The ROL Radio - Hosted by Thomas Rozdzynski

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There was a time not that long ago when a career in jiu-jitsu seemed like a fantasy for most people. This episode’s guest has recently moved from the world of stock trading to working at an academy full-time. 

Edgar Figueroa joins us to discuss how he went from not even thinking a career in jiu-jitsu was a possibility to making a monumental shift in his life, making the most out of an opportunity to take the martial art he loves and using it to carve out a new career path.

Here is The RŌL Radio with adult program manager at RŌL Academy, and first-degree black belt, Edgar Figueroa.


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Episode Highlights:
2:59 Going Through Changes
4:06 Extremely Local Guest
9:26 Edgar’s First Cauliflower Ear
10:59 It Paid the Bills
14:45 Planting a Seed for Change
18:47 The Devil You Know
24:51 Questioning My Manhood
33:50 Different Looks from Instructors
40:46 To Be the Best I Wanted to Be
50:43 Managing the Things You Can’t Control
57:27 Living Up to the Belt
1:15:49 Taking the Chance
1:22:06 Bob Bass’ Question

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Opportunities are all around us and we either take advantage of them or we don't.

When jiu-jitsu legend Rigan Machado was thinking of leaving California and returning to Brazil, Bob Bass saw an opportunity for Rigan. He told Rigan he should stay and open a jiu-jitsu academy. Rigan made the most of that opportunity and changed the world of martial arts forever.

On this Takeaway, Thoms and Gary discuss how opportunities are all around us, how they believe they arise, and how sometimes we don't even see them.


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https://blackbeltlegacy.com/rigan-machado-studen/bob-bass/
https://www.instagram.com/southbay_jiujitsu/?hl=en

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The RŌL Radio’s quest to get all of the BJJ Dirty Dozen on the podcast continues with Rigan Machado’s first American black belt, Bob Bass.

Bob first began his training with Rickson Gracie and then became hugely influential under Rigan Machado. On this episode, Bob describes the early days of training with the Gracies and Machados, his influence on Rigan when Rigan opened his first academy in the United States, his legendary matches against the best in the world, and a ton more.

Here is The RŌL Radio with Dirty Dozen member, 6th-degree black belt, and owner of South Bay Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Bob Bass.

www.rolacademy.tv 30% discount with ROLRADIO code at checkout. Over 1000 videos for your Jiu-Jitsu journey.

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https://blackbeltlegacy.com/
https://blackbeltlegacy.com/rigan-machado-studen/bob-bass/
https://www.instagram.com/southbay_jiujitsu/?hl=en

Episode Highlights:
2:54 RIP Professor Octavio
6:24 Dirty Dozen
9:57 This is What I Need to Learn
20:35 Working with Rigan
29:42 Friction with the Gracies
32:51 Earning a Black Belt by Beating the Best
44:46 Competition Stories
55:26 More Friction
1:00:39 American Pioneer
1:01:45 Dan Inosanto and Gene LeBell
1:14:28 The Most Impactful Moment
1:16:58 John Frankl’s Question
1:19:19 Black Belt Legacy

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Another jiu-jitsu cliche is Technique is King, but as we know, strength, size, and rules of engagement all play a vital role in jiu-jitsu.

After a great conversation with John Frankl, Thomas and Gary discuss whether or not good technique is all that is needed for success on the mats.


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Today’s guest is another true martial artist. With a background in several martial arts, it was his exposure to jiu-jitsu in 1989 that he knew he had found what he really wanted to do.

It did take a few years before John Frankl started his formal training under Rickson Gracie and after moving from the West Coast to Boston John trained under Roberto Maia and received his black belt in 2002.

Here is The RŌL Radio with the owner of John Frankl Jiu Jitsu, coach for Straight Blast Gym, professor of journalism and international studies at Yonsei University, and the man who first introduced BJJ to South Korea, John Frankl


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Episode Highlights:
5:49 Generation 1.5
11:39 Traditional Martial Arts
19:14 I Have to Learn This
36:31 Training at Rickson’s
47:54 Biggest Blessing of Begining with Rickson
50:30 Real Jiu-Jitsu
1:01:39 Charles Harriott’s Question
1:04:48 Scientific Approach

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Jiu Jitsu mats can be the great equalizer. But what does that mean? 

After speaking with Charles Harriott, who travels the world teaching jiu-jitsu, Thomas and Gary discuss how the mats can bring people together who otherwise might never spend time together.

www.rolacademy.tv 30% discount with ROLRADIO code at checkout. Over 1000 videos for your Jiu-Jitsu journey.

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https://linktr.ee/CharlesHarriott
https://www.instagram.com/bjjglobetrotters/

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Today’s guest is another jiu-jitsu globetrotter. He has turned his lifelong love of martial arts into his passion, traveling across the world teaching jiu-jitsu in so many countries he has lost count.

Charles Harriott joins The RŌL Radio to discuss his teaching style, how he has figured out how to enjoy life on the road, how teaching everything teaches nothing, and how it is hard to let go of the ego.

Here is The RŌL Radio with a man that has extensive knowledge in Tae Kwon Do, American Kenpo, Kickboxing, Judo, Submission Wrestling, Kung Fu, Kali, and is a black belt in jiu-jitsu, Charles Harriott.

www.rolacademy.tv 30% discount with ROLRADIO code at checkout. Over 1000 videos for your Jiu-Jitsu journey.

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https://www.instagram.com/bjjglobetrotters/

Episode Highlights:
3:25 Helping People Make the First Step
7:10 Life on the Road
16:51 Teaching Everything Teaches Nothing
27:31 Professional Jiu-JItsu
36:54 Wanting to Beat Our Instructors
45:50 TRT Vitor Belfort
51:12 Community
1:00:00 Suspicious Chicken
1:16:24 Rayron Gracie’s Question

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Competing in jiu-jitsu as a Gracie nowadays can be a blessing and a curse. Expectations and pressure put upon a young Gracie family member can be overwhelming. Rayron Gracie has met those challenges head-on with nothing but gratitude for those who came before him.

On this Takeaway, Thomas and Gary discuss the Gracie family’s current impact on jiu-jitsu and how we should all be grateful for those who come before us.

www.rolacademy.tv 30% discount with ROLRADIO code at checkout. Over 1000 videos for your Jiu-Jitsu journey.

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https://www.instagram.com/rayrongracie/?hl=en
https://rayrongracie.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gKsbTMvPh0

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Today’s guest carries on the legacy of his family by being a highly successful jiu-jitsu competitor.

But with that family legacy came a huge amount of pressure, responsibility, and expectations to succeed.

Rayron Gracie joins us to share growing up in the world-famous Gracie family, how he dealt with the pressure and expectations put upon him, by not only others but himself, what it meant to win the world championship with Roger Gracie in his corner, and a ton more.

Here is The RŌL Radion with the multi-time world champion, and newly promoted black belt, Rayron Gracie.


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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gKsbTMvPh0

Episode Highlights:
3:08 Thomas Gets a Compliment
4:50 Emotional Surprises
9:50 Blessing and a Curse
14:59 The Most Pressure in My Whole Life
18:45 Choosing to Win
28:16 The Hardest Thing Rayron’s Done
32:58 What Does the Future Hold
40:49 Hating Jiu Jitsu
45:33 Roller Coaster of Jiu Jitsu
48:45 Biggest Impressions
52:10 Lucas Valente’s Question

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Gracie Barra Texas instructor Lucas Valente grew up immersed in jiu-jitsu and he is determined to continue the legacy that his family, Carlos Gracie Junior, and Vinicius Draculino passed to him.

On this Takeaway, Thomas and Gary discuss the importance of legacy and if the culture and community it creates are more important than the brand they grow out of.

www.rolacademy.tv 30% discount with ROLRADIO code at checkout. Over 1000 videos for your Jiu-Jitsu journey.

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https://www.instagram.com/lucasvalentebjj/
https://bjjfanatics.com/search?q=valente
https://graciebarratx.com/

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