rad “Oz” Osborne has spent most of his life around grappling.

From wrestling in high school and college, to training judo while living in Japan, to eventually discovering jiu-jitsu in his late 40s, Oz has experienced combat sports from a lot of different angles.

But at 60, his perspective has changed.

In this episode, Oz and I talk about getting older on the mat, learning to control your ego, knowing when to tap, protecting your body, competition nerves, and why being able to train tomorrow matters more than winning today's roll.

We also get into his wrestling background, his hilarious experience competing in judo in Japan, jumping straight into the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships after only months of training, and how wrestling shaped the person he became.

These days, Oz's focus is changing from proving what he knows to passing it on.

As he puts it:

“I can't take it with me when I'm dead.”

It's a funny, honest conversation about wrestling, judo, jiu-jitsu, competition, aging and figuring out what really matters after a lifetime on the mat.

Jiu-jitsu found Chris Agonoy when he needed it most.

After losing his father and going through a difficult period in his life, Chris was introduced to jiu-jitsu by his friend Leo. What followed were long drives from Kona to Kohala just to train—and the beginning of something that would eventually change far more than his ability on the mats.

Today, Chris is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, competitor, coach, husband and father. We talk about his journey through the belts, raising his kids around jiu-jitsu and wrestling, coaching the next generation, and why giving back has become such an important part of his journey.

This one is about much more than earning a black belt.

It's about finding something when you need it—and eventually becoming someone who can give that same thing back to others.

🎙️ Small Man Jiu Jitsu Podcast
🥋 Guest: Chris Agonoy

Sarah Medoff found jiu-jitsu almost by accident.

Her daughter started training first. After months of sitting on the sidelines watching, Sarah finally decided to give it a try. One class later, she was hooked.

Nine years later, Sarah is a brown belt, Master Worlds champion, working professional, wife and mother of two. But some of the most interesting parts of her story have nothing to do with medals.

In this episode, Sarah talks about balancing motherhood, work, family and her own goals — and the guilt that can sometimes come with choosing to do something for yourself. She shares why she believes it's important for her daughters to see that becoming a mom doesn't mean you have to lose yourself.

We also talk about her heartbreaking loss at Worlds, coming back the following year and winning, why some of her biggest lessons have come from losing, and the special community of women training jiu-jitsu here in Hawaii.

This one isn't just about jiu-jitsu.

It's about motherhood, competition, resilience, community — and holding onto the things that make you who you are.

🥋 Small Man Jiu Jitsu Podcast

What started as a promise to her son became a journey that changed Sara Mantz's life.

When one of her boys was nervous about starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Sara made a simple promise: she would step onto the mats with him. She never expected that decision would lead her to losing 75 pounds, competing in tournaments, coaching young athletes, and finding a community that would help carry her family through one of life's most difficult seasons.

In this episode of the Small Man Podcast, Sara shares the realities of raising four boys, training alongside her children, overcoming self-doubt, and discovering that the greatest victories in jiu-jitsu often happen far away from the podium. She also explains why competition isn't just about winning—it's about growth, resilience, and having the courage to keep showing up.

This conversation is about much more than Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It's about keeping promises, leading by example, finding strength through adversity, and the power of a community that refuses to let you face life's challenges alone.

Whether you're a parent, a martial artist, or someone working through a difficult chapter, Sara's story is a reminder that sometimes the hardest first step leads to the biggest transformation.

At just 19 years old, Chase Mizoguchi is already building a reputation as one of Hawaii's promising young Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors.

In this episode, Chase shares stories from his first competition, how his mindset has changed over the years, balancing jiu-jitsu with college and a new career in finance, and why great coaching has played such an important role in his development.

It's a conversation about competition, growth, mentorship, and preparing for the future while staying grounded in the values that make Hawaii's jiu-jitsu community unique.

What does nearly 20 years of martial arts teach you?

In this episode of the Small Man Podcast, Ted Kaneda reflects on a lifetime spent in wrestling, judo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He shares how wrestling built his work ethic, why he had to reinvent his game as a purple belt, and what earning a black belt truly means beyond technical skill.

Ted also discusses competition strategy, coaching, representing your academy with character, and the mindset required to continue improving after nearly two decades on the mats.

Whether you're a competitor, coach, or hobbyist, this conversation offers timeless lessons about perseverance, humility, and lifelong learning.

Sometimes you just know when it’s time for a change.

In this episode of the Small Man Podcast, I sit down with my friend Jessica Wong, a purple belt at Concept, as she prepares to leave Hawaii and begin a new chapter in Las Vegas.

Jess shares how her dad first exposed her to jiu-jitsu, how she eventually found the sport for herself, and why she quickly became hooked. We talk about competition, training with bigger people, being willing to put yourself in uncomfortable situations, and the importance of having a strong team around you.

We also talk about her decision to move closer to family. After years of visiting Vegas and always being ready to come home to Hawaii, something about her most recent trip felt different. That feeling eventually became the realization that maybe it was simply time for a new chapter.

More than anything, this episode became a conversation about appreciating the people around you while you still have the opportunity. Jess talks about how much she values being part of a team and the relationships that come from training, competing, traveling and simply spending time together.

A very real conversation about jiu-jitsu, family, friendship, change and moving forward.

What happens when a lifelong judoka chooses to become a beginner again?

In this episode of the Small Man Podcast, Romeo Lapitan shares his journey from high school judo to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and explains why he intentionally avoids relying on his judo during training. Rather than proving what he already knows, Romeo believes the best way to grow is to remain a student.

We discuss:

• His transition from judo to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• The lessons he learned training at the Kodokan in Japan
• Why great training partners don't try to "win" practice
• Balancing work, coaching, family, and martial arts
• Competition mindset and continuous improvement
• The mentors who have shaped his journey

Whether you've been training for years or are just getting started, this conversation is a reminder that humility and curiosity are often the greatest tools for long-term growth.

The Niwa Brothers have dedicated nearly their entire lives to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

After growing up at Axis Jiu-Jitsu in Japan, they made the difficult decision to leave home and train full-time at AOJ under the Mendes Brothers. In this episode, they discuss the challenges of adapting to life in the United States, learning English, competing at the highest levels, and eventually returning to Japan to build a stronger academy and inspire the next generation.

We also talk about:

• Growing up training together as brothers
• Why they chose AOJ
• Living in the U.S. during their competitive years
• The differences between jiu-jitsu in Japan and America
• Building a championship academy
• Teaching, leadership, and community
• Their dream of becoming IBJJF World Champions
• Why they believe jiu-jitsu connects people across the world

The Small Man Podcast exists to preserve the stories of the people who make the jiu-jitsu community stronger. Every conversation is about more than medals—it's about the lessons, relationships, and experiences that shape our lives on and off the mats.

Brooklyn Olegario joins the Small Man Podcast to share a deeply personal conversation about resilience, healing, and the impact of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community.

Brooklyn opens up about overcoming social anxiety, finding confidence through training, navigating the aftermath of sexual assault, and why she's now researching how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu may help women recover from trauma. We also discuss competition, community, faith, and her vision of helping others through future nonprofit work.

This is an honest conversation about growth, courage, and using difficult experiences to create hope for others.