Musician, teacher, and black belt in both Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and life philosophy, Ronnie joins us to drop some serious wisdom—and a few opponents. In this episode, he dives into how BJJ and music make each other better (spoiler: it’s not by choking out your students). Ronnie explains his teaching method of scaffolding—basically the educational version of giving you just enough rope to climb, not hang yourself—and why mastering the tiniest details is the key to greatness. His jiu jitsu mantra? Use the least effort possible to dominate and always be cool with losing—zen or sneaky genius? You decide. Plus, he spills the beans on performing at the AFL Grand Final with Robbie Williams and Delta Goodrem, and so much more.

Catch Ronny every Wednesday night at @oldplatesrecordbar dishing up South African jazz!

P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die x MANA T-Shirts available in S, M, L & XL - message us to secure yours at $30 + shipping, which is a total steal!

Links to our sponsors making this podcast possible and all our past episodes can be found in our bio via https://linktr.ee/Roll_or_Die_Podcast

Did you know we can also be found the links below, and anywhere else great podcasts are!

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/roll-or-die/id1519037518

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https://open.spotify.com/show/2BHJ2tB4H5GLB8IImRFcXq

https://australian-podcasts.com/podcast/roll-or-die

Rachael Bradshaw and Kaz Page made friends on the mat and turned it into a podcast - @thegispotpodcast! In what we believe is the first of its kind, we have collaborated with another Australian Brazilian Jiu Jitsu podcast to record together. In this episode we get to know the team behind the Gi Spot podcast, both in their own journeys and the journey of their podcast. Check out Kaz and her hubby’s “other” podcast @loveconquersthepodcast where all good podcasts are found.

P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die x MANA T-Shirts available in S, M, L & XL - message us to secure yours at $30 + shipping, which is a total steal!

Links to our sponsors making this podcast possible can be found in our bio via https://linktr.ee/Roll_or_Die_Podcast

Did you know we can also be found the links below, and anywhere else great podcasts are!

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/roll-or-die/id1519037518

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA98zTuWibpR5L_vjpRWHIg

https://www.facebook.com/rollordiepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/roll_or_die_podcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/2BHJ2tB4H5GLB8IImRFcXq

https://australian-podcasts.com/podcast/roll-or-die

Back for his second appearance on the podcast (check out episode 101 for his last one), Oli Smith shares his nuggets of wisdom that he is well known for in his role as head grappling coach at Absolute Collingwood. Oli also shares information about his Grounded Grappling camps, which are a fun, back-to-nature experience that he is the thought child behind. Get yourself to the next camp in August and find out more below.

Grounded Grappling:

https://groundedgrappling.com/

https://www.instagram.com/groundedgrappling/ | @groundedgrappling

P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die x MANA T-Shirts available in S, M, L & XL - message us to secure yours at $30 + shipping, which is a total steal!

Links to our sponsors making this podcast possible can be found in our bio via https://linktr.ee/Roll_or_Die_Podcast

Did you know we can also be found the links below, and anywhere else great podcasts are!

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/roll-or-die/id1519037518

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA98zTuWibpR5L_vjpRWHIg

https://www.facebook.com/rollordiepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/roll_or_die_podcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/2BHJ2tB4H5GLB8IImRFcXq

https://australian-podcasts.com/podcast/roll-or-die

Originally from the small South Australian town of Tumby Bay, Jake rose to prominence as a judoka, representing Australia from 2004 to 2014, including at the 2012 London Olympics. Towering at nearly 2 metres tall and weighing around 130kg, he’s a true gentle giant, known for his captivating stories about the evolution of the judo scene since he first stepped onto the mat at age 9. Today, Jake has transitioned from judo to the world of professional wrestling!

P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die x MANA T-Shirts available in S, M, L & XL - message us to secure yours at $30 + shipping, which is a total steal!

Links to our sponsors making this podcast possible can be found in our bio via https://linktr.ee/Roll_or_Die_Podcast

Did you know we can also be found the links below, and anywhere else great podcasts are!

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/roll-or-die/id1519037518

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA98zTuWibpR5L_vjpRWHIg

https://www.facebook.com/rollordiepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/roll_or_die_podcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/2BHJ2tB4H5GLB8IImRFcXq

https://australian-podcasts.com/podcast/roll-or-die

This week’s guest is an absolute standout—an inspiring individual and a true martial artist. Daz, a New Zealand native now based in Perth, holds black belts in multiple disciplines and currently trains out of Grappling Technics. In this episode, he shares valuable insights drawn from his lifelong passion for learning and problem-solving, which naturally led him to the art of jiu-jitsu.

We dive into his journey through breathwork, his transition to a plant-based lifestyle, and his unwavering commitment to competition—often stepping onto the mats even during family holidays.

Looking ahead, Daz will take on an extraordinary endurance challenge in October 2025: a 12-hour swim, followed by 12 hours of rest, and then a 12-hour run—all to raise awareness and support for youth mental health and suicide prevention. He’ll also be featured at the upcoming BJJ Retreats camp in Bali this November.

BJJ RETREAT IN BALI

November 24 to 30th 2025

With 5th Degree Teco Shinzato and Daz Mokaraka

@bjj_retreats_australia

https://www.bjjretreatsaustralia.com/

P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die x MANA T-Shirts available in S, M, L & XL - message us to secure yours at $30 + shipping, which is a total steal!

Links to our sponsors making this podcast possible can be found in our bio via https://linktr.ee/Roll_or_Die_Podcast

Did you know we can also be found the links below, and anywhere else great podcasts are!

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/roll-or-die/id1519037518

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA98zTuWibpR5L_vjpRWHIg

https://www.facebook.com/rollordiepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/roll_or_die_podcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/2BHJ2tB4H5GLB8IImRFcXq

https://australian-podcasts.com/podcast/roll-or-die

This week’s guest is a brown belt beast and a wrestling wrecking ball — Aaron Maher. We dive into his transition from the wrestling mat to the jiu jitsu tatami, how he’s fused relentless wrestling pressure with slick jits technique, and his move into coaching the next generation. With talents like Aaron on the rise, the future of Aussie grappling is looking nasty (in the best way). Don’t miss this episode!

P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die x MANA T-Shirts available in S, M, L & XL - message us to secure yours at $30 + shipping, which is a total steal!

Links to our sponsors making this podcast possible can be found in our bio via https://linktr.ee/Roll_or_Die_Podcast

Did you know we can also be found the links below, and anywhere else great podcasts are!

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/roll-or-die/id1519037518

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA98zTuWibpR5L_vjpRWHIg

https://www.facebook.com/rollordiepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/roll_or_die_podcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/2BHJ2tB4H5GLB8IImRFcXq

https://australian-podcasts.com/podcast/roll-or-dieHi

He’s back for round three! After dropping gems in episodes #68 and #162, Dan returns to share what it was like training under John Danaher in the lead-up to last year’s ADCC. From inside stories at New Wave to his relentless pursuit of elite status, Dan brings the heat. Don’t miss this one—it's packed with gold!

P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die x MANA T-Shirts available in S, M, L & XL - message us to secure yours at $30 + shipping, which is a total steal!

Links to our sponsors making this podcast possible can be found in our bio via https://linktr.ee/Roll_or_Die_Podcast

Did you know we can also be found the links below, and anywhere else great podcasts are!

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/roll-or-die/id1519037518

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA98zTuWibpR5L_vjpRWHIg

https://www.facebook.com/rollordiepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/roll_or_die_podcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/2BHJ2tB4H5GLB8IImRFcXq

https://australian-podcasts.com/podcast/roll-or-die

Vicky Gonzalez is tearing up the Aussie jiu jitsu scene like a woman on a mission. 2024 was her breakout year—she took gold at Fusion FC, dominated the Pan Pacific Championship, and wrapped things up by becoming the M1 No-Gi Purple Belt World Champ. Not bad, right? Training out of M16 and Beachside in Adelaide, Vicky originally got her start in Melbourne under Marcelino Freitas. In this episode, she spills the tea on life as a competitor, what it’s like being coached by her fiancé Lachlan Conway (spoiler: it’s not all love and triangles), and how she keeps up with the grind of training without losing her mind. You’re gonna love this one!

P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die x MANA T-Shirts available in S, M, L & XL - message us to secure yours at $30 + shipping, which is a total steal!

Links to our sponsors making this podcast possible can be found in our bio via https://linktr.ee/Roll_or_Die_Podcast

Did you know we can also be found the links below, and anywhere else great podcasts are!

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/roll-or-die/id1519037518

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA98zTuWibpR5L_vjpRWHIg

https://www.facebook.com/rollordiepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/roll_or_die_podcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/2BHJ2tB4H5GLB8IImRFcXq

https://australian-podcasts.com/podcast/roll-or-die

Back for round two (check out episode #153), we sit down with Ivan Rakitic—soon to be a fifth-degree black belt and one of Australia’s first BJJ black belts. Ivan isn’t just a legend on the mats; he’s deeply passionate about men’s mental health and how struggles often trace back to childhood trauma. In this episode, he breaks down the powerful connections between BJJ and mental resilience. A true pioneer of the gentle art, Ivan brings wisdom, insight, and some game-changing perspectives. Don’t miss it!

Visit https://ivanrakitictherapy.com.au/ for more info regarding Ivan’s therapy business, which centers around advanced conversational hypnosis. And check out his sons' alt punk band - @daydreamerssband

P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die x MANA T-Shirts available in S, M, L & XL - message us to secure yours at $30 + shipping, which is a total steal!

Links to our sponsors making this podcast possible can be found in our bio via https://linktr.ee/Roll_or_Die_Podcast

Did you know we can also be found the links below, and anywhere else great podcasts are!

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/roll-or-die/id1519037518

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA98zTuWibpR5L_vjpRWHIg

https://www.facebook.com/rollordiepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/roll_or_die_podcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/2BHJ2tB4H5GLB8IImRFcXq

https://australian-podcasts.com/podcast/roll-or-die

Jack Cox, head coach at Northern Beaches Jiu Jitsu in Sydney, shares his unique journey through the grappling world. From pro wrestling to coaching, he’s trained under multiple affiliations, gaining a broad perspective on jiu jitsu’s evolution. Now an avid coach, Jack takes special pride in his kids’ program and finds his greatest reward in watching others grow. His advice? Absorb as much as you can from every corner of jiu jitsu — because the best grapplers never stop learning!

P.S. We still have a limited number of high-quality Roll or Die x MANA T-Shirts available in S, M, L & XL - message us to secure yours at $30 + shipping, which is a total steal!

Links to our sponsors making this podcast possible can be found in our bio via https://linktr.ee/Roll_or_Die_Podcast

Did you know we can also be found the links below, and anywhere else great podcasts are!

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/roll-or-die/id1519037518

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA98zTuWibpR5L_vjpRWHIg

https://www.facebook.com/rollordiepodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/roll_or_die_podcast/

https://open.spotify.com/show/2BHJ2tB4H5GLB8IImRFcXq

https://australian-podcasts.com/podcast/roll-or-die