The Shintaro Higashi Show

In this episode, Shintaro Higashi and David Kim (  @midjitsu  ) sit down with Kevin Koenig — aka @theyachtfella (Instagram)— a jiu-jitsu brown belt and luxury yacht journalist who’s written for the New York Times, GQ, Yachting Magazine, and more. They dive deep into the ultra-wealthy world of mega-yachts, watches, private submarines, and celebrity DMs — all while exploring how jiu-jitsu keeps Kevi...

Three-time Olympian Angie Delgado returns to the podcast with Shintaro Higashi to discuss her candidacy for the Team USA Athlete Commission, her vision for the future of USA Judo, and the financial challenges elite athletes face. From personal sacrifices to funding strategies and athlete development, Angie shares what it really takes to succeed at the highest level of judo.🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 4...

In this episode, David sits down with Michael Darda — Chief Economist and Macro Strategist at Roth Capital Partners, frequent guest on Bloomberg, CNBC, and Fox Business, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. They discuss Mike’s journey from economist to accomplished grappler, the parallels between markets and the mat, and how he blends his professional insights with martial arts lessons. From avoi...

Join Shintaro Higashi for an in-depth conversation with Leo Lopes, a central figure in New York’s thriving judo community and a visionary in growing the sport nationwide. In this episode, dive into the story of Empire State Judo; the rich culture, the challenges, and the future of judo in one of America’s biggest judo hubs. 🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just...

This episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show dives deep into the 2025 Mongolia Grand Slam, where Shintaro returns from his trip to break down the biggest stories from the tournament. From massive IJF rule changes to standout performances and the evolution of ne-waza, Shintaro and David Kim unpack it all with insight, humor, and a few travel tips.00:00 – Lounge Life at Incheon Airport04:00 – Back on t...

In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, David Kim and newly minted PhD Peter Yu explore the intersection of judo and cutting-edge AI. With Shintaro away, they dive deep into what it would take to quantitatively model grappling as a "game of inches"—from motion capture to video-based simulation, and the promise of building smarter, more personalized training tools using machine lear...

In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, we dive deep into the world of Veterans Judo with special guests Ray Greeley and Billy Gavigan. They discuss the mission behind Veterans Judo USA, the challenges and rewards of competing over 30, and how they’re building an inclusive, international community for older judo athletes. Whether you’re a former elite competitor or a hobbyist returning to th...

In this episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro and David Kim dive into the realities of how to get better at judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. They discuss training strategies for different belt levels, how to self-direct improvement, and common mistakes that keep people stuck—especially beginners. This episode offers real, actionable insights for grapplers of all levels, from struggling white...

In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro and David dive deep into the mechanics of inside trips, particularly focusing on Ouchi Gari. They explore the differences between small and big inside trips, discuss grip fighting, timing, and counters, and share practical advice on setting up and finishing one of judo’s most versatile techniques.00:00 - Introduction & Today’s Topic: Insid...

Dr. Peter Yu returns to the podcast to share exciting updates on his post-PhD life, including his move to Silicon Valley to work on autonomous vehicles. The conversation dives into the state of self-driving technology, Peter's role as an applied scientist, and how his research background plays into cutting-edge developments. The trio also explores the biomechanics of judo throws, surprising pa...

Shintaro Higashi returns from the Junior Nationals in Chicago and shares a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at this major youth judo event. Joined by co-host David Kim, the two discuss standout matches, rising talent, and the evolving landscape of competitive judo in the U.S. 00:00 Intro & Trip to Junior Nationals01:30 Event Overview & Youth Pipeline 03:00 Event Scale & Social Aspect05...

In this episode, Shintaro Higashi and Dave dive into the nuanced distinction between being an instructor and a coach in martial arts. They explore the expectations, responsibilities, and personal dynamics involved in both roles, drawing from their own experiences in judo, jiu-jitsu, and even ballet. Whether you're a student or teacher, this conversation sheds light on what it truly means to coach...

Marcus Johnson joins the show to talk about the launch of Heritage Jiu Jitsu, a premium new BJJ studio in Morganville, NJ. Shintaro and Marcus dive into the design philosophy, his coaching background, running elite gyms like Essential BJJ and Marcelo Garcia Academy, and what it really takes to build a high-end academy from the ground up. From coaching at ADCC to navigating business systems like bi...

In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro sits down with co-host David Kim to share stories of their respective surgeries—Shintaro's recent knee operation and David’s disc replacement in his neck. They dive deep into the importance of medical self-advocacy, navigating conflicting diagnoses, and what recovery looks like for active martial artists. Join my Patreon for:✅ 1-on-1 video ca...

Shintaro Higashi returns from a seminar tour through North and South Dakota and shares highlights from his teaching experience with co-host David Kim. They dive deep into the nuances of judo grip fighting, seminar structure, and how to make training safer and more productive for all levels. This episode is packed with practical teaching philosophy, funny travel anecdotes, and martial arts insight....

In this episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro and David Kim break down the unique judo techniques of Natsumi Tsunoda, a gold medalist at the Paris Olympics. The discussion highlights Tsunoda's mastery of the straight back tomoe nage, her innovative use of the secondary leg, and how she seamlessly blends tachiwaza and newaza. Join my Patreon for: ✅ 1-on-1 video call coaching ✅ Exclus...

In this episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show, Shintaro and guest David Kim discuss the revival of the Judo program at the New York Athletic Club (NYAC), the challenges of maintaining high-level training, and the collaboration between Shintaro, Colton Brown, and other top athletes to restore the program's energy and excellence. The NYAC is a historic private club in NYC, known for supporting to...

David Kim is coming onboard to help with the podcast! He discusses balancing family life with martial arts training, his jiu-jitsu journey as a middle-aged practitioner, and his "midjitsu" persona focused on helping older grapplers. David shares insights on marriage, training philosophy, and how he manages to train consistently while raising four children. David will be a recurring special guest o...

In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, you’re riding shotgun as Shintaro drives to the dojo and dives deep into what goes through his mind before training. From setting the right intentions to managing fatigue, fear, and skill development, this off-the-cuff episode covers how to make every session count, whether you’re a competitor, hobbyist, or somewhere in between. Shintaro shares persona...

Do big deadlifts = better judo? In this episode, Shintaro sits down with wrestling coach and grappling veteran Vinnie Mancuso to talk about lifting for combat sports, what actually helps on the mat, and what’s just ego. They share training insights, injury prevention strategies, and how to structure your back day to support grappling performance, not break you down.

In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, I sit down with my longtime friend, elite grappler, and judo black belt Vinnie Mancuso to dive deep into the world of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), testosterone, fitness, and recovery in the grappling world. Whether you’re curious about TRT, trying to optimize your training, or just want to hear unfiltered gym talk between two grapplers, this epi...

In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, we’re joined by Lydia Coleman — a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Pan-American champion, Judo brown belt, and co-owner of Rolling Bear BJJ in New Jersey. Lydia shares her journey from striking to grappling, how she built her competitive career, what it’s like to run a gym as a woman, and the stark differences between the judo and jiu-jitsu communities.

In this episode, Shintaro sits down with Jeff Morris, Owner & Head Instructor of Greenwich Jiu Jitsu Academy. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, United States Marine Corps veteran, and active Law Enforcement Detective, Jeff shares his incredible journey—from discovering BJJ in the Marines to building a thriving academy and using martial arts for self-defense, personal growth, and community buil...

Shintaro welcomes Sensei Seth, a top martial arts YouTuber, for an in-depth conversation about his journey from viral spinning kicks and the Bottle Cap Challenge to becoming a Sumo National Champion and one of the biggest martial arts influencers on YouTube. They dive into Seth’s approach to content creation, how he balances training with producing videos, his thoughts on MMA, traditional martial...

Two-time Olympian Colton Brown joins the podcast to share his journey from elite competitor to top-level coach and dojo owner. We dive into his transition from athlete to mentor, his rapid success in building a thriving Judo academy, and his thoughts on the future of Judo in the U.S.Colton also opens up about his time as a USA Judo board member, the challenges of balancing elite competitors with h...