After speaking with Travis Stevens, Thomas and Gary discuss how having a strategic approach is key to improvement at every level. http://www.therolradio.com https://www.instagram.com/therolradio/ https://www.facebook.com/therolradio/ https://fujisports.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/TravisStevensgrappl...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of RŌL Radio we have arguably the most successful American Judoka in history, and BJJ black belt, Travis Stevens. Listen as Travis tells us his amazing martial arts journey. A journey that started by sheer accident as a child and lead him all the way to the Olympic games. A journey that also includes receiving his BJJ Black Belt from one of the biggest names in the...

Send us Fan Mail How do you view Jiu Jitsu history, or any history for that matter? Do you seek out the truth? After speaking with Robert Drysdale, Thomas and Gary discuss what they believe is the true importance of how history is passed on. http://www.therolradio.com https://www.instagram.com/therolradio/ https://www.facebook.com/therolradio/ https://twitter.com/robertdrysdale?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoo...

Send us Fan Mail Robert Drysdale has made history in the world of BJJ, winning multiple titles including the ADCC World Championship and the IBJJF Championship, but now he is dedicating himself to exploring and telling the history of BJJ itself. On this episode of RŌL Radio Robert describes his journey and the journey of telling the true history of Jiu Jitsu in Brazil. The latter of which took him...

Send us Fan Mail As the year comes to a close RŌL Radio wanted to finish it up with our 2020 Recap. On this episode we bring you our thoughts about how our first year of podcasting went, and what we hope the future brings. Then we recap the episodes themselves. The mistakes and blunders, our favorite overall episodes, the most downloaded and listened to, and a great countdown of our favorite momen...

Send us Fan Mail Throughout his amazing BJJ career as both a competitor and coach Comprido always looked at the Big Picture. On this Takeaway Thomas and Gary discuss the importance of the Big Picture and not focusing on the negatives in life or instant gratification. http://www.therolradio.com https://www.instagram.com/therolradio/ https://www.facebook.com/therolradio/ https://compridobjj.com/ htt...

Send us Fan Mail Rodrigo “Comprido” Medeiros grew up in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. His childhood neighborhood was filled with future legends in the sport of Jiu Jitsu but it wasn’t until Comprido was 16 that he began training seriously. After a rough first year of competing Comprido began winning tournaments and quickly became one of the top fighters and even recorded the first, and still fastest subm...

Send us Fan Mail Have you been empowered by others to be the best you can be? After speaking with MMA legend Miguel Torres about how he was empowered by Carlson Gracie Senior to become a world champion, Thomas and Gary discuss the effect that empowerment can have on the people around you. http://www.therolradio.com https://www.instagram.com/therolradio/ https://www.facebook.com/therolradio/ http:/...

Send us Fan Mail Miguel Angel Torres went from fighting in unsanctioned bouts in bars and nightclubs to become one of the greatest MMA bantamweights in history. Under the tutelage of Grand Master Carlson Gracie Sr. who saw a champion in a young Miguel, Miguel rose through the smaller MMA organizations on his way to capturing the WEC bantamweight title.  Along with other fighters like Urijah Faber...

Send us Fan Mail How does your mindset hamper or help you achieve your goals and overcome obstacles? After speaking with the incredible Marcio Cruz, who had the mindset that he would become a world champion and there was no one he couldn't beat, Thomas and Gary discuss how your mindset is key to your success. http://www.therolradio.com https://www.instagram.com/therolradio/ https://www.facebo...

Send us Fan Mail Marcio Cruz said very early on in his Jiu Jitsu journey he would be world champion and there was no one he couldn’t beat. He wasn’t being arrogant or cocky, he believed that with his raw talent, unrivaled dedication, and a die on the mat attitude, he could make all his goals reality. It was that dedication and mindset that lead Marcio to not only become a Brazilian National Champi...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to make an impact on the lives of others? After speaking with Jon Thomas the founder of Tap Cancer Out, Thomas and Gary discuss the dedication it takes to make a positive impact on the lives of others.  http://www.therolradio.com https://www.instagram.com/therolradio/ https://www.facebook.com/therolradio/ https://tapcancerout.org/ https://wecan.tapcancerou...

Send us Fan Mail Jon Thomas was surrounded by people that were doing amazing charity work and he felt he wasn’t doing enough in his life to give back. So in 2010 Jon decide he was going to raise money for cancer charities. As an active Jiu Jitsu competitor he realized that there was an untapped resource within Jiu Jitsu tournaments. This is when the seed for Tap Cancer Out was born. Listen as Jon...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to really support someone's goals and dreams? Can you make the sacrifice to truly support someone else, and can you be understanding and step aside if their goals no longer include you? http://www.therolradio.com https://www.instagram.com/therolradio/ https://www.facebook.com/therolradio/ https://www.giannigrippo.com/ https://www.instagram.com/giannigrippo/?...

Send us Fan Mail As a kid Gianni Grippo had tremendous support from his parents. Support that gave him the opportunity to train at one of the most prestigious BJJ academies in New York City. There he was able to take private lessons and train with some of the biggest names in Jiu Jitsu. However as a young adult he began to feel his goals were not being supported in the way he needed and Gianni mad...

Send us Fan Mail Would you have what it takes to achieve your goals and dreams despite financial setbacks, unemployment, and even being severely injured? After hearing the amazing journey of James Clingerman, Thomas and Gary were blown away by how he dealt with the huge obstacles in his life. Listen as they discuss how James's resilience made it possible. http://www.therolradio.com https://ww...

Send us Fan Mail In the late 1990s James Clingerman had already been training Judo and Japanese Jiu Jitsu when he walked into his first BJJ class. The instructor was teaching Foot Locks and James was immediately “hooked”. Since then James’s career and life have had many ups and downs. Even after several enormous setbacks that would make most people quit, James and his wife AJ kept pushing forward,...

Send us Fan Mail Do we have a purpose in life? Does everything happen for a reason? After a great conversation with Rich McKeegan from Bushido Jiu Jitsu and Black Belts for Butterflies, Thomas and Gary discuss finding a purpose in life, and what we can do to make positive changes in our own lives and the lives of others. http://www.therolradio.com https://www.instagram.com/therolradio/ https://www...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of RŌL Radio our guest is instructor and Academy Manager at Bushido Jiu Jitsu Academy in Manchester CT, Rich McKeegan. In 2012 a local tragedy changed Rich’s outlook on life. He made the decision that giving back and making a difference was his true calling. Starting small, Rich began making and selling gi patches with the proceeds going to the victims of the Sandy...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever really considered what it takes to be an elite level coach, especially when you don't have the financial support of a large organization? After speaking with former Olympian and Olympic Judo coach Steve Cohen, Thomas and Gary discuss the sacrifice and dedication Steve had for his players and the ways he made sure he could give them everything they needed to succ...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to RŌL Radio. Our guest on this episode is a 5 time Judo National Champion, Silver medalist in the 1986 Goodwill Games, 1988 US Olympic team member, and 2000 US Olympic Judo team coach, Steve Cohen.  Steve started his Judo training as a child with his older brother Irwin and they both became two of the most successful US competitors of the 1970’s.  Steve shares his jo...

Send us Fan Mail Do you believe in destiny?  Do you believe hat your path is predetermined or do you set your own path? After speaking with 2x Olympic Judo bronze medalist, Thomas and Gary discuss whether or not it was Jimmy's destiny to be an Olympian and represent his country on the world stage. http://www.therolradio.com https://www.instagram.com/therolradio/ https://www.facebook.com/thero...