Episodi

  • Ep. 372: Plug-and-Play Games, feat. Ryan Rich
    Jan 12 2026

    This week, we're joined by Ryan Rich! Ryan is the head coach at Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu in California, and a proponent of the constraints-led approach to teaching Jiu-Jitsu. In this episode, Ryan discusses to what extent Jiu-Jitsu coaches should borrow premade skill-development games, rather than building their own.

    Follow Ryan and Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu on Instagram:
    https://instagram.com/granitebayjiujitsu

    Learn online with Ryan at BJJ Games:
    https://bjjgames.com

    Train with Ryan at Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu in Granite Bay, California:
    https://gbjj.org


    Mental models discussed in this episode:

    • Gamification
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/gamification


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    The world's LARGEST library of Jiu-Jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
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    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

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    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
    https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
    https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
    https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

    Music by Enterprize:
    https://enterprize.bandcamp.com


    ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!

    MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

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    55 min
  • Mini Ep. 88: Table Selection
    Jan 8 2026

    In this week's mini-episode, we discuss table selection: a concept from poker teaching us that choosing the right environment greatly increases our odds of success.

    Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro


    ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    The world's LARGEST library of Jiu-Jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

    Learn more mental models in our online database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

    Follow us on social:
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
    https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
    https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
    https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels


    ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!

    MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

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    8 min
  • Ep. 371: Building on a Curriculum, feat. Todd Richards
    Jan 5 2026

    This week, we're joined by Todd Richards! Todd is a black belt under the great Keith Owen, who tragically passed away in 2022. In this episode, Todd shares his experience building atop and evolving an existing curriculum, sharing stories from how a group of Keith Owen's black belts took over gym instruction following his passing.

    Find Todd online at Flow Frame Jiu-Jitsu:
    https://flowframejiujitsu.com

    Train with Todd at Team Rhino Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Meridian, Idaho:
    https://teamrhinoidaho.com


    Mental models discussed in this episode:

    • Technique Chaining
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/technique-chaining

    • Labeling
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/labeling

    • Goodhart's Law
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/goodharts-law

    • Invariants
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/invariants

    • Third Place
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/third-place


    ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    The world's LARGEST library of Jiu-Jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

    Learn more mental models in our online database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

    Follow us on social:
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
    https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
    https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
    https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

    Music by Enterprize:
    https://enterprize.bandcamp.com


    ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!

    MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

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    1 ora e 11 min
  • Mini Ep. 87: Opening Salvos
    Jan 1 2026

    In this week's mini-episode, we discuss opening salvos: the tactics and strategies you use when entering into an engagement. Ensuring your opening salvo is successful helps tremendously for standup and the engagement phase of guard.

    Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro


    ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    The world's LARGEST library of Jiu-Jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

    Learn more mental models in our online database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

    Follow us on social:
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
    https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
    https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
    https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels


    ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!

    MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

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    7 min
  • Ep. 370: The Gift Wrap, feat. Nick Volpe
    Dec 29 2025

    This week, we're joined again by Nick Volpe from Dark Bear Jiu-Jitsu! In this episode, Nick breaks down a very holiday-relevant technique: the gift wrap!

    Follow Nick on Instagram:
    https://instagram.com/darkbeardojo

    Train with Nick at Dark Bear Jiu-Jitsu in Staten Island, NY:
    https://darkbearjiujitsu.com


    Mental models discussed in this episode:

    • Crossing the Center
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/crossing-the-center

    • Priit's 45° Rule
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/priits-45-degree-rule

    • Predictable Responses
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/predictable-responses

    • Center of Gravity
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/center-of-gravity

    • Asymmetric Warfare
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/asymmetric-warfare

    • Probabilistic Thinking
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/probabilistic-thinking


    ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    The world's LARGEST library of Jiu-Jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

    Learn more mental models in our online database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

    Follow us on social:
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
    https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
    https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
    https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

    Music by Enterprize:
    https://enterprize.bandcamp.com


    ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!

    MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

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    52 min
  • Mini Ep. 86: Do What Works
    Dec 25 2025

    In this week's mini-episode, we discuss the importance of doing what works. If a) you can do it against good opponents, b) you can do it repeatedly, and c) it aligns with your goals, then it's a good technique regardless of what anyone else says.

    Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro


    ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    The world's LARGEST library of Jiu-Jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

    Learn more mental models in our online database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

    Follow us on social:
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
    https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
    https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
    https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels


    ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!

    MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

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    5 min
  • Ep. 369: Real Talk About Humility, feat. Nick Salles
    Dec 22 2025

    This week, we're joined by Nick Salles! Nick is a black belt under Mikey Musumeci and co-founder of Movement Art Jiu-Jitsu. In this episode, Nick discusses epistemic humility: a scientific philosophy reminding us that our knowledge is always incomplete. Topics include: democratic learning environments, creating conditions for exploration, constraints-led training, recoverable vs. unrecoverable errors, gym culture, and the limits of AI in skill acquisition.

    Follow Nick on Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/thatnicksalles

    Train with Nick at Movement Art Jiu-Jitsu in Warminster, PA:
    https://www.movementart.online

    Learn online with Nick at Movement Art Online:
    https://movementartonline.com



    Mental models discussed in this episode:

    • Silver Bullet Fallacy
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/silver-bullet-fallacy

    • Growth From Discomfort
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/growth-from-discomfort

    • Zone of Proximal Development
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/zone-of-proximal-development

    • Reframing
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/reframing

    • Self-Organization
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/self-organization

    • Recoverable vs. Unrecoverable Errors
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/recoverable-vs-unrecoverable-errors

    • Discipline Equals Freedom
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/discipline-equals-freedom

    • Effortful Retrieval
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/effortful-retrieval


    ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    The world's LARGEST library of Jiu-Jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

    Learn more mental models in our online database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

    Follow us on social:
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
    https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
    https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
    https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels

    Music by Enterprize:
    https://enterprize.bandcamp.com


    ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!

    MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

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    1 ora e 14 min
  • Mini Ep. 85: Certainty Heuristic
    Dec 18 2025

    In this week's mini-episode, we discuss the certainty heuristic: the natural human tendency to prefer answers that offer a simple, easy solution... even if that solution is wrong.

    Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro


    ⬆️ LEVEL UP with BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    The world's LARGEST library of Jiu-Jitsu audio lessons, our complete podcast network, online coaching, and much more! Your first week is free:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get the legendary BJJMM newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter

    Learn more mental models in our online database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database

    Follow us on social:
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels
    https://threads.com/@bjjmentalmodels
    https://bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
    https://youtube.com/@bjjmentalmodels


    ⚠️ NEW course from BJJ Mental Models!

    MINDSET FOR BETAS, our new Jiu-Jitsu audio course with Rob Biernacki, is now available on BJJ Mental Models Premium! For a limited time, get your first month FREE at:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/beta

    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    7 min