Your Habits on and off the mat can have a huge and lasting effect on your performance in BJJ. This episode we discuss some habits you might consider to help yourself become a better grappler.

We talk about:

• The importance of being consistent with your training
• The habit of eating healthy
• Taking notes
• Keeping notes on injuries
• Having fun on the mats
• Rolling one more time after class
• Be an active listener
• Have something you are working on while rolling
• Tap to prevent injury
• Helping your teammates
• Share the art of jiu-jitsu
• Mentally warm up before a roll

Quote of the week: “Without self-discipline, success is impossible, period.” Lou Holtz

Article of the week: Why You’ll Quit Jiu-Jitsu: How to handle these pitfalls!

Garys audio book is called "How to Butter Your Roll, Smooth Jiu-Jitsu"

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This week we have an interview with Travis Conley. Travis is very active competitor from Kansas City and has a BJJ black belt under Rentao Tavares.

We talk about:

• Wrestling in high school
• Doing pro wrestling
• His start with Jiu-Jitsu
• His style of grappling
• Advice for applying more pressure in side control
• His match with Kyle Sandford in Chokes by the Ocean
• Doing Sambo internationally
• Defending submissions in Sambo
• Dealing with stress during a tournament
• His thoughts on the current competitive BJJ environment
• Social media and BJJ
• Why it is important to stay humble

Links:

• Chokes by the Ocean
• Underground Gym
• KCBJJ

Quote of the week: “To spend time is to pass it in a specified manner. To waste time is to expend it thoughtlessly or carelessly. We all have time to either spend or waste and it is our decision what to do with it. But once passed, it is gone forever.” Bruce Lee

Article of the week: How to Care for your Grappler

Mat Tales Episode 21 Bad Boy Shorts and Dad Bod

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Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

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Nathan Orchard is a Tenth Planet black belt under Eddie Bravo. You will find Nathan training in his gym in Portland Oregon.

Nathan Orchard talks about:

• Wrestling as a kid
• Doing MMA when he was 16 years old
• His start to Jiu-Jitsu
• Seeking knowledge over comfort
• Learning by studying instead of a traditional coach
• The development of his double under system
• Closed loop and open loop systems for grappling
• Watching competitors to develop a game plan
• Working with a Samuri sword and learning about footwork
• Advice of not comparing yourself to others
• How following his desire to draw has benefited his life
• Why it is important to tollow your passions
• The Book of Five Rings
• Jiu-Jitsu broken down into transitions, positions, and submissions
• Submissions broken down into bars, twists, and compressions
• His thoughts on when to learn heelhooks
• How he is able to train defense with lower belts
• His attitude toward his teammates
• Taking the role of a servant to his students

Links:

• Nathan Orchard on Instagram
• Phalanx Rash Guards
• Datsusara Hemp Gear

Quote of the week: "Practice makes permanent"

Article of the week: BJJ Seminars…. get the most out of them

Roll-a-Thon July 22 at Fox Fitness BJJ

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Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

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Leah Taylor is a BJJ black belt under Matt Thornton and Travis Davison training at Straight Blast Gym of Montana. Leah is a competitor and coach, she recently took bronze at her weight class at worlds.

We talk about:

• Her start to martial arts
• Rolling for the first time with a woman during a competition
• The mental side of competing
• Using meditation for get better results on the mat
• Doing MMA at fusion fight league
• Dealing with a panic attack while training MMA
• Teaching women's self defense classes
• Non martial arts ideas to help keep women safe
• Warning signs of a abusive relationship
• What having a begginer program has done for SBG in Kilispell Montana
• A beginner class is 50 percent female
• Dealing with rough training partners
• When someone should consider competing
• Her future plans for competing
• Other competitive sports she has done
• Why she is always trying to finish the match

Links:

• Leah's website
• Leah on Facebook
• Leah on Instagram

Quote of the week: "There is no such thing as a self-made man. You will reach your goals only with the help of others.” -- George Shinn

Article of the week: Bronx teacher uses jiu-jitsu teachings to keep kids out of trouble

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Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and Google Play Music for Andriod

This week we bring you an interview with one of the top fitness coaches in the world and Durty Dozen BJJ Black Belt Steve Maxwell.

We talk about:

• His start to fitness
• How Olympic lifts slowed his athletic process
• Finding success with wrestling
• Doing BJJ at 64 years old
• Using less than 60% of your strength while training
• How to tell if you are using too much strength while rolling
• The difference between Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and BJJ
• Body weight exercises vs weights
• The concept of time under load while working out
• Avoiding injuries on the mat
• Traveling and doing BJJ
• Early training with Royce Gracie
• Helping your training partners become better teammates
• Not depending too much on grips
• The health effects of competitive Jiu-Jitsu
• Eating a healthy diet
• Some tips he uses to get the most out of his food
• Exercising while fasting
• Not eating breakfast
• The fitness test of a 24 hour fast

Links:

• Steve Maxwell interview from about two years ago part 1
• Steve Maxwell interview from about two years ago part 2
• Steve Maxwell's website
• Twitter @SteveMaxwellSC
• Steve Maxwell on Facebook

Quote of the week: "The best teamwork comes from men who are working independently toward one goal in unison." James Cash Penney

Article of the week: The five commandments of the underhook half guard

Jaramie Parrish talks with us about a We Defy Foundation Roll-a-thon at Fox Fitness

Gary's audio book is called "The Alligator tooth"

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The Movie Water Boy was referenced and Gary wanted this link.

Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, Stitcher radio, and Google Play Music for Andriod