The Ageless Warrior Lab

In this interview, Dave Meyer sits down with Jordan Edwards, CEO of Mixology Clothing Company, partner in Chart Organization, and author of Business Jiu Jitsu , to explore how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu principles translate into business, leadership, and everyday life. Jordan shares his journey as an entrepreneur and BJJ practitioner, including navigating the challenges of COVID, building resilient busin...

In this interview, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu multiple time world champion Bernardo Faria joins Dave to discuss the origins of BJJ Fanatics, the business of online Jiu-Jitsu instructionals, and how digital education is changing the way practitioners learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Bernardo shares the story of how he met co-founder Michael Zenga, how their partnership led to the creation of BJJ Fanatics, and h...

In this interview, Ben Kovacs, founder of the nonprofit Guardian Gym and General Manager of FloGrappling, talks with Dave about using Jiu-Jitsu to change kids' lives, and about the hard business realities behind the sport most grapplers never see. Ben left a career at Twitter to start Guardian, a nonprofit that now runs almost 40 free kids' jiu jitsu academies around the world without an...

In this interview, I sit down with René Dreifuss. René is the founder of Radical MMA in New York. He has been training since 1975, fought in the city's early underground vale tudo shows, and holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu along with ranks in judo, karate and several other styles. He also holds a master's degree in Japanese military history from Columbia, which shows up in how...

In this interview, David sits down with comedy magician, author and keynote speaker Robert Strong for a wide-ranging conversation on the neuroscience of misdirection, memory, and audience psychology, drawing surprising parallels between the art of magic and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Strong is a Magic Castle member, longtime Google magic instructor, Penn & Teller: Fool Us alum, and founder of the AI...

Description: In this interview, UFC legend Randy "The Natural" Couture sits down to unpack a career defined by improbable timing. A former U.S. Army sergeant and three-time NCAA All-American wrestler. He fought his first MMA fight in UFC 13 at 33 years old and became a two-division world champion. Randy traces his path from a Pacific Northwest wrestling mat to Olympic alternate status, t...

In this interview, 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu founder Eddie Bravo sits down with longtime training partner and friend David Meyer to share the story behind one of the biggest upsets in grappling history — his legendary submission win over Royler Gracie at ADCC. Eddie opens up about his early days training at the Machado Academy in the 1990s, the origins of the name "Twister" and the rubber gu...

In this interview, BJJ black belt Felicia Oh sits down to share her remarkable journey from starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at age 33 to becoming a black belt under both Jean Jacques Machado and Eddie Bravo, a rare distinction only a handful of grapplers hold. The conversation covers what it was like training as a small woman in the male-dominated early days of BJJ, competing at ADCC and the FILA Wor...

In this conversation with Ryron Gracie — grandson of Grandmaster Hélio Gracie and son of UFC co-founder Rorion Gracie, Ryron breaks down the true philosophy of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, exploring the critical differences between sport BJJ, self-defense training, and MMA, and why he believes "there are no bad positions" in jiu-jitsu, only bad situations. Filmed at the Gracie University in Los Ang...

In this episode, Dave shares the second half of his two-part series on longevity in sports, focusing on his final two "secret laws." He calls out the importance of diet that sees beyond simple terms like  "processed" and "natural" , and offers practical guidance on what, how much, and when to eat, including insights on portion control, eating slowly, and intermittent...

In this deep dive on how to stay strong, flexible, and injury-free as you age, I discuss the four essential laws for longevity in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and combat sports. Drawing from decades of BJJ training experience at nearly 64 years old, I break down why protecting your joints is the single most important factor in athletic longevity, and reveal the critical difference between flexibility and m...

I've spent 36 years in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — competing, winning world titles (and losing them), and learning from every moment on the mat. In this episode, I'm sharing 15 battle-tested strategies for achieving victory in grappling, business, and life.  Winning isn't about overpowering your opponent — it's about positioning, timing, adaptation, and psychology. Whether you'r...

In this in‑depth interview with Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu grandmaster Professor Rorion Gracie, eldest son of Hélio Gracie and co‑creator of the UFC, we explore the origins of Gracie Jiu‑Jitsu, the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and why BJJ is such an effective self‑defense system. Rorion shares how he brought Jiu‑Jitsu to America, the philosophy behind the Gracie Academy and Gracie Univ...

Big John McCarthy is one of the most influential figures in MMA history — not as a fighter, but as the man who helped write the rules that shaped the sport. In this episode, we sit down with the legendary MMA referee, BJJ black belt, and founder of the COMMAND referee training program to talk about what it really takes to protect fighters inside the cage. Big John breaks down why fighters are wire...

GSP reveals he hated fighting — so why did he become the greatest MMA fighter of all time? In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Georges St-Pierre breaks down the mindset, preparation, and mental tools that built a legend. 🥊 What we cover: Why GSP hated fight night but kept competing anyway How bullying and a difficult childhood became his greatest fuel The truth about confidence: "It's...

IIn this episode, I sit down with Peter Maguire — historian, war crimes investigator, Rickson Gracie black belt, and the co-author of two books with Rickson Gracie : the New York Times bestselling Breathe: A Life in Flow * and the follow-up Comfort in Darkness: The Invisible Power of Jiu Jitsu *. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy my interview with Peter Maguire. Links to Find Peter Magu...

Host Dave Meyer sits down with Professor Robert Drysdale — IBJJF Black Belt Heavyweight World Champion (2005), ADCC Absolute Champion (2007), undefeated MMA fighter (7-0), and author of multiple books on the history of BJJ. They cover the decline of self-defense training, the warrior ethos of Carlson Gracie, competition vs. memorized moves, and how to keep training well into your 60s and beyond. F...

In this episode, I break down what strategy really is—and how it can help you go after goals that look like a long shot from where you are right now. Back in the year 2000, I decided I wanted to stop millions of dogs and cats from being killed in animal shelters. I had no job, no money, and no obvious way to do it… so if you were betting on me, it would have been reasonable to bet against me. The...

Adam Treanor is one of the most passionate and knowledgeable voices at the intersection of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and law enforcement. Adam is 25-year veteran of Southern California law enforcement, serving as both a police officer and deputy sheriff. In this conversation, Adam and I get into the training gap that has cost lives and dollars, why a BJJ blue belt may be the most important credential a...

Eric Ries created the Lean Startup Method — principles that mirror martial arts: don't overcommit, test first, adapt. We discuss why success breeds failure, how "financial gravity" corrupts organizations, why companies like Costco resist it, and how his new book Incorruptible offers a blueprint for institutions that last. Social Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/eries/ https://x.com...

Justin Flores is a coach's coach — a University of Nebraska wrestler, elite judoka, and lifelong grappler who has spent decades blending judo, wrestling, and Brazilian jiujitsu. He's coached UFC champions, judged at CJI, and built J Flow Academy to help instructors integrate takedowns into their jiujitsu curriculums. In this conversation, we cover what makes grappling disciplines differe...

In this episode, we sit down with Lachlan Giles — ADCC veteran, leg lock specialist, physiotherapist, and head coach at Absolute MMA St Kilda in Melbourne, Australia. With decades in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a PhD in physiotherapy, Lachlan brings a uniquely thoughtful approach to both competition and coaching. Instagram lachlan_giles Absolute MMA St. Kilda https://absolutemma.com.au/locations/absol...

In this episode, I sit down with Erik Paulson, a true pioneer of mixed martial arts and one of the first Americans to compete professionally in Japan's Shooto organization. Erik is the first American Shooto World Champion, a BJJ lback belt under Rigan Machado, and currently coaches top-level grapplers and fighters including the Ruotolo brothers. Links for Show notes: https://erikpaulson.com/...

In this episode, I break down what toughness really means—the ability to not give up or give in to something difficult while continuing to function effectively. I explore the different types of toughness: physical, mental, and psychological, and why developing toughness expands what's possible in your life. I then provide practical methods to develop both physical and mental toughness: hard t...

I sit down with Rikki Rockett, founding drummer of Poison (50+ million albums sold) and fourth-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Renato Magno at Street Sports BJJ. We explore parallels between drumming and BJJ—both demand mental strategy balanced with physical execution. Social Media Links: Instagram ► www.instagram.com/RikkiRockett Facebook ► www.facebook.com/TheRealRikkirockett Faceboo...