In this solo episode, Shintaro Higashi breaks down why judo has a branding problem—especially in the United States. He explores how judo is misunderstood by the general public and even feared by other martial artists, while highlighting how we can shift perceptions to grow the art.Whether you're a judo coach, a BJJ practitioner, or just curious about martial arts culture and business, this one’s for you.00:00 Misconceptions About Judo in the U.S.01:00 How Different Audiences Perceive Judo02:00 Judo as a Martial Art and a Sport03:00 Judo for Self-Defense and Lifestyle04:00 Injury Perception and Media Framing05:00 Competing With Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu06:00 Making Judo Easier and Safer to Learn07:00 A Call to Action for Judo Instructors and Dojo Owners🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just got even better.Every major instructional. One complete system. Now at our biggest discount yet.Grab yours now at 40% off : https://higashibrand.com/products/all-instructionalsThis won’t last. Build your game today.🔥 Get 20% OFF FUJI Gear! 🔥Looking to level up your judo training with the best gear? FUJI Sports has you covered. Use my exclusive link to grab 20% OFF high-quality gis, belts, bags, and more.👉 https://www.fujisports.com/JUDOSHINTARO 👈No code needed – just click and save!Links:🇯🇵 Kokushi Budo Institute (The Dojo) Class Schedule in New York, NY 🗽: https://www.kokushibudo.com/schedule🇯🇵 Higashi Brand Merch & Instructionals: https://www.higashibrand.com📚 Shintari Higashi x BJJ Fanatics Judo Courses & Instructionals Collection: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/shintaro-higashi/

In this solo episode, Shintaro Higashi delivers a passionate monologue on why Judo needs to be made easier and more accessible, especially for beginners. Drawing on personal experience and insights from both his dojo and national trends, he offers practical advice for reducing injuries, retaining new students, and helping Judo grow in the U.S.00:00 Why Judo Needs to Be Easier01:30 Early Randori Is a Mistake02:45 The Rare Beginner Who Pushes Through04:00 Redesigning the First Phase of Training05:00 Preventing Injuries Through Smarter Pairing06:00 Controlled Randori for Beginners07:00 Why BJJ Feels Safer for New Students07:45 Lowering the Barrier to Grow Judo🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just got even better.Every major instructional. One complete system. Now at our biggest discount yet.Grab yours now at 40% off : https://higashibrand.com/products/all-instructionalsThis won’t last. Build your game today.🔥 Get 20% OFF FUJI Gear! 🔥Looking to level up your judo training with the best gear? FUJI Sports has you covered. Use my exclusive link to grab 20% OFF high-quality gis, belts, bags, and more.👉 https://www.fujisports.com/JUDOSHINTARO 👈No code needed – just click and save!Links:🇯🇵 Kokushi Budo Institute (The Dojo) Class Schedule in New York, NY 🗽: https://www.kokushibudo.com/schedule🇯🇵 Higashi Brand Merch & Instructionals: https://www.higashibrand.com📚 Shintari Higashi x BJJ Fanatics Judo Courses & Instructionals Collection: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/shintaro-higashi/

Shintaro Higashi recaps his recent trip to Charleston, South Carolina, where he conducted three judo seminars and competed in the South Carolina Veterans Judo Open. He dives deep into the growing importance of "Old Man Judo," the rise of the Veterans Judo Association, and why supporting judo for adults 30+ is critical for the future of the sport in the U.S.00:00 Charleston Trip Recap and Shoutouts00:50 The Need for Veterans Judo01:50 Tournament Structure and Adult Participation02:30 Launch of the Veterans Judo Association03:20 Financial Realities in USA Judo04:20 Largest Masters Turnout to Date05:00 Importance of the 30+ Judo Community06:00 Plans for a NYC Veterans Tournament06:30 Charleston Seminars Recap07:10 Call to Action: Support Veteran Judo🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just got even better.Every major instructional. One complete system. Now at our biggest discount yet.Grab yours now at 40% off : https://higashibrand.com/products/all-instructionalsThis won’t last. Build your game today.🔥 Get 20% OFF FUJI Gear! 🔥Looking to level up your judo training with the best gear? FUJI Sports has you covered. Use my exclusive link to grab 20% OFF high-quality gis, belts, bags, and more.👉 https://www.fujisports.com/JUDOSHINTARO 👈No code needed – just click and save!Links:🇯🇵 Kokushi Budo Institute (The Dojo) Class Schedule in New York, NY 🗽: https://www.kokushibudo.com/schedule🇯🇵 Higashi Brand Merch & Instructionals: https://www.higashibrand.com📚 Shintari Higashi x BJJ Fanatics Judo Courses & Instructionals Collection: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/shintaro-higashi/

In this episode, Shintaro Higashi and David Kim ( @midjitsu ) sit down with Kevin Koenig — aka @theyachtfella (Instagram)— a jiu-jitsu brown belt and luxury yacht journalist who’s written for the New York Times, GQ, Yachting Magazine, and more. They dive deep into the ultra-wealthy world of mega-yachts, watches, private submarines, and celebrity DMs — all while exploring how jiu-jitsu keeps Kevin grounded in one of the most exclusive industries on the planet.00:00 – Introduction to Kevin Koenig and his background04:00 – Rise in the yachting world and Instagram fame07:00 – Celebrity DMs and high-profile followers09:30 – Billionaires who train jiu-jitsu and grappling on yachts12:00 – Yacht tiers, pricing, and operating costs explained16:00 – Inside the most extravagant superyachts19:00 – The psychology of wealth and billionaire behavior22:00 – Kevin’s wildest journalism stories26:00 – Reflections on money, luxury, and happiness31:00 – The real yacht buyers: mining, farming, and dealership empires34:00 – Gilded Age 2.0 and the scale of extreme wealth36:30 – American sportfishing yachts and cultural contrasts38:00 – Jiu-jitsu in the yacht industry and dealing with egos39:00 – The demanding reality of working on yachts41:00 – Yacht crew shortages and industry shifts42:00 – How Starlink is changing yacht ownership44:00 – Final reflections on wealth, yachts, and the future🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just got even better.Every major instructional. One complete system. Now at our biggest discount yet.Grab yours now at 40% off : https://higashibrand.com/products/all-instructionalsThis won’t last. Build your game today.🔥 Get 20% OFF FUJI Gear! 🔥Looking to level up your judo training with the best gear? FUJI Sports has you covered. Use my exclusive link to grab 20% OFF high-quality gis, belts, bags, and more.👉 https://www.fujisports.com/JUDOSHINTARO 👈No code needed – just click and save!Links:🇯🇵 Kokushi Budo Institute (The Dojo) Class Schedule in New York, NY 🗽: https://www.kokushibudo.com/schedule🇯🇵 Higashi Brand Merch & Instructionals: https://www.higashibrand.com📚 Shintari Higashi x BJJ Fanatics Judo Courses & Instructionals Collection: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/shintaro-higashi/

Three-time Olympian Angie Delgado returns to the podcast with Shintaro Higashi to discuss her candidacy for the Team USA Athlete Commission, her vision for the future of USA Judo, and the financial challenges elite athletes face. From personal sacrifices to funding strategies and athlete development, Angie shares what it really takes to succeed at the highest level of judo.🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just got even better.Every major instructional. One complete system. Now at our biggest discount yet.Grab yours now at 40% off : https://higashibrand.com/products/all-instructionalsThis won’t last. Build your game today.🔥 Get 20% OFF FUJI Gear! 🔥Looking to level up your judo training with the best gear? FUJI Sports has you covered. Use my exclusive link to grab 20% OFF high-quality gis, belts, bags, and more.👉 https://www.fujisports.com/JUDOSHINTARO 👈No code needed – just click and save!Links:🇯🇵 Kokushi Budo Institute (The Dojo) Class Schedule in New York, NY 🗽: https://www.kokushibudo.com/schedule🇯🇵 Higashi Brand Merch & Instructionals: https://www.higashibrand.com📚 Shintari Higashi x BJJ Fanatics Judo Courses & Instructionals Collection: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/shintaro-higashi/David Kim YT/Instagram:  @midjitsu ​

In this episode, David sits down with Michael Darda — Chief Economist and Macro Strategist at Roth Capital Partners, frequent guest on Bloomberg, CNBC, and Fox Business, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. They discuss Mike’s journey from economist to accomplished grappler, the parallels between markets and the mat, and how he blends his professional insights with martial arts lessons. From avoiding injury to navigating yield curve inversions, Mike shares wisdom for both training partners and investors.00:00 – Introduction & Background02:00 – Finding Jiu-Jitsu06:00 – Training Smart Over Time09:00 – Asymmetric Risk in Markets & BJJ14:00 – Ego, Risk, and Learning21:00 – Training in Your 30s vs. 50s24:30 – Macro & Markets: Why No Recession Yet?35:00 – Outlook Going Forward40:00 – Integrating BJJ into Professional Life46:00 – Closing Thoughts🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just got even better.Every major instructional. One complete system. Now at our biggest discount yet.Grab yours now at 40% off : https://higashibrand.com/products/all-instructionalsThis won’t last. Build your game today.🔥 Get 20% OFF FUJI Gear! 🔥Looking to level up your judo training with the best gear? FUJI Sports has you covered. Use my exclusive link to grab 20% OFF high-quality gis, belts, bags, and more.👉 https://www.fujisports.com/JUDOSHINTARO 👈No code needed – just click and save!Links:🇯🇵 Kokushi Budo Institute (The Dojo) Class Schedule in New York, NY 🗽: https://www.kokushibudo.com/schedule🇯🇵 Higashi Brand Merch & Instructionals: https://www.higashibrand.com📚 Shintari Higashi x BJJ Fanatics Judo Courses & Instructionals Collection: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/shintaro-higashi/

Join Shintaro Higashi for an in-depth conversation with Leo Lopes, a central figure in New York’s thriving judo community and a visionary in growing the sport nationwide. In this episode, dive into the story of Empire State Judo; the rich culture, the challenges, and the future of judo in one of America’s biggest judo hubs.

🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just got even better.Every major instructional. One complete system. Now at our biggest discount yet.Grab yours now at 40% off : https://higashibrand.com/products/all-instructionals

This won’t last. Build your game today.🔥 Get 20% OFF FUJI Gear! 🔥Looking to level up your judo training with the best gear? FUJI Sports has you covered. Use my exclusive link to grab 20% OFF high-quality gis, belts, bags, and more.

👉 https://www.fujisports.com/JUDOSHINTARO 👈No code needed – just click and save!

This episode of the Shintaro Higashi Show dives deep into the 2025 Mongolia Grand Slam, where Shintaro returns from his trip to break down the biggest stories from the tournament. From massive IJF rule changes to standout performances and the evolution of ne-waza, Shintaro and David Kim unpack it all with insight, humor, and a few travel tips.00:00 – Lounge Life at Incheon Airport04:00 – Back on the IJF Circuit05:00 – Big Changes to the IJF Rule Set08:00 – Out of Bounds Rule Debate12:00 – Tournament Highlights and Athletes to Watch15:00 – Judo's Popularity in Central Asia18:30 – Breaking into the U.S. Market19:00 – More Rule Changes: Yuko, Head Dives, Bear Hugs23:00 – Evolution of Newaza (Groundwork)30:00 – Judo as a Professional Sport32:00 – Mongolia and the Spirit of Judo🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just got even better.Every major instructional. One complete system. Now at our biggest discount yet.Grab yours now at 40% off : https://higashibrand.com/products/all-instructionalsThis won’t last. Build your game today.🔥 Get 20% OFF FUJI Gear! 🔥Looking to level up your judo training with the best gear? FUJI Sports has you covered. Use my exclusive link to grab 20% OFF high-quality gis, belts, bags, and more.👉 https://www.fujisports.com/JUDOSHINTARO 👈No code needed – just click and save!Links:🇯🇵 Kokushi Budo Institute (The Dojo) Class Schedule in New York, NY 🗽: https://www.kokushibudo.com/schedule🇯🇵 Higashi Brand Merch & Instructionals: https://www.higashibrand.com📚 Shintari Higashi x BJJ Fanatics Judo Courses & Instructionals Collection: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/shintaro-higashi/David Kim YT/Instagram:  @midjitsu ​

In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, David Kim and newly minted PhD Peter Yu explore the intersection of judo and cutting-edge AI. With Shintaro away, they dive deep into what it would take to quantitatively model grappling as a "game of inches"—from motion capture to video-based simulation, and the promise of building smarter, more personalized training tools using machine learning and embodied AI. 🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just got even better.Every major instructional. One complete system. Now at our biggest discount yet.Grab yours now at 40% off : https://higashibrand.com/products/all-instructionalsThis won’t last. Build your game today.🔥 Get 20% OFF FUJI Gear! 🔥Looking to level up your judo training with the best gear? FUJI Sports has you covered. Use my exclusive link to grab 20% OFF high-quality gis, belts, bags, and more.👉 https://www.fujisports.com/JUDOSHINTARO 👈No code needed – just click and save!Links:🇯🇵 Kokushi Budo Institute (The Dojo) Class Schedule in New York, NY 🗽: https://www.kokushibudo.com/schedule🇯🇵 Higashi Brand Merch & Instructionals: https://www.higashibrand.com📚 Shintari Higashi x BJJ Fanatics Judo Courses & Instructionals Collection: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/shintaro-higashi/David Kim YT/Insta:  @midjitsu ​

In this episode of The Shintaro Higashi Show, we dive deep into the world of Veterans Judo with special guests Ray Greeley and Billy Gavigan. They discuss the mission behind Veterans Judo USA, the challenges and rewards of competing over 30, and how they’re building an inclusive, international community for older judo athletes. Whether you’re a former elite competitor or a hobbyist returning to the sport, this episode will inspire you to get back on the mat.00:00 – Intro & Guest Introductions02:30 – From Military to Mat03:45 – Why “Veterans” and Not “Masters”?05:00 – The Importance of Competing After 3007:00 – Age Divisions & Longevity in Judo08:15 – Veteran-Specific Tournaments in the U.S.10:00 – Tournament Structure & Experience12:00 – Novice-Friendly Formats13:30 – Travel, Training, and Community15:00 – Building USA Veterans Team17:30 – Ranking & Point System18:30 – Camaraderie Over Rivalry20:30 – Safety, Rules, and Injury Prevention22:00 – Psychological Barriers for Former Elite Competitors24:00 – August 23rd Tournament in Charleston, SC26:00 – Annual Veterans Judo Training Camp27:30 – Masters Worlds in Paris & International Depth30:00 – Encouragement to Newcomers32:00 – International Growth & Website Resources34:00 – Veterans Need More Recognition36:00 – How to Grow Veterans Judo in the U.S.38:00 – Outreach to BJJ & Older Athletes40:00 – Final Call to Action🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 40% OFF 🚨The All-in-One Instructional Bundle just got even better.Every major instructional. One complete system. Now at our biggest discount yet.Grab yours now at 40% off : https://higashibrand.com/products/all-instructionalsThis won’t last. Build your game today.🔥 Get 20% OFF FUJI Gear! 🔥Looking to level up your judo training with the best gear? FUJI Sports has you covered. Use my exclusive link to grab 20% OFF high-quality gis, belts, bags, and more.👉 https://www.fujisports.com/JUDOSHINTARO 👈No code needed – just click and save!Links:🇯🇵 Kokushi Budo Institute (The Dojo) Class Schedule in New York, NY 🗽: https://www.kokushibudo.com/schedule🇯🇵 Higashi Brand Merch & Instructionals: https://www.higashibrand.com📚 Shintari Higashi x BJJ Fanatics Judo Courses & Instructionals Collection: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/shintaro-higashi/David Kim YT/Instagram:  @midjitsu ​