So, I hope you guys enjoy today's
episode because I'm definitely excited.
It's almost am uh as we're about to
record this. So, um just for a little
bit of context, my name is Alonzo. I've
been training for around 2 and a half
years, almost 3 years, and uh I really
want to get better at jiu-jitsu, and I
don't see why we can't talk to the
highest level of athletes to get a
little bit of insight and maybe some
motivation or something to help us out a
little bit along the journey. So, like I
said, uh we're going to interview Mr.
Joseph Chen. Make sure to leave a like,
subscribe, and uh you know, let me know
how you like this episode.
Where are you based?
>> I'm based in Bakersfield, California.
It's about a few hours away from LA.
>> They have the almonds, right?
>> Almonds? What do you mean?
>> Wow. I have no clue. I think they grow
some almonds there or something. Someone
gifted me almonds from Bakersfield.
>> Oh, really? Okay.
>> I think so.
>> They're known for their agriculture,
really. So, that's
>> Okay. So, I think that might be
>> something along those lines.
>> Yeah. So, I'm a I'm a huge fan of this
fan.
>> I appreciate it. Oh, wait. Let me just
turn this off so it doesn't interfere
with the audio. Seems like you've done
quite a few of these.
>> Um, a few of them, but not in a while,
actually, to be fair. So, yeah, it's
been a minute.
>> That's why I wanted to reach out to you
because I'm like, man, where where are
the Joseph videos at? Usually like I I
would listen to a lot of your podcasts
like I would play a lot of FIFA.
>> Okay.
>> And I would always I would turn the the
volume down and just listen to your uh
the way you broke down things. Pretty
interesting.
>> Oh yeah. Fair. I mean this is actually I
feel like one of my favorite ways to do
podcast or like audiobooks is by listen
like playing video games cuz you have to
be doing something otherwise it's like I
don't know it's hard.
>> Yeah. I feel like, well, for me
personally, it feels like I'm like
wasting time if I'm not listening to
something else. Or I could just be like
thinking about it too much, but I just
want to make sure I'm like, if I'm if
I'm playing video games or if I'm doing
something else, I'm still kind of
learning in the background. So, that's
why I like
>> No. Yeah, for sure. I mean, I just feel
like I'd get distracted if I was just
only listening to something, you know?
>> I'm very excited to to have this episode
here for you guys. We have Mr. Joseph
Chen, not in the building, but online.
He's out there in Shanghai. Uh, nomadic
grappling. uh his new new gym. Check it
out. Check out his Instagram. Uh he is a
multipletime trials winner. Also
competed for CGI 1, C CGI 2, One
Championship, Polaris, and many other
organizations. And he's really known for
um learning jiu-jitsu at a very fast
rate. So, it seems like a lot of people
want to ask him a bunch of questions on
how to improve in jiu-jitsu because it's
so hard to improve at this type of
sport. So, I'm very very grateful and
and honored to have Mr. Joseph Chen,
man. How are you doing?
>> Appreciate it. Thanks for having me.
Yeah. Uh looking forward to this. So it
>> it's been a while since you had like a
podcast or something. So, you know, I'm
I'm super excited just to be able to
talk to you about, you know, your
current situation. You know, you just
started a gym out there in Shanghai. I'm
very curious on how that has played out
for you so far. You know, after winning
the CGI 2 tournament, I'm sure you had a
little bit of spare coins here and there
to be able to spend. So, how how has it
been uh with your new gym?
>> Yeah. So, I mean, um, we've been open
now for, I think, coming up on 4 months.
So, um, I mean, so far so good,
honestly. Um, kind of everything I
expected. Um, nothing too surprising.
Um, I've enjoyed the time. My my idea
was like, it's kind of a bit of a
contradiction calling it nomadic, right?
Because I'm opening it to kind of settle
down, but it's more of a reflection of,
I guess, the journey. um some would say.
But yeah, because my family is here, I I
trained for the most part in Shanghai. I
started in Njing, uh moved to Shanghai
to try like jiujitsu properly and then
went to the US after that, right? So, uh
a lot of my training partners are here,
my family's here. I mean, my dog my
dog's like somewhere over here. He's
here. So, you know, I just wanted to
settle down a little bit instead of
necessarily traveling all the time
because I mean, traveling is fun, but I
feel like I I I kind of overdid it. And
it wasn't like the awesome type of
traveling where you're vacationing, you
know? I'm like, it's a bit of a grind.
Obviously, I'm quite fortunate to be
able to do what I do. Uh, but it's like,
h, you're going your schedule's always
different. There's no real routine. Um,
so I wanted to kind of change it up a
little bit and so that's why yeah I'm
here.
>> It's a very interesting career path. Did
you know when you started training
jiu-jitsu it kind of lead up to
something like this where you'd have
your own gym?
>> Um, I mean I I guess when I started
first like um during co was when I
really wanted to try make something work
with jiu-jitsu. Um, and during that time
I guess I had to convince my mom to let
me train, right? So something I was
like, "Oh, I can own a gym and I can I
won't be homeless." Basically, that was
the the gist, right? So it was something
that I I I knew about in terms of, okay,
I can I use this as a tool to convince
my mother that I'm not going to be poor
and homeless, right? I'll be able to
sustain myself. Um,
but it was I don't know if I would say
it's a goal or that that was like the
endgame. It wasn't necessarily I was
trying to always I'm like, "Okay, yeah,
I know." I was always thinking, "Oh, I'm
going to open a gym." But um I don't
know, it just felt right, you know, um
for a few reasons. And I there there's
some kind of like I I've had a few
discussions with a few different people
about this. Some people think it's a
good idea, some people don't think it's
a good idea. But I mean, me choosing to
do uh to do jiu-jitsu, I ignored a lot
of people's opinions. So I just did what
felt right. So, it was kind of the same
thing, right?
>> That's what I was trying to get to where
it's like you really didn't have a lot
of people who really paved that path.
Yeah. You had Craig and a few other
people who kind of made it their made a
way and somehow um were the leaders in
in that. So, it seems like you followed
those those footsteps and you you seem
like you're doing very well about it.
So, um it is very hard to convince
family members like, "Yo, this jiu-jitsu
thing, it's going to work out. trust
like this is um it seems like it's one
of the hardest things to get good at and
to make it a career. It feels like it's
like an added pressure that a lot of
people are actually going through um
currently just you know because you want
to practice as much as you can to get as
good as you can but the financial
backing is one of the most important
things that need to be there. Um, so
what what other ventures or what uh
opportunities kind of came to you uh as
you were kind of developing as an
athlete? Like did you have sponsorships
or what helped you along the way?
>> Yeah, I mean so I was pretty lucky lucky
to be honest because if it weren't for
sponsorships I wouldn't have been able
to basically do anything that I did,
right? Um cuz my mom like uh she had
like a travel allowance during co that
her cuz she's a teacher that her school
provided. Um but it wasn't a lot. So It
gave me a little bit of freedom to then
go to Shanghai and stuff like this, but
I wouldn't be able to have gone to I
went to Singapore first and then I went
to the US after. I would I wouldn't have
been able to do those trips if it
weren't for some people sponsoring me.
So, I mean, um it started first with a
friend of mine who sponsored me to go to
Singapore. Um and I'm still in touch
with him, but I haven't seen him
training in like years. But it was so
funny. uh like I I fought him in an
in-house competition when I was like 15
years old and then afterwards um
what is now Alion the owner of Alleó was
sponsoring me and that's what allowed my
uh trip to the US and then from there I
was able to like after the US I feel
like I don't know that gave me a lot of
opportunities especially after uh
meddling at trials the Asian trials
that's when I first started getting like
international requests for seminars
Before in China, I'd done a few
seminars, but it wasn't like it was
internationally recognized. And so once
I got to the point where I was like,
"Okay, I can actually make money by
myself and I don't have to rely on
charity." I mean, um, it made it a lot
easier. But yeah, to start with, I mean,
without that help, I don't think I would
have been able to do any of this.
>> So, how important was that trip to the
US? That was when you went to beat him
with with uh Ren, correct? For the first
time.
>> Mhm. It was a good trip. So, there's two
parts to this, I guess, that I the way I
want to answer this. But, um,
it was good for me because then I got to
kind of see my level and see what the
top level was, per se, right? Cuz B team
is like, oh, one of the better gyms. And
so, I got to experience what that was
like. And I thought that was very good
for me. Um, and then in terms of
pressure, I mean, I was 17, you know, I
didn't really I don't even I don't know
if I I feel pressure from others. It's
more like I wouldn't
h It's interesting. I'm not sure how to
answer this question because I guess I I
give myself pressure to try to be good
at jiu-jitsu, but I never felt it from
others. So, I never really felt the
weight of it, I guess. You know, um it's
more like a I want to do well. I want to
do well for myself, you know. I didn't
you know, when you're a teenager, you're
like ah you're you're basically just
doing this for you. And that I think
that's what really helped me in my
journey where I could really just focus
on myself. you know, I didn't have to
worry about other people. Um, so it gave
me a lot of freedom, a lot of time to
then really um explore it to the degree
that I could. Um,
so yeah, I was I was I was very
fortunate in that regard.
>> What do you feel like is the most
important thing about jiu-jitsu that you
you need as a as an individual? What
does it provide for you?
>> Man, I feel like it's just a game, you
know, that something to think about,
something to play with. Um, you know,
you kind of I guess the problem solving
is fun. You know, it's the same thing.
It's like I I would hate to exercise if
there was nothing to problem solve, you
know, cuz I did swimming before when I
was a kid and I feel like that was just
misery. It's just like who who hates
themselves more and is willing to do
this more, you know? Um or who hates
each other more, you know? It's
something like that, you know? Um it's
it's that type of grind where in
jiu-jitsu obviously you have a bit of a
grind but you can kind of um like uh
through techniques, tactics, all this
type of stuff, you can you can play the
game in ways that uh make it less
reliant on okay who's the mo most well
conditioned, who's the strongest, etc.,
etc. So um I feel like that's what makes
things a little bit more fun and I guess
that's what I like about jiu-jitsu.
>> Did you play any other sports growing
up? I think I seen some videos with with
Roit and you like used to like do like
dirt biking or um you know do some other
sports where did you play soccer or
basketball anything like that?
>> Um all casually. So when I was a kid I
did like some track and field and then I
did swimming and then I was already like
for the most part I liked sports you
know I was it was so funny. I feel like
I was way more competitive as a kid than
I am now and now I'm way more
competitive in things that aren't
jiu-jitsu. So like I I when Kento was
here recently, we were playing Street
Fighter and it was the most intense [ __ ]
of my life. I've never felt that way in
like years, you know, and I was just
like we played like 80 games like in
like one sitting. We didn't stop, you
know, so it was pretty funny. Um it's
like it felt crazier than winning any
competition.
>> Who was your character though?
>> Um well, this is terrible. Well, I I
basically I play Doism and I I want to I
was talking to Lynn cuz Lynn's quite
good at Street Fighter and I'm thinking
about switching my main or just having
another main because I picked Doism cuz
he was weird just because I was like,
"Okay, I'm just going to try to do some
weird stuff, you know,
>> but bro,
>> um Kento is playing Ryu and just [ __ ]
spamming the fireballs at me. I got so
pissed." Uh,
I think that's the worst thing is like
when there's the same move over and over
and you want to stop it, but you know
it's coming. Oh my gosh, that's so
frustrating. So, we were talking about
you and and uh Kenta. People don't know
who Kenta is. How would you describe one
of uh one of one of the most interesting
relationships I've I've ever
encountered? Uh even though I've never
met you. Actually, I have I've met Kenta
at CGI too. I tried to tried to meet
you. I went to the wrong uh exit, but um
that's that's that's not related. But
how would you describe uh Mr. Tentaoto?
>> Wow, he's wild man, you know. I feel
like uh he's undomemesticated human. I
feel like this is one of the best
descriptions, you know.
>> He hasn't beat a lactose intolerance,
has he?
>> No. See, yeah, I think that summarizes
him pretty well, you know. He's like
he's pretty awesome in that sense, you
know. He's like just living, doing his
own thing, you know. Um,
not not necessarily letting what people
think of him affect what he does, you
know? I feel like undomesticated human
is like he's like a wild man, but not in
the sense where he's like crazy, but
like he's very free, you know? At least
that's my impression of him, you know?
>> And you you met him through competing,
correct? For the first time, like you
competed against him.
>> Yeah, exactly. Yeah, I mean um
it was my second ADCC trial. So it was
the Asian trials and then we fought in
the semi-finals and then he he took me
down and ruined my ADCC dreams, you
know. But
no, but then after that um we we started
to know each other. I told him to come
to B team and then from there just
became friends, you know.
And how I I find the whole dynamic very
interesting just because you guys train
a lot. Apparently you guys play a lot of
Street Fighter against each other. Um is
it a competitive atmosphere with
everything or is it just kind of just
like you know only when it counts I
guess like how how does that work?
Um I would say like I guess I wouldn't
say everything for sure, you know. Um
but only when it needs to be or only
when it's fun to be. It's kind of like
something along those lines. You know,
when you're training, you're competitive
because you're just trying to always get
better. You're trying to get the better
of each other. You know, I like training
with him because um he he's not going to
give up. He's going to try and think of
ways to prevent what I'm with uh prevent
or stop what I'm doing. I'm going to try
to do the same. So, it's a very nice uh
dynamic that I feel like I can have with
him. And then, um that's when it needs
to be, you know, I would say cuz I mean,
I guess we're professional grapplers.
It's kind of what we have to do. Uh but
then also when it's fun, you know, so
like Street Fighter or like uh bowling
or stuff like this, you know, we we've
gotten into some not necessarily
arguments, but we've been quite heated
sometimes, you know. I swear I haven't
been that worked up in years when I was
playing Street Fighter with him. I
couldn't sleep that night, you know,
because my adrenaline.
>> Oh my god, it was that intense. So, was
it like uh what was that book that you
uh you recommend to to people about
Street Fighter? That's uh the art the
what's it called winning or
>> Yeah.
>> So I think he mentioned Yeah. The in
that book you you mentioned just uh that
that it's that that book about video
games has helped you you know learn or
develop in jiu-jitsu itself. I mean you
mentioned earlier that it's kind of just
like a game. Um how what comparisons can
you make from video games to uh training
Brazilian jiu-jitsu?
>> Yes. I mean, I'm I'm pretty terrible at
video games. I feel like um jiu-jitsu
was the first thing that I ever became
actually good at, you know, that I
actually um became
achieved any type of proficiency cuz
beforehand, like I mean, when you're a
kid, you can kind of get away with being
athletic. And I mean, I hit puberty
early. I was like basically the same
size that I am now. uh different like
muscle composition, but like when I was
like 13 years old, I was basically the
same height, roughly the same weight,
you know, so it helped me a lot in
sports, but um
I never really did anything to study the
game. You know, the first game that I
studied was jiu-jitsu. Um so through
that, I feel like I developed an
appreciation for everything else. And so
I mean there's obviously I mean your
question was like the the kind of the
comparison between gaming and stuff. I
mean, this would probably be a great
question to ask Lynn cuz I feel like um
Lynn's very good at Street Fighter, you
know, he's like, it's not even funny,
you know, playing him, you know? He's
basically helping me with training mode,
you know. He's trying to just exploit
holes in my game and just like murder me
with them. So,
>> I'm sure that's how your jiu-jitsu feels
for some other people, though. So I'm
I'm
>> so maybe you know it's it's good to be
on the other end of things.
>> And you also have a few Sorry to
interrupt. You also have
>> No, no, please.
>> You als you you also have a couple other
uh book recommendations like The Art of
Learning by Josh Weightkin. And you
mentioned other games like chess. Um, do
you have any new recommendations or or
audio books or books in general that
people should probably listen to just to
keep an open mind when it comes to
training?
>> New book? I haven't read a book in a
while to be fair. But um, no, I mean
it's not something I do too regularly.
Like a lot of those books were prompted
because like a video would reference
them or I heard them on a podcast and
stuff like this, you know. Um, what I'm
going through now, I I've read it like a
few years ago, but I don't really
remember much from it. But, uh, Inner
Game of Tennis,
>> this one is like a good one, but I
remember reading it years ago and then
just I I I was like, I think I read
this, but I have no clue. I don't really
remember what was happening. And then I
was I was like rereading more like
relistening to it recently and just
going through that. Um, I mean, it's
cool, you know? I mean at some point I
feel like a lot of the things are kind
of describing uh the same thing but just
in different ways through different
experiences from different perspectives.
Um
but yeah that's roughly I think another
book I probably mentioned at some point
but this was again a couple years ago
but I think it was like uh mastery and I
heard Danaher recommend this book once
and that's where I got the idea of
tinkering. Um,
but I think it's by George Leonard,
something like this. But I I remember
listening to Danner interview. It was
like uh by this like a channel called
like the London Real. It was like this
old old guy was interviewing him and it
seemed like they had like known each
other for a few years. So it was
actually quite an interesting podcast
and it was very long too. I think it was
like 3 hours long. Um, so I remember him
kind of talking about that book and
stuff like this. Um,
so yeah, I don't know if I have anything
super interesting to provide. That's
also probably one of the reasons why I'm
not I haven't been doing too many
podcasts because I'm like I kind of said
everything that's kind of interesting,
you know? What does it feel like like
being the person who like people go to
for advice? It feels like maybe you're
some type of like Chen GPT where like
help me get better at jiu-jitsu. How
does it feel being that type of like
person? Cuz I'm sure you get tons of
questions all the time.
>> I don't know. Good thing I'm only like
that with jiu-jitsu. When people ask me
other questions, I'm like, "Don't ask me
these things." I don't know. I think
it's pretty all right. Jiu-jitsu is
fine, you know? It's like doesn't feel
like anything special, but um yeah,
thankfully I haven't been asked for
people know to just ask me jiu-jitsu and
yeah, it's pretty good. Some I mean,
some people they'll be like, "Oh, how
should I cut weight?" I'm like, I I can
guess, but there's probably better
YouTube videos you could watch than
asking me, you know,
>> for sure. And it seems like you also
have interest in bags. Maybe if you I
could ask you a few questions about bags
if you don't mind me asking.
>> Yeah, absolutely. Please.
>> So, is it true that you you travel
without a carry-on
or
>> Oh, so no checkin.
>> Oh, checkin. That's usually That's
exactly. Yeah. Yeah.
>> So, you you travel without a checkin bag
everywhere.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Um, that's the idea, you
know. Um, cuz actually, I mean, I know
some people who do this by default, but
for me, I don't know. I I think my
household or my upbringing, we're quite
like we kind of like stuff. So, I like
when I first started traveling, you
know, I first came to Shanghai, I came
with like a huge ass suitcase and
basically use nothing in it, you know,
and it was a slow process from being
that type of person to then trying to
basically shed all the weight of things
that I didn't need. And then uh
especially traveling so much a lot of my
focus is okay how can I make this
traveling um the word I like to use is
uh how can I reduce the friction
>> and in this process of traveling you
know so it depends how you're traveling
but most of the time I was going to
airports uh TSA stuff like this and so
having a checkin bag sucks but one time
I had a checkin bag in like the last 5
years it got lost and I was like this is
exactly why I don't do this Uh but
because I was forced to bring some extra
stuff for some friends and I I had to do
that but I got so annoyed but then I
felt very validated. I'm like oh I feel
very right you know even though my bag
got lost I was like there's a reason I
don't usually do this.
>> So you just you're reminded that this is
why I don't take a checkin bag. What are
some essentials for someone like you who
you know probably takes a lot of rash
guards. Uh you do train in the ghee
occasionally. Uh how is it just uh you
know traveling? What are some essentials
to take?
>> I mean, what would be dry bag dry? I
mean, we just launched a dry bag
recently. Yeah. Yeah. But this was cuz I
was trying to be quite thoughtful with a
lot of the merch we're putting out
because obviously rash guards t-shirts,
this is kind of the standard. But one of
the things I really liked when I went to
B team was that they had a dry bag. And
I thought dry bag was always such a
great um idea for something that
produces merch cuz it's unique. not
necessarily unique to our sport because
I'm sure like if you're surfing you
probably want a dry bag.
>> Yeah.
>> Uh but I've seen I mean I literally the
the video for the to advertise the dry
bag was basically completely unscripted
and it was just me ranting at some
point, you know, because I've seen
people um put their like pretty soaking
wet like clothes either. Americans don't
necessarily have this. they'll put in
their car like and it's not like you're
putting in the trunk. I've seen put
people put in the footwell. I've the
worst I've seen people put on their
chairs and you know these aren't leather
chairs and so I think this is pretty
terrible.
>> Yeah.
>> At least get a garbage bag. You know
most people here I mean in the past what
I used to do I would always just garbage
bag it. Um but then you feel kind of
wasteful. You're like I'm constantly
using this. So I I feel like dry bag
makes sense. You know
>> it does. Um, so outside of that,
obviously
packing cubes I think make a huge
difference, especially
um, if you have like a open like usually
I like a bag that gives you the freedom
to organize. So I don't prefer bags
where it's okay that has this section,
this section, this section, this
section. I prefer one big section, maybe
a laptop compartment and some quick
access on the outside because it gives
you the most freedom to pack the way you
want to pack.
>> Okay.
>> Um and so within that then you can have
packing cubes. So you'll have a packing
cube that's this big. Okay, this is all
my underwear. Packing cube that's this
big and that's all my rash guards. And
then you can have some things floating
around. But it makes it so that when you
unpack and repack, it's super easy cuz
you just basically you're sliding Lego
bricks into place and so everything
stays in the same place. Um, and all
that. I feel like this is kind of
important. Um, other stuff, I mean, I'd
say wet wipes, you know, you get a
sling, you put some wet wipes and
tissues, you know, if you go out, get
some food, and then you don't know where
to wash your hands. You know, I've had
this like I hate uh when I have like
let's say you you eat some fries, you
eat a burger, and then there's nowhere
to wash your hands. And I mean, most
places would have somewhere to wash your
hands, but
>> you'd be surprised. My mom would
probably love this if you talking about
that, but wet wet wipes are huge for
sure.
>> Yeah. And dry tissues really like don't
get it done. So, I always have wet wipes
on me because imagine you're just like
using dry tissue, but your fingers are
still oily. This this hurts me to my
core. So, I mean that I'd say probably
like a battery pack because you don't
want to be low on low on juice, right?
>> What else?
>> Yeah, I'd say those are some pretty
essentials. I mean, outside of like the
obvious, like you probably want a
toothbrush. Uh you probably want a
towel,
>> right?
>> But yeah,
>> what would you say your rank is when it
comes to packing, you know, out of white
to black?
>> I I thought about this recently, you
know. I I don't know. I think I need to
go look for some black belts to really
check my level, you know. Okay.
>> I think it's pretty high, but it could
be because I'm surrounded by white
belts.
>> That's a very interesting topic um that
I I would like to get into is like
checking your level when training like
say uh when you started you started you
started around 2013 14 correct?
>> 2000 end of 2018
>> train jiu-jitsu.
>> Yeah.
>> Oh wow. I thought it was a little bit
before. Did you do MMA before that? Is
that when you had your kind of like your
UFC video game thing and then into uh
jiujitsu?
>> I did I was like [ __ ] around with
some friends like doing some striking in
2017. So I moved to Nanjing.
>> Okay.
>> In 2017 and so I was introduced to MMA
but like the training was we would go to
the parking lot and hit mits or hit each
other with boxing gloves on. That was
the training. So I I I don't even know
if you can call that training, you know.
But
>> you didn't have an incident, right, once
you started training jiu-jitsu and
someone invited you to a gym.
>> Yeah, this is a bit ago. This is like
when I was 15, 16, but I could tell
you've heard a lot of me speaking. So
yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
>> But I think that was past my MMA phase,
you know. I was like I mean I think
because of the brutishness of the way I
initially trained MMA, you know, I was
like I'm good. No striking. I
grappling's good for me. You know,
getting punched in the head, this sucks.
>> What about now? Like, would you ever
entertain going into an MMA event or
amateur? Um, feel like your your
jiu-jitsu skills on the floor would be
pretty pretty good.
I would entertain the idea of learning
striking and training MMA because I have
a I have a few MMA friends and I'd like
to train with them and just uh do it for
the sake of like the sport, you know,
like ah that's cool. Like I I was
talking to there's some people here
recently who's quite good at MMA and
talking about combining strikes into
like takedowns and then vice versa and
that type of dynamic. And so we're kind
of messing around like that and I
thought that's always so cool, you know?
Um, but would I do an MMA fight? Almost
certainly not. You know, if you see me
do an MMA fight, it's probably because I
I don't even know what would make me do
an MMA fight, you know?
>> Yeah.
>> I guess money. I I don't I have I'd have
to be insanely bored.
>> Yeah, you have to be really bored to
just hop into MMA. But some of the
amateur fights, you know, some of these
guys, you go go to street beefs or
something like that. Just entertain it.
You know what I mean?
>> I have no I have no interest in street
beefs, you know. I feel like if I'd want
to do MMA, I'd want to do it properly,
you know, not not do it to like
I don't know. Whatever you do, you want
to do it properly. And I feel like I
wouldn't just want to do street beefs,
you know?
>> Yeah. I'm just messing around, but I was
just, you know, I do think that
>> or something along those lines.
>> Yeah. And is there anybody that competes
in the UFC that you really think that
their jiu-jitsu is high level?
Who have I trained with recently that
competes in the UFC?
Um, I mean, I trained with Vog way back,
like before the first Islam fight, and I
thought he was pretty sick. Um,
obviously, like you watch his match with
Ortega, obviously some great defense.
Um, and he reversed Islam at the end of
their first fight. So, I think he has
some great grappling.
Who else? I mean, not really. I don't
think so.
But I was also I was quite young at the
time, but
yeah, I I I don't know if I'd say
someone who has like some sick I've seen
some cool [ __ ] like um I kind of like
watching Shawn Brady. I feel like he has
some cool like actual proper jiu-jitsu
>> stuff like this obviously, but people
that I've trained with, I I don't know.
I don't think so.
>> Is there any UFC fighters that you would
like to train with just to feel how it
is trained with them?
>> Like Hamzot. Hamzot seems cool. you
know, his takedowns from like a million
miles away. I feel like that's always
impressive, you know, even though uh he
got beat by Strickland, it's still
impressive to me what he does. Um
>> who else? Like
>> Charles, maybe
>> cuz I mean I guess Charles. Yeah, I
think that would be cool. You know, I
definitely I mean I guess Islam I would
be very much into I don't know. I'm into
wrestling now a lot so I kind of
>> want to just see what these wrestlers
are doing and see what they're up to. Um
because for example in my mind I feel
like okay Charles Oliver great jiu-jitsu
in MMA but I don't know if it's like
great jiu-jitsu period.
Uh whereas I think like if you see Islam
or Hamsa, I feel like it's I don't know.
It seems like good wrestling in general
or much better wrestling than I have.
Whereas I guess I'm I'm sure I could
learn a lot from Olivivera, but I feel
like I would learn more from like Islam
or something like this, you know. But
that's just my take, you know. I haven't
thought about this too much.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I think I think it's cool to
to at least, you know, talk to you about
it as someone who who's trains jiu-jitsu
at one and competes at that the highest
level just to be able to see like what
actually works in a MMA fight or, you
know, a self-defense scenario. I feel
like it's good. Sometimes I hop in the
training room and think about like, yo,
if someone was striking right now, I'm
I'm cooked. I'm I'm This is not a good
spot. So, I just, you know, I'm very
curious if you're open-minded when it
comes to those types of things or even
wrestling. Um, what have you learned in
the past like few years about wrestling
in general and you know uh the the
comparison from jiu-jitsu and wrestling?
>> Yeah, I mean to be honest I mean I
definitely see I can understand what you
mean by thinking about it in terms of
other contexts. You know I'm not really
I do sport jiu-jitsu but you know I'm
not just like I'm not an ultimate purist
in that sense. Sometimes I think about
okay I want to make sure I'm on top. I
want to make sure I'm safe. Especially
when I'm training with people who do
MMA, I'm basically treating it like it's
MMA, but we're not striking.
>> So, I'm not just going to do some like
[ __ ] Baron bolo and be like, "Oh,
okay. I this is jiu-jitsu." You know,
I'm going to train with them in a way
that I feel is productive for both of
us. But, um, imagine if I go with an MMA
guy and I just pulled Deahiva and I'm
just spinning around on bottom. Not to
say that that can't work. Um, I don't
think that's going to be productive use
of our time. So, a lot of times when I
train with these guys, I'm going to be
like, "Okay, I'm just going to do so
we'll wall wrestle. I'm going to try to
hold you down. I'm going to try put
myself in positions where I can strike
you and I'm going to avoid positions
where you can strike me." Um, so I I'll
train that way, you know, where I won't
always train that way. It's not like,
okay, I'm never playing guard, but if
I'm with MMA person, I'm going to do
something that I feel like we can both
gain uh gain the most out of, which I
feel like is training in a way that is
beneficial for both of us,
>> right? Um, so that's something I would
definitely do. Um,
yeah.
>> And when it comes, like we were talking
about just like checking your level with
the bags, like what how how would you
say you're able to check your level in
the training room? Maybe cuz you you
could start with other people who start
around the same time as you, but um, how
are you able to know that you're
actually making some improvements or if
you're kind of making the same mistakes
over and over?
I mean, if you're doing the same thing
every day, I mean, if you're
encountering the same problems,
um, I mean, I guess if you're
encountering the same problems all the
time, probably means you're not getting
better. But it's like I wouldn't
necessarily be think of it like, oh, I
can beat this guy now, that means I'm
getting better because people are like,
oh, everyone's getting better at the
same rate. And then so it's hard for you
to tell but it it's you have to be quite
practical in this sense where it's like
okay what problems is this person
presenting to me and are they the same
problems that they presented to me 6
months ago and if that answer is yes
probably nothing much has changed but
it's usually going to be no because um
let's say this person has a sick dehiva
and then I learned to pass his deahiva
so now he's doing a better job at
framing from deaha that's a different
problem in itself
So, as long as the pro cuz I mean, I'm
sure there's a way you can train without
thinking about what you're doing, but
most of the time you're going to be
like, "Oh, wow. This dude, his knee
shield's so annoying. How can I deal
with it?" Right? And if if it's the same
and if it just ends there, then maybe
like as long as there's some progress to
a solution and okay, maybe you you've
passed his knee shield once before, but
now he's made an adjustment. As long as
there's something like that, it's like a
bit of an arms race. You know, it's just
like it's pretty continuous though. You
know, there's not really an end where
one person's going to nuke the other.
You know, we're we're both here. We're
both going to most of the time still be
here. And as long as there's that
progression up, then I mean that's
improvement. You know,
>> the thing I did want to ask you about
was uh competition and you know how your
last competition at CGI 2, different
format, quintet style format. I want to
ask you how it was uh getting ready for
that. I know the team had a lot a lot of
injuries going into the the event. There
was a lot of different things going on.
How was it for you personally getting
ready for that? And uh how was your
experience?
>> I mean, it's fun. You're all hanging out
with the boys. There's some things that
sucked. You know, I had to cut to 77, so
unpleasant uh for me in that regard that
led to me getting sick and injured. So,
it was it was not ideal. But I mean
I think something that I we we've come
to the con like speaking with Dimma and
stuff like this. I mean recovery is
something that we need to practice more
you know. Um I think just going hard
especially with a weight cut you know
that's kind of partially one of the
reasons I moved up was because I feel
like I don't know we'll see if I I can
do well at 88 but I think I can and
it'll make my life a lot easier not
having to cut to 77. So, the the event
was I was there. I I had fun at the
event. I know there was like some little
bit of uh you know, social media stuff
going on with the submissions and adding
the the bonuses to the submission. How
did it feel as a competitor knowing that
like there's a bigger incentive for
someone to try to like submit you? Um
how how did that feel as a competitor?
>> I I that I mean, bro, I just wish that
they gave me someone other than John
Carlo, someone easier to submit. I would
love a 50k, you know. You know, Victor
Hugo walked out with an extra 100k. I
was like, "Wow, I'd love to be Victor
Hugo right now, you know. Give me
someone uh just someone easy, you know,
someone free, you know, just [ __ ] 50k,
you know." Um,
>> who was someone that you really wanted
to go or go against that you you didn't
have the chance to?
>> To be honest, uh, for the first first
round I went up against Max Hansen.
Someone that I've always been a big fan
of that I've always wanted to have a
match with was Dante. So, this was
something I was like kind of hoping for
but just didn't end up happening. Um,
who else? I mean, there's a bunch of
people to be honest, but
>> I'm quite happy I actually had a match
with John Carlo cuz in my mind, I mean,
I don't know what state he came into the
competition in, right? But, I mean, he
didn't have to cut weight. I don't think
he was injured. I don't know if he was
injured. And I was like completely it
was like one of my worst days, you know,
and I did decently well like obviously I
didn't I didn't win or I mean I didn't
get obliterated and I felt like I had
good moments. I was a this gives me a
lot of uh it feels good you know cuz
then I'm like okay if I have a good day
you know I'm not injured not not ill not
cutting to 77
um I feel like I could do quite well
with him so that was nice for me in that
regard. Um,
yeah. To be fair, who else? I mean,
well, there was not I don't really think
of it as like, oh, I want to fight this
guy. I want to fight that guy. Um,
who else was there? Man, there were a
lot of people to be fair.
>> I think Mika and you would have been so
fun to watch.
>> Yeah, this was kind of this would be
kind of sick to be fair. I think Chris
Chris fought Mika, right? Because I
think we were
I think so.
>> Fought Ma.
>> Chris Chris Wick I think in our team.
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, this is one that
>> obviously having been a 77er for so
long, you know, this is one of the
matches that are
them like Ma Routolos now Andrew. These
are the main 77 players, you know.
>> So, bro, especially after seeing PJ get
robbed, I was like, "Wow, I feel like I
could do well against Ma." But, um, it
did. Yeah,
for sure. Is there um I know you have
ADCC coming up. You did win trials,
correct? Um
like uh getting ready for that. Is that
Have you ever been to Poland before? It
feels like the ADCC is usually in Las
Vegas if I'm not mistaken. Uh do you
feel like this is like uh something new
for ADCC that we haven't seen before?
Like do you expect like a bigger crowd
or what what are your expectations
heading into this this next event?
So, I mean, this might be a little
controversial. So, first, I've been I've
been to Kov. I've been to Kov multiple
times, the city that is hosting ADCC.
I've been to Poland. I did my trials in
Poland, all this type of stuff. Um, I've
seen like, bro, I've seen the Simple Man
on the Simple Man. They're just
complaining that it's in Europe. Um, I
don't know. Part of me is some part of
me is like, ah, Americans, you know, I'm
like, bro, you can go to other parts of
the world. Maybe there's some truth to
like, oh, a bunch of people are going to
be in Vegas. I don't know.
We'll see. Uh the arena they got there
is pretty huge. I think it can I don't
know. One of the people told me that's
like some crazy number. Uh we'll see how
it turns out, you know, cuz 80 cc's
before um they weren't always in one
place, you know. There was uh I believe
2017 was in Helsinki. Uh before that uh
they had a 80 cc in Beijing. They had 80
cc's before like this whole Mojim uh USU
US. it was everywhere, you know. So, I
don't necessarily view it as a change. I
view it as a return to what they were
doing before.
>> Um, and do I think it'll be better? I
have no clue, you know. I mean, I know
the one in Helsinki in 2017, the one
Gordon one, apparently it was dead.
Like, there was very few people.
Obviously, I wasn't there, so I I can't
vouch for what it was like and so on,
but apparently the Vegas ones were
pretty crazy. But then it's been like 10
years since the 2017 ADCC almost, right?
So you can you can think that maybe
grappling has evolved elsewhere. You
know, Poland is probably one of the
biggest grappling countries in Europe.
You know, they have a they have an IBJF
world champion. You know, this is this
is pretty big. So they have two now.
They have Pavl and they have Adam
Warzinski.
It's pretty cool, you know. So I'm
excited. I like Poland, so it's cool.
How much of a factor is having that
added energy from the people? Does that
do you feel like that plays a big role
in your performance?
>> Not at all. I don't
>> really Okay.
>> It could honestly when I'm there it
feels like it could be 10,000 people. It
could be no one. It really I don't think
it it doesn't really I don't really
notice it at all
>> really. Can you describe how it is like
from your perspective of how how that
feels? cuz I just can't imagine just
like being surrounded by, you know, fans
saying ooh and ah with every move and
not not playing kind of like a in your
head. I mean, I guess if I was getting
booed by like everyone, I think that
could maybe play my head. But it's the
same thing in the gym. You hit some sick
[ __ ] people are going to, oh [ __ ] it's
not like it's completely maybe it's a
little louder. There's more lights. The
lights in your eyes are kind of bright.
Uh, but you're focused, you know, you're
not thinking about everything else.
You're thinking about, okay, how do I
beat this person in front of me? Um,
obviously, maybe there's moments of you
getting distracted. You're like, [ __ ]
this place is kind of big. Um, but
for the most part, I think it's a matter
of being present. And I feel like it's
hard not to be when you're like fighting
someone who you think is very good, you
know? So,
yeah. I I mean
it's different. The leadup sometimes can
be a little bit uh more different. I
feel like this thing that you're
describing where it's a there's like so
many people this arena. Um
how how different does it feel when
you're not competing and maybe you're
walking around the arena? It can feel
kind of weird, you know? But I've kind
of once you've been around a few
competitions, you've I've already
competed a few times in front of in like
these these stages, you know? So, at
this point, I even the first time I did,
I mean, you're so focused on trying to
beat this guy. I I didn't really notice
anything else, you know.
>> Mhm.
>> I'm not someone who, but I'm sure I'm
not I don't speak for everyone. And
there's some people who love to play to
the crowd, you know. Some a moment that
comes to mind is like Owen Jones against
Kyn and Owen's probably I mean, I assume
I don't know. I haven't asked Owen this,
but I'm sure Owen loves the crowd, you
know, but everyone's different, right?
So,
>> I would say that's something I would
think about.
>> Do you feel like um you're 100% yourself
when you're competing? And that that
inner game of tennis book, it talks
about self one, self two, and just like
letting letting yourself go and just
letting yourself compete. Do you feel
like you're 100% you or you feel like
someone else has the control?
I think I'm me, you know, and this is
something that I've thought about
changing a little bit. You know, some
people talk about having like a persona
or something to like um or like an alter
ego, per se, to then compete, you know,
cuz maybe when you're training, maybe
the real you, you're like maybe you're a
little too relaxed, maybe you're not
aggressive enough, maybe you're too
conservative. Um, and so I I've thought,
but okay, to answer your question first
and foremost, yeah, I think I'm
basically
um I don't feel like I'm anyone else,
you know. Uh, but I've thought about
maybe trying to
uh adopt a persona, not necessarily to
the public, but more internally where,
you know, some people are like, "Okay,
this is me, but then this is you, but
competition version."
>> Yeah. Street Fighter Joseph, you know,
locked in, you know, something like
this, you know, someone who cuz people
talk so much about your confidence and
stuff like this. And I, man, I I won
trials and I didn't think I would win,
you know, and I I think that's like I'm
quite lucky in that sense, but I went
into the trials fully believing like,
oh, maybe like everyone else believed I
could win way more than I did. I really
thought, um, wow. Because going into my
match with Matteas when I've won my
first trials, I literally thought if he
touches my leg, I'm tapping because I
have a ne I have a next trials. I'm not
going to ru ruin the next trials just to
potentially try to escape. I I can't
believe I I won. I mean, it was a rough
decision. It was very close. I can't
believe I won a trials with that type of
mindset, you know, cuz now that I guess
I have a lot of a lot more experience
than I've had in the past.
In the past, I would struggle to believe
I can beat any of these people. You
know, I can't I can't believe that uh I
can be competitive with these guys. Now,
I'm like, "Oh, I've had a lot of
experience. I fought a lot of decent
guys. You know, I I I'm I'm" It feels
like this idea of me beating any one of
them doesn't feel as crazy anymore. So,
I feel like as long as you can get to
that point, whether through delusion or
through experience, I think you kind of
want to get there. But I feel like this
is when this is how you can have a
pretty good performance, you know.
Otherwise, I think everything else is
suboptimal.
>> How did you feel when you're out there
in Japan uh for Quintet? Uh you had
trials uh soon after like how was your
week after
>> state of mind?
>> Yeah. How was your state of mind there?
Um did you have that same type of
uh experience where you didn't didn't
feel like you're necessarily going to
beat the opponents?
Um,
let me think. So, I fought Ariel Tobac.
No, not not Ariel Tobac. Sorry. Uh, TK
Copstock. I don't I get the TK and the
Tobac confused sometimes, but Ariel
Tobac is actually a good friend of mine
based in Sydney. But, um, Tariq
Copstock. No, I I thought I could beat
him to be fair. I This I didn't feel
like it this way. I guess because
Matteas like obliterated my ankle and
that that kind of played a factor in
that. Um, and there's something I mean I
love competing with the boys. This is
kind of I I'm way more likely to compete
if it's a team event uh versus by myself
cuz by myself I feel so bored. I'm like
like I don't even I this is probably
terrible but like for example I've
competed on Polaris a few times
and basically they offered me a few
matches but I'm like I have to go to the
UK. I have to prepare for this match.
But then they're like you want to do a
squads? I'm like yes. I get to hang out
with my friends and compete with them.
Absolutely. Like I might even get paid
less, but I'm much more willing to do it
just because um I don't know. I guess
vibes in some sense, you know? I feel
like I'm much more willing to just
I don't know cuz I I don't know why
people like I'm trying to find a reason
that I compete. I don't really know why
that is because I don't I don't really
think I feel like I have a chip on my
shoulder or I have to prove myself or
anything like this, you know. Um, and so
a lot of times when I end up competing,
it's just for to hang out with my
friends. That's why I've done like a few
squads at this point, you know. I I
missed the last squads and I'm not I'm
missing the next one because I'm
basically doing this whole gym thing,
but I feel kind of bad that I'm up
there. I kind of want to be there, you
know. So,
>> what's something you enjoy the most
around hanging around with your boys?
Like there's the camaraderie, but like
what what uh what helps you with that?
Like that sense of belonging. What what
do you enjoy most about it?
>> I guess it's a sense of belonging. You
know, these are the people like the
people that are most like you are the
people doing the same [ __ ] that you're
doing, you know? So, it's a little bit
that way. you know, these people,
these people understand me in ways that
like my own family maybe wouldn't
understand me, you know. Um, something
that Matteos was telling me cuz he he
was here recently and I was talking to
him. I'm like, cuz Matteas has a gym of
his own. I'm like, "What do you think
about me opening a gym?" Cuz some people
advise me as like, "You're
so young. You you're just you're hitting
your stride. You shouldn't be like tying
yourself down like this. You should
focus on yourself." And I There was a
part of me where I I I heard this and
I'm like I I hated hearing this because
I'm like what do you know bro? Um
and because similar I guess what we said
earlier where I'm like I'm I'm basically
I kind of trust myself in that okay I
feel like this is what I want to do. I'm
I'm kind of doing this. You know I'm not
really letting others sway my decision
but it's still something I think about.
I'm not like outright ignoring people's
advice, but um I have like a a little
bit of okay, I think I know what's right
for me. And then I was talking to
Matteas about this and he was saying
that for many reasons um
a lot of people let's say they see me or
they see any other jiu-jitsu competitor
you see them as like you're this
jiu-jitsu competitor and everything you
do needs to be serving to this um
jiu-jitsu competition or you as this
competitor
and I guess the concern would be by
opening a gym by maybe limiting yourself
to less training partners and stuff like
this you might be uh kind of negatively
affecting this identity of jiu-jitsu
competitor.
Um, and I don't I don't necessarily know
if I I'd agree with that to be fair, but
Matteas kind of just reassured me in my
decision. You know, he talked to me and
he was basically telling me why he
thinks it's a good thing. And I mean,
coming from someone like him, I there's
I I look up to him. I think he's an
excellent competitor, great jiu-jitsu
thinker. I mean, uh, his opinion meant a
lot more to me than basically a lot of
the other people who were giving me
advice. So,
yeah. So, you're talking about like the
what is it doing these team events that
are so good. I mean, obviously part of
it vibes, but I think
uh not to say that everyone needs to be
like you. They need to understand you.
Like I I have plenty of friends who I I
hang out with and it's like awesome and
they're nothing like me, you know, or
they do they have a job, they they they
have kids, whatever. But as long as it's
you mesh, but it is something different.
I do think it's something special when
you're all there. You're kind of all
down the same path. Maybe one some
people are a little further on, some
people are a little newer, you know. Um
I don't know. It's something like that
that I feel like really
I don't I really enjoy about
>> you know switching topics. I do have
some like rapid fire questions that I
would like to ask you just because um
you know I'm very curious on this stuff.
So u what is your favorite Michael
Jackson song since you know the movie
came out a lot of popularity around
Michael Jackson.
M
I don't know. I don't want to seem like
a casual, but the first one that comes
to mind is Beat It, but um but that's I
feel like the most iconic song, you
know. I don't know if I could I used to
listen to Michael Jackson like when I
was like five, you know.
>> Um my favorite
I don't know, bro. I don't know. I
didn't even know there was a movie to be
honest.
>> Really? It's really good. I would I
would
>> It's like a documentary pretty much, you
know, a biopic about his life and his
upbringing and the acting was really
good. The story lines there and uh it's
like two hours long. So, I I check it
out. I was just curious cuz, you know,
I'm a big Michael Jackson fan. Just been
listening to him a lot recently. So,
>> yeah, fair enough. I mean,
yeah.
>> Wow. There's probably some pretty epic.
It's been a couple years. one comes to
mind.
>> I I've seen Okay. I don't know. I feel
like my my my my recent impressions of
Michael Jackson has been um has been
tainted by recent recent news, you know,
>> like all the you know,
>> all the stuff
>> Michael Jackson's been coming up in the
in like interesting ways, but I I don't
know.
>> Are you a conspiracy theorist?
>> I don't like Michael Jackson.
>> You or you just dishonest? I don't think
so. like a Eddie Bravo type of level
>> on Instagram. I'm like I don't know the
this is for people to come to their own
conclusions too, but I don't know.
>> I feel like a lot of people
>> maybe maybe a little bit. I I'm more I'm
just interested, you know? I'm curious.
I guess I guess curious is
>> What's something that you're curious
about like that could fall along the
lines of a conspiracy?
>> I don't know. I
I have to look into it first before
>> we'll look into it. Go to the next
question.
>> I think I'm pretty, you know, I have a
lot of conspira theorist friends, you
know, so
>> it's cool. What is your favorite ninja
turtle and why?
>> Um, [ __ ] Who's the one with the Who's
the blue one? Uh, Donatella's
stick one.
>> Leonardo.
>> Leonardo. I like the [ __ ] katanas,
bro.
>> Yeah, you like
>> Yeah, this is cool. I don't know. I I I
grew up watching a lot of Ninja Turtles
and the more like the older I get, I
kind of realize like the personality
from each type of person, you know. I
feel like Leonardo is like a a good
leader. You know, sees the the way in
some ways and you know, he gets in his
way sometimes, but you know, I like I
like Leonardo as a I always like
Leonardo growing up for sure.
>> Yeah, I think Leonardo is cool. You
know, like Michelangelo and Raphael are
kind of annoying. You know, I get I feel
like I would get frustrated dealing with
people like this. You know, I
>> I have plenty of friends who are like
this to be fair. More like Michelangelo.
I don't think I have like a hottheheaded
friend.
>> Why?
I don't know. Maybe a bit of
Michelangelo. Um,
he's pretty crazy to be honest. Like in
a in such a funny way. He's like cute,
you know?
>> Would you say like a mixture of
Michelangelo?
>> Think about it.
>> Yeah. Okay.
>> Nah, he's not hotheaded though. He's so
chill.
>> Raphael just seems I think Raphael is
the most annoying Ninja Turtle to me.
But also, it's been years since I
watched.
>> Uh, what is a a food that uh Americans
love but you hate personally?
>> Oh, hate.
What do I What's some foods that you
love?
>> Some foods that I love? Uh, I like uh
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> I like wings. I like hot wings and stuff
like that. Just like kind of pizza.
>> Wings, burgers, stuff like that. Um, I
was kind of thinking like maybe you're
going to say like some Panda Express or
something like that just because it's
like
>> Well, yeah, Panda Express is trash, but
I don't even when I think of what food
America I guess Yeah. Panda Express
terrible. Absolutely. I I had it once
and I want I had like a headache for two
days. Yeah, it was terrible. Uh, but I
when you think of food that Americans
love, I didn't really think of Panda
Express, but I think, you know, people
aren't going to be like, "Oh, you just
came from China. Let me let me take you
to get some Panda Express." No one's
going to be like this to me, you know?
>> Like, um,
so yeah. I mean, I I like, bro,
something I really miss about the US,
tacos. Good tacos. I'm sure I don't know
when I'm in like SoCal or Texas, bro.
The standard for tacos is crazy. There's
no
>> There was a popup shop here recently and
that was like the only decent taco I had
in China ever. All the other ones are
>> You guys actually went to get tacos
after CJI. Correct. In Vegas.
>> Yeah, we went to Tacos of Gordo. We
overordered like an insane amount. But
tacos of Gordo is pretty good. You have
to go to separate lines to get different
tacos once you're there.
How was it?
>> Yeah, but good thing we had a party of
like 15 people, you know? We had like
three different groups getting
everything. So, it was all right. It was
good. I've had tacos algor before. It's
cool. Um I like like in California like
there's a place called Taco Stand. They
have that in Vegas actually. Great
California burrito. I like that. But
then I've also like I like also the
Mexican like I was in Tijuana. There's
some sick tacos like like corn tortilla.
It's so cool. Um,
but yeah, like here it's just I don't
even know what to describe it as. It's
just slop, you know.
>> I remember on a podcast you were you
were saying that you weren't a big fan
of In-N-Out, which is kind of like if
you were to say that in California, just
like, whoa, what's wrong with you? You
don't like In-N-Out, but
>> I don't I think the hype is a little
overhyped, but I'm not I'm not I'm not
going to be like In and Out. I'm I'm
eating it. It's still a good food, you
know, but I I don't I guess it has like
this cultlike following that I don't
understand fully, you know. Uh
>> I don't really get it either.
>> And the fries are terrible. I still hate
the fries, but the burger is good. It's
a good product, you know.
>> It's pretty simple.
>> Um it's like it's good. It's well put
together. Like I don't like a Five Guys
burger because I feel like a Five Guys
burger, there's no way to eat it that's
not going to turn out to be a mess. You
know, it's just hard to eat in in a
cleanly slash civilized way. You know,
I'm like I feel like five times. It's
just going everywhere. In and out. Cool.
Shake Shack. Cool. You know, stuff like
this. You know, if I want more, I'm just
going to get another burger. I don't
want a like three burgers worth of
substance in one burger. And I feel like
that's what Five Guys,
>> it's a little pricey as well. Uh, next
question I have is like, uh, if you have
a favorite UFC fighter of all time slash
who who would you pick like if you were
to play say UFC 5, like what fighter are
you picking to play with?
Favorite Well, it's been years.
Favorite UFC fighter of all time. Um,
skill set wise, I guess it's like guess
probably Jon Jones or like Mighty Mouse
just cuz it's like the most like you
want to be like kind of OP, right? But
favorite favorite cuz then favorite you
also think about, okay, do I like this
person? Do I think this guy's cool? I
guess Mighty Mouse out of the the two,
right? Because Mighty Mouse seems cool,
right? Versus like Jon Jones, you're
like, oh, he's my favorite person, you
know? I don't know. Definitely doesn't
sound right.
Yeah. Well, I mean, yeah, I I think
that's a that's a good thing. GSP is
also very well-rounded in the game and
and in real life. I feel like that's
also a good because I don't know.
Sometimes when you play against people,
they they don't they just like to strike
or if you if you wrestle, you know,
sometimes they be like, "Why are you
taking me down?" I don't know. That's
that's just one of my my I was very
curious on on who your fighter was. Um
you I asked this earlier if who was your
favorite uh Street Fighter character
actually had it wrote down, so we
already kind of answered that. Is there
a second favorite that you have?
>> Favorites. See, favorites are hard. I
I'm like a white belt. No stripes. I I
don't even
>> I played Dollism cuz I thought he would
be annoying. You know, I saw in the bar
thing it said play style tricky. And I'm
like, okay.
>> So, I'm going to throw throw off a lot
of people with this. It's not even me. I
feel like dollism is like the 10th
planet [ __ ] you know? It's like it it
it shouldn't really work. And sometimes
it does work. And it's it's good to
catch people off guard. Um,
but I feel like I I wouldn't be con I'd
have to you'd have to wait a couple
years for me to be able to give.
>> Hopefully we could have you back on,
dude. And we could ask you if who your
favorite Street Fighter character is.
>> Um, next question.
>> Hopefully it's a little bit better than
all of them.
>> If you could be anybody for a day, who
would it be?
>> Anybody. Any timeline.
used to live with a ding.
>> Any timeline, anybody. Wow, this is a
crazy question. I I have no clue.
>> Who comes to mind first? Like
>> I can make some funny jokes, I feel
like, but I'll refrain.
>> Okay,
>> but if I could be anybody.
>> Oh, no.
Cuz it's like what what am I being them
for? Or is it like for their lifestyle,
for their skill set?
>> It' be up to you just on who you would
like want to see your your their life
through like their body. I feel like I
was I was just watching a Michael
Jackson concert. I'm like, what would it
feel like to know all those dance moves
and be able to sing like that? I think
that would be pretty insane to do. So, I
was like, I think that would be
interesting.
>> Yeah. If I could steal like just the
tech in their brain,
>> it would probably be some like wrestler
like probably Adam SaitF or something
like this or some crazy judoka with some
like um like who would be a crazy judoka
to kind of No, I think I would pick Adam
SaitF, bro. Imagine and I would just
basically try just wrestle as much as
possible so I could figure out what
combos he had, you know?
>> I feel like that would be great.
>> It seems like you're more you're leaning
more towards the wrestling side. Like I
I saw you you used to you trained with
uh some Olympic wrestlers in Japan if
I'm not mistaken.
>> Yeah. How was that?
>> Uh it's awesome. I I'm trying to plan my
next trip over. But yeah, bro. I got
I've been doing a lot of Greco recently
cuz they just murdered me. So I I feel
like
>> super interesting, super useful. So
yeah, it was great. I I mean all thanks
to Kenta, you know, bro. I was in a room
and there were four four Paris Olympic
gold medalists in one room. I was like,
"This is ridiculous. I can't believe I'm
here." So, it was pretty cool.
>> Um, a little off topic, but like um when
it comes to wrestling or even
conditioning, what are you doing outside
of the gym to get, you know, your body
in proper shape and being able to do
those types of moves?
>> Yeah. Yeah, I mean I have like a
strength and conditioning coach that
I've been working with since slightly
before CGI1. Um his name is Kurt
Tropiano and I've been I mean it's been
a few years actually now so it doesn't
feel like it's been a few years but
>> time moving
>> seems to be Yeah, it seems to be that
way. But um he's great, you know. Um it
I really noticed cuz before I was
getting injured quite a bit like
especially my knees. I feel like I've
always been quite flexible, but I think
I maybe lacked stability and so I feel
like lifting consistently made it a lot
better for me in terms of injury
prevention and that all that. Um, so
yeah, I work with him. He does my
program. He writes me a program every
like two like month and a half, two
months, stuff like this. And it's great
cuz if I'm traveling, I can be like,
"Yo, there's I don't have this
equipment. Can you switch it out?" Oh,
yo, I'm injured here. can you adjust my
program? Stuff like this. It's pretty
awesome. And then he does breath work.
>> And so, yeah, pretty I'm quite happy.
>> So, are you able to do like the Hicks
and Gracie type of breathing
type?
>> No,
type of uh breath work or what kind of
breath work are you?
>> Yeah, sometimes. So that's I mean I
think he uses breath work um to kind of
I don't know what would be the right way
to describe it to kind of okay if you
need to calm yourself down or if you
need to hype yourself up stuff like this
and you know like when you compete
people have rituals and so you make
breath work part of the ritual and stuff
like this so then you can get into the
mindset or the state that you want to be
in when you compete and so on. um and
stuff like this, you know.
>> Do you have any of those things that you
do pre-match or getting ready for a
training session that you like doing
before you step on the mat?
>> Yeah, there's quite a few things that I
like, you know, I'll kind of sequence a
bunch of small things that I feel like,
okay, this means I'm taking this [ __ ]
seriously, you know. Uh some breathing
that I'll do, right? Um basically just
kind of amping myself up. not not like
like like a crazy amount but just kind
of awaken the nervous system I guess. Um
and then just small stuff you know like
uh you'll do some little rituals to make
it so that okay I only do this when I'm
trying to lock in.
>> So yeah
>> the next question I have on my my note
not not sheet here is like what do you
remember your hardest role that you've
ever had?
>> Hardest role that I've ever had.
Wow. Well, this is this this is
so that's interesting because it
wouldn't be a role where you're just
getting annihilated cuz if you're
getting annihilated, it's not even that
tiring. So, it'd have to be something
like
I think one of the hardest like the most
tired I've ever been was my third place
match at Asian Trials against this guy
named Barack Sarman. And bro, because
this was like I swear it was like five
minutes after me and Kent going into
overtime and I was exhausted, bro. I
could I was too tired to guard pass. I
remember being on top and I'm like I
want to guard pass but I feel incapable
of it. So I that that [ __ ] forced me I
guess that made me dig deep a little
bit. Um that was hard. I remember I was
like I can barely walk. I felt so tired.
So I got that's not a role but cuz it
was like I I had my match with Kent and
like five minutes after they're on for
the bronze medal. I'm like [ __ ]
>> So what are you telling yourself in that
type of moment? Even though you you want
to do something but you can't like
what's what what's going on? Like your
body's just not working with you.
What can you do?
>> I don't know. I like because I I ended
up what did I do in that match? Um did I
take his back or I I did something. Bro,
it's some crazy there's some crazy
exchanges. I almost got taken down and I
somehow like didn't and I reversed it. I
don't even remember how I won the match
to be fair. Um
I think I took us back, man. I mean,
stuff like this, you know, you're in the
moment. You're not even thinking about
what's happening, you know? It's I have
to think about I have to look back or
watch a video to figure out what
happened. You know, sometimes you're
just uh in in the moment and you I have
no clue what happened. Um, especially in
moments like these, you know, it's
that's
>> Yeah, it's easy to get lost in the sauce
a little bit. Um,
>> exactly.
>> My last question that I have right here
is uh what what what do you think that
you would be doing if you didn't have
jiu-jitsu? Like what career path were
you set on when you were younger? Did
you have anything set up? Like you
wanted to be a a doctor or you wanted in
school you were good at a certain
subject. Was there anything like that?
>> Man, I have no clue. like jiu-jitsu,
like I said, jiu-jitsu is the first
thing that I got good at, you know, so I
I have no clue what would have happened,
you know, probably nothing good, but
um
ah I I have really no clue. I feel quite
fortunate that I had something to like
actually spend my time doing that I
enjoyed, that I was good at. So in
school, I mean, I was decent, right? I
mean, I had some teachers that I liked
and I tried to do well in those
subjects. Um, but I mean
I liked, you know, it's like you don't
really have a personality at that point,
you know? You need to do something
something real to have a personality.
What my personality is what playing GTA
5 and hang out with my friends, you
know?
>> Yeah, it's a lot of our personality
growing up for sure.
Not
>> a lot of XP to make decisions with,
but
>> I feel like you need a
Yeah, I
could have been a lot. I think I like to
think that I would have done something
like productive, useful, stuff like
this, but honestly, I I wouldn't be able
to tell you. It'd be
Yeah. Thank you, man.
>> I think you're really known for your
intellect. I was asking a few guys
around at the gym like, "Oh, have you
heard of Joseph Chan Lobby?" Like, "Oh,
yeah. No, Joseph Cham like what would
you ask him if you had the opportunity?"
And uh one guy, shout out cross from the
gym, he asked me how you're able to
think of things or create techniques and
how how were you able to develop those
things? You know, it's kind of like a
puzzle and you're able to find those
pieces. Like did you have that skill
right away or um what stuck out to you
where you're able to huh maybe I'm
really good at this thing and other
people are kind of having issues? Like
when did that click?
>> I mean I think when you're a kid you're
like I was like pretty athletic. I can
move well. Um, and you know, if you're
decently athletic and you can be quite
intuitive, I think it makes up for a
lot. So, like in my like when I started
training, bro, there I did so many
things that I didn't even know existed.
I'm kind of shocked now that I did them.
It's stuff I don't even do now. It's
like, oh, you're arm baring one side,
you switch to the arm bar on the other
side. It's nothing I ever learned, but I
just did it. Um, so on one hand it's
like so like a lot of me trying to be a
good teacher is like kind of um
deconstructing this intuition. And now
that I've been around for like a while,
there's there's not too many things that
surprise me or that that are too new.
You know, obviously I there are things
in wrestling in particular as well as
actually there's a lot of things that
are new, but it's more like in the
details as opposed to in like the macro
positions, you know, like there's no
guard that I there's very rarely a time
where I'm like, "Wow, I've never seen or
heard of this guard before." You know,
it's not going to be something like
this, but it's going to be like, "Oh,
wow. I never knew you could play play
this position like that. I never knew
you could uh play with that type of
grip. I never knew you were trying to uh
do this to my knee, whatever. Stuff like
this. Um and with wrestling, there's a
lot that I don't know. So, I'm trying to
learn a lot of this. Um in judo as well.
I'm I'm kind of interested in judo as of
late and I'm I'm watching a lot of ghee
stuff to be fair. So, trying to get
better at the ghee. Um
so, back to your question. I mean, is
there something
I don't know? I guess it's a bit of
both. a bit of intuition and then a bit
cuz like a lot of times like if I can
especially because I've been training
since I was quite young, right? If I can
see something, I can try to do it and
then if I can't do it, I go back to the
video and see what I'm not doing right.
But a lot of times I can kind of just do
it. Um and then I don't necessarily pick
up on all the small details and then
that's when I teach it and then I'm
like, "Okay, then they're having issues
with this and then I can be, okay, then
you have to put your foot there." Um so
it's a bit of a combination of both.
It's a bit of intuition and a bit of
research, you know. You're like, "Oh,
wow. How come like how how how should I
pass the style of guard?" You know, so
then you look up, okay, how how have
people historically passed the style of
guard and etc., etc.
>> Mhm. Yeah. It seems like you you take it
to like a different level of just being
able to you know calculate each move and
that I think that's what interests a lot
of people and that's how you know I was
able to see I think it was like a it was
like two years ago where I saw their
first it was on the B team channel was
like you know how to pass um anyone's
guard was the title or something like
that. Yeah. The longer hair without Leon
kit like who is this guy just like the
way you broke things down it just it was
very interesting. and he kind of just
like he had this kind of like this vibe
where it's just like I trust this guy.
This guy I feel like he knows what he's
talking about. And that's kind of like
the vibe I got. And the more the more
that I watch it seem seems like you
really have a good way of you know
teaching breaking things down for
someone who's you know I know a lot of
these guys who've been training they've
been training 20 plus years 15 years you
know you kind of took over the scene in
a short period of amount of time. it
feels like the the the talent was was
there to be to begin with. So, um that's
that was kind of what piqued my
interest. And um with you doing this uh
with you with the the new gym, are you
also interested in taking kind of the
social media route that you know you
kind of uh had with B Team and Simpleman
type uh type of stuff? Are you
interested in doing that yourself?
Yeah, I mean, um
I I would like for the gym to have a
social media presence and stuff like
this. And it's just figuring out the
logistics of who's going to do that
stuff like this, you know, cuz
all in all, I'm not going to be the one
recording and editing. This is skill
sets that I don't have, things that I'm
not really willing to do, you know. Um,
but back to what you were saying, I
think a bit before, but I feel like I
guess the reason why
I I guess well, cuz you were saying
taking it a little deeper and something
that people have said to me and then the
kind of rant I go on is like like, "Oh,
I keep getting my guard passed." And
then and then I guess you you'd want to
take it a layer deeper and anytime you
have a problem, it should be addressed
like this, right? Any type of problem
you have like like for example, what's a
problem you have in your training,
right? Just describe
uh something
>> um just getting uh my deahiba taken out
and then getting knee cut past is a
problem that I'm currently having.
>> Yeah. So like let's say this you keep
getting knee cut. This is already good.
You know, I I think the way you already
think about that problem is a lot better
than a lot of the ways I've been asked.
People like, wow, this guy keeps passing
my guard, you know. I'm like, what is he
passing your guard with? And they're
they don't know.
>> I'm like, this is crazy, you know? But,
okay, they beat your deaha, they're knee
cutting you. That's already a great step
in the direction of a solution. Then
you're like, okay, what can I do to stop
him from being able to break my
delahiva? Okay, then maybe there's you
explore that. Okay, when he breaks my
dehiva, what else can I go into? Okay,
maybe you can use an R guard. Maybe you
can pummel your foot. Maybe you can try
like extend his legs. Okay, he's going
for this knee cut. How can I prevent the
knee cut? Okay, maybe I take a
twoon-one. Maybe I go for this like
cross lad or etc., etc. And then, okay,
once I get knee cut, are is there some
way I can recover? Is there some way
where if he wins the grip with upper
body, then I can make it so that he
can't finish the knee cut? It's just
there's so many of these like little
like paths you can go down that I feel
like this is what it takes to be able to
solve problems you know and I think um
maybe because like from an early stage
of my career I guess I was watching
instructionals and then I would just
basically troubleshoot the
instructionals and I couldn't ask these
people in the instructionals yo what am
I doing wrong you know I had to like
watch my roles I had to think about my
roles and so on and so on and so it
forced me to have to be able to perform
that type of uh problem solving. And I
think that's something that really helps
me a lot, you know, um in terms of being
able to improve and all that type of
stuff. So yeah, I guess like cuz you
asked me the previous question and I
wasn't really happy with it um the
answer cuz it's like a intuition plus
research, but I feel like this is a
little bit more further down that kind
of problem solving path and then like
for examp
>> Yeah. Uh, and then something I encourage
in the gym, you know, like if we do a
class, um, we do some specifics and then
with the specifics, I always give time
for people to talk about the round. And
this is something that I I I like. Um,
so like let's say you do a round with
your partner, like you're on top for 3
minutes, bottom for 3 minutes, and then
I put a discussion period. The reason I
do this is to have people become
thinkers. You know, I don't want
everyone to have to ask me um how to
deal with this problem. you know, I'm
happy to answer these questions, but
your first reaction shouldn't be, "Okay,
let me ask Joseph." You know, it should
be, "Let me think if I can think of a
solution to this problem." And then you
try to troubleshoot it. Then you mess
around. Okay, what if I do this? Oh,
wait. This seems to work. Oh, no. But if
you do that, no, it doesn't. And then
after going through that, then I
encourage people to ask me, you know,
but too many times I see a lot of
people, they're just like, "Yeah, man.
What do I do here?" And they haven't
thought about it at all. I'm like, "You
could just find the zips." And then it's
it's a process that I think a lot of
people don't necessarily partake in that
I think is so important when it comes to
getting better.
>> Right. And I feel like from a lot of the
podcasts I've listened to that dialogue
period. Uh could I get some examples of
what kind of dialogue or prompts you
know you could have for people to talk
discuss about the role. A lot of the
people you have have a crazy role or you
have like a you know you're out of
breath and you know you go get your
water or something. you really don't
talk to the other person like how can
you open up a conversation to to open
that up?
>> Yeah. So I mean the prompt I give people
when I'm doing this uh this head thing.
So I asked okay now talk to your
training partners about the round. What
went well? What didn't? What were some
problems and possible solutions? And so
these are all things to think about.
Okay, what went well? Okay, if nothing
went well, okay, then what went wrong?
Okay. Um that that's wrong. So I guess
that's a problem. And then what are some
possible solutions?
you know, and so it kind of gives you a
guide for how to approach discussing the
round. Okay. So, wow. Yeah, bro. That
knee cut you did was sick. How did you
time that? Okay. And then he's like,
"Okay, how did I time this?" Um, yeah, I
noticed you're posting here and it just
gave me the underhook. Stuff like this,
you know? So, often I'll start with like
when I'm talking to someone about the
round, I'm like I usually talk about,
okay, wow, this if they did anything
good in the round, I try to talk about
that first because I'm curious. I'm
like, "Oh, what were you thinking here?
Why did you do that?" Or, "What was your
thought process when attacking this?"
Um, like for example, today uh my friend
put uh picked up a single leg on me
quite a few times in around. And then I
was able to pull my foot out. And this
is a guy who has a really sick single
leg. You know, I've trained with him for
years. And only today did I think about
I was like, "Okay, he he's using his
thighs to pinch on my foot. This is
something that's so annoying. You know,
I can't pull out. It's hard for me to
hand fight." And so today suddenly I was
like, "Okay, I'm going to try and move
him. I'm hopping on one leg, but I'm
going to try either make him step
forward or back so that his legs are
forced to move so he can't pinch on my
foot." And I split my leg out every
time. And I was like, "Oh." And he asked
me, "What am I doing?" I'm like, "Yeah,
I don't know. I just started doing this
today." Um, something small like that.
And it was through this this discussion
that now now he knows what's happening
too. So now he can now come back next
time to then think about, okay, how can
I deal with this when he does this to
me? And so on and so on. So, I think
it's just good for everyone to have
those. And so, those are some examples
that I literally had today um of what I
guess we're talking about.
>> Wow. That's that's a great example. I
mean, having to train with him for a few
years and you're able to have that um
does open up a lot of like variables,
right? I feel like sometimes, you know,
you have to think kind of like a
computer sometimes when it comes to
jiu-jitsu. Certain pathways. Um, you
know, I've only been training for a few
years, so you know, the technique and
the level is completely different. Um,
from what I'm used to, I mostly train in
the ghee, so there's a lot of like, you
know, collar grips and, you know, a lot
of different types of sweeps and stuff
that I really enjoy. I was very curious
on, um, why you still train in the ghee?
Um, is it for just to have, you know,
more tools to your basket to be able to,
you know, evolve or what what what do
you enjoy most about ghee training?
>> I don't know. What comes to my mind is
just the love of the game, you know?
It's I'm not here to like uh I'm not
here to like try to establish myself as
like I need to be I need to win ADC. I
need to be the best ever, you know. I
just I just like the game, you know? So,
if there's different game modes I can
play, I'm playing,
>> you know, stuff like this.
>> Well, I play. Yeah, I'll do judo. I'll
do wrestling. I'll train Greco. Bro, I
was training in Japan, bro. The warm-ups
were crazy. I was doing the part terra
stuff. I was like bellying out. They're
trying to turn me. I feel like my ribs
are going to break and I'm I'm not
ignoring this because I just think it's
interesting.
>> I don't care that it might not
necessarily translate to me being a
better jiu-jitsu competitor. I'm just
seems fun. So,
>> it's Yeah. I guess
>> how important is that to keep to keep
things fun? Like what as especially for
a high level athlete like yourself like
how important is it to keep things fun
during training?
>> I have no clue. I mean for me it's
important because otherwise I'd probably
quit you know but for some other people
if you're motivated by I need to win
ADCC maybe that's what keeps you here
you know maybe it's not doesn't have to
be fun for you. I don't know but for me
it's just you know that's why like I
feel like my game is the way it is
because I I'll get bored you know. I
feel like my game has kind of branched
off into so many different things. Like
I have a bit of guard, bit of passing,
bit of standing, and so on and so on.
Like people know me for my tripod
passing, but now I do a lot of outside
passing, but now I do a lot of overunder
or stack passing. I I I'm not I don't
have these things where I'm like, "Okay,
I'm a tripod passer now." You know,
>> cuz
I wasn't I wasn't a tripod passer.
people knew me because I did try by
passing, but it wasn't like, you know,
uh I guess maybe for it's my impression
like people will will put you into these
boxes, I guess, because that's what they
know you for, you know. Um and maybe
this is my impression of other people.
Maybe other people are also like this,
but have put been put into these boxes,
you know.
>> But yeah, I just it's fun doing new
things, you know.
>> I I like that. I feel like that's a
different type of uh mindset and
mentality of just being like just free
in in the way you want to explore
things. And I that's why I really enjoy
your type of stuff just because you know
you you go into what you're curious
about and instead of just like oh I'm a
systematically go to this play this spot
this spot. I'm just like the same way
where I'm just like I like this. I'm g
just go this way and see how it goes and
if it doesn't go well I'm gonna go this
way. That's that's how I've I've noticed
that my tendencies are when it comes to
certain things. So with that with that
being said, um where do you where do you
feel like jiu-jitsu is headed when it
comes to you know the popularity of the
sport and you know big events like CJI
and stuff like that. Do you feel like
it's sustainable or do you feel like uh
they have to go towards kind of like the
traditional um you know set type of
promotions like UFC BJJ is is uh kind of
the main promotion now that's backed by
the UFC. So financially feels like
they're they're back and be able to have
be solid but they do have exclusive
contracts as well. So, you know, there's
a there's a couple different variables
when it comes to that type of stuff. Do
you feel like it's headed in a good
direction um as as a whole?
>> I have no clue, man. I mean, bro, I'm
young. I haven't been around for that
long. So, I I don't really know what
these promotions like,
you know, it's a lot of things of what
you're being told like, oh, exclusive
contracts are bad, but then
cuz then maybe I guess you want a free
market, right? cuz then that's the best
for the consumer. This is like
economics, right? Cuz like even just the
idea of the Olympics is terrible to me,
you know? Like no one gets paid by the
Olympics,
you know? You only get paid by your
country. So that's not even there's
nothing I'm I'm not sure what to look up
to. And I guess okay, maybe the NBA is
good. I'm not sure. All the players get
paid a lot of money, NFL, whatever. I
guess maybe that that's a good thing. So
then how can we make it more like that?
I mean, I guess the MBA they have
exclusive contracts, I think. Um, I'm
not familiar with the business model.
>> Mhm.
>> So, but like for example, I wouldn't
compare to the Olympics cuz Olympics is
like pretty insane. I feel like it's
lowkey a bit of a scam cuz it's just
like if you I think for an American
citizen, if you win an Olympic gold
medal, you get 25K from your government
and that's it. You have the and they're
like, "Oh, you're paid in publicity."
But that sounds like the biggest scam
ever, you know?
>> Yeah.
>> Which maybe you are paid in publicity.
You're like, you win an Olympic gold
medal, so many people are looking at
you. But
>> man, I I don't know if I buy that. Um,
and then if you win an Olympic gold
medal for Singapore, you get a million
dollars. Whoa. But nothing's coming from
the Olympic Committee itself or not
coming from the Olympic organization.
Um,
so I don't know. It could be good cuz
then, okay, maybe the UFC is trying to
do an NBA thing, you know. Okay, you
have people on exclusive contracts, you
can pay them. I don't really know how
it's going to work. Uh, and I I don't
see, I'm not an extremist, you know. I'm
not going to be like, "Oh, it needs to
be this way. It needs to be that way."
Cuz I'm pretty sure I don't know what's
going on, you know? Um maybe in 20 years
where I've been around for a little bit,
I'll have more opinions on this. But I
kind of just have to see how it's going
to play out. You know, obviously I'm
good friends with Craig, but then like
Craig, I guess he's doing it to cuz he
wants to grow the sport. Um
and I guess that makes sense, you know,
but I don't know. I don't rush to make
my opinions, I think. Oh,
>> okay. I I think that's a good thing
honestly cuz you know a lot of people
you know everybody has an opinion
they'll say it right away and I I I feel
like as a person who just watches the
sport I feel like competition is a good
thing. I feel like having multiple
organizations is a good thing as long as
athletes are getting paid or getting
compensated. I think the question that I
would have for you is like what are some
good indicators that you could take
jiu-jitsu into like a full-time thing?
like what what do you have to have like
pre prerequisites to be able to be like,
"Okay, I'm I'm good enough to just do
jiu-jitsu and train all the time."
>> I think you have to be a teacher,
honestly. Um I don't think it's at the
point where you can just be a
competitor. Um you have to People have
to think there's something you can teach
them. Otherwise, there's it's
>> it's hard to just be like It's not like
you're going to be in the NBA and you're
just paid to play. You know what?
There's there's very few places where
you're going to be like, uh, UFC BJ is
kind of doing this where you're you're
you're getting paid to just do the
jiu-jitsu,
but other than that, I mean, ADCC
happened twice a year and it used to be
10K to win ADCC gold, you know, that's I
mean, it's cool. That's not a lot of
money, you know? You can't live two
years off of that. So, and then how how
are you going to make money? It's like
you're probably going to have to be
teaching people. You're going to have to
be able to do seminars. So I think once
you're able to do seminars and you have
the option to grind for it, you know,
you can grind to make your money cuz
let's say you make a do a seminar on
every weekend or once a month or
something like this. If you can do this
and people are interested enough in you
to have you out for a seminar and
they're willing to pay you money. Um
that's kind of what I think it means to
be a full-time jiu-jitsu guy. You know,
otherwise you might just be rich and you
can just compete a bunch. That could be
it. And maybe you're full-time, but I
know people who are just like doing
IBGFS and but
you know they're they have money, you
know, but for me to be able to do this
full-time, it's cuz people are
interested in me as uh a teacher and
people are willing to learn from me and
that's how I've been able to do this.
>> Do you structure your classes in uh
Chinese or is are they in English or how
are you able to
>> both? Both. So, I'll just do English or
Chinese first and then switch to the
other if there's if it's only Chinese
people, then I'm just going to teach in
Chinese. Um, and then yeah, you can just
translate it.
>> Do you do you normally think in Chinese
or do you think in English? I remember
my Spanish teacher be like, I I always
think in Spanish. I'm like, I never
really thought the language that I think
in, but what about for you? I
>> think I mostly think in English, you
know? I I spoke English at home and
stuff like this. M but like if you're in
a role are you thinking like are you
thinking in English like if you're self
narration is it English words or
>> I I don't even think I'm narrating you
know I'm going like
>> I feel like it's more pictures and
feelings and positions
>> I might have to start thinking I never
really think in pictures to be honest
it's more of like a self like I'm
reading a book like I'll tell myself
like oh do this I'll do that. That's
interesting.
>> Yeah. Yeah. because I feel like, okay,
if I'm in this position, let's say for
today, I was trying to spam like spam a
fireman's carry. So, I'm not thinking
about, okay, I want this leg forward. I
I I have this picture of, okay, I want
him to get this grip on me, and then I I
want to be able to maybe get him pushing
into me, but I'm not thinking the words,
okay, I want him to push into me.
>> It takes too much time.
>> I don't know. Yeah, maybe. I don't know.
Um, but
you know, it's more I guess I'm I'm
thinking about a feeling, you know, the
feeling of him pushing into me. I'm not
thinking about the words. Okay. I want
him to push into me and then I'm going
to I guess I'm
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. It's a little a little abstract
way of Sorry, I feel like that was kind
of like a weird kind of question, but I
I was very curious on what
>> No, no, no. No, it makes sense. You
know, I mean, I haven't been asked this,
so I thought it was interesting.
>> Yeah. And uh what what are some like key
lessons that you feel like you've
already learned so far from just being
able to teach classes rather than I know
B team and Simple Man was kind of like a
open environment someone would teach and
you kind of be on your own doing your
own thing and you know other people have
different ways of of teaching class but
how how would you say your structure is
compared to like other gyms out there?
>> I mean we're not like full CLA, right?
Uh we don't have it's it's definitely
kind of mostly normal classes. We have
some like specific classes. I'm kind of
hesitant to call it CLA because I don't
know if that's exactly what I'm doing,
but we have some sparring classes where
it's directed and then we'll constrain
people. Um, and then most of the
classes, but I'm not going to, and right
now I don't think I want to stop
teaching technique. I like I like the
idea of CLA and a lot of stuff being
grounded in in an experience, you know,
because let's say I'm presenting you
with like all all this information, but
you have no context to put this
information. Imagine if I teach you uh
like, okay, we're going to do this
spiral lasso, grip break, and so on and
so on, but you've never been put in the
spiral lasso. Uh you've never
experienced trying to break it. There's
nothing to kind of like uh plant the
seeds of this technique. There's no soil
to plant them in, you know. So, you kind
of need a little bit of experience to be
able to teach a technique, you know. So,
I do think having some live situations
is very useful. And then I will I teach
normal classes, right? I'm teaching
instruction and all this type of stuff.
So, for example, like we have sparring
classes Tuesday, Thursday before the
noon class. And usually the way I'll set
it up is the sparring classes are going
to be in situations that are then going
to be relevant to whatever I teach in
class, you know?
>> That makes sense. And maybe kind of like
your earlier days or you know leading up
to some big competition like did you
have um like certain goals that you
wanted to reach during the training to
be able to you know making making sure
you're advancing in different positions
like did you have like a certain
position you want to work on for like a
certain week or did you kind of just
fluctuate from day to day?
>> Yeah. So, I mean, I feel like this like
people say, "Okay, I'm going to work on
this for this this this amount of time
this week, next week, all this type of
stuff." Um, I don't know. I feel like
I'm kind of against this because it
doesn't give me flexibility to like uh I
I wouldn't plan things out like this,
but I would I would honestly take it
session by session. And maybe you can
have like a broader overarching thing
where it's like, "Okay, I'm working on
standing position for this month. I'm a
little bit more okay with this. I'm
working on guard for this month. Um,
would it always have to be deli? Maybe
not. Would it always have to be double
legs? Also, probably not. Okay, maybe
you could have it. It has to have a
little bit of flexibility in the topic
that you give yourself, especially for a
longer period of time. Okay, then maybe
I'm going to be like, "Okay, I'm going
to work on chain wrestling." Okay, I can
I think you can work on chain wrestling
for for years, you know? So, as as long
as you have something that gives you a
bit of flexibility, I think you can have
you can
>> but I wouldn't plan it cuz I'm I'm a lot
of times I'm also just following my
interest, you know, like I kind of want
to work on this.
>> So now I'm just going to work on this. I
feel like I should work on this so I'm
going to work on this,
>> you know, if I feel like, oh, I'm kind
of okay with this now. I'm not really
getting many problems here in live. So
now I'm going to switch to something
else, you know. Um, yeah. I I wouldn't I
wouldn't try and make it rigid in the
sense where it's like okay this week I'm
doing this technique
but more I would more probably prefer
going into each session with an idea of
what you're trying to work on and it can
change mid session like let's say mid
session you encounter a problem that you
haven't addressed before you can switch
to dealing with that problem but as long
as you're like focused on okay what
problems are there what solutions can I
possibly use I think this is great
>> do you use caffeine before training or
you had caffeine at all. I feel like
it's you don't
>> I've never got in the habit of like
having caffeine. I think I've had
caffeine like I think in Coca-Cola they
have caffeine.
>> I've had caffeine in that sense but I'm
not like oh I need to wake up. I
basically never drink coffee, never
drink energy drinks. I guess if I eat a
term massu there's caffeine in it but
it's not like I wake up need some
caffeine you know I just wake up and I'm
up you know.
>> How important are are naps
for you? Depends how much sleep I get.
>> You get a lot of sleep or no?
>> I try. You know, usually I'll have at
least like a 9 hour window for me to try
sleep.
>> So, it's usually what I aim for.
>> Okay.
>> So, if it's less than that, usually I'll
take a nap.
>> And when you're you're having these
intense training sessions, do you feel
like a nap is necessary when you have
kind of like a long session or so just
to be able to, you know, make have
energy later in the day?
Not necessarily. Again, it's depends how
much sleep I've gotten. If I've gotten
enough sleep, not really. If I feel like
I'm a little bit tired, maybe I'll lay
down for a little bit. Not even like
proper sleep, you know. Um,
yeah, it really depends on your
schedule. As I've had times where I've
like I'm I'm training in the morning and
I'm training at night, so I don't really
have that much time to sleep at night.
Um, so then I I nap during the day and
stuff like this. I've done this type of
stuff, but if you can get enough sleep
at night, I I don't necessarily think
you have to nap. But it also just
depends on how much sleep you're
getting,
>> right?
>> When it comes to um you know, not
training jiu-jitsu, what do you like
doing on on your downtime? What's
something that you know you like to
enjoy?
>> Um I mean, there's a few things. I mean,
I'll play Street Fighter with Lynn. This
is something fun. I used to play a lot
of Gran Turismo.
Um, hang on my dog. What else? I don't
know. Eat, bro. I I I eat probably in
terms of what I do the most, it's
probably training and then eating, you
know? Um,
and then I mean, bunch of YouTube stuff
like this. Nothing crazy.
>> Who are you subscribed to? Like what are
what are some like uh go-tos when it
comes to YouTube? I feel like, you know,
I have like probably like five that
I've, you know, YouTubers I like go to
like daily. any any of them pop to your
mind?
>> I mean, there's a few, you know, there's
because YouTube's crazy. You can
basically watch everything, you know.
So, um, and then a lot of the coolest
YouTubers don't post that frequently,
you know. They're not, you know, cuz if
you're packing a lot of cool [ __ ] into
one video, you can't really do that
every day.
>> Yeah, it's hard.
>> Um, yeah. So, then sometimes I'll just
browse around. So, like for example,
what was I watching today? Sometimes
I'll watch some wrestling videos.
Sometimes I'll watch some like So, for
example, like I earn your gold medal,
probably one of my favorite channels for
wrestling right now. There's a few
others, right? Like, uh, wrestling
rabbit hole, DPS breakdown, stuff like
this. Um, but then I don't know, I also
like watching video essays, you know? So
recently, I don't know if it's just
mine, but you know, it's like, bro, I've
gotten so many recommended videos of
like car uh Mr. Beast is exactly what
Carl Marx warned us about. So like I'm
like, what is this?
>> Yeah.
>> Kind of interesting.
>> I never watched them, but I always see
him.
>> Yeah. I mean, I watched a few of these
and it's kind of it's kind of
interesting. And then I mean, let me
see. I I'll look at my watch later and
that's probably the best best reflection
of what I'm watching right now. But
there's some weird ones that are kind of
>> not necessarily evil, but yeah, let's
see. Um, okay. How to be good at uh
every fighting game.
This is And then every major Chinese god
explained in two uh 20 minutes. Okay.
And then you know the boondocks. You
know this TV show?
>> Yeah. Yeah, I do remember it. Boondoc.
watched like a video essay about the
boondocks and how it represents like
different archetypes of uh postslavery
African-Americans and stuff like this.
So, it's like this and then then I have
some wrestling videos in my watch later
and then I have some like uh okay street
fighter like press conferences and then
I have some like yeah
uh Andrew Humemerman king of gritoverse
stuff like this. It is. I don't know.
It's a bunch of random stuff. Some judo
videos. Let's see what else.
Yeah, it's
>> a little bit everything.
>> It's a bit evil Morty's entire story
explained.
>> Or like Oh, I was watching Rick and
Morty.
>> No, like in Rick and Morty. Yeah. Yeah.
And then I was watching a bunch of
explanation videos for Attack on Titan
as well because I'm like I'm still so
confused on what happened because I
stopped watching a couple years ago
because I was like well all my favorite
characters are dying and I rewatched I'm
like wow I'm still kind of confused and
so I was watching a bunch of videos
explaining the the the what basically
what's happening.
>> Yeah. Is there is there any animes you
recommend people watch?
Oh, no. I'm still I'm still waiting. I'm
still watching One Piece, you know,
waiting for that [ __ ] to finish.
>> Bro, it took me two years to catch up
and now I'm just I'm just chilling, you
know. I watch every couple months just
to so I can binge watch, you know. I
don't want to watch one episode a week.
So, maybe every 3 months I'll catch up
and then chill. Um, I don't know. I
haven't watched that many animes, but I
like Hunter Hunter stuff. There's a
bunch of cool ones. But
>> you like solo leveling, correct? If I'm
not mistaken,
>> it's pretty hype. I feel like I don't
know how it'll hold up, you know, like
over all the years, but I mean, it's
cool, you know? It's just fun
entertainment. I was watching uh
Breaking Bad recently cuz I never
watched it before.
>> Such a great show, man.
>> This shit's so cool. I I I'm I'm like I
think I'm almost at season 4 and I'm
like, "Wow, this is kind of sick."
>> Oh, you haven't finished it?
>> Uh, no, no, no, no. I've only started
watching it like a few weeks ago, so I
watch it like on the weekends and stuff.
>> Wow. I can't like imagine like the
perception of what like uh say if you're
from China watching Breaking Bad and
just thinking like are Americans just
like this? Like is this how it is?
>> You know,
>> no, I'm I'm pretty sure people don't
think that. But
>> it's a great show. The directing, the
acting, the storyline. I I I love I love
Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, Entourage.
um or some other shows I watch like um I
still haven't finished EPO um but some
some animes my brother's like big fan of
Bleach and stuff like that too. So I
there's a lot of Yeah, shout out. Um but
I feel like u you know animes have a lot
of correlation with like character arcs
and you know kind of motivates you know
certain people to be like it's time it's
time to lock in. I'm a I'm a
>> for sure for sure bro I saw a few video
essays about this. Wait, let me see if I
can find it. should be in my watch
later, but it's like what it means to
truly lose yourself. And then it's like
some some like some like anime
breakdowns of all these different
characters and how they have these
different trends. It's pretty funny,
honestly. I enjoyed it. It was good fun.
>> Do you watch videos that people make
about you on YouTube? There's quite a
few.
>> Um, not really. I I think when it when
there first started being videos of me,
I was I watched them. I watched an AI
one recently. It was pretty crazy. I was
like, it's like some dude just generated
a video with AI and I sent it to Kenta
cuz Kenta was in it as well. It was like
it was really weird. Um, but not not so
much. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So, see
the most realistic depiction of the
best. Why the strongest always falls
short. And this one's like a solo like
one's like a solo leveling thumbnail.
The other is like a what's it called?
They have like a what's it called?
Jiu-Jitsu Kais and stuff like this. And
then also another video, how Chenl Long
is reshaping the Chinese badmintington
team or something like this. So just
weird stuff.
>> I think shows are cool, you know.
>> Oh yeah. I mean, I might have to start
watching video essays now cuz I really
don't A lot of my stuff is like MMA
related, UFC related. Um that's kind of
where my algorithm's at right now. But,
you know, every now and then I'll see a
Joseph Chen video. And I really enjoy
those uh videos that Roit made uh with
uh with you and those vlogs. Um, if we
could talk about that for a little bit,
like how was that experience kind of
just like being like documenting
documenting the whole process before
like before CGI or even knowing about
CGI in the first place? Like um, how was
it kind of uh, you know, with that?
>> Yeah, I mean it was pretty awesome. I
mean, I've known Roid for like a really
long I've known him since I was like 16
years old, you know, so it's it's pretty
cool uh, to be able to do that type of
stuff with him. And then yeah, I mean
it's cool with Rohead. It's easy cuz you
know it doesn't really feel like,
you know, I don't know. It doesn't feel
like anyone's interviewing you. It feels
very organic in that sense. So that's I
kind of like those videos, you know.
I've been recorded a few times and
they're like, "Hey man, um can you walk
in the door again?" And bro, I hate [ __ ]
like this. I'm like I feel like an
actor, you know? With Rohead, it's like
it's very organic and
>> I feel like it feels quite um authentic,
I guess, you know, he I think he
captures our like captures us quite well
in that like it's not just you're this
competitor, but you're also pretty like
all this small stuff, you know? Like I
know in the recent one he did with me at
the at trials is like me and Lynn
arguing about chairs and stuff like
this.
>> How many chairs do we want? Two or three
chairs.
>> Okay.
It's like 1.7K for a chair.
>> Can you show that chair earlier?
>> 1.7K R&B, bro.
>> R&B. That's like 200 bucks. You have to
see homeboy's house, bro. He has statues
in his house.
>> What are you talking about, bro? You
have like crazy [ __ ] in your house. I
can't have a nice chair.
>> Small stuff like this.
>> My favorite part is when uh when Dimma
didn't put your nail clipper in the
right compartment. That was my favorite
part.
Yeah. So stuff like this, you know, I
feel like he makes it feel very human.
>> For sure. And uh do you feel like do you
feel like this is important to have like
a part of your kind of like character
arc, you know, being able to have these
stuff like documented and would you
recommend other people kind of do the
same thing to be able to get them get
their name out there?
I guess I mean I think one of the best
decisions I made for my career was going
to be team and the kind of the publicity
that that gave you know there's a lot of
social media and stuff like this and I
think this is great for anyone's career
you know you kind of have to be known
cuz um
kind of like what I said earlier you
want to be known as ideally a teacher
cuz people want to learn from you and
that's how you're going to make money
you know you're not going to it's going
to be hard to make a living from just
competition exclusively.
>> Um so you I think it's quite important.
>> I think I was lucky that I didn't have
to actively look for it. You know, I
went to B team cuz I like the vibes. I
wanted to train and that happened and
the people there liked me and so they
gave me opportunities to then be
presented to the public and it was very
helpful for me, you know. I never had to
really find my own cameraman to record
me, you know. I feel like this is almost
like a I feel kind of embarrassed if I
had to do that, you know.
>> Yeah. Can we talk about Ren for a little
bit? I know he's kind he was the one
that traveled with you to um to Texas
and you know experienced everything with
you. Um how how uh how has your
relationship with Ren been? And you know
if uh people don't haven't heard of of
Ren, how would you uh describe your
relationship?
>> Um I guess he's technically I guess he's
my business partner, right? But more
practically, I feel like um I don't
know, he's acted as a lot of things for
me, you know, my manager and my handler.
I feel like he's done he's he's helped
me a lot, you know.
>> So, what would I describe him as? It's
hard, you know.
>> Where'd you meet him or
>> I met him actually at a seminar of mine,
you know, my first seminar ever. uh I
met him, you know, and then I started
training with him and some other people
and then we went to the US together and
stuff like this, you know. Um yeah, and
then
I guess
well a lot a lot has happened to be
fair, but yeah,
>> he's your boy though. I'm I'm think
>> he's my boy. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Like
sometimes I catch like Well, it's funny.
We bicker like a like a married couple
sometimes, you know, just like this. The
chair thing is a great example of our
relationship, you know. But so far, I'm
I'm quite happy with um our arrangement,
you know, like
I haven't really gotten sick of him, you
know. I'm still surprised to be honest.
I hope he's not sick of me yet, but I'm
Yeah,
quite happy with it
>> for sure. Well, I want to thank you for
your time, uh, Joseph. Uh it was it was
an honor talking to you and you know
you're you're uh you've helped out a lot
of people along the way just figuring
out problems along their jiu-jitsu
journey and it's I'm glad that um I was
able to talk to you. Shout out to Ren
for you know you know um allowing this
to happen.
>> Exactly. My manager.
>> Yeah the manager. So um that that's
that's pretty much all for me and uh
just want to thank you and I hope to
have you on sometime in the future. You
know
>> for sure. Thanks for taking the time.
Ah,
>> I'm sure it's a little late for you, so
I appreciate it.
>> All right, man.
>> And yeah, my pleasure, man. Yeah, it was
great. I enjoyed it.
>> Is there anything that
>> Thanks for Lynn. Shout out to Lynn.
>> Yeah, shout out Lynn. Is there any uh
anything that the fans should be looking
out for in the near future when it comes
to
>> um going?
>> I don't know. I mean, most of my stuff,
I mean, if you want to learn from me,
Fanatics, uh nomadic grappling online, I
don't it's just nomadic grappling, but
that's where all my teaching is. It's
kind of where the Patreon move. um
aesthetic. If you want like all the the
merch and stuff like I guess I guess
this is aesthetic, right? The dry bag
stuff like this, but nothing else. You
know, that's kind of Yeah. Get you the
dry bag. Don't be disgusting, right?
>> What do you do for your dirty gear? I
mean, cuz you if you train ghee, you're
going to need a bigger dry bag, right?
>> Well, luckily the where I train like the
commute's only like 10 minutes, so I'll
just go and just go home and just wash
the clothes. So, it's not
>> Do you wear the clothes when in your
car?
>> No. Or I I take a separate I take a
separate uh outfit when I change out and
then I have like a a gold BJJ thing. So,
it has a little separate compartment for
the ghee. So, it's like
>> See, this is I think this is cool. This
is cool. The issue with a separate
compartment and instead of a separate
bag is it's much harder to clean. You
know, like I have like a 20 L dry bag um
and I can fit a ghee in that. And the
great thing with that, if if it's
disgusting, I just throw in the wash or
I put it out in the sun. With a bag,
it's kind of harder to do that.
>> Yeah.
>> If it has like a separate
>> Is there any tips and tricks like that
you have that a lot of people don't do?
Like normally I I'll like show up to
class with my ghee pants on so I don't
have to like change into my ghee pants
like when I get to the gym. Like is
there anything that you have like
similar to that that you just you do
differently from everybody else or No,
>> to be honest, no. Actually, I noticed
people do this. They rock up wearing
their rash guards and stuff, but I
always get changed at the gym. I don't
know why. I I just
>> I feel it's kind of weird to wear my my
jiu-jitsu stuff when I'm not in the gym.
>> Yeah.
>> But I don't wear the ghee top or
anything. Sometimes I'll wear I'll wear
a hoodie over the rascard, so it's not
kind of like I'm wearing a rash
everywhere.
>> To be fair, you're in your car, you
know, like we we were living different
lives, you know.
>> Um I used to like commute by the subway
to the gym, you I'm not I feel like it'd
be kind of weird to be wearing ghee
pants on the subway in your car,
whatever you want, you know?
>> Yeah.
>> But if I'm taking the subway, bro, I'm
not doing that, you know? So, it's maybe
a little different.
>> That was one thing I wanted to add to
was uh the commute. You talked about
having a long commute. Do you feel like
that also benefited your jiu-jitsu game,
just being able to think uh about
jiu-jitsu class right after jiu-jitsu?
>> Two things I think benefited my
jiu-jitsu game, Instagram and YouTube
shorts didn't exist at the time. So you
couldn't just I bro I I hate this [ __ ]
with like a with like a passion, you
know? And then yes, the long commute. I
kind of miss my long commute because now
I'm like I don't really have that
commute time anymore by me. I guess I
have a lot of free time on my computer
here. But bro, cuz I used to watch
instructions on my phone, bro. I feel
like if there were like Instagram reels
back then, I would be I'd be cooked, you
know? I I I don't like I don't think of
myself as someone who's like like I I
get sucked into it sometimes and I'm
like what just happened? I'm like I wish
I could just delete this, you know? So
>> that's how I feel very often. So I mean
you're not you're not alone. It only
feels like the the content's only
getting better and I feel like it's it's
a crazy like machine for sure. But I
mean, when it comes to like
instructionals, like um you have some
some tips of just like screen recording
or just watching in two times speed,
which I feel like is pretty good cuz I
don't I don't know anybody who's
watching the instructionals all the way
through and through. I feel like most of
the information like I'll forget and
then I I'll get to class I'm like what
what did it I just I remember certain
sayings like with Craigslist is like uh
escape um instructional just little
movements lead to big movements and
that's kind of like what I'll tell
myself during class like those are the
things that help me um but yeah
>> no I think roughly the same thing. I
think the screen recording is a huge
help. You know, stuff like that. You
just little quick snippets before class.
I might do that in between drilling.
Like if I'm drilling during open
training, you know, I'm like, I'm trying
to practice this thing that I saw and
then I just can't remember how to do it.
Then I'll pull up the screen recording
and then practice it there, you know?
>> I feel like that that's that's pretty
huge. And um do you still feel like you
have the need to watch instructionalss
or do you feel like you're kind of
already set? You already have a solid
foundation to to build from? No, I still
watch uh not as much as I used to when I
was younger, but I still watch
instructional. So, like recently I'm on
Lucas Canard's Patreon, so I've been
trying to go through that. I mean,
there's a lot of good stuff there. Um
I've watched I was also watching Ryan
Hall's outside funk instructional and
then just watching some like standup
wrestling, but that's more less
instructional, more like tape and stuff
like this. Mhm. And when you're in
class, are you like
when or I guess maybe back back in the
day when you had like an instructor like
what was your your mindset when someone
was teaching a class? Are you thinking
of if you performing the move while
they're teaching it or are you thinking
of like their skeletons moving? Like
I've always go into class, I'm like
think from a different try to think from
a different perspective like if this is
just for ghee or if it's just for no
gee. Like what is the best way to be
open-minded when it comes to just being
in the training room and retain as much
information as you can?
>> I don't know. I wouldn't think of it as
skeletons. I'm just I think of it more
like okay, what problem are they
presenting and what problem are they
solving? You know, it's like okay um cuz
that's basically everything they're
going to teach. you know,
>> it's the problem of, okay, like in a
guard passing situation, okay, how do we
beat the lasso, right? Um, what do I
have to do to beat the lasso? Either
like pummel the hand out or maybe you
can cut off to an angle, stuff like
this, you know, I don't necessarily
think of it too practically as like,
okay, he's stepping here, he's stepping
there, but it's like, uh, what effect is
your partner having on you? What effect
are you trying to have on them? It's
just something along those lines. And I
guess there's going to be like, okay,
he's moving his hand here, but I
wouldn't necessarily think of it as like
I'm thinking of stick figures or
skeletons or anything.
>> Okay. I was just curious on that. So, um
>> No, that's that's pretty much it. I
don't want to, you know, it's been a few
hours, so I just want don't want to take
too much of your time, but um I I
appreciate No worries.
>> So, you know, like, subscribe, and check
out Nomatic Grappling. Check out um you
know, the socials. get you a dry bag and
uh very excited for you to compete for
uh at ADCC. Be looking forward to
>> Yeah, appreciate it. Thanks for having
me.
>> Yes, sir.
>> All right, that concludes the episode,
guys. Thank you guys for watching. Hope
you guys enjoyed and we'll wrap it right
More from Alonzo Hernandez
UFC Emmett vs Vallejos Full Card Picks & Breakdown
Are Apex Events Actually Worth Going To?
Did That Just Happen?! UFC 328 Reaction & Full Breakdown
From Setbacks to a Title Shot | Erique Arroyo Interview
Getting to Know Youssef Zalal | Call of Duty, Training with Aljamain, Ready for a Chess Match
Ranking Celsius Flavors with Matthew ‘Tequila’ Vargas
UFC 328 is actually PEAK | Full Card Predictions
UFC Fight Night London Full Card Predictions
UFC PERTH PREDICTIONS | Y2K PICKS
UFC Seattle Full Card Predictions | Adesanya vs Pyfer