The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset

Professor Carlos Reyes (Splendid Savage) on Jiu-Jitsu, Humility, Self-Defense, and Life Change

Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Carlos Reyes ("Splendid Savage") to The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset, promotes the My Jiu-Jitsu Journey social app and Submission coffee, and discusses how jiu-jitsu redirected Reyes' life away from trouble associated with his band years, alongside faith. Reyes describes being drawn in through punishing early experiences, including being repeatedly submitted by a much smaller blue belt, which taught humility and openness to learning. He recounts a DUI and time in jail that prompted a commitment to jiu-jitsu, and how competition can inoculate practitioners against stress, though it should not be forced. Reyes contrasts sport-focused training with self-defense principles, emphasizing "DNA" concepts like base, connection, leverage, and weight distribution. He shares a student's transformation—losing 70 pounds and gaining confidence—illustrating jiu-jitsu's off-mat impact, and closes with where to find him online.

00:00 Welcome and Announcements

01:42 Life Without Jiu Jitsu

04:31 First Roll Reality Check

06:58 Humility and Honest Growth

12:13 Jail Wake Up Call

15:37 Habits and Incremental Change

17:30 Why Compete at All

20:27 Competition as Stress Training

26:16 Most Memorable Rolls

29:10 Self Defense Awakening

30:40 Sport Gym Shark Tank

31:53 Choosing the Right Gym

37:36 Principles Over Moves

39:48 Embracing Failure and Time

43:47 Student Transformation Story

49:26 Virtuous Cycles and Lifestyle

51:21 Splendid Savage Identity

52:44 Wrap Up and Where to Find

Host Pete Deeley welcomes listeners back to The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset, promotes subscription coffee and announces the new app "My Jiu-Jitsu Journey," then interviews Sensei George Rego about his lifelong martial arts path. Rego describes walking into an old, gritty dojo as a child and feeling instantly "at home," drawn to the combination of real physical capability and character, honor, and discipline—echoing Miyamoto Musashi's "twofold way" of sword and pen. He discusses the unique trust of training, the deep teacher-student bond, and the grief of losing his sensei. Rego shares lessons on discipline becoming self-discipline, navigating students who disappear, and his motivation for writing "The Founding of Jujutsu and Judo in America," including Teddy Roosevelt's ju jitsu connections. He concludes that a strong martial artist should be difficult to harm but easy to respect.

00:00 Welcome and Updates

01:05 Meet Sensei George Rego

02:01 Why Martial Arts

03:25 First Dojo Awakening

05:54 Quiet Strength Ideal

09:14 Twofold Way Mindset

13:21 Loss of a Sensei

15:02 Teacher Student Bond

19:08 Trust and Time on Mat

22:18 Students Who Disappear

23:44 Refocus on Students

25:07 Sensei Beyond Fighting

27:13 Systems and Discipline

29:14 Gravitas of a Master

31:05 Why Write the Book

33:53 Research and Roosevelt Dojo

35:05 Preserving Hidden Lineages

36:22 Where to Find the Book

36:57 Audiobook and Bestseller Run

38:33 Hard to Harm Easy Respect

Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Darien to discuss how lessons from jiu-jitsu transfer to life and how first principles, efficiency, and environment shape learning. Professor Darien emphasizes concepts over flashy techniques, urging beginners to build fundamentals like posture, base, weight distribution, and inside position so submissions become reliable and safer. They compare learning to surfing and chess, highlighting "time on the board," pattern recognition, and applying knowledge through feel rather than memory or forcing outcomes. The conversation explores mindset as staying connected to yourself, observing thoughts, avoiding reactive "shootouts," and seeking truth even when it means admitting you've lost a position. Darien shares experiences training with Howder and an unforgettable hour-long roll with Rickson Gracie, plus how adopting his younger brother helped transform his life into a fight-team leader and UFC Fight Pass competitor.

00:00 Welcome

01:12 Why Jiu Jitsu Transfers

02:50 Teaching Evidence First

03:59 Concepts Before Techniques

06:51 Building Safe Training Culture

08:52 Feel Versus Know

10:21 Fight Your Fight Principles

13:08 Mindset and Self Awareness

15:58 Mind as Radio Frequency

17:18 Teaching Inspiration and Metaphors

19:17 Coaching Focus Structure Weight

20:38 Educated Instincts

21:21 Invisible Jujitsu

23:25 Overthink Good Outcomes

25:34 Chess Like Calmness

28:53 Composure Under Pressure

30:51 Most Memorable Roll

35:26 Students Changed Lives

38:00 Calculated Nickname

38:45 Closing Thanks

Professor Michael Casey on Playful Learning, Trust, Breath, and Real-World Jiu-Jitsu

Host Pete Deeley interviews Professor Michael Casey on why jiu-jitsu learning should start relaxed and playful, noting that fun and visible improvement keep both kids and adults training. Casey describes how he introduced his son Declan through play, community support, and avoiding "nagging dad" behavior, later adding hands-on coaching and emphasizing position before submission. They discuss building trust in a gym, safety culture, and how breathing and conscious pauses expand the space between emotion and reaction, improving self-control and maturity. Casey contrasts sport and self-defense approaches, arguing honesty about goals matters and that positional control often outweighs submissions in real-world contexts like healthcare or law enforcement. He critiques "flip the switch" self-defense claims, discourages enforcing gym culture by beating up "jerks," and advises older beginners to shop for supportive communities and advocate for themselves.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:34 Playful Learning in Jiu Jitsu

03:49 Kids vs Adults Training Paths

06:17 Raising a Jiu Jitsu Kid

19:13 Position Before Submission

25:40 Emotions and Self Control

31:54 Breath as a Training Tool

35:52 Teaching Self Defense Framework

39:47 Mapping Fight Feelings

40:29 Fear Isn't Weakness

42:09 Rational vs Irrational Fear

44:29 Incremental Safety and Trust

48:19 Instructor Builds Support

52:35 Relaxation as a Symptom

55:05 Lessons Off the Mats

01:06:30 Commit Without Attachment

01:14:43 Resilience Through Failure

01:19:27 Jiu-Jitsu Then vs Now

01:22:02 Street Ready Jiu Jitsu

01:22:36 Sport Vs Self Defense

01:23:11 Honesty In Training

01:25:18 Why The Grind Matters

01:27:54 Jiu Jitsu As Lifestyle

01:31:21 Preserve Or Evolve

01:32:29 Culture Bowing And Gis

01:35:35 Innovation With Relson Rickson

01:45:25 Finding Your Right School

01:47:48 Starting At 55

01:49:50 Shopping Schools Smart

01:53:53 Responsibility Teaching Violence

01:56:04 Gym Enforcers And Jerks

01:57:10 When Violence Backfires

01:57:52 Reforming the Rough Student

01:59:01 Ego vs Instructor Duty

02:00:05 Helsan Beach Fight Story

02:01:20 Rickson vs Relson Street Logic

02:06:04 Gracie Culture and Upbringing

02:09:12 Training Deescalation Scripts

02:16:27 Snowstorm Deescalation Win

02:17:59 Protecting Your Daughter

02:23:57 Wrap Up and Training Connections

Veterans Breakthrough: How Jiu-Jitsu Helps Veterans Rebuild Purpose, Health, and Community

On The Jiu-Jitsu Mindset, Pete Deeley speaks with the founding board of Veterans Breakthrough—Chris (Navy), Kyle Zipf (Marine Corps infantry), and Phillip Marcum (Army 10th Mountain)—about how Brazilian jiu-jitsu supports veterans' personal growth, accountability, and community. Chris explains the organization's mission of empowering veterans from the inside out and how jiu-jitsu's structure, discipline, and camaraderie mirror military experiences. Kyle and Philip share their initial skepticism of "jiu-jitsu saves lives" messaging, then describe being humbled on the mats, ego reduction, improved health and habits, and stronger mental well-being. They detail Veterans Breakthrough's year-long jiu-jitsu scholarships, mentorship, annual retreats with training and "breakthrough" sessions, and how recipients can become mentors. They share how to apply or donate at veteransbreakthrough.org and promote their Mesa, Arizona tournaments (including a Nov. 7 no-gi event) and peer-to-peer fundraising.

00:00 Welcome and Coffee Bit

01:03 Why Veterans Breakthrough

02:02 Mission and Jiu Jitsu Fit

04:04 Chris Military Background

05:14 Kyle Finds Jiu Jitsu

06:32 Philip Story and Growth

09:44 Getting Humbled on Day One

12:18 Ego Break and Mental Chess

14:17 Controlled Violence and Healing

16:52 Vulnerability and Vet Readiness

19:18 Scholarship Success Story

21:26 Jujitsu Lifestyle Spillover

22:38 First Scholarship Success Story

24:03 From Skeptic to Breakthrough

28:29 Breath Body and Mind

30:49 Scholarship and Mentorship Model

33:17 Retreats and Breakthrough Sessions

35:22 Favorite Submissions Rapid Fire

36:43 How to Join and Support

38:44 Volunteer Powered Wrap Up

Host Pete Deeley interviews Ryan Hurst of GMB Fitness about how martial arts shaped his life and teaching. Hurst began martial arts in high school, visited Japan at 18, and an influential kendo instructor encouraged him to stay; a planned short exchange became 28 years in Japan, including training connected to police/self-defense groups and working eight years at a martial arts complex in a shrine. He emphasizes posture, breath, and mindset as core principles for both fighting and life. After moving back to the U.S. four years ago, injuries and cultural differences in training made him consider quitting, leading him to form the non-competitive, free "Jiú Kai" group focused on longevity and mutual benefit. He discusses judo maxims (maximum efficiency, mutual welfare/respect, and pausing to ask "is this necessary?"), training modes (maintenance, exploration, "monk mode"), and how being an outsider improved his coaching awareness. He previews a forthcoming book on staying on the mat forever.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:36 Martial Arts as a Life Path

02:55 Japan Exchange and Kendo Mentor

06:02 Posture Breath Mindset Framework

09:54 Coaches and Work Ethic Origins

11:40 Kendo Culture Shock and Proving Yourself

15:58 Shrine Dojo Years in Osaka

17:21 Joyful Hard Work and Longevity

20:34 Judo Maxims and Training Philosophy

22:51 Moving Back and BJJ Injury Wake Up Call

26:34 Starting the Jiu Kai Training Group

28:03 Training Without Rivalry

28:27 Almost Quitting Martial Arts

29:40 Osaka Castle Dojo Lessons

31:17 Practice Is Mindset

32:04 Maintenance Play Monk Modes

32:50 Aging Without Comparison

36:31 Longevity And Staying On

38:52 New Book Staying Forever

39:40 Injury Pivot And GMB

43:54 Outsider Experience And Ego

49:24 Awareness-Based Coaching

54:46 Jeans Guy And Farewell

Host Pete Deeley welcomes instructor Vini Fonseca to The Jiu Jitsu Mindset to discuss how Gracie Jiu-Jitsu shaped Vini's confidence, boundaries, and identity through a gentle, game-based childhood introduction around the Gracie family, including Rickson, Royler, and Helio. Vini explains he began teaching about 10 years ago after studying engineering and running a surf business, then committed fully to preserving Rickson's interpretation of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu—fundamentals, "invisible" aspects, and life transformation. They explore teaching as deep personal attention and scanning students' needs, using self-defense to build humility, compassion, and confidence for kids, neurodivergent students, seniors, and even fighters. Vini shares a story of helping an autistic student change socially, reflects on competition as optional, and recounts memorable rolls with Chris Burns, Scott Burr, and Michael Casey.

00:00 Welcome and Sponsor Plug

00:57 Meet Vini Fonseca

01:55 How Jiu Jitsu Shaped Me

05:57 From Engineer to Instructor

07:22 A Gentle Introduction

10:44 Learning Through Observation

16:15 Teaching as Life Mission

19:31 Self Defense for Everyone

22:06 Connection and Care

25:08 Preserving True Jiu Jitsu

26:52 Serving Students With Care

27:42 Self Defense For Seniors

28:20 Roleplay Boundaries Training

29:53 Complete Academy Mission

31:48 Competition For Learners

33:21 Why He Doesn't Compete

36:12 Rolling Stories And Lessons

40:25 First Student Transformation

43:52 Maturity And Teaching Wisdom

47:16 Closing And Future Plans

Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Rodrigo Freitas to the Jiu-Jitsu Mindset and discusses how Freitas's life might have differed without jiu-jitsu, noting his background in soccer, swimming, and love of music and travel. Freitas recounts starting jiu-jitsu at 13 in Brazil amid harsh training, hazing, and limited instruction, learning partly from VHS tapes, and says he wasn't naturally skillful but had strong cardio and persistence. They explore competition as optional but valuable at least once, citing a student whose first tournament improved discipline, health, and lifestyle. Freitas names a memorable loss to Leandro Lo by advantage as confidence-building, describes jiu-jitsu as stress inoculation, therapy, and moving meditation with spiritual benefits, and shares a story of a child improving socially and getting off medication. He invites visitors to Inspirit Jiu Jitsu Academy in Redondo Beach (InspiritJiuJitsuAcademy.com) and jokes his superhero name would be Spiderman due to Spiderguard.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:52 Life Without Jiu Jitsu

01:32 Sports and Music Roots

04:38 Why Martial Arts Clicked

05:24 Early Jiu Jitsu Struggles

07:33 Old School Gym Culture

10:49 Learning Before YouTube

12:22 Why Jiu Jitsu Endures

14:49 Competition Changes Lives

17:41 Weight Class Motivation

18:39 Memorable Match Leandro Lo

20:24 Losses And Self Mastery

21:48 Stress Inoculation Business

24:03 Jiu Jitsu As Meditation

26:17 Life Changing Student Story

28:59 Humility And Community

30:48 Visit Inspirit Academy

31:52 Training At New Gyms

32:45 Spiderguard Spiderman Wrap

Host Pete Deeley welcomes Professor Eddie Kone to the Jiu-Jitsu Mindset where they explore Cohn's 30-year Jiu Jitsu journey beginning March 12, 1996. Kone describes a troubled youth spent in children's homes and periods of homelessness, developing an ego-driven, scrappy mentality that led him through karate, judo, and Thai boxing before the UFC revealed what he felt was missing. After seeing Royce Gracie on VHS, Kone traveled to Rio, found the Gracie Academy in Botafogo, trained with Royler and encountered Helio Gracie and other icons, immediately quitting striking after being repeatedly submitted. He discusses mentorship, jiu-jitsu's spiritual and community aspects, UK gym politics, competing as a validation tool, a memorable last-minute MMA fight he won by triangle, and student transformations including a blind practitioner and a child with cerebral palsy, emphasizing preserving Helio/Rickson principles and directing listeners to Ricksongracie.com.

00:00 Welcome

02:03 Life Beyond Jiu Jitsu

03:32 Wild Kid Origins

05:27 Street Survival and Mentors

13:32 UFC VHS Sparks Obsession

15:02 Finding the Gracie Academy

17:03 First Roll Reality Check

18:12 Hooked on the Culture

26:01 Jiu Jitsu Spiritual Ethos

28:39 Defense Versus Offense

30:00 Planting Your Flag

30:34 Tribes and Mud Slinging

31:56 Ego and Late Starts

33:42 Why Everyone Competes

35:11 Open Weight Reality Check

37:15 Taking a Fight on Short Notice

39:19 Ego and Controlled Aggression

43:12 Legacy and Finding Home

47:15 Inside Rickson Circle

49:46 Rickson Teaching Magic

54:52 Students Who Transform

57:35 Jujitsu Over Sides

57:53 Farewell

From Karate to Invisible Jiu-Jitsu: Etiquette, Discipline, and Teaching as Family

Host Pete Deeley interviews Professor Jason about his martial arts journey from karate training at age seven on wood floors to Filipino martial arts and Jeet Kune Do with original Bruce Lee students, and how those experiences shaped his approach to jiu-jitsu. They compare earlier eras—when students "courted" instructors and etiquette was central—to today's more transactional gym culture. Jason describes building a dojo in Montana focused on respect, safety, and community, including white-gi preference, interviews and waiting lists, and treating students as family rather than customers. He recounts driving 80 miles each way for years to train in a Rickson Gracie lineage and shares how "invisible jiu-jitsu" applies off the mat as being a better teacher, husband, and dad. They discuss concepts like stripping away the useless, soft vision, "no technique," and a recent epiphany: "invisible timing," plus student transformations through breathing, kindness, and improved relationships.

00:00 Welcome and Setup

01:36 Early Karate Roots

03:00 Jeet Kune Do Era

05:16 Bruce Lee Philosophy

09:38 Efficiency and Focus

13:14 Invisible Jiu Jitsu

16:18 Building Dojo Culture

20:04 Coffee Shop to Dojo

22:28 Gi Color and Ego

22:57 Dojo Safety Culture

23:52 Dojo as Spiritual Practice

25:03 Chasing the Purest Jiu Jitsu

27:01 Earning Access and Commitment

28:40 Students Not Customers

29:25 Real Life Transformations

33:27 Invisible Timing Epiphany

37:36 Aikido and Mystical Rootedness

41:22 Etiquette and Beginner Mind

44:13 Mind Heart Respect Closing