Scott is the Owner of Extreme Performance Training Systems, also known as “EPTS Gym” and is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Chris Jones who is the founder of Nucleus Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ​located at 3010 Business Park Drive Unit F, in Norcross, GA. Scott is a Vegan Iron Addict and a Practitioner of Taichi & Chi-gong. Scott is a US Navy Veteran.

Scott returns for his second episode on the podcast to discuss recovery factors for the average jiu-jitsu practitioner over 40.

Scott can be reached at:

Facebook: Scott Shetler

Instagram: @ssheltlerfitness

Training info: [email protected]

Today I had the privilege of sitting down and speaking to Karel Pravec, commonly known as “the Silver Fox”. Karel is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt of Czechoslovakian descent. Karel was one of the Gracie’s very first students in the United States and studied under both Renzo Gracie and John Danaher. Karel was awarded his black belt by Renzo Gracie in July 2006. Karel is also the author of the Fluid BJJ book, has produced various instructional videos, and hosts his “Roll with the Fox video series” on YouTube each Friday morning (10:30 AM, Eastern Time). Karel has been regularly featured on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel with renowned MMA coach, Firas Zahabi. Karel has demonstrated the success of his style focus on submissionsby winning:

· 1st Place – 2006 Tenth Grapplers Quest West (Master Lightweight Division) – all matches won by submission

· 1st Place – 2007 NAGA World Championship (Advanced Master – Open Weight) – all matches won by submission, lightest competitor in the division

· 3rd Place – 2008 Pan Am Championship No-Gi (Black Belt – ADULTS – Lightweight)

· 1st Place – 2010 European Championship (Black Belt Masters – Absolute Division)

Karel is recognized as one of the top instructors in the New Jersey area, being behind accomplished competitors such as 2009 ADCC Runner-up Jerry Rinaldi, EBI 12 champion Erin Blanchfield, mixed martial arts fighters Sergio DeBari, Frank Roberts, Enrique Galarza & Juan Galarza and many others.

Karel earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Albany and then his master’s degree from Columbia University.

During our discussion, we covered Karel’s experience moving to America as a teenager, his start in martial arts (specifically striking arts) and his evolution into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We discussed Jiu-Jitsu competition; the importance of balancing drilling, flow rolling and live rolling; the differences between gi vs. no gi training; Karel’s top three concepts for building an effective guard passing strategy; the pros and cons of focusing on systemized Jiu-Jitsu; and Jiu-Jitsu as self-defense. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

Giovanni is a BJJ Purple Belt. He started training BJJ and Muay Thai in 2010 under Vidiver Vazquez and Juan Delgado out of Combat 360 in Puerto Rico. He currently trains in Austin Texas in VOW BJJ under Ryan Villalobos. He has bachelor’s in Exercise Science and Health Promotion and a doctorate in Physical Therapy and specializes in S&C, injury reduction and rehab for combat athletes. He has a special interest in how the balance between training and recovery optimizes performance and longevity in the sport.

We had a great conversation discussing recovery tracking, the pros and cons of using a powerlifting based strength training program for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Daily Undulated Periodization Training, among other things.

Gio can be contacted on Instagram at @gio.thefightersway

Joel Blanton is a 1st Degree Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a former professional MMA fighter and professional wrestler who currently resides in Tennessee. We discussed Joel’s background in MMA and how he transitioned from MMA into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well as being okay with being tapped to improve your BJJ game, journaling, kettlebell and strongman training for BJJ strength and conditioning, and dieting considerations.

Today, I had the pleasure to sit down and speak with Thomas Rozdzynski who is a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a Judo Black Belt. Thomas owns and teaches out of ROL Academy located at15629 S 71st Court, Orland Park, Illinois. Thomas is also the host of the ROL Radio Podcast.

Thomas and I had a great conversation about the differences and similarities between Jiu-Jitsu and Judo, hobbyists vs. competitors, the value of taking notes and goal setting, Jiu-Jitsu training modalities to speed up your learning time, helping others to improve their skill in order to improve your own, gi vs. no gi jiu-jitsu, famous Jiu-Jitsu personalities that Thomas has had the opportunity to interview on his podcast, self-defense vs. competition training, as well as running your own academy or searching for an academy that fits your needs.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Thomas can be reached on Instagram at:

@rozdzynskibjj

@rol_academy

@therolradio

Or, on the internet at: www.rolacademy.com

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn_y_JZfah8

Malachy Friedman is a second-degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the legendary Master Ricardo Liborio of Carlson Gracie lineage. With almost 20 years of experience, Professor Friedman is adept in multiple fight disciplines including MMA, BJJ, Boxing, Muay Thai and Wrestling.

Malachy started his training with the late UFC Middle-Weight Champion, Evan Tanner. After years of competition, in 2006 Malachy joined American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida where he coached beginners and champs in both MMA and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu until 2015.

In 2015, Malachy brought his experience and knowledge back to his hometown of Charleston where with his wife, Sarah, they own and operate Black Label Martial Arts Academy. Malachy also owns Black Label Jiu-Jitsu Raiders Team and teaches free Women’s Self-Defense seminars to the Charleston and surrounding areas. Malachy teaches the same techniques in Women’s Self Defense that he wants his wife and daughter to know.

In addition to coaching, Malachy is both a strategist and innovator in the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu having created several video instructionals, based on his innovative style of Jiu Jitsu.

I had the privilege of speak with Malachy Friedman this afternoon. We discussed Malachy’s MMA career as both a fighter and a coach as well as his relationships with the late Evan Tanner and the late Kevin Ferguson AKA Kimbo Slice), jiu-jitsu poisoning (pins) in their relation to striking effectively, self defense (conventional and specifically for women), as well as Malachy’s style of Jiu Jitsu and his instructionals available for purchase on www.bjjfanatics.com, www.malachyfriedman.com or https://www.budovideos.com.

Today, I had the pleasure of sitting down and speaking to Eugene Tsozik PT, DPT, FRCms. Eugene is a Physical Therapist specializing in the reduction and treatment of Jiu-Jitsu related injuries as well as a black belt in Jiu Jitsu under Nick “Chewy” Albin out of Derby City MMA, located at 8021 Dixie Hwy, Louisville, KY 40258. Eugene is the creator of Grappling-RX (Rehab for BJJ) and the co-host of the Chewjitsu Podcast with Nick “Chewy” Albin Nick “Chewy” Albin. We discussed Eugene’s evolution in Jiu-Jitsu from white belt to black belt, competition experiences, training modalities, injures, and strength and conditioning considerations for injury reduction. I hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much I did recording it.

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with The BJJ Strength Coach, Josh Settlage. We discussed various aspects strength training (specifically the conjugate method), conditioning and diet considerations for the grapping athlete. I hope you enjoy!

Tyler is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, an IFBB Pro Bodybuilder in the wheelchair division and a personal trainer. Tyler was born with a condition named “Spina bifida” which is a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord do not form properly. It is a type of neural tube defect. The neural tube is the structure in a developing embryo that eventually becomes the baby's brain, spinal cord and the tissues that enclose them.

Tyler and I discussed adapting Jiu Jitsu for people who are physically challenged by using a "conceptual" approach to grappling as opposed to a "technique" based approach. We discussed bodybuilding (in general and competition), resistance training and dieting for the average Jiu JItsu athlete as well as how to do both (resistance training and jiu jitsu successfully at the same time). 

Instagram: @blackbeltbodybuildingcripple

Facebook: Tyler Brey IFBB Pro 

Kobra Kai Jiu Jitsu, Roseville (contact on Instagram or Facebook) 

Kurt Osiander is an accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and multiple time Pan American BJJ champion and has a four-win, one loss MMA cage fighting record.

Kurt has become a cult hero in the BJJ community for his straight forward personality which has been featured in two documentary films and Anthony Bourdain’s CNN show, Parts Unknown. Kurt is well known for his YouTube channel, “Kurt Osiander Move of the Week”  which has 81.1 thousand subscribers and has been viewed over five million times. Kurt runs Empire Jiu Jitsu is San Francisco, CA with his partner, Jake Scovel.

Empire Jiu Jitsu

2356 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA

Email [email protected]

(415) 658-7520

www.empirebjj.com

Instagram: @kurtosiander

Instructional: www.bjjfanatics.com