Grappling Hour

NOTE: We’re re-releasing a remastered version of this episode in honor of our pal Kody Steele earning his contract in the UFC. This episode — recorded in May of 2024 — was released just after we discovered he would be fighting at the DWCS. Hear all about how it happened.

Did you hear the big news? Our pal KODY STEELE will be on the upcoming season of DANA WHITE'S CONTENDER SERIES this fall. We were super stoked to be the first show to talk with him about this amazing news.

We weren't, however, the first show he talked to after his last big win in the Fury Cage.

That honor goes to some hooligans over in Texas. Nonetheless, we make up for lost time by finding out all about Kody's experience of watching ADCC on the sidelines and chatting about the way he's been able to acclimate to Vegas.

Be sure to check out the TAPE STUDY that we did with Kody on our Premium Patreon channel.

JOHN EVANS makes his GRAPPLING HOUR debut. Wait, that can't be right? He's been on the show before as an analyst and commentator, but – believe it or not – he's never actually been interviewed. In this episode, we delve into John Evans' unique journey in the jiu-jitsu community, his unconventional training methods, and his vision for BREAKDOWN ACADEMY in Hollywood, California.

In this episode, John Evans, a self-proclaimed 'super nerd, 'shares his unique journey. From his humble beginnings to becoming the best-hidden secret in Southern California, John's story is truly inspiring. You've heard me say it repeatedly on the show, but John is the reason my jiu-jitsu isn't trash.

His influence has transformed my jiu-jitsu, and it's easy to see why his students adore him. In this episode, we hear about John's challenges, the opening of his new gym, and the importance of creating a positive gym culture. His journey is one of resilience and determination, sure to inspire you.

Don't miss out on this episode! Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. And remember, your likes, comments, and subscriptions are what keep the Grappling Hour community thriving. Your engagement is not just appreciated; it's invaluable. Join us for more great episodes!

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WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://www.rafesparza.com/merch You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS.

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We’re on PATREON now!

Head over to https://www.patreon.com/grapplinghourto become an EARLY ACCESS or PREMIUM Grappling Hour member. With early access, you'll see our interviews 30 days before everyone else and as a premium member, you'll get exclusive content (extra episodes, bonus episodes, technique breakdowns) that aren't available anywhere else.

----

👾 - JOIN THE GRAPPLING HOUR DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hsePzUxZrA
----

YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR SHOW AT:

🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grappling-hour/id1437702200
🎶 - SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/show/28tKXEawj9SIwlr5fd1sx3?si=5415e680b0bc4fb5
🛒 -AMAZON MUSIC - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/040e2ca4-e265-4be6-9477-3cd0e6474aeb/grappling-hour
🗣 - AUDIBLE - https://www.audible.com/pd/B09TYVGR51?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare
🔎 - GOOGLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmFmZXNwYXJ6YS5jb20vZ3JhcHBsaW5naG91cj9mb3JtYXQ9cnNz?hl=en

YOU CAN FOLLOW OUR SHOW’S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:

📸 - INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/grapplinghour/
📝 - THREADS - https://www.threads.net/@grapplinghour
✍🏽 - TWITTER - https://twitter.com/grapplinghour
👍🏽 - FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/grapplinghour
👾 - TWITCH - https://www.twitch.tv/grapplinghour
🕺🏽 - TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@grapplinghour

Today we chat with Abraham La Montagne — namesake of "the Abe Lock" — a move that has a growing list of victims (myself included).

In this episode, Abraham shares his journey from his early days in football and wrestling to becoming a professional grappler under the guidance of John Danaher at New Wave Jiu Jitsu.

We discuss the value of mentorship, the development of his signature submission, and how his blend of wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu has shaped his rising jiu-jitsu career. Abe also tells us why he believes dance and jiu-jitsu are two sides of the same coin.

——

WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://www.rafesparza.com/merch You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS.

----
We’re on PATREON now!

Head over to https://www.patreon.com/grapplinghourto become an EARLY ACCESS or PREMIUM Grappling Hour member. With early access, you'll see our interviews 30 days before everyone else and as a premium member, you'll get exclusive content (extra episodes, bonus episodes, technique breakdowns) that aren't available anywhere else.

----

👾 - JOIN THE GRAPPLING HOUR DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hsePzUxZrA
----

YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR SHOW AT:

🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grappling-hour/id1437702200
🎶 - SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/show/28tKXEawj9SIwlr5fd1sx3?si=5415e680b0bc4fb5
🛒 -AMAZON MUSIC - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/040e2ca4-e265-4be6-9477-3cd0e6474aeb/grappling-hour
🗣 - AUDIBLE - https://www.audible.com/pd/B09TYVGR51?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare
🔎 - GOOGLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmFmZXNwYXJ6YS5jb20vZ3JhcHBsaW5naG91cj9mb3JtYXQ9cnNz?hl=en

YOU CAN FOLLOW OUR SHOW’S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:

📸 - INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/grapplinghour/
📝 - THREADS - https://www.threads.net/@grapplinghour
✍🏽 - TWITTER - https://twitter.com/grapplinghour
👍🏽 - FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/grapplinghour
👾 - TWITCH - https://www.twitch.tv/grapplinghour
🕺🏽 - TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@grapplinghour

Welcome back to RUNNING THE GAUNTLET -- the show where BJJ and pop culture intersect. On today's show, we've got our pal BRYAN PETERSON joining us to take on the following topics:

• FIRE
• DOG
• SUMMER
• DOT
• ASK
• REBOOT

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WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://www.rafesparza.com/merch You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS.

----
We’re on PATREON now!

Head over to https://www.patreon.com/grapplinghourto become an EARLY ACCESS or PREMIUM Grappling Hour member. With early access, you'll see our interviews 30 days before everyone else and as a premium member, you'll get exclusive content (extra episodes, bonus episodes, technique breakdowns) that aren't available anywhere else.

----

👾 - JOIN THE GRAPPLING HOUR DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hsePzUxZrA
----

YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR SHOW AT:

🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grappling-hour/id1437702200
🎶 - SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/show/28tKXEawj9SIwlr5fd1sx3?si=5415e680b0bc4fb5
🛒 -AMAZON MUSIC - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/040e2ca4-e265-4be6-9477-3cd0e6474aeb/grappling-hour
🗣 - AUDIBLE - https://www.audible.com/pd/B09TYVGR51?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare
🔎 - GOOGLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmFmZXNwYXJ6YS5jb20vZ3JhcHBsaW5naG91cj9mb3JtYXQ9cnNz?hl=en

YOU CAN FOLLOW OUR SHOW’S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:

📸 - INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/grapplinghour/
📝 - THREADS - https://www.threads.net/@grapplinghour
✍🏽 - TWITTER - https://twitter.com/grapplinghour
👍🏽 - FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/grapplinghour
👾 - TWITCH - https://www.twitch.tv/grapplinghour
🕺🏽 - TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@grapplinghour

Welcome back to RUNNING THE GAUNTLET -- the show where BJJ and pop culture intersect. On today's show, we've got our pal TRAVIS THOMAS joining us to take on the following topics:

• EASY
• GO TO
• PITCH
• HELP
• SIGN UP
• PUMPS

——

WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://www.rafesparza.com/merch You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS.

----
We’re on PATREON now!

Head over to https://www.patreon.com/grapplinghourto become an EARLY ACCESS or PREMIUM Grappling Hour member. With early access, you'll see our interviews 30 days before everyone else and as a premium member, you'll get exclusive content (extra episodes, bonus episodes, technique breakdowns) that aren't available anywhere else.

----

👾 - JOIN THE GRAPPLING HOUR DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hsePzUxZrA
----

YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR SHOW AT:

🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grappling-hour/id1437702200
🎶 - SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/show/28tKXEawj9SIwlr5fd1sx3?si=5415e680b0bc4fb5
🛒 -AMAZON MUSIC - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/040e2ca4-e265-4be6-9477-3cd0e6474aeb/grappling-hour
🗣 - AUDIBLE - https://www.audible.com/pd/B09TYVGR51?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare
🔎 - GOOGLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmFmZXNwYXJ6YS5jb20vZ3JhcHBsaW5naG91cj9mb3JtYXQ9cnNz?hl=en

YOU CAN FOLLOW OUR SHOW’S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:

📸 - INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/grapplinghour/
📝 - THREADS - https://www.threads.net/@grapplinghour
✍🏽 - TWITTER - https://twitter.com/grapplinghour
👍🏽 - FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/grapplinghour
👾 - TWITCH - https://www.twitch.tv/grapplinghour
🕺🏽 - TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@grapplinghour

Meet Joshua Brown – a rising star in the world of MMA! In this episode, Joshua shares his incredible journey from Division One wrestling to mixed martial arts and training at King's MMA in Anaheim.

His dedication to the sport is truly inspiring. We talk about Joshua's wrestling background and how it has shaped his approach to MMA, his challenges, and his future aspirations.

Plus, we apologize for getting a small detail incorrect on the mic when he fought for SparStar. Tune in now to hear Joshua's story and get an inside look at the world of MMA through the unique perspective of a dedicated and talented fighter. Don't miss out!

DISCLAIMER: My deepest apologies for the audio on this one. The audio got corrupted, and even my backups were unsuitable for air. I spent a great deal of time trying to salvage the emergency audio. So, if you're wondering why the audio quality drops so significantly around the 5-minute mark, that would be why. As many of you know, I have a certain standard that I try to hit with my interviews and I hate when it's not entirely up to par. We will definitely make it up to Joshua the next time we do this one in person.

——

WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://www.rafesparza.com/merch You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS.

----
We’re on PATREON now!

Head over to https://www.patreon.com/grapplinghourto become an EARLY ACCESS or PREMIUM Grappling Hour member. With early access, you'll see our interviews 30 days before everyone else and as a premium member, you'll get exclusive content (extra episodes, bonus episodes, technique breakdowns) that aren't available anywhere else.

----

👾 - JOIN THE GRAPPLING HOUR DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hsePzUxZrA
----

YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR SHOW AT:

🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grappling-hour/id1437702200
🎶 - SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/show/28tKXEawj9SIwlr5fd1sx3?si=5415e680b0bc4fb5
🛒 -AMAZON MUSIC - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/040e2ca4-e265-4be6-9477-3cd0e6474aeb/grappling-hour
🗣 - AUDIBLE - https://www.audible.com/pd/B09TYVGR51?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare
🔎 - GOOGLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmFmZXNwYXJ6YS5jb20vZ3JhcHBsaW5naG91cj9mb3JtYXQ9cnNz?hl=en

YOU CAN FOLLOW OUR SHOW’S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:

📸 - INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/grapplinghour/
📝 - THREADS - https://www.threads.net/@grapplinghour
✍🏽 - TWITTER - https://twitter.com/grapplinghour
👍🏽 - FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/grapplinghour
👾 - TWITCH - https://www.twitch.tv/grapplinghour
🕺🏽 - TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@grapplinghour

In this episode, SEAN APPLEGATE shares invaluable insights into the importance of tape study, managing diverse personalities in the gym, and high-level competition strategies.

This episode is a treasure trove of knowledge, providing essential guidance for athletes, coaches, and jiu-jitsu enthusiasts on furthering their BJJ knowledge. There are a few takeaways that I think give some fantastic insight into how you can put a better BJJ game together.

Sean shares his journey of mastering tape study, the evolution of jiu-jitsu content on YouTube, and the art of goal setting for competitive athletes. He also provides a detailed breakdown of his coaching strategies for EBI and ADCC.

——

WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://www.rafesparza.com/merch You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS.

----
We’re on PATREON now!

Head over to https://www.patreon.com/grapplinghourto become an EARLY ACCESS or PREMIUM Grappling Hour member. With early access, you'll see our interviews 30 days before everyone else and as a premium member, you'll get exclusive content (extra episodes, bonus episodes, technique breakdowns) that aren't available anywhere else.

----

👾 - JOIN THE GRAPPLING HOUR DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hsePzUxZrA
----

YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR SHOW AT:

🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grappling-hour/id1437702200
🎶 - SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/show/28tKXEawj9SIwlr5fd1sx3?si=5415e680b0bc4fb5
🛒 -AMAZON MUSIC - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/040e2ca4-e265-4be6-9477-3cd0e6474aeb/grappling-hour
🗣 - AUDIBLE - https://www.audible.com/pd/B09TYVGR51?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare
🔎 - GOOGLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmFmZXNwYXJ6YS5jb20vZ3JhcHBsaW5naG91cj9mb3JtYXQ9cnNz?hl=en

YOU CAN FOLLOW OUR SHOW’S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:

📸 - INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/grapplinghour/
📝 - THREADS - https://www.threads.net/@grapplinghour
✍🏽 - TWITTER - https://twitter.com/grapplinghour
👍🏽 - FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/grapplinghour
👾 - TWITCH - https://www.twitch.tv/grapplinghour
🕺🏽 - TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@grapplinghour

In one of the wildest BJJ weeks in recent memory, I took some time to address two issues that came up in the community that identify the struggles we have as a sport as we court mainstream acceptance.

You can find the full episode of this week's episode of THE BULLPEN with myself and TIM FREEMAN right here: https://www.youtube.com/live/X3ZQs9ABvMw

——

WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://www.rafesparza.com/merch You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS.

----
We’re on PATREON now!

Head over to https://www.patreon.com/grapplinghourto become an EARLY ACCESS or PREMIUM Grappling Hour member. With early access, you'll see our interviews 30 days before everyone else and as a premium member, you'll get exclusive content (extra episodes, bonus episodes, technique breakdowns) that aren't available anywhere else.

----

👾 - JOIN THE GRAPPLING HOUR DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hsePzUxZrA
----

YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR SHOW AT:

🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grappling-hour/id1437702200
🎶 - SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/show/28tKXEawj9SIwlr5fd1sx3?si=5415e680b0bc4fb5
🛒 -AMAZON MUSIC - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/040e2ca4-e265-4be6-9477-3cd0e6474aeb/grappling-hour
🗣 - AUDIBLE - https://www.audible.com/pd/B09TYVGR51?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare
🔎 - GOOGLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmFmZXNwYXJ6YS5jb20vZ3JhcHBsaW5naG91cj9mb3JtYXQ9cnNz?hl=en

YOU CAN FOLLOW OUR SHOW’S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:

📸 - INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/grapplinghour/
📝 - THREADS - https://www.threads.net/@grapplinghour
✍🏽 - TWITTER - https://twitter.com/grapplinghour
👍🏽 - FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/grapplinghour
👾 - TWITCH - https://www.twitch.tv/grapplinghour
🕺🏽 - TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@grapplinghour

We spent some time going over some of the worst takes about the CJI/ADCC situation -- and wouldn't you know it, some of the takes in the comment section somehow managed to get worse. As such, I took a few minutes on our latest episode of The Bullpen to address those silly arguments.

Bring your popcorn, Tim sure did.

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/live/4_fuZyl-jOI

——

WE'VE GOT NEW MERCH: Head on over to https://www.rafesparza.com/merch You can purchase our BRAND NEW Grappling Hour HOODIES and T-SHIRTS.

----
We’re on PATREON now!

Head over to https://www.patreon.com/grapplinghourto become an EARLY ACCESS or PREMIUM Grappling Hour member. With early access, you'll see our interviews 30 days before everyone else and as a premium member, you'll get exclusive content (extra episodes, bonus episodes, technique breakdowns) that aren't available anywhere else.

----

👾 - JOIN THE GRAPPLING HOUR DISCORD: https://discord.gg/hsePzUxZrA
----

YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR SHOW AT:

🍏 - APPLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grappling-hour/id1437702200
🎶 - SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/show/28tKXEawj9SIwlr5fd1sx3?si=5415e680b0bc4fb5
🛒 -AMAZON MUSIC - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/040e2ca4-e265-4be6-9477-3cd0e6474aeb/grappling-hour
🗣 - AUDIBLE - https://www.audible.com/pd/B09TYVGR51?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare
🔎 - GOOGLE PODCASTS - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmFmZXNwYXJ6YS5jb20vZ3JhcHBsaW5naG91cj9mb3JtYXQ9cnNz?hl=en

YOU CAN FOLLOW OUR SHOW’S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:

📸 - INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/grapplinghour/
📝 - THREADS - https://www.threads.net/@grapplinghour
✍🏽 - TWITTER - https://twitter.com/grapplinghour
👍🏽 - FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/grapplinghour
👾 - TWITCH - https://www.twitch.tv/grapplinghour
🕺🏽 - TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@grapplinghour