This week we talk about blue belts. Getting a blue belt is an important step in your jiu-jitsu life. You will not forget the day you got the blue belt. It is often the first major mile stone in BJJ. This episode we talk about the ups and downs plus share a few stories from being BJJ blue belts.

Blue belt topics inculde:

• Getting beat by white belts
• Blue belt blues
• Learning from teammates
• Being an older blue belt
• Dealing with the feeling of having a target on your back
• Our games as blue belts
• Helping white belts

We defy information about a seminar in Wichita Kansas.

Quote of the week: "Living in fear is not living; it is tantamount to being a prisoner of our own weaknesses, constantly awaiting the next injustice." Gus Lee

Article of the week: The Brotherhood Extends Beyond the Mats

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This week we have Romero Jacare Cavalcanti. Jacare is well known in the Jiu-Jitsu community for being the founder of the Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Team. Alliance is thought of as being the most successful BJJ team. He is also one of only six people to be promoted to black belt by Rolls Gracie.

We talk about:

• Becoming a black belt in 1982
• Starting the team Alliance Jiu-Jitsu
• Some of the reasons why Alliance has been so succesful
• Only a small amount of students compete
• Information about the Alliance affiliation
• Running different classes for different students
• Why it is important to have a beginner class
• What the students do in the advance class
• Keys to doing BJJ for a long time
• Promoting over 200 black belts
• His plans for moving to California
• Growing Alliance Jiu-Jitsu affiliation
• Advice for the hobbyist grappler

Links: Alliance Team

Quote of the week: "Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances." Thomas Jefferson

Article of the week: Value this time on the mats kids

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Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

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This week we have an interview with Neil Melanson. Neal is one of the top MMA coaches in the world working with fighters such as Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort, and Randy Couture. He has made a recent move back to Las Vegas and has plans on opening a gym with Ricky Lundell. This interview is packed full of great advice for competitive grapplers, pro MMA athletes and everyday hobby martial artist.

We talk about:

• Being back in Las Vegas
• What you don't train someone to do can be important
• Strategies in MMA grappling
• Leg locks in MMA
• Room for growth in the leg lock game
• How your body type can dictate your style of grappling
• The growth of the no-gi game
• Learning to fight off of the fence
• The idea of mastery for grappling
• His next instructionals
• Opening up a gym with Ricky Lundell in Las Vegas
• The need to always be growing

Links:

• Neal's DVD's
• Neal Melanson on Facebook
• Our past interview with Neal

Quote of the week: "I remember once, actually the first race I ran, I fell." Usain Bolt

Article of the week: Is It Ok For Beginners To Start Training No-Gi Only?

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This episode we have Tim Credeur. Tim is an American Mixed Martial Artist, UFC veteran, and 3rd Degree Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. He also has the distinction of being the first BJJ Black Belt in Louisiana.

We talk about:

• Growing up with martial arts in his life
• His first thoughts while seeing early UFCs
• His first MMA fight
• Why it is important to be consistant
• Starting BJJ
• What methods of starting jiu-jitsu works best for the long term
• Advice for doing a tournament
• Training tips for developing your game
• How to normalize competitive environments

Links:

Gladiators Academy

Tim Credeur on Instagram

Books Tim Recommens

• Principles by Ray Dalio
• The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
• The Subtle Art Of Not 
• Discipline Equals Freedom by Jocko Willink
• Giving a F--- Mark Manson
• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
• The E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
• Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

Tip: Roll one extra round if you have time

Question: What do you eat before you train?

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Catch us next week for another episode of The BjjBrick Podcast

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This Week we have an interview with Jay Hieron. Jay is a former World Champion Welterweight Professional Mixed Martial Artist. Jay also stars alongside Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 2

We talk about:

• Starting MMA
• His first thoughts about BJJ
• His level of training today
• Transitioning into stunt work and acting
• How martial arts has helped him outside of the cage
• Training for stunt work
• Being lit of fire
• Doing stunt driving
• The importance of a good reputation
• Having a martial arts mind frame
• Learning film fighting
• The importance of enjoying what you do

Links:

• Jay Hieron on Facebook
• Jay on Instagram
• Jay on Twitter
• Check Jay out in the preview of Equalizer 2

Quote of the week: "Reject any doctrine - religious, atheist, political, cultural, etc. - that is teaching you not to befriend the people you happen to meet".

Article of the week: Dating And Training: How To Make It Work

The phrases "subtle good looks" was used to describe Gary. I have always liked this phrase because it sounds like a complement at first.

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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