The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio

Amanda Loewen has been training BJJ and competing for about five years, and she has recently received her black belt from Matt Thornton.  You will find her training at SBGi in Portland.

We talk about:

• Her start to BJJ
• Getting her black belt in five years
• Some troubles finding competition
• Her hobbies off the mat
• Why she prefers a "basic style"
• Her six day a week training schedule
• Training off the mat
• Staying motivated
• Her goals of competing with the black belts
• She is going to the European Championships in Jan 2015
• Posture, pressure and possibilities
• Keeping things very simple when teaching BJJ
• The basic class format she likes
• How she handles the stresses of competition
• Her experience at her first tournament
• A mental trick she uses to avoid sweeps
• Tips for making your own game plan
• Why she rolls with a poker face
• Goals for a first year BJJ student
• Why it is important to focus on defense first then learn offense

*note Amanda Loewen was recently married and her new name is Amanda Diggins

Keep up with Amanda on her Facebook Page.

Amanda is sponsored by Fenom Kimonos

Quote of the week: "With great power comes great responsibility" Presented by Comprido

Article of the week: "Advice for Begginners Competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu" 10thplanetsm.com

Want a better Guillotine Choke? Check out this seminar by our friend Roy Marsh! This week Roy Marsh talks about attaining the guillotine position.

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio

Rodrigo Comprido Medeiros is a legend in the sport of BJJ.  The first year he was a black belt he was able to win the absolute division. He not only won it, but he was the first person to win by submission in absolute black belt history.  He also won it with the fastest submission in black belt history.  Comprido currently has a gym called Comprido BJJ in Bloomingdale IL.

In this interview we talk about:

• How he got the name Comprido
• Yuri Simoes in Metamoris
• Sustainable Jiu-jitsu
• Competition advice
• Adjusting jiu-jitsu to your body and age
• Bjj Camp
• Training with Felipe Costa
• His goals for the future
• Competing very well as a new black belt
• Advice on training safe
• What it was like at his first tournament
• Dealing with and using your adrenaline
• What he was like as a blue belt
• Advice for a first year student
• The possibility of doing another Metamoris

Keep up with Comprido

• compridobjj.com/
• His Facebook Page
• His Twitter Page

Comprido's Sponsors

• Defense soap
• Storm Kimonos

Quote of the week: "Strength and solidarity" Shama Ko From Girls in Gis

Article of the week: "Injuries: The Jiu-Jitsu Plague" Blog.gameness.com

Shama Ko is the program director of an organization called Girls in Gis (GIG).  GIG supports a growing and supportive community of women in BJJ.  Chapters of GIG are springing up all over the Midwest. Shama has been training BJJ for 13 years.  GIG had about 30 events this year.

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio

We talk about:

• The main goal of GIG
• The Community of women in BJJ
• The large growth of GIG
• How she got her start in BJJ
• Girls doing BJJ for the first time
• Tips to get your friends to try BJJ
• How BJJ helps to change lives
• What to expect at a GIG event
• Why a women introductory BJJ class is so important
• Advice for guys to be a good training partner
• Why it is important to be patient in your BJJ journey

Contact Shama Ko: Girls in Gis Facebook Page, Website, Email girlsingis@gmail.com

Quote of the week: "Risk more than others think is safe, care more than others is wise." Presented by AJ Agazarm

Article of the week: "How to Survive a Training Layoff" grapplearts.com

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio

AJ Agazarm is a former DI wrestler and a very active light weight black belt. He is known for his aggressive style and never quit attitude. He received his black belt a couple of years ago from Eduardo de Lima.  This is a fun interview and AJ shares tons of great advice for any grappler.

We talk about:

• AJ's love for extreme sports
• AJ's passion for travel
• Why he likes to enter the absolute division
• As a black belt he has had over 75 matches in less than 2 years
• The fine line between being reckless and tenacious
• His training as he travels
• His competition goals that he has met and not met yet
• What he does before he compete
• How he views a competitive BJJ match
• How BJJ has changed him off the mat
• The cultural differences between BJJ and wrestling
• How he practices mental toughness
• How he keeps his emotions out of his match
• How he gets out of tight submissions
• Advice for a student competing for the first time
• Enjoying the entire process of the tournament not just the match
• Why he loved being a blue belt
• How to find your game plan
• Why it is important to take notes in class
• Advice for competing in the absolute division

Check out AJ's Sponsors

• Budovideos
• Shoyoroll
• OC Fight Docs
• RevLocal
• Sambazon

Connect with AJ

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Video of AJ skydiving and drinking açaí

Quote of the week: "Nothing takes the place of hard training on the mats" Budo Jake

Article of the week: 5 Important Things Your Instructors Want You to Stop Doing