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Techniques, Tutorials and Gear for BJJ, MMA and Submission Grappling

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Training to Get Maximum Results from Your BJJ Training in Minimum Time

March 4, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

The traditional class structure of doing a warmup, learning a couple of new techniques, and followed by sparring is NOT an efficient way to learn jiu-jitsu.  We can do much better if we use insights from research on coaching and learning. Today's guest is Cal MacDonald, a BJJ black belt and competitor who has dedicated himself to developing his teaching and coaching skills to the highest … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcasts, Training Tagged With: Cal MacDonald, Classes, Drills, Schools, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training, Training Modalities, Video

Sport vs Self Defense Jiu-Jitsu, with John Will

October 3, 2022 by Stephan Kesting

Sport vs Self Defense Jiu-jitsu, with John Will

John Will trained in Southern California in the late 80's, was one of the first 12 non-Brazilians to get a BJJ black belt, and then went on to create the largest jiu-jitsu association in Australasia. We talked about how the art has changed, how to be 'centrist' in the sport vs self defense debate, teaching elite military personnel, how to create a curriculum, and much more. I'm sure you'll … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Nutrition, Podcasts Tagged With: Competition, History, John Will, Podcast, Schools, Self Defense, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training

Please Call Me Stephan, not ‘Professor’ or ‘Sifu’ or ‘Sensei’ or ‘Guru’ or ‘Master’ or ‘Shihan’ or ‘Kru’ or ‘Sabom’ Or ‘Kwisatz Haderach’

December 29, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

Call me Stephan, not Professor

People mean well when they address me with an honorific but please call me Stephan, and not 'Professor' or 'Sifu' or 'Sensei' or 'Guru' or 'Master' or 'Shihan' or 'Kru' or 'Sabom' Or 'Kwisatz Haderach'... I don't like these honorifics because there's an inherent danger when lofty titles are used to amplify an already reflexive obedience towards a person.  And this is especially true in a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Miscellaneous, Podcasts Tagged With: BJJ, Classes, Cults, Schools, Teachers, Teaching, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting

Guidelines for Opening Up Jiu-Jitsu Academies During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Last Updated Sept 10, 2020)

February 3, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

How to Open Up Jiu-Jitsu Academies During and After the Covid-19 Pandemic

Everyone is itching to train again, and for many jiu-jitsu school owners opening up is a matter of financial survival. But just to make things even more complicated, as we learn more about this virus it means that the science, policy and best practice need to keep on evolving That's why I talked to Dr Chris Moriarty who has published a 6 phase process for reopening schools and getting back … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Nutrition, Miscellaneous Tagged With: Chris Moriarty, Covid 19, Drills, Interviews, Schools, Solo Drills, Teachers, Teaching, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training

My Path from Kung Fu to Jiu-Jitsu (Podcast)

October 27, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

A podcast about my path from kung fu to jiu-jitsu

On today's episode I'm interviewed by Randy Brown on his podcast about my journey through Kung Fu and how I found jiu-jitsu.  Lots of nuggets about training safely and effectively in this one! Follow Randy on Youtube, Instagram or check out his website. Tweet me @StephanKesting, check out my Instagram: @Stephan_Kesting, and get on my email newsletter - I use it to put out a TON of good … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Podcasts, Self Defense Tagged With: BJJ, Interviews, Kung Fu, Martial Arts, Randy Bro, Schools, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Video

Is It Safe to Train BJJ During Covid?

October 24, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

Is it safe to train BJJ during coronavirus, a video and a podcast

Probably the question I get most often these days is, "Is it safe to train BJJ during pandemic?" People ask me this question because I've been a black belt for a long time (got promoted in 2006), have been  training in the martial arts for 40 years, acquired a Masters of Biology at the University of British Columbia, and have worked as a firefighter specialising in hazardous materials response … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Nutrition, Miscellaneous Tagged With: Covid 19, Schools, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Video

Disunity, Division and Conspiracy Theory in the BJJ Community During Covid 19 (Podcast)

June 5, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

Stephan Kesting's interview with Thomas Nadlehoffer on The Strenuous Life Podcast

Today I'm joined by Thomas Nadelhoffer an associate professor in the philosophy department at the College of Charleston, an affiliate faculty member in psychology and neuroscience, and a BJJ brown belt. We focus our conversation on the tribalism and rampant conspiracy theory acceptance in the BJJ community during the time of Covid-19. I found the discussion of 'My Risk, My Right' (the idea … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Nutrition, Interviews, Podcasts Tagged With: BJJ, Covid 19, Schools, The Mental Aspect, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Thomas Nadlehoffer

How to Find a Good BJJ School (Podcast Episode 216)

August 15, 2019 by Stephan Kesting

stephan teaching at a bjj school

One of the most common questions I get is how to find a good BJJ school.  This is a REALLY important issue, given that in your martial arts journey you'll potentially be spending thousands of hours training and placing your health in the hands of total strangers. In episode 216 of my podcast (The Strenuous Life Podcast) I give you some of my very best tips for picking the best BJJ school for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For Beginners, Podcasts, Training Tagged With: BJJ, Schools, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training

Why You MUST Regularly Calibrate Your Skills Against People Better Than You!

August 15, 2019 by Stephan Kesting

sparring open guard with denis kang

This is a short rant about the dichotomy of individuality in the martial arts. On the one hand you absolutely have to take responsibility for finding techniques and strategies that fit your body, your physical attributes, and your personality. On the other hand if you spend too much time training in a small group without the opportunity to calibrate your skills against people much better … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcasts, Training Tagged With: BJJ, Schools, Sparring, The Mental Aspect, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training

Fighting in the Octagon and the Battle Within with Eliot Marshall

February 5, 2019 by Stephan Kesting

Eliot Marshall on The Strenuous Life Podcast

Eliot Marshall is BJJ black belt and a former professional mixed MMA fighter who also appeared in Season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter show. He now helps run Easton Training Centers and the Elevation Fight Team. In today's episode of my podcast (The Strenuous Life Podcast) we talk about how to run a successful BJJ school, the financial incentive structures in MMA fight teams, the physical and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Competition, Interviews, Podcasts Tagged With: Competition, Eliot Marshall, Interviews, MMA, MMA training, Physical Attributes, Schools, The Mental Aspect, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, The Ultimate Fighter, UFC

Sim Go and the Legacy of Cobra Kai

August 21, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

Podcast interview with Sim Go from Cobra Kai Vegas

Simpson (Sim) Go is a BJJ blackbelt and owner of Cobra Kai Jiu-Jitsu in Las Vegas. He is also a 14 time Grappler's Quest champion and competed at ADCC 2007, so he know his jiu-jitsu inside-out! In this podcast we chatted about many things, including 00:54 - How they decided to use the name 'Cobra Kai' for a jiu-jitsu school 06:16 - The influence and training of Marc Laimon 08:20 - How … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Competition, Interviews, Podcasts Tagged With: ADCC, BJJ, Coaching, Cobra Kai, Competition, Interviews, Marc Laimon, Schools, Sim Go, Teaching, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting

How to Choose a BJJ School to Train At

July 10, 2017 by Stephan Kesting

teaching bjj

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em0akAwkjGI I often get emails from people trying to decide where to learn BJJ. They're usually trying to choose between 2 or 3 different schools... Should they train with the purple belt down the street, or the black belt across town? Should they study at the Gracie Barra school, the Atos affiliate, or the 10th planet representative? Should they … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For Beginners Tagged With: BJJ, Schools, Teachers, The Mental Aspect, Video

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