BJJ GOONS

Every BJJ competitor wants to get sponsored. Money and free gear is the goal. The question is, how do you get it? In this episode Nico and Tim spoke with Lionel Turner, the owner and founder of Leão Optics about athlete sponsorship from the perspective of a business owner and what they look for when selecting an athlete to collaborate with.

Nico and Tim discuss life in the age of Covid-19, secret training, the De La Riva controversy, and so much more. 

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Master Donnie is second in command at Team Lloyd Irvin and has played a roll in the development of every elite competitor to represent Camp Springs. He's the architect of a world class kid's team that's produced world champs at every belt.

Fernando "Reals" Restrepo has spent his life in service to others. He's an educator, activist, and a BJJ Black Belt. He's taught kids on Rikers Island, actively protests against oppression, and teaches BJJ to local youth free of charge.

PG County Maryland has been a breeding ground of athletic talent for decades. Kevin Durant, Sugar Ray Leonard, Len Bias, Riddick Bowe and countless professional athletes have grown up in this community outside of Washington, DC. PG County is also home to one of the best combat sports gyms in the world, Team Lloyd Irvin HQ. Team Lloyd Irvin's Kid's program has produced elite grapplers for decades. Malachi Edmond is a product of this program. He's a multiple-time World and Pan-Am medalist that now coaches in the kid's program and hosts a food vlog entitled Magic Man Meals. 

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Alan "Finfou" Nascimento has had a hell of a journey. He went from growing up in one of the most impoverished and dangerous favelas in Brazil to coaching the best grapplers and MMA fighters in the world. His story is one of perseverance and faith. Despite all his trials and tribulations he beat the odds. In this episode we discuss Finfou's childhood in Cantagalo in Rio De Janeiro, how he was introduced to Jiu-Jitsu, how he ended up teaching in Sweden, facing racism and police brutality, and so much more!

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Tim and Nico felt that because of these trying times in the world instead of having a typical episode, they'd talk about their thoughts on the George Floyd situation, the protests, racism, police brutality, fascism, the Jiu-Jitsu community's response to it, and how we can help make the world a better place for EVERYONE. 

Black Live Matter Resources: 

Anti-Racism Resources

115 Ways to Donate

Black Lives Matter website

Petitions on COVID for POC

Nico and Tim learn about the Lion Heart Initiative, a nonprofit enterprise to grow MMA in Africa by developing grappling, striking, and full spectrum skills to create opportunities in the industry. The GOONS spoke with AK Rupert (Managing Director), Kelly Grissom (Vice Chairman), and Moustapha Diop (Regional Dir., West Africa) about their work in the initiative and their plans for the future.

Learn more about the Lion Heart Initiative www.mmaforafrica.com

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In this episode we interview #7 ranked UFC Bantamweight Pedro Munhoz. Pedro opens up about his martial arts journey, from being a Jean-Claude Van Damme fanatic, to training with Hall of Fame BJJ and MMA fighters, to becoming on of the best fighters on the planet.  

Tim is back from a long hiatus with a new co-host, former guest of the show, Nico Ball of Favela Jiu-Jitsu. On the show they discuss: What they been up to during Quarantine, their thoughts on gyms reopening, future goals, and so much more. 

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