BJJ Mental Models

By: Steve Kwan
  • Summary

  • Your guide to a conceptual and intelligent Jiu-Jitsu approach. BJJ black belt Steve Kwan and a slate of expert guests explain the concepts, strategies, and tactics behind the gentle art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

    © 2025 BJJ Mental Models
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Episodes
  • Ep. 319: 4 Pillars of Successful Gyms, feat. Eliot Marshall
    Jan 13 2025

    This week we're joined again by Eliot Marshall! Eliot is a BJJ black belt, retired UFC fighter, and owner of Easton Training Center in Colorado. In this episode, Eliot explains the 4 elements that every successful Jiu-Jitsu gym needs to nail: sales, marketing, product, and culture.

    Follow Eliot on Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/firemarshall205

    Train at Easton Training Center in Colorado:
    https://eastonbjj.com/

    Grow your BJJ gym with Easton Online:
    https://www.easton.online/


    Mental models discussed in this episode:

    • Abundance Mindset
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/abundance-mindset/

    • Race to the Bottom
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/race-to-the-bottom/

    • Ulysses Contracts
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/ulysses-contracts/

    • Survivorship Bias
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/survivorship-bias/

    • Consistency
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/consistency/


    Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

    Sign up here for a free trial:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

    Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

    Follow us on social:
    https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

    Music by Enterprize:
    https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Mini Ep. 36: Waypoints
    Jan 9 2025

    In this week's mini-episode we explain waypoints, also known as "pitstops." Waypoints are positions of power where you are particularly well-trained, and feel comfortable that you can outgun your opponent due to experience and skill within the position. Waypoints aren't necessarily the common point-scoring positions, but can instead be "positions within positions" that occur along the way. Examples of common waypoints include the split squat, double unders, and topside quarter guard.

    Before you listen to this episode, check out:

    Mini Ep. 35: Tokui Waza
    https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16364687-mini-ep-35-tokui-waza

    Mini Ep. 34: Zone of Genius
    https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16337686-mini-ep-34-zone-of-genius

    Mini Ep. 33: Layers of Strategy
    https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16303959-mini-ep-33-layers-of-strategy

    Mini Ep. 32: Funneling
    https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16266002-mini-ep-32-funneling

    Mini Ep. 31: Asymmetric Warfare
    https://podcast.bjjmentalmodels.com/243161/16225783-mini-ep-31-asymmetric-warfare

    Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/freeintro


    Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

    Sign up here for a free trial:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

    Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

    Follow us on social:
    https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

    Show more Show less
    7 mins
  • Ep. 318: Still Not Nice, feat. Beatrice Jin
    Jan 6 2025

    This week we're joined again by Beatrice Jin! Beatrice is a black belt competitor and coach from Kogaion Academy in Arlington, Virginia. In this episode, we continue our conversation from Beatrice's last visit about how to "stop being nice" when sparring. Topics include the essential concepts of assertiveness and aggressiveness in BJJ, the cultural influences that shape one’s approach to the sport, the significance of a competitive mindset, the necessity of pushing personal boundaries during training, and the importance of consent and managing expectations in training environments.

    Follow Beatrice on Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/berimbozo

    Train with Beatrice at Kogaion Academy:
    https://www.kogaionacademy.org/

    Check out Beatrice's awesome merch @ Butt Scooter:
    https://buttscooterjiujitsu.com/


    Resources discussed in this episode:

    BJJMM Ep. 284: Stop Being Nice, feat. Beatrice Jin
    https://bjj.plus/284


    Mental models discussed in this episode:

    • Defensive Thinking
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/defensive-thinking/

    • Position Over Submission
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/position-over-submission/

    • The Golden Rule
      https://bjjmentalmodels.com/golden-rule/


    Don't forget to check out BJJ Mental Models Premium!

    If you love the podcast, you'll definitely love our premium membership offerings. The podcast is truly just the tip of the iceberg – the next steps on your journey are joining our community, downloading our strategy courseware, and working with us to optimize your game. We do all this through memberships that come in at a fraction of the cost of a single private.

    Sign up here for a free trial:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/


    Need more BJJ Mental Models?

    Get tips, tricks, and breakthrough insights from our newsletter:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/newsletter/

    Get nitty-gritty details on our mental models from the full database:
    https://bjjmentalmodels.com/database/

    Follow us on social:
    https://facebook.com/bjjmentalmodels/
    https://instagram.com/bjjmentalmodels/

    Music by Enterprize:
    https://enterprize.bandcamp.com/

    Show more Show less
    54 mins

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