Today I'm joined by wrestler, jiu-jitsuka, and author Chris Jessulat (https://www.thewrongsideof35.com/) to discuss the best practices for staying relevant on the mats as you enter your fourth decade and beyond...

00:00 Training as an Older Grappler

02:48 The Transition from Competitive to Recreational Training

05:46 Physical Changes and Changing to a Mobility Focus

08:34 Quantifying Progress in Jiu-Jitsu

11:47 Breaking Through Training Plateaus

14:23 Comfort in Unfamiliar Positions

17:11 Training Strategies for Older Grapplers

29:35 Creating Positive Training Environments

31:12 The Impact of Focussing on Recovery and Positive Lifestyle Choices

33:41 Proactive Injury Management and Recovery Strategies

37:44 Navigating Injury Diagnosis and Treatment

40:51 Adapting Techniques and Mindset in Training

44:22 Reflections on Writing and Sharing Martial Arts Experiences

48:26 Lessons Learned from Martial Arts Training

51:20 The Importance of Community in Martial Arts

If you've read this far down then check out my best-selling book Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic, available everywhere including Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

Rob Biernacki has some very impressive competition victories, including black belt masters gold at both No Gi Worlds and ADCC.

In this podcast episode he reveals...

• Why people sometimes just don't perform up to their potential and how to fix it,
• How to reframe tournament nerves,
• The optimal state of arousal for competition,
• Building and executing on gameplans,
• Why some people just shouldn't compete,
• His best advice for first-time competitors
• And more.

If you compete (or are thinking about competing), then this is a must listen!

Resources referred to in this video include:

• Gripfighting and Kuzushi with Rob Biernacki: https://www.grapplearts.com/gripfighting
• Omoplata 2.0 with Stephan Kesting: https://www.grapplearts.com/omoplata/
• Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic, by Stephan Kesting https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/
• BJJ Concepts by Rob Biernacki: https://www.bjjconcepts.net

Please pass this episode on to someone you think would like it - that really helps us grow!

Thanks, Stephan Kesting

It started as an April Fool's joke and then morphed into a BEAST of a book complete with 967 illustrations called "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the Ultimate Illustrated Guidebook".  In episode 424 I chat with renowned BJJ black belt, illustrator and designer Seymour Yang (better known as Meerkatsu) and his partner in crime Graham Barlow (the creator of the Tai Chi Notebook) about the core techniques of BJJ, modern vs traditional jiu-jitsu, and the process of bringing a new book into the world.

Check out the book here: https://www.meerkatsu.com/product/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-the-ultimate-illustrated-guidebook/

Cheers, Stephan

P.S. And while we're on the topic of books check out Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic.  While this isn't a BJJ book specifically, it does contain many of the lessons I learned about endurance, perseverance, and grit on the toughest expedition of my life.  

Available on Amazon or wherever books are sold: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

Bryan Rumble is a 2nd degree belt and a working scientist.  In this episode we start out by talking about BJJ traditions, the depth of the art, and how the scientific method might be applied in jiu-jitsu.  Then, at about the 23 minute mark, Bryan and I nerd out SUPER hard on Dungeons and Dragons and how it relates to martial arts training.  You've been warned!

Check out Bryan's school in Brantford, Ontario at the links below

https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Rumble-Academy-100057419059340/

https://www.instagram.com/bryanrumble

And check out the memoir of my toughest solo trip ever, a 42 day solo expedition into the remote Canadian North where I dodged forest fires, stared down bears, and canoed raging rapids completely alone.  Check out "Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic" in hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook formats on Amazon or wherever you get your books!

https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

Good luck with your training!

Stephan

The fight-or-flight reflex is always lurking just below the surface. When things get sufficiently stressful, our hormonal system dumps enormous amounts of adrenaline into our bloodstream, and—BOOM—suddenly we’re ready for action.

That adrenaline serves a purpose: it elevates your heart rate, makes you much stronger, more pain tolerant, and able to ignore injury. If you ever have to lift a car off a child, you don’t want to be calm. Instead, you want to be mad, scared, enraged—whatever it takes to get into that adrenaline-soaked state of high arousal to lift the damn car with your bare hands.

But that superhuman strength comes at a cost; as adrenaline floods your system, you lose a significant amount of fine motor control and higher brain function. Take whatever IQ you started with and cut it in half.

This episode of The Strenuous Life Podcast is an excerpt from the audiobook version of Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic which you can check out anywhere you get books including the links below:

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

BARNES AND NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perseverance-stephan-kesting/1145682384

INDIGO: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/perseverance-life-and-death-in-the-subarctic/9781639368617.html

Good luck with your training and all your endeavors

Stephan Kesting

Three time IBJJ World medallist James Deirmendjian joins me to discuss optimal training methodologies and the science behind strength and conditioning for sport.  We cover hacks to improve recovery, debunk common myths in the Jiu-Jitsu community, and go deep into the need for a more scientific approach to training and nutrition.

Follow and get in touch with James via https://www.instagram.com/fight_fit_training/ on Instagram.

And check out my best-selling book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic at https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/ and everywhere else physical, digital, and audiobooks are sold!

Cheers, Stephan Kesting

Frank Wolf is an explorer, a writer, and one hell of an adventurer.  In this episode we cover what he learned about endurance and survival during his travels in the Arctic, Central America, and Antarctica.

Check out his fantastic book Two Springs, One Summer anywhere you get books in including Indigo and Amazon.

https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/two-springs-one-summer-a-year-inside-the-life-of-a-chronic-adventurer/9781771606844.html

https://www.amazon.com/Two-Springs-One-Summer-Adventurer/dp/1771606843

Please feel free to share this episode with that one crazy outdoor enthusiast in your life because that's how the show grows!

Cheers,

Stephan Kesting

P.S. Also check out my own book Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic - links available at https://www.stephankesting.com/perseverance-book

I've got something special for you today: a true adventure story set in the Far North featuring that I underwent a few years ago after a kidney transplant.  I ended up learning a LOT about mental toughness, resilience, and strategies for making progress when I was absolutely at the end of my rope, lessons that I think are universally applicable.

The book out today in hardcover, Kindle, and Audible audiobook formats. Since this is a podcast, I thought I'd give you the first three chapters in audio form, including an incident so embarrassing that I almost didn't include it in the book at all.

If you grab the hardcover this week, I'll make sure you get a signed copy!  If you get the Kindle or audiobook format, then you'll get my thanks and undying gratitude.   You can get it at your local bookstore but you also get it at ALL the big online sites, including these links here at Amazon.com, and Barnesandnoble.com,

In Canada you can get it at Amazon.ca or Indigo.ca. In the UK  it comes out a little later, but you can still preorder it at any of the links on  simonandschuster.co.uk. I hope you enjoy consuming this book in your favorite format it as much as I enjoyed writing it for you! Thanks so much, Stephan Kesting

P.S. You can see some very kind early reviews of the book at stephankesting.com/perseverance-book

I was thrilled to have Jeff Nelson on the show to talk about Spartans, Samurai, Ninja, developing confidence through jiu-jitsu, fight scenes in movies that drive us crazy, and pro-training at some of the best BJJ schools in the world.  

Follow Jeff on Instagram (@thoughtandmindjj) and check out his book Ninja Punks, @*&% OFF! on Amazon!

Also check out my new book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indigo, or your favorite local bookstore!

Paul Kindzia describes himself as a "homeschooled, non-denominational, it takes a village black belt" and had a very unique route to getting his BJJ black belt.  He was a ronin, training at different schools and did a lot of his training in his home dojo. This paid off because he was a top IBJJF Masters competitor at blue, purple, and brown belt, before being awarded his black belt by a coalition of other black belts (myself included) in October of 2024.

In this episode we talk about so many things, including - How to get really good if you don't train at a top-tier school - Key aspects of training safely - How to say no to training with people who don't have your best interests at heart - What you need to do to calibrate your skills if you mainly train one-on-one - Cult-like dynamics at some BJJ schools - What professional BJJ competitors do that sets them apart - How to get promoted if you train independently - How jiu-jitsu training has changed in the last 10 years - And so much more.

For more about Paul's jiu-jitsu journey check out his site, The Balanced Grappler (https://www.thebalancedgrappler.com/) and his book, Master Jiu-Jitsu, Master Life (https://www.amazon.com/Master-Jiu-Jitsu-Life-Extraordinary-Through/dp/069216197X)

Please give this episode a thumbs up and share it with someone else you think might enjoy it.

Thanks so much, Stephan Kesting

P.S. Check out my own book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic at https://www.stephankesting.com/perseverance-book