The Chewjitsu Podcast

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss the idea of discipline and the misconceptions about discipline. We discuss why discipline is about flexibility, what all success is built on, how to develop the ability to be flexible and not get off track, the importance of being reflective, habit stacking, having contrast, how to prioritize the most important tasks, how to train your subco...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss the "Golden Rule" of competition. We discuss why the way you win is just as important as if you win, doing the honorable thing in competition, why how you go about daily training is important for your success, why competitions are "controlled aggression" and not "animosity," what makes competing so unique, and the experience of coaching a st...

On this episode of the podcast, we share some of the best moments from the podcast. In this edition, we dive into a recap of the "Rules For Jiu-Jitsu" series. We discuss the following rules: BJJ is a marathon (Episode 160: Rules For Jiu-Jitsu 1) Be an anti-martial artist (Episode 164: Rules For Jiu-Jitsu 2) Grips First (Episode 166: Rules for Jiu-Jitsu 3) Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Check out...

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss the "Pareto Principle," also known as this "80-20 Rule." We discuss the idea of 20% of your BJJ techniques accounting for 80% of your success in grappling. We discuss if the "80-20 Rule" could be a trap and make your game too limited, how to identify what needs to change and how to get out of a rut, when the best time is to reflect on your training session...

On this episode of the podcast, we are joined by ADCC veteran and BJJ black belt John Hansen. John discusses bouncing around gyms initially and then finding a consistent training environment, when his life started to change into a more positive directions, 5 things all grappling is based around, how his training has changed as he has gotten older, getting things that you want in training and havin...

On this episode of the podcast, we are joined by BJJ Black Belt and Founder of the non-profit organization "Tap Cancer Out." Jon discusses starting Jiu-Jitsu in 2008, why earning a blue belt had significant meaning, dealing with "imposter syndrome" in BJJ, how "Tap Cancer Out" started and the process of running a tournament, the challenges of running a Jiu-Jitsu non-profit business, finding the be...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss a book Chewy has been reading titled "The Pyjama Game" and discuss an idea from the book on the unique take Japanese Judokas take to martial arts. We discuss how the Japanese Judokas had a great ability to relax while being thrown which allowed them to commit to throws and takedowns with less fear because of their ability to take a throw and...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene give their thoughts and reactions to the recent Craig Jones Invitational. We discuss our experience at the event, our thoughts on the ruleset, why there was more passivity in the matches, why a "Wrestling Duals" format may be a better ruleset, the controversy of whether Giancarlo Bodoni tapped out, the different roles of the athletes in the Quintet...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene preview the upcoming Craig Jones Invitational (CJI 2). We discuss the new Quintet team format, how the wrestling and takedowns will change when competing in a pit, what made the CJI a unique tournament, what Chewy would focus on if prepping for an event like CJI, and potential strategies for the teams. Thanks to the podcast sponsors: Check out "Athl...

On this episode we answer a question from an anonymous podcast listener. "Bob" wrestled in high school and is currently a member at a self-defense gym, but has been cross-training at a Sport/Competition gym and really liking it. "Bob" is wondering if he should switch gyms if he wants to become a successful competitor. We discuss why wrestlers prefer Sport Jiu-Jitsu, why martial arts and fighting i...

Chewy and Eugene discuss "Alpha Male Bros" and some stories of these guys coming into the gym. We discuss some of these "Alpha Bro" characters that show up on-line and the ridiculousness of their perspectives, stories of the "I See Red" guys showing up to the gym, why we tend to want nice cars and big houses as young men, cultural norms of success, the fulfillment of skill acquisition, ego death/"...

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene get asked about BJJ Black Belt Henry Akins' recent comments that "Half Guard" is not a very good position in BJJ. Chewy and Eugene discuss why you shouldn't always accept other people's "dogma," the idea that "half guard is half passed," the original thoughts on leg locks in BJJ, why half guard is a great passing and sweeping position, why Jiu-Jitsu lives in the g...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss multiple mindset tips that can help with BJJ and in life. We discuss the idea of "detachment," separating yourself from your accomplishments, dealing with negative self-talk, how to develop awareness and change things that you don't like about yourself, how a loss helped Chewy get refocused and re-energized, being the "watcher," how to stop...

Chis Wojcik is a BJJ black belt who trains out of "B Team," he is an ADCC veteran, and creator of "The Woj Lock." On this episode we discuss "celebrity belts" in Jiu-Jitsu, the difference between black belts today as compared to 20 years ago, what developments have occurred at "B Team," the transition of moving to a more competitive gym, ego in BJJ, avoiding the negative loop and managing emotions...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss what is a legitimate black belt. We chat about the recent story of "Derek Moneyberg," who received a BJJ black belt in 3.5 years by doing only private lessons. Chewy shares a couple stories of teaching students who only wanted to do private lessons and wanted to get promoted, the limitations of only doing private lessons, "celebrity belts,"...

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss 4 things that they learned through Jiu-Jitsu that impacted their lives. Facing your fears - fear as part of the process and how to overcome the resistance to achieving your goals. The cost of skill and progress - pick things that align with what you want. Taking care of your body - get contrast through BJJ and create habits or better performance on the mat...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss why you should stop being so nice with your BJJ. We discuss the importance of using pressure with your techniques, ideas on how to properly apply pressure, your intentions when applying pressure, how to recognize a student with "bad intentions," the factors that impact aggressiveness in training, using BJJ to deal with anger and to use inten...

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss the new "UFC-BJJ" show and BJJ promotion formed by the UFC. We discuss the new BJJ reality show, how to make BJJ more spectator-friendly, whether the UFC should focus on grapplers or people who have never trained to improve viewership, the advantage of having a refs decision, our thoughts on the UFC taking the ruleset from the CJI, the potential challenges...

On this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Judo black belt, Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, former gymnast, and one of the founders of "GMB Fitness," Ryan Hurst. Ryan discusses his start in gymnastics and then transitioning to training Judo. He shares his experience of living in Japan for over 20 years, what it was like training Judo in Japan and being one of the few non-Japanese practitioners, how gy...

On this episode Chewy and Eugene answer 7 questions from listeners on BJJ, food, and life. We discuss the following questions: How did you meet your wife? What are you most afraid of? What are some tips on remembering techniques? What is a guilty pleasure food? What is a good breakfast before training? Do you ease off of training during the holidays? How do you feel about lower belts not being abl...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss the idea of training and thinking like an athlete instead of as a hobbyist. We discuss why this mindset shift to training as an athlete is important for longevity, how an athlete treats their body compared to how a hobbyist, the foods chewy avoids before training BJJ, how diet can impact performance, the importance of rhythm and routine, hol...

On this episode of the podcast we are joined by Cameron Shayne. Cameron pioneered the phrase and concept of Mixed Movement Arts in 2001 by combining the combat arts of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts together with Yoga, Crawling Patterns, Mobility, Calisthenics, and Cognitive Studies into a single black belt system known as Budokon. Cameron also holds black belts in Olympic style Taekwo...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss why inexperience leads to inefficient activity on the mats. we discuss the process of improving efficiency on the mats, what Chewy focused on to improve efficiency, why "feeling is understanding," why mindset plays a huge roll in BJJ, why clearer goals lead to more efficiency, and how Chewy discovered that Youtube was the best way for him to...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss 5 important Jiu-Jitsu tips for older grapplers to help with your performance on the mats. We discuss the following ideas: Try not to win every round. Get good at defense. Use heart rate to monitor intensity. Train with intention. Focus on diet/weight loss. To learn more about Chewy's new "Flow & Control" Program, check out  http://chewjitsut...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy discusses why he needed to develop his "older grappler" BJJ game to adapt to training and to remain competitive against younger and more athletic grapplers. Chewy discusses how he started to discover this new element to his game, the position he would go to when fatigued, the moment Chewy decided to change his game, ideas on "uneven pressure" in side control,...