In this episode, I sit down with Professor Caio Terra, a BJJ black belt and one of the most accomplished competitors and coaches in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu history. Caio is a multiple-time world champion who competed at rooster weight—the smallest division—yet regularly defeated opponents in the absolute (open weight) division, sometimes facing competitors literally twice his size. He received his black belt in 2006 and has since built the Caio Terra Academy in San Jose, California, and the Caio Terra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association (CTA), producing numerous world champions and helping students worldwide through Caio Online.

We discuss what separates understanding from mimicking in jiu-jitsu and why the students who struggle most at first often become the best, the evolution of BJJ training culture from the brutal 1990s to today's more technical approach, and Caio's unique teaching philosophy that encourages every student to develop their own distinct style rather than copying a template. Caio shares why he was initially the "worst student" his teacher ever had, how he learned to translate techniques to his own body rather than just replicate movements, and why counter-attacking based on what your opponent gives you is more effective than forcing positions.

We also dive into the challenges of adapting your game as you age and lose physical attributes you once relied on, the price of training too hard and the injuries that come from years of elite competition, and why technique will always matter more than strength or cardio. Caio opens up about his car accident and ongoing shoulder issues, the regret of not doing more joint rehab earlier in his career, and how the lessons learned on the mat—problem-solving, adaptation, and resilience—translate directly to navigating life's challenges off the mat.

Whether you're a BJJ practitioner looking to develop your own game, a coach seeking insights on how to build champions without creating clones, or someone interested in how world-class athletes balance competitive success with long-term health and teaching, this conversation delivers hard-earned wisdom, honest reflections on the cost of greatness, and inspiration to train smarter while staying true to your own path.

Caio Terra Academy

https://bjjsanjose.com/

Caio Terra Online

https://caioterra.com/

Ricardo Vieira

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Vieira

Rodrigo 'Comprido' Medeiros

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodrigo_Medeiros

Roger Gracie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Gracie

David Mitchell

https://www.instagram.com/dmitch442

Woolf Barnato, Black Sheep BJJ

https://www.blacksheepjiujitsu.com/

Alexandre "Xande" Ribeiro

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_Ribeiro

Bruno Malfacine

https://www.brunomalfacine.com/academy/

Music:

“Disambiguation” by Robel Borja https://open.spotify.com/artist/7j0DUZ79z4edeLkU2H1

Get in touch!

This episode was directed and presented by Dave Meyer, editor & coproducer by Ryan Turner, producer & marketing Robbie Lockie, music kindly provided by Robel Borja.