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Danny Alvarez is a 2nd Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. Danny is affiliate under 4th degree Black Belt Bruno Bastos. Check out his full bio and huge competition history here.

We talk about:

• His start with BJJ
• Leaving a good full time job to teach BJJ
• Balancing work and family
• His aggressive style of BJJ
• Doing BJJ as a family
• Overcoming travel difficulties
• Cutting weight as you travel
• How to use internet to help your training
• The importance of doing private lessons
• Avoiding frustration when learning a new technique
• Advice for doing your first tournament

Links:

• Alvarez BJJ
• Alvarez Facebook page
• Twitter @alvarezbjj
• Instagram

Quote of the week: "Shoot for the moon and even if you miss you will be among the stars" Bernardo Faria. This is a must listen to quote! it starts at 2min 30sec.

Article of the week: Rickson Gracie “Should Put More Value On Learning Than On Competing With Your Training Partner”

The video Gary was talking about "Kid Destroys Bully With Punch And Double Leg"

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

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This week we have part 2 of our interview with Tim Sledd. Tim is a 1st degree black belt under Andre Galvao. Tim not only runs his own gym Small Axe BJJ, he is also the Director of affiliates for Atos. Tim shares lots of information about what is going on behind the scenes at Atos.

If you missed part 1 of this interview check it out first here!

In part 2 of this interview we talk about:

• What Atos does differently than other BJJ teams
• Systems building with your techniques
• Drilling, and how to drill properly
• Specific sparing and how it is used
• Speed drills, flow drills, and fine motor skills drills
• The culture of Atos
• The culture of Small Axe BJJ
• Left brain right brain confusion
• Advice for a student doing a first tournament
• How to start off a match strong
• The Leg Drag

Links:

• Email Tim Sledd: [email protected]
• Small Axe website
• Essays by Tim Sledd
• Leg Drag Workshop Dvd by Tim Sledd

Quote of the week: ”Everything Should Be Made as Simple as Possible, But Not Simpler” Albert Einstein- Presented by Matt Thorton

Article of the week: "BJJ Promotions, and Lack Thereof" By: White Belt Survival Strategy

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and RSS link for Andriod

This week we have an interview with Tim Sledd. Tim is a 1st degree black belt under Andre Galvao. Tim not only runs his own gym Small Axe BJJ, he is also the Director of affiliates for Atos. Tim shares lots of information about what is going on behind the scenes at Atos.

In part 1 of this interview we talk about:

• His training history
• Washing your belt and what your belt should mean to you
• Who helps you get better at BJJ (not just coaches and teammates)
• Leaving his job as a prosecutor to do BJJ full time
• Real world lessons matching up with things learned on the mat
• The name of his gym Small Axe BJJ
• The idea of a chain saw vs an axe
• Check out the Bob Marley Small Axe video
• His thoughts about the berimbolo
• Building systems in BJJ
• How purple belts begin to speak the BJJ language
• Comparisons of BJJ to learning a new language
• Organizing your jiu-jitsu

Links:

• Email Tim Sledd: [email protected]
• Small Axe website
• Essays by Tim Sledd
• Led Drag Workshop Dvd by Tim Sledd
• Learn more about Myelin check out our interview with New York Times bestselling author Daniel Coyle

Quote of the week: "The most important thing you can do to get better at jiu-jitsu, is jiu-jitsu" Presented by Eduardo Telles

Article of the week: "Focus on the Fundamentals: No Shame in Your Game" by A skirt on the Mat

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

"Small Axe" Bob Marley

Why boasteth thyselfOh, evil menPlaying smartAnd not being clever?I said, you're working iniquityTo achieve vanity (if a-so a-so)But the goodness of Jah, JahI-dureth for-I-ver

So if you are the big treeWe are the small axeReady to cut you down (well sharp)To cut you down

These are the wordsOf my master, keep on tellin' meNo weak heartShall prosperAnd whosoever diggeth a pitShall fall in it, fall in itAnd whosoever diggeth a pitShall fall in it (... fall in it)

If you are the big tree, let me tell you thatWe are the small axe, sharp and readyReady to cut you down (well sharp)To cut you down(To cut you down)(To cut you down)

These are the wordsOf my master, tellin' me thatNo weak heartShall prosperAnd whosoever diggeth a pitShall fall in it, uh, bury in itAnd whosoever diggeth a pitShall bury in it, uh (... bury in it)

If you are the big, big treeWe are the small axeReady to cut you down (well sharp)To cut you downIf you are the big, big tree, let me tell you thatWe are the small axeReady to cut you down (well sharp)To cut you downSharpened

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and RSS link for Andriod

This week we are excited to bring you an interview with Eduardo Telles. Eduardo is well know for his creativity on the mat, he is always trying to surprise his opponents. Check out more of Eduardo's Bio here.

In the interview with Eduardo Telles we talk about:

• Training in both Sao Paulo and Rio
• Starting BJJ at 17 years old
• How having fun was so important to getting good at BJJ
• The use of the turtle guard
• The benefits of using the turtle guard
• Common mistakes when using the turtle guard
• How he attacks someone that is using the turtle guard
• His ideas about how points can distract opponents and lead to more submissions
• The idea of giving points for side control
• Advice for a first time student competing
• What he was like as a blue belt
• Some of his most favorite matches.
• Watch his match with Felipe Pena
• His online training academy

Links:

• 99 Jiu-Jitsu San Diego
• Turtle guard on line training here
• Nine Nine Jiu-Jitsu on Facebook
• Eduardo's sponsors Kingz Kimonos and Choke Republic, Tell them Eduardo sent you :)

Quote of the week: "The goal of Jiu-Jitsu is not to be undefeated but no to lose" Presented by Brian Freeman

Article of the week: When rolling with a visitor be aware of these rules of etiquette

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

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Brian Freeman is back on the BjjBrick Podcast! His last appearance was episode 16. Brian is a disabled vet with a T4 spinal cord injury with Brown-Sequard syndrome. He is from Rockingham, North Carolina. Brian is now a blue belt under Renzo Gracie.

We talk about:

• What caused his injury
• Getting started in BJJ
• Doing some techniques in his chair, and training to not get separated from his chair in a self defense situation
• What it is like to be part of a BJJ team
• Competing with able bodied competition
• His game and strategies that he uses
• Why some techniques are difficult for him to defend, and how he deals with them
• His experience at IBJJF Pan 2015
• How everyone adapts Jiu-Jitsu to their bodies
• How he moves around differently off the mat because of Jiu-Jitsu
• His story of getting his blue belt
• Competing two weeks after getting his blue belt
• His goals when he competes
• Competing in the expert division
• His plans of teaching motivational and educational seminars

Links:

• Grapplers Heart
• Brian Freeman Facebook, Twitter, Instagram [email protected]
• Support Brian's sponsor deusfight.com/ Brian25 for 25% off

Quote of the week: "You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room" Dr. Seuss

Article of the week: "Injury Prevention in BJJ: Put the Odds in Your Favor"

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and RSS link for Andriod

Submission Series Promotions is the biggest submission only host in Canada.Their second event "The Takeover" takes place Saturday, June 20 in Halifax Ns. In this episode we bring you interviews with two of the athletes that are competing in this event.

Jason Gagnon- Jason is a brown belt under Cobrinha. You can find Jason training at Genesis Martial Arts in Abbotsford, BC. He will be competing against Hood Rich of Zuma MMA. Jason's Facebook page.

Josh Wincey- Josh is a black belt under Kevin Taylor. Josh trains at Titans MMA. His is competing against Andris Brunovskis on The Takeover card. Josh's Facebook page.

Quote of the week: Presented by James Puopolo "True strength is not always shown through victory. Stand up, try again and display strength of heart." Rickson Gracie

Article of the week: "The One Secret Trick to Getting Good at BJJ"

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

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This week we have a interview with Rafael Lovato Jr black belt James Puopolo. He has been doing BJJ full time since leaving his middle school math teaching job. He can be found on the mats at Salem-Keizer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy. You can find out more about James here on BJJ Heroes.

We talk about:

• Running his academy
• His ever changing style of BJJ
• Training with out the use of a timer
• Fitting your BJJ into many different rule sets
• The importance of finishing your opponent
• His training schedule
• Training other grappling arts
• Training with Luke Tirey
• His first training experience with RLJ
• Doing 14 competitions last year
• His future goals
• Keeping a training journal
• The process he goes through before a competition
• Basic meditation to get you in your zone
• Advice for a students first tournament

Links for James Puopolo's sponsors:

• Check out the gis at Origin
• Green Strength
• Elite Flexibility
• Iron Lion Soap

Keep up with James on his Facebook page

Quote of the week: Presented by PJ Waicus "The big, strong, tough guy goes to class, and he keeps getting tapped by the skinny, technical guy. It begins to change him. It makes him humble. That's what Jiu Jitsu does to you. It makes you humble." Relson Gracie

Article of the week: "What Can The Stock Market Teach You About Jiu-Jitsu?" From Jiu-Jitology

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and RSS link for Andriod

PJ Waicus joins us this week for an interview. He has been training BJJ for about 5 years. He trains at South Jersey Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy. PJ has two children that have Angelman Syndrome. This interview we talk a lot about BJJ, learn about Angelman Syndrome and we face off the mat challenges that life presents.

We talk about:

• Starting BJJ at the age of 39
• Size differences on the mat
• How Angelman Syndrome is passed on
• The effects of Angelman Syndrome
• The Angelman community
• Bipolar Disorder and BJJ
• Training with a busy schedule
• How BJJ is like a church to him
• Training BJJ for the long term
• Advice for parents that have kids with Angelman Syndrome

Links:

• Voices for Angels/ devoted to Angelman Syndrome awareness for our children
• South Jersey Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy
• Angelman.org
• Contact PJ on his Facebook page here

Quote of the week: Presented by: A double quote! Presented by Mark Mullen.

• "It is not who is good, it is who is left. It's hours on the mat, if you put in the time natural athlete or not, practice the art you will be a black belt. "Chris Haueter
• "I don’t have talent, I have tenacity. I have discipline, I have focus. And I know without any illusion, where I come from and where I can go back to" Henry Rollins

Article of the week: "When Jiu Jitsu is Like Brushing Your Teeth" From A Skirt on the Mat

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

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Mark Mullen is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a brown belt in judo from Canada, now based in Taipei, Taiwan.

Mark Started training in judo in 1995 and inspired by Royce Gracie winning the early UFC's he became obsessed to learn BJJ.

When Marcus Soares 7th degree coral belt of the Carlson Gracie Team moved to Vancouver in 1997 (the first black belt to teach in Canada) Mark became on of the earliest students.

Mark discovered an early aptitude and love for teaching BJJ when head instructor Soares would return to Brazil and Mark would teach the class.

Mark started Training with Gracie Barra black belt Josh Russel when Josh moved back to Canada after training and living in Rio De Janeiro for several years.

Mark was one of the original founders of Gracie Barra Calgary and graduated to purple, brown and finally black belt under Josh Russell 3rd degree.

In 2014 Mark accepted an offer to relocate to Taipei, Taiwan to be the BJJ coach for 2 MMA gyms (Marital Armor and Tough MMA in Taipei and Hsinchu) and runs the BJJ program for the schools as well as coaching the fighters.

Mark writes for popular online BJJ blogs Gracie Barra Blog and Grapplearts.com. Mark is also available for writing on other blogs.

We talk about:

• What got him started in BJJ
• Changes in BJJ over the years
• The 3 types of BJJ students (Competitors, BJJ lifestyle, Fitness)
• His travels to Taiwan
• Why most students come to his BJJ school
• The differences between teaching and performing BJJ
• Teaching class as a blue belt
• Traveling to Brazil
• BJJ master minds that change and advance the sport
• BJJ before and after youtube
• Making complex things simple
• Doing BJJ as a life style
• Mario Sperry - Day of the Zen Documentary
• Life as a Jiu-Jitsu Bum
• Diet advice
• The development of BJJ in Asia
• How overwhelming BJJ can be for beginners
• Advice for white belts
• The importance of movement drills

Links for Mark Mullen: Twitter, Facebook

Quote of the week: "it's not supposed to be easy" Samuel Spiegelman

Article of the week: "3 Important Questions to Help Recalibrate Your Training Focus" By Valerie Worthington

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and RSS link for Andriod

Sam Spiegelman is a author and strength and conditioning coach. Sam is a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Mark Vives, he trains at New Breed Training Center. He has written a bunch of great articles on Breaking Muscle. Sam is also available for online consultations.

We talk about:

• What brought him to BJJ
• Strength and conditioning for BJJ
• Strength and conditioning for people who are new to the mats
• Training differently for your particular game or style.
• Off the mat training for BJJ
• Doing a self assessment of your strength
• The importance of having your body strength balanced to help you be efficient
• Why people gas out on the mats
• Increasing your cardio for BJJ
• Staying motivated with your off the mat training
• The importance of having a healthy diet
• Starting BJJ after having a sedentary lifestyle
• Advice for doing your first tournament
• Goals for students their first 6 months and year

Links for Sam Spiegelman:

• Applied Strength and Conditioning
• New Breed Training Center
• Facebook Twitter
• Breaking Muscle

Quote of the week: "Know your why? Chris Easter

Article of the week: 5 Competition Essentials

Support Amber as she chokes cancer out!

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast