BJJ Mental Models
@bjjmentalmodels.bsky.social
World's #1 #BJJ education podcast. 🎙️
Where Jiu-Jitsu's best go to grow. 🥋
Podcast, links, and more: 👇
https://linktr.ee/bjjmentalmodels
Where Jiu-Jitsu's best go to grow. 🥋
Podcast, links, and more: 👇
https://linktr.ee/bjjmentalmodels
Pinned
Welcome to Bluesky, #BJJ practitioners! As a housewarming gift, here’s a free copy of COMPETITION & EMOTION, the Jiu-Jitsu audio course on competition mindset from Marcelo Garcia black belt and 4x world champ DOMINYKA OBELENYTE. Hit this link to redeem: bjj.plus/dom
Meanwhile on Reddit...
February 10, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Meanwhile on Reddit...
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 376 is live! Lachlan Giles is back for a rethink of what "fundamentals" really mean in modern Jiu-Jitsu.
youtu.be/BpHF9xLehSE
youtu.be/BpHF9xLehSE
Ep. 376: New-School Fundamentals, feat. Lachlan Giles
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
February 9, 2026 at 10:58 AM
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 376 is live! Lachlan Giles is back for a rethink of what "fundamentals" really mean in modern Jiu-Jitsu.
youtu.be/BpHF9xLehSE
youtu.be/BpHF9xLehSE
Maintaining momentum is super important for high-percentage #BJJ. More coaches need to talk about it.
youtu.be/6vkgBalGEsw
youtu.be/6vkgBalGEsw
Mini Ep. 92: Momentum
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 4:36 AM
Maintaining momentum is super important for high-percentage #BJJ. More coaches need to talk about it.
youtu.be/6vkgBalGEsw
youtu.be/6vkgBalGEsw
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 375 is now live! This week, we're joined by Andrew Green! Andrew is the creator of the Kids Jiu-Jitsu Playbook and a 25-year veteran of martial arts coaching. In this episode, Andrew teaches what truly makes a great kids #BJJ coach.
Listen here: bjj.plus/375
Listen here: bjj.plus/375
February 2, 2026 at 8:20 AM
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 375 is now live! This week, we're joined by Andrew Green! Andrew is the creator of the Kids Jiu-Jitsu Playbook and a 25-year veteran of martial arts coaching. In this episode, Andrew teaches what truly makes a great kids #BJJ coach.
Listen here: bjj.plus/375
Listen here: bjj.plus/375
Does note-taking make you a better grappler?
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/does-note-...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/does-note-...
🤔 Does note-taking make you a better grappler?
Taking notes is always a hot topic for grapplers. We notice a big spike in interest whenever we discuss it. So let's discuss it again. 😜
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com
January 31, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Does note-taking make you a better grappler?
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/does-note-...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/does-note-...
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss leading edges, and why it's important to identify which part of the body is responsible for making an attack work.
youtu.be/pWXL5hhIE9M
youtu.be/pWXL5hhIE9M
Mini Ep. 91: Leading Edges
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 9:53 AM
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss leading edges, and why it's important to identify which part of the body is responsible for making an attack work.
youtu.be/pWXL5hhIE9M
youtu.be/pWXL5hhIE9M
Reposted by BJJ Mental Models
If you aren't brave enough to speak up, fine. But few things are more cowardly than trying to discourage OTHER people from doing the right thing.
January 29, 2026 at 3:09 AM
If you aren't brave enough to speak up, fine. But few things are more cowardly than trying to discourage OTHER people from doing the right thing.
Jake O'Driscoll (Essence BJJ) explains how elite Jiu-Jitsu athletes study differently from everybody else.
youtu.be/92l5XPnaj3Y
youtu.be/92l5XPnaj3Y
Ep. 374: How to Study BJJ, feat. Jake O'Driscoll
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
January 26, 2026 at 10:36 AM
Jake O'Driscoll (Essence BJJ) explains how elite Jiu-Jitsu athletes study differently from everybody else.
youtu.be/92l5XPnaj3Y
youtu.be/92l5XPnaj3Y
Great advice from mental performance coach Erin Herle on finding your worth in Jiu-Jitsu.
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/read-this-...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/read-this-...
Read this whenever you think your Jiu-Jitsu sucks.
Please use the tips in this newsletter as a first aid kit for your Jiu-Jitsu confidence. Break glass in the event of impostor syndrome! 🤣
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:53 AM
Great advice from mental performance coach Erin Herle on finding your worth in Jiu-Jitsu.
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/read-this-...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/read-this-...
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss force vectors and how understanding them makes frames more effective.
youtu.be/IfsbtWeLIz4
youtu.be/IfsbtWeLIz4
Mini Ep. 90: Force Vectors
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
January 22, 2026 at 11:17 AM
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss force vectors and how understanding them makes frames more effective.
youtu.be/IfsbtWeLIz4
youtu.be/IfsbtWeLIz4
Great chat with Erin Herle about self-worth, burnout, and impostor syndrome in #BJJ. — BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be/9TTEzKT49xg
youtu.be/9TTEzKT49xg
Ep. 373: Finding Your Worth, feat. Erin Herle
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
January 19, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Great chat with Erin Herle about self-worth, burnout, and impostor syndrome in #BJJ. — BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be/9TTEzKT49xg
youtu.be/9TTEzKT49xg
Should Jiu-Jitsu students ask their coach for help, or struggle through on their own?
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/when-is-it...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/when-is-it...
🥋 When is it time to ask for help?
Should Jiu-Jitsu students ask their coach for help, or struggle through on their own?
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Should Jiu-Jitsu students ask their coach for help, or struggle through on their own?
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/when-is-it...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/when-is-it...
We know what a dilemma is, but *why* do they matter? Let's chat about it!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpz9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpz9...
Mini Ep. 89: Dilemmas
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
www.youtube.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:55 AM
We know what a dilemma is, but *why* do they matter? Let's chat about it!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpz9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpz9...
Meanwhile on Reddit...
January 14, 2026 at 3:24 AM
Meanwhile on Reddit...
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 372 is now live! Ryan Rich (head coach at Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu) discusses the difference between pre-made #BJJ games versus building your own.
youtu.be/ly4yhBuHIK8
youtu.be/ly4yhBuHIK8
January 12, 2026 at 11:49 AM
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 372 is now live! Ryan Rich (head coach at Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu) discusses the difference between pre-made #BJJ games versus building your own.
youtu.be/ly4yhBuHIK8
youtu.be/ly4yhBuHIK8
Reposted by BJJ Mental Models
We see a lot of folks trying to rationalize or explain away what ICE is doing, and we want to let you know that you should absolutely not do that. This is an inflection point in history, and how you respond determines how you will be judged forever. Do the right thing and stand up to these monsters.
January 9, 2026 at 4:05 AM
We see a lot of folks trying to rationalize or explain away what ICE is doing, and we want to let you know that you should absolutely not do that. This is an inflection point in history, and how you respond determines how you will be judged forever. Do the right thing and stand up to these monsters.
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.
youtu.be/pvpCveYUGaY
youtu.be/pvpCveYUGaY
Mini Ep. 88: Table Selection
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
January 8, 2026 at 10:28 AM
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.
youtu.be/pvpCveYUGaY
youtu.be/pvpCveYUGaY
BJJ Mental Models episode 371 is live! Todd Richards shares his experience building atop an existing curriculum put in place by his coach, the late Keith Owen.
bjj.plus/371
bjj.plus/371
January 5, 2026 at 9:47 AM
BJJ Mental Models episode 371 is live! Todd Richards shares his experience building atop an existing curriculum put in place by his coach, the late Keith Owen.
bjj.plus/371
bjj.plus/371
Cool BJJ Mental Models stat: Of our 10 most-listened episodes from 2025, HALF the featured guests were women. The metrics don't lie: The #BJJ community at large wants to learn from women. Content creators and event organizers would be wise to remember this in 2026.
January 2, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Cool BJJ Mental Models stat: Of our 10 most-listened episodes from 2025, HALF the featured guests were women. The metrics don't lie: The #BJJ community at large wants to learn from women. Content creators and event organizers would be wise to remember this in 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.
youtu.be/oh3USmQaK5E
youtu.be/oh3USmQaK5E
Mini Ep. 87: Opening Salvos
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
January 1, 2026 at 10:57 AM
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.
youtu.be/oh3USmQaK5E
youtu.be/oh3USmQaK5E
I put way too much thought into this. 🤣
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steves-bes...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steves-bes...
Steve's Best Games of 2025
I made a real effort to play as many as possible, so I could answer the question: What was the best video game released in 2025?
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I put way too much thought into this. 🤣
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steves-bes...
bjjmentalmodels.substack.com/p/steves-bes...
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 370 is now live! 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!
Listen now by searching for BJJ Mental Models in your podcast app, or visit this link: bjj.plus/370
Listen now by searching for BJJ Mental Models in your podcast app, or visit this link: bjj.plus/370
December 29, 2025 at 1:52 PM
BJJ Mental Models Ep. 370 is now live! 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!
Listen now by searching for BJJ Mental Models in your podcast app, or visit this link: bjj.plus/370
Listen now by searching for BJJ Mental Models in your podcast app, or visit this link: bjj.plus/370
Merry Christmas! Here's a small Jiu-Jitsu stocking stuffer: a treatise on why we should "do what works."
youtu.be/ZBdSgXa1mrU
youtu.be/ZBdSgXa1mrU
Mini Ep. 86: Do What Works
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
December 25, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Merry Christmas! Here's a small Jiu-Jitsu stocking stuffer: a treatise on why we should "do what works."
youtu.be/ZBdSgXa1mrU
youtu.be/ZBdSgXa1mrU
Episode 369 is now live! Nick Salles (co-founder @ Movement Art, Mikey Musumeci black belt) explains what "humility" really means for coaches, and why students deserve control of their training.
youtu.be/M5ORBr8K1QU
youtu.be/M5ORBr8K1QU
Ep. 369: Real Talk About Humility, feat. Nick Salles
YouTube video by BJJ Mental Models
youtu.be
December 22, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Episode 369 is now live! Nick Salles (co-founder @ Movement Art, Mikey Musumeci black belt) explains what "humility" really means for coaches, and why students deserve control of their training.
youtu.be/M5ORBr8K1QU
youtu.be/M5ORBr8K1QU