The Chewjitsu Podcast

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss the importance of rest days and why many BJJ practitioners avoid rest days and taking time off. We start off the podcast by answering a question from "Bob," who is a 47 y/o BJJ practitioner who tries to train daily and even some days twice per day. "Bob" says that by mid week he has a hard time with focused and technical training and feels t...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene are joined by one of the Jiu-Jitsu pioneers in the Midwest, 4th degree BJJ Black Belt James Clingerman. James joins the podcast to discuss celebrating the 25th anniversary of his gym, his biggest marketing mistakes as a new gym owner, taking the risk to start a gym 25 years ago as a BJJ blue belt, how he had to rebuild his gym after losing most of h...

On this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Olympian, 9X U.S. National Champion, 3X World Medalist, and BJJ Purple Belt Jake Herbert. Jake is a husband, father of four, and business coach. Jake discusses his start in wrestling, how he got his kids to start training in grappling, pros and cons of specialization vs training in multiple sports, "living through your kids," starting BJJ, the impor...

On this episode of the podcast, we are joined by one of Chewy's first training partners, BJJ Black Belt Daniel Bertina. Daniel is a BJJ Black Belt and coach that lives in the Netherlands. Daniel discusses his early days in BJJ and his training sessions with Chewy, what training sessions were like in the early 2000's, ideas on decreasing injuries, recommendations for older grapplers, why you should...

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene have fun with a comment that called Chewy "A Fruitcake That Likes To Play Graba$$". This troll comment came in response to an e-mail Chewy sent out that stated "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu helps you find yourself and lose yourself at the same time." We discuss how Jiu-Jitsu can force you look at yourself and derive deeper meaning from life and also can be used as an escap...

On this episode of the Chewjitsu Podcast, we are joined by BJJ Black Belt and gym owner AJ Clingerman. AJ discusses the start of her "Roll Models" BJJ Camps, the idea behind a women's only camp and what makes it unique from other camps, the challenges women face in BJJ, the importance of women's only classes, red flags for women in BJJ, why many women start training, how to grow a women's BJJ prog...

On this live recording of the podcast, we are joined by Strength & Nutrition Coach Eli Coffey. We discuss Eli's recovery from two shoulder replacements, strength training for grapplers, bulking and cutting weight, how to address common muscle imbalances in grapplers, Sport Specific vs. General Strength training, the "budget" for recovery, fat loss, signs of overtraining, and a Q&A section at the e...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss Imposter Syndrome in BJJ and how to both overcome this and use it to your advantage. We discuss the problem with comparing yourself to others, if a high competitive environment a reason to change gyms, what Chewy looks for when promoting someone to their next belt rank, why Chewy doesn't prefer a strict curriculum for belt promotions, feelin...

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene are joined by BJJ Black Belt and Tournament Director of The Chewjitsu Open, Jeff Alexander. Chewy and Jeff discuss the idea behind The Chewjitsu Open, what happened during the first ever Chewjitsu Open, the recipe that's made The Chewjitsu Open successful, why it's more difficult to get brown and black belts to compete, Chewy's most nerve-racking tournament experi...

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss BJJ competitions and how to get the most out of your competition experience. We discuss how competition makes your BJJ better, how competitions can help with training intensity, the realization regarding competition nerves, how to improve on failures in competition, how competition losses can be incredibly motivating, how to improve after good competition...

Joe Miller is the founder and CEO of "1st Optimal", a telehealth functional medicine company dedicated to helping high performing men and women optimize their hormones, longevity, and overall health through personalized treatment plans that integrate lifestyle, exercise, supplementation, nutrition, and medications. With a deep passion for evidence-based medicine, functional health, and precision d...

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss why BJJ is so addicting. We discuss the "trifecta" that addicts BJJ athletes and three additional reasons that keep you "Mat Addicts" coming back for more. We also discuss some ideas on why people quit BJJ. The "BJJ Trifecta": Learning/Feedback loop. Stress Management. Community and social aspect. Three byproducts of the "BJJ Trifecta": Achieving "mindless...

On this episode, we are joined by former Division 1 Wrestler and BJJ purple belt Ian Daube. Ian discusses his start in wrestling and Judo, how a pec injury changed Ian's wrestling career, why he decided to quite his corporate job and become a full time grappler and how he transitioned out of the corporate world, the importance of aggression in a BJJ match, what helps him for competition prep, his...

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene answer a question from Collin who asks, "How do you recognize and fix gym culture without enforcers, and also what do you do if one of the enforcers becomes a gym bully"? We discuss how and when a "gym enforcer" should be used, one of the most corrosive things that can happen in the gym, "Absolute Cancerous Behaviors" and "Relative Cancerous Behaviors," some of th...

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss a recent article that claims that you can get "ridiculously" strong for BJJ by just doing bodyweight exercises. We chat about the article in depth and where we agree and disagree with the writer's arguments.  We also discuss why some grapplers a resistant to lifting weights, how to properly use isometric exercises to strengthen your body, our thoughts on "...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene answer a question from Andy who says he isn't enjoying training in the Gi anymore and wants to eventually focus on MMA. So he wants to know, "Is the gi necessary?" We discuss the importance of goals to dictate your training, Chewy talks about how his opinion on the Gi has changed over the years, the law of specificity, if the Gi is more technical, C...

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss some ideas on how to eliminate distractions in 2025 and achieve your goals in the new year. We discuss the idea of "Executers vs. Collectors," why you should "live like a dog," the idea of "Alibi-itis," minimizing distractions, why what you say "no" to is just as important as what you say "yes" to, adding and removing barriers, using your attention to prom...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene reflect on the 2024 No-Gi Worlds. We discuss the lamest way to win a BJJ match, why you should complain to the IBJJF to enforce rule changes, why the way you win matters, the willingness to risk everything for a win, the reasons why we compete, if you lose…it's not all a loss, why warm ups are key for a good performance, why you shouldn't sweat the...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss some important tips for longevity in BJJ and training more intelligently as you get older. We discuss 7 Tips: Train to stimulate and don't annihilate (learn your limits). Train less, but with more focus. Treat life off the mat as an extension of training. Be disciplined with lifting. Let go of who you used to be. Choose techniques and positi...

On this episode of the podcast, Chewy and Eugene discuss why BJJ should not be an Olympic Sport. We discuss both pros and cons of Jiu-Jitsu in the Olympics, how the Olympic Judo rulesets have influenced the sport, why BJJ being in the Olympics will decrease the evolution of BJJ, how the variety in BJJ helps growth, the difference between amateur and professional athletes, what will help to continu...

On this episode of the podcast, we are joined by University of Minnesota Head Assistant Coach, Luke Becker. Luke is an accomplished wrestler and the 2002 NCAA National Champion, 2002 and 2003 Big Ten Champion (157 pounds), Four-time NCAA All-American (2000-03), member of the 2001 and 2002 National Championship teams, and a member of the 2001, 2002 and 2003 Big Ten Championship teams. Luke is also...

On this episode of the podcast we are joined by BJJ Black Belt, Owner of Revive BJJ, and military veteran Nick Sanders. Nick Sanders started BJJ in 2006 after leaving active duty with the Army.  Nick served in Iraq in 2004-2005 as an infantryman with the First Infantry Division.  While in Iraq, he received several awards including the Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman's Badge.  Nick is still cur...

On this episode of the podcast, we are once again joined by Origin CEO and BJJ black belt Pete Roberts. Pete discusses the process of shifting his role when he became the CEO of Origin, why Pete feels that this was the first year that he actually "worked," why you should change where you get your dopamine, why you shouldn't put anyone on a pedestal, why Jiu-Jitsu is a metaphor for life, someone wh...

Ryan Aitken is a 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, ADCC veteran, EBI Absolute Champion, Combat Jiu-Jitsu Champion, and the PGF Season 7 champion. Ryan joins the podcast to discuss his start in Jiu-Jitsu, deciding to switch gyms to train with Sean Applegate at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Atlanta, important concepts that are forgotten in Jiu-Jitsu, strengthening and training the body for longevity, Ryan's...

On this episode, Chewy and Eugene discuss a new rule for Jiu-Jitsu. We chat about why you should avoid being a sore loser. We chat about some of our tournament experiences, why you should avoid posting your frustrations about a tournament on social media, a useful way to get your frustrations out, who to stop being "fragile," how to be less emotionally charged after a loss, the dangers of expectat...