Shawn teaching at Stout PGH

In this podcast  Shawn Williams talks with longtime friend and student Warren Stout.  Shawn is the technical commentator for all of the major jiu jitsu events such as ADCC , IBJJF worlds, WNO, and StoutFights pro BJJ.  The conversation touches on the recent WNO event, the work that goes into commentating, teaching philosophy, the development of jiu jitsu, and much more.  If you are a fan of Jiu Jitsu, submission grappling, or are a student, or coach of combat sports this will have lots of interesting discussions for you. Some other topics are gi vs no-gi training, evolution of jiu jitsu, the upcoming trends predictions, advice for competitors, specialization in jiu jitsu, developing curriculums as a teacher/school owner, the term “ecological training”, teaching children, kids learning, and more. This podcast was produced by our friends at Storyhaus Agency.

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Mike Wilkins before a professional MMA fight

Mike Wilkins and Warren Stout sit down to discuss several topics related to Mike’s professional MMA career, his transition from being primarily a competitor to more of a coaching role at Stout Pittsburgh.  The conversation also touches on competing in jiu jitsu and differences from MMA.  Mike and Warren also talk about some of the qualities they feel that help to make MMA athletes successful. The discuss Stout and how the organizations has expanded. There is a lot more about BJJ, coaching, wrestling, and some of the fighters who train at Stout PGH.  If you are a student and/or competitor at Stout this  podcast is a must listen!

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Claire Butterfield is one of the most successful jiu jitsu competitors we have had at Stout Pittsburgh in our decade and a half.  Last year she placed 3rd at Pan Am IBJJF Adult brown belt, losing a razor close decision to the eventual winner.  Alreadly with wins over notable black belts in competition she was promoted by her main coach Mike Wilkins, Febuary 2025 to black belt. In this episode she talks with Mike Wilkins and Warren Stout about becoming a high level jiu jitsu competitor while having a career. She talks about training challenges as a women. She also get into what her motivation was getting started and how it’s changed. This episode has a lot of interesting information about the process of training jiu jitsu as a competitor, improving, and the process of starting and then advancing to a high level. For Stout Pittsburgh students it’s also a chance to get to know Claire.

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Kristel Johanning, practicing in Aerial Arts in Pittsburgh

In this episode I talk with Kristel Johanning about starting aerial arts practice in her late 30’s as a mom of 2, without a background in dance/yoga or the like.  We talk about why she loves training silks and hoop.  We go into some of the story about how Kristel got started and who some of her teachers and influences where.  She also talks about teaching and the program at Stout in our Zelienople location and upcoming classes in the Strip District.  This episode will be interesting if you are thinking of trying aerial arts.  It may also be of interest to teacher and anyone starting an activity later in life.  Definitely don’t miss it if you are part of the Stout aerial arts classes in Pittsburgh.

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In this episode I talk with Kristel Johanning about starting aerial arts practice in her late 30’s as a mom of 2, without a background in dance/yoga or the like.  We talk about why she loves training silks and hoop.  We go into some of the story about how Kristel got started and who some of her teachers and influences where.  She also talks about teaching and the program at Stout in our Zelienople location and upcoming classes in the Strip District.  This episode will be interesting if you are thinking of trying aerial arts.  It may also be of interest to teacher and anyone starting an activity later in life.  Definitely don’t miss it if you are part of the Stout aerial arts classes in Pittsburgh.

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It’s great to have Keith Gavin on the podcast with Mike Wilkins and Me, Warren Stout.  Keith has turned around Pittsburgh University’s wrestling program making them a nationally competitive division one team.  Last season Pitt had it’s first national champion since Keith himself won in 2008.  He is a great wrestler as well as a successful coach.  He stops in from time to time to train with Stout PGH competition grappling team and share some of his knowlege with us.  His children also train at our Strip District location in Pittsburgh and our Zelienople/north location. We talk about what he looks for in recruits, how he overacheived in his college career, what are some differences between wrestling and submission grappling.  We also talk about Nino Bonaccorsi, Pitt’s most recent national champion who is a Pittsburgh native.  We discuss youth wrestling and what Keith sees as the value of Jiu Jitsu training for children.  There is alot of practical experienced based advice and discussion in this podcast  athletes and practitioners of combat sports can learn from.  There are also topics of interest for fathers and mothers as well as fans of NCAA and specifically Pitt Wrestling.

Keith Gavin – head Pitt U wrestling coach, helping with our competition grapplling practice.

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Brady wrestling in PIAA high school championship

Brady Joling and his Father Michael join us for this podcast episode.  Brady is part of the first generation of jiu jitsu practitioners who moved to a successful wrestling career.  Me, your host, Warren Stout  was part of some of the first group of college wrestlers who transitioned to BJJ in the early 2000’s.  Now we are seeing athletes go in the opposite direction as jiu jitsu becomes more main stream and quality kids jiu jitsu programs are available in many parts of the country.  Brady is a great example of this.  He started at Stout PGH in your youth program and just finished his high school wrestling career culminating in a PIAA State Championship 3rd place medal. He is going on to wrestle at the Division I Collegate level at Davidson College. He hasn’t been wrestling long and he is getting better.  We talk about his unique style and how jiu jitsu influenced it.  We talk about the different attitudes and training methods of each sport.  Michael also talks about guiding a wrestler and jiu jitsu practitioner as a father.  There is a lot of interesting information that jiu jitsu atheletes, wrestler, parents and fans of wrestling and jiu jitsu/ submission grappling will enjoy.

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In this wide ranging interview/ conversation Zack Esposito and I talk about his wrestling journey from starting as a youth in NJ and at Blair academy, to being a standout competitor, NCAA DI champion, and on to his coaching career.  Zack shares annadotes and stories from his own career.  We also talk about some interesting interactions between Zack and all-time greats in wrestling, Mixed Martial Arts ( MMA ).  Zack talks about what he sees as commonalities he sees in ultra successful combat sports athletes.  He gives some advice on both mental and physical aspects of becoming a great competitor. Zack has helped to coach international wrestler as well as some of the best college wrestlers.  He has also helped with some MMA fighters such as Daniel Cormier, Robby Lawler, and others. He has some good wisdom for coaches and athletes interacting with coaches.  Zack is one of the best selling instructional video teachers for BJJ Fanatics / Wrestling Fanatics.  This podcast will make you better at Jiu Jitsu, MMA and/or wrestling. Zack is a NCAA Division I national wrestling champion.  He was know for his dynamic, exciting style.  He is a respected coach at the highest levels of NCAA and international wrestling in the United states.

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John Swisher is the co-founder and leader of Ronin Adverstising, a successful marketing national marketing agency that has worked for Fortune 500 companies, large charity based organizations such as YMCA groups, and a couple of jiu jitsu schools including mine, as passion projects.  John is a purple belt and dedicated jiu jitsu student who trains regularly at almost 60 years old.  In this podcast we discuss John’s philosophy of marketing.  He talks about what the biggest mistake he sees jiu jitsu schools and businesses in general make in marketing.  He talks about his approach to training  jiu jitsu and improving his game.  He discusses work with Stout Pittsburgh schools.  This podcast will be of particular interst to those starting jiu jitsu later in life and training as an older person, ” old man jiu jitsu “,  and anyone involved in owning a jiu jitsu school or similar business. It may also be of interest to member/students of Stout PGH schools because we discuss some of my (Warren Stout) philosophy and guiding principals of the Pittsburgh schools that John has help communicate and articulate.  John also discusses his personal philosophy of jiu jitsu and why it is important to him.

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Warren Stout and Bridget Grace have a conversation after her Pittsburgh Seminar at Stout PGH.  Bridget is the women’s team coach for Renzo Gracie NYC academy, an active competitor, and world silver medalist at adult black belt. She has also fought kickboxing and mma fights.  In addition to describing her jiu jitsu journey thus far, she talks about training methods, mental preparation, and teaching others. She also talks about different teachers who have influenced her and which competitors she is paying attention to on the scene today.  This conversation will be of particular interest to any jiu jitsu competitors and women starting Jiu Jitsu.

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