When a guy that was "new" to my gym got his blue belt a recently, and I heard the actual story behind this achievement for him, I had to sit him down. Lerichard Foral and I talk the real life path to blue belt, motorcycle, heavy metal... and he even takes me up on my joke challenge.

Please check out this and other episodes on the new YouTube Channel and follow the show on social media at @theporradapodcast as well as my photography work at @porradaphotography

Ben is a Brazilian Jiu-JItsu Black Belt through Dave Margraf and Jorge Bezerra The Cellar Gym in Minnesota as well as the owner and head coach at Forged Fitness where he trains fighters and regular folks. We talk sports training theory, the origina of his gym's name, as well as his path to and impressions of becoming a black belt.

@theporradapodcast

@porradaphotography

www.forgedfitnessmn.com

www.thecellargym.com

I sit down, by myself, and consider what the belt categories really mean. Like, if I was explaining jiujitsu to someone and they said, "so what do you do at brown belt?" Would my answer be "do more jiu-jitsu?" I mean, yes, it would start with that... but what is the more descriptive, helpful definition of the belt levels in BJJ. I muse on it here thanks to information I've stolen from my guests.

Please check out @theporradapodcast and @porradaphotography on the social medias.

I sit down for yet another BSing with a Black Belt with my friend and training partner, Marc Nicolo. He's been training Jiu-Jitsu for 15 years and has a unique and exceptional game. We get into his thoughts on training but, of course, start completely off topic on his DJing and our candid takes on hip hop.

Please follow the show on instagram @theporradapodcast and check out the adjacent photography page @porradaphotography

If you'd prefer the video version, https://youtu.be/yiHkHVh645E

Sensei DM Hutchinson is a second degree black belt in judo and a three stripe brown belt (he got his third stripe a few days after recording) under Ishmael Bentley at M Theory Martial Arts in St. Louis Park, MN. We talk Philosophy, Judo, and Jiu-Jitsu in an oddly on-topic episode. Video edition of the podcast available on the Porrada Podcast YouTube Channel. www.youtube.com/theporradapodcast also please check out @porradaphotography and @theporradapodcast on Instagram and Facebook.

I sit down with Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt, Teddy Kim, to hear how his developing platform, gldmdl.com will serve as a means to help me help my friends compete and help BJJ athletes I'm a fan of compete.

As always please check out @theporradapodcast @porradaphotography and NOW find The Porrada Podcast on Youtube!

www.gldmdl.com is the platform, please keep an eye out for continued growth and improvements.

I sit down with Roland Larson and we talk about Jiu-Jitsu, gym ownership, evolving his game... and life along the way.

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Between reality and romance, facts and lore, can we come to some good understanding of from where and whom jiu-jitsu came? Probably not, but this episode should fill in some gaps... and create some new ones. Ishmael Bentley is a four stripe black belt, Jon Grilz is also a black belt, and Tall Tom brought a three-ring binder, so I trust him. Enjoy.

Please check out @theporradapodcast and @porradaphotography on instagram and facebook.

I sit down with World Champion, Akeela, to talk jiu jitsu and competition and gardening and stuff.

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@porradaphotography

Kurt Hartmann is a brazillian jiujitsu black belt under Greg Nelson in the Pedro Sauer association. He is also a world class, movement centered fitness training and owner of Pro Fitness Training in Eden Prairie, MN. As usual we talk about his path to black belt, including previous sporting endeavors. And we get into his other passions.

Check out his gym:

www.profitnessmn.com

@pro_fitness_training

And do follow the show on Instagram at @theporradapodcast and @porradaphotography