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I Suck At Jiu Jitsu Show

Josh McKinney

Jiu-Jitsu is hard. Join host Josh McKinney on his forever quest to "suck less at jiu-jitsu." Learn from high level black belts, in depth conversations, and off the wall rants by the host himself.

It is guaranteed that each episode will help you suck just a little less at jiu-jitsu, or your money back.

Josh McKinney is an accomplished adult black belt competitor with a "suck-less" mindset that can help anyone progress

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  • 24 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 1 hr 12 min
  • English

Episodes 24

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  • Thursday · 55 min

    #391 Do Master Worlds They Said. It'll be Fun They Said

    I thought Master Worlds was going to be a quick, fun trip to Vegas.Instead, I watched a brutal jumping guard injury, got delayed 14 hours, paid way too much for water, and almost coached one of my best friends out of the Master World title he had been chasing for years.This episode is basically my honest review of Master Worlds from a coach’s perspective. The injuries, the chaos, the weirdness of Vegas, the heartbreak of losing, and the stuff that actually makes the whole experience worth it.Somewhere in the middle of all of it, I got reminded what jiu jitsu competition is really about.Check at our new Skool Jiu Jitsu Curriculum: https://www.skool.com/headnodFree Mental Models Course "Jiu Jitsu for imbeciles" : bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck Register for Grappler 4 Good: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/mission-111/grapple-for-good0:00 Master Worlds Was Supposed to Be Fun2:14 The Jumping Guard Injury Problem10:21 Why I Even Went to Master Worlds13:06 My Perfect 38-Hour Vegas Trip Goes Wrong15:48 Spirit Airlines Delays Me 14 Hours19:11 Losing at Master Worlds Isn’t the End of the World23:37 The Real Reason I Went: Nick Sanders27:29 Nick’s Master World Title Run29:05 I Almost Cost My Friend a World Title30:39 “We Got Him”31:18 Maybe Jiu-Jitsu Competition DOES Matter34:14 My Honest Review of Las Vegas35:26 Vegas Is One Giant Airport Terminal37:01 $6.50 Water Is Criminal41:40 What Makes Master Worlds Awesome47:12 When Jiu-Jitsu Becomes Your Identity50:17 What Losing at Master Worlds Actually Means53:46 Master Worlds Actually Was Fun

  • September 3 · 1 hr 5 min

    #390 Former Mat Enforcer TELLS ALL

    Do jiu-jitsu schools still need mat enforcers? I think they do.I’ve spent a lot of years around jiu-jitsu schools, and for a good chunk of that time I was the guy coaches called when somebody needed to be… corrected.In this episode, I tell some of my best mat enforcer stories, including dojo stormers, fake black belts, gym bullies, getting “green lit,” and the scariest enforcement I’ve ever seen.But the real point is bigger than beating somebody up. A good mat enforcer protects the culture of the gym. A bad one can ruin it.Rener's Full Video: https://youtu.be/dcOjQBp7jX0?si=iJi6mcljbJbm0dWVCheck at our new Skool Jiu Jitsu Curriculum: https://www.skool.com/headnodFree Mental Models Course "Jiu Jitsu for imbeciles" : bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck Register for Grappler 4 Good: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/mission-111/grapple-for-good0:00 The Mats Don't Lie2:33 The Viral BJJ Callout That Started This5:50 Why Every Gym Needs a Mat Enforcer8:06 CONFESSION: I Was a Mat Enforcer10:17 I Got My First Assignment at 1510:52 Our Gym Got Dojo Stormed13:16 Coach Put Me Against the "Black Belt"14:20 What Getting "Green Lit" Means18:18 With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility23:21 The Guy Who Wouldn't Stop Hurting Students24:19 I Called in the Monster26:14 The Scariest Enforcement I've Ever Seen27:20 What Mat Enforcers Are REALLY For29:28 The Most Powerful Person Besides the Coach32:35 When My Coach Still Calls Me In34:04 The Viral Gracie University Beatdown36:07 What He Did After Losing Matters40:23 The Rule Every Mat Enforcer Should Follow45:16 Where Mat Enforcers Actually Came From46:40 Why I Was Enforcing at 15 Years Old49:56 The Dark Side of Being the Enforcer51:17 Finally Beating Your Old Mat Bully52:39 How Tough Guys Create Gym Culture57:06 The Original Old-School Mat Enforcer59:54 What a Modern Mat Enforcer Should Be1:01:59 What If YOUR Gym Has a Mat Bully?

  • August 27 · 1 hr 11 min

    #389 "How many Blue Belts Could I Beat in a Row?" | Ask Me Anything

    I'm a black belt, ask me anything.You asked, I answered. No prep, no filter, just straight answers to the questions I usually dance around.If you train, you'll get something out of this. If you coach, you'll get more.In this one I get into why most of what you drill is wasting your time, how to tell if a concept is actually helping you or just confusing you, when gym loyalty turns into manipulation and how to spot it early, what to do with a talented student who has a bad attitude, why the gap between two black belts can be bigger than white belt to black belt, and my honest hot take on where jiu-jitsu is heading right now.Plus how many 150lb blue belts I could fight in a row before I lose?Come argue with me in the comments.Got a question or hot take? Call 951-HOT-TAKE and leave a voicemail. Anonymous unless you say otherwise.Want my curriculum? The one I use to run all three HeadNod schools. Go to skool.com/headnod, first 7 days free.Free from BJJ Mental Models: Rob Biernacki's Jiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles at bjjmentalmodels.com/isuckCome train at one of my 3 Southern IL Gyms: Headnodhq.com 0:00 - Could you beat 100 blue belts in a row?1:47 - Welcome to the Q&A episode2:13 - Do you still feel like you suck at jiu-jitsu?5:36 - What's something you'll never teach again?8:30 - When do concepts become too vague to help?13:45 - The Saturday class that humbles black belts15:54 - I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu School18:15 - Have you ever gotten in real trouble for the podcast?19:50 - My first podcast ever (nobody guessed it)20:33 - How close have you come to ending the show?21:08 - The episode I'm most proud of that flopped23:12 - Podcast Josh vs. real Josh25:46 - What does HeadNod do worse than other gyms?27:30 - Jiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles28:28 - What goes through your head when a student leaves?35:08 - How has jiu-jitsu affected your faith?38:02 - Handling a talented student with a bad attitude39:56 - When does gym loyalty become manipulation?42:13 - How do I keep HeadNod from becoming what I criticize?43:02 - Should coaches promote someone they don't like?45:06 - Feed the algorithm gods46:02 - Should coaches care if students cross train?46:56 - Toxic student vs. difficult student48:07 - My biggest hot take: morality as currency in BJJ53:55 - Do you miss competing?59:54 - Do you care if black belts respect your jiu-jitsu?1:01:13 - Why I got donkey guarded by Jeff Glover in khaki pants1:08:30 - Could you beat the 25-year-old version of yourself?1:10:44 - Wrap up

  • August 20 · 54 min

    #388 What Jiu Jitsu is ACTUALLY About

    What if... It’s not the black belt.It’s not winning Worlds.It’s not the perfect technique.It might not even be the journey.It’s all about the people you get to do jiu jitsu with.But there’s another side to community.The wrong gym, wrong coach, or wrong group of people can make you start to hate something you once loved. And once a community becomes valuable, there will always be people who want to exploit it.This episode is about finding your people, appreciating them while you have them, and protecting the community you’re lucky enough to be part of.👇 Who is someone Jiu-Jitsu brought into your life that you’d still be friends with even if neither of you trained anymore?Subscribe for more Jiu-Jitsu philosophy, competition stories, training advice, BJJ culture, and questionable opinions from the I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu Show.Check at our new Skool Jiu Jitsu Curriculum: https://www.skool.com/headnodFree Mental Models Course "Jiu Jitsu for imbeciles" : bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck00:00 What Jiu-Jitsu Is ACTUALLY About03:25 It Took Me 18 Years to Learn This06:49 The Friend Who Changed My Jiu-Jitsu10:52 The Best Years of Competition12:28 Is Catalina Island Actually Japan?18:43 Jiu-Jitsu’s Greatest Gift19:28 The Wrong Gym Can Make You Hate Jiu-Jitsu25:20 The Friend Who Bet on Me29:03 You Can’t Buy a 10-Year Friendship34:05 How to Know If You Found the Right Gym38:18 Ponzi Schemes, Influencers & Fake Community46:53 Protect Your Jiu-Jitsu Community50:20 Your Best Friends Might Be on the Mat53:16 Appreciate Your Training Partners54:18 Goal vs. Journey vs. Community

  • August 13 · 2 hr 5 min

    #387 Dorian Brownlee: BJJ's Greatest Photographer

    Dorian Brownlee is one of the most recognizable photographers in Jiu-Jitsu. In this episode we talk BJJ photography, Daisy Fresh, content creation, the IBJJF circuit, Jiu-Jitsu culture, Jiu Jitsu drama, and what it really takes to build a life around Jiu-Jitsu full time. 📸 Dorian: @bjjedits 🥋 Josh: @thejoshmckinney Check at our new Skool Jiu Jitsu Curriculum: https://www.skool.com/headnod Free Mental Models Course "Jiu Jitsu for imbeciles" : bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck

  • August 6 · 55 min

    #386 Could Jonah Hill Beat You Up? | Can Blue Belts Win Street Fights?

    Can a BJJ blue belt actually win a street fight, and could you beat up Jonah Hill?Jonah Hill’s viral jiu-jitsu rant opens a much bigger question: how well does modern day BJJ really prepare you for violence outside the gym?Josh breaks down “blue belt energy,” shares a recent confrontation in downtown St. Louis, and explains the difference between fighting and real self-defense. Learn why live rolling matters, why top position is king, and the three rules every grappler should remember when a fight becomes unavoidable.Check at our new Skool Jiu Jitsu Curriculum: https://www.skool.com/headnodFree Mental Models Course "Jiu Jitsu for imbeciles" : bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck 0:00 Can Blue Belts Win Street Fights?1:35 Jonah Hill’s Viral Jiu-Jitsu Rant2:46 The “Blue Belt Energy” Problem5:29 Why Jiu-Jitsu Should Make You Avoid Fights7:53 99% of Fights Are Avoidable11:23 My Downtown St. Louis Near-Fight17:44 Bruce Lee’s “Fighting Without Fighting”22:29 Fight vs. Self-Defense24:25 Sport BJJ vs. Real Fighting26:18 Why Live Rolling Transfers29:10 Win the Fight, Lose Everything31:01 The Truth About Jonah Hill33:07 When Fighting Is Unavoidable34:51 Boundaries and Distance Management37:37 The “Never Throw the First Punch” Rule41:05 Avoiding the Sucker Punch43:54 Safest Positions in a Street Fight46:35 Three Rules for Winning a Fight48:25 Can the Average Blue Belt Win?50:31 Why Younger People Fight Less53:39 What Black Belts Understand

  • July 30 · 1 hr 10 min

    #385 Is Your Jiu-Jitsu School is a CULT?

    Is Jiu-Jitsu Brain Washing You?Your BJJ coach may be great at jiu-jitsu, but that doesn’t make them: your spiritual leader, financial advisor, relationship counselor, or life coachIn this episode, Josh breaks down the warning signs of cult-like gym culture, how loyalty turns into control, why good coaches sometimes lose perspective, and how to tell whether your academy is a healthy tribe or a place you need to leave.Warning: Don't blame me if I shatter the glass and make you realize you've been paying $199 per month to be a member of a CULT.Check at our new Skool Jiu Jitsu Curriculum: https://www.skool.com/headnodFree Mental Models Course "Jiu Jitsu for imbeciles" : bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck 0:00 Meet Your New Jiu-Jitsu Cult Leader2:24 Could You Be in a Cult Without Knowing It?6:18 Your Coach Is Not a Spiritual Leader16:05 When a BJJ Gym Becomes a Tribe22:41 Coaches Who Control Where You Train27:04 A Coach Tells a Student to Reject College30:03 The Simplest Test for a Dangerous Coach45:24 Coaches Dating Their Students51:39 Is Your Gym a Tribe or a Cult?54:41 Kids, Steroids and Exploitation58:45 The Biggest Warning Signs1:06:29 How to Choose the Right Gym

  • July 23 · 1 hr 40 min

    #384 Henry Akins: How to have Jiu-Jitsu That Gets BETTER With Age

    Henry Akins is 50 years old, and his jiu-jitsu is still getting better. In this episode, Henry explains how older grapplers can keep improving without relying on speed, strength, or brutal training sessions that eventually break the body down. We discuss why injuries are the biggest threat to long-term progress, how to remove unnecessary strength from your game, and why positional training and flow rolling may be the best ways to train after 40. Henry also explains how he exhausted and beat me down me after barely training for nine months, and why your jiu-jitsu should become more effective as you age. If you want to keep training, improving, and giving younger grapplers problems for decades, this episode is for you. Check at our new Skool Jiu Jitsu Curriculum: https://www.skool.com/headnod Half off BJJ Mental Models with promo code "JOSH": https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/pricing 00:00 Henry Akins beat me down 02:24 The biggest mistake grapplers make after 40 09:13 How to roll with less strength 15:01 Physicality versus technique 19:30 Start training like you are 80 24:32 The truth about Rickson Gracie 29:16 How Henry passed my guard 41:30 You only need to master 5% of jiu-jitsu 47:02 How to choose the right game for your body 59:26 The best training method for grapplers over 40 1:08:06 Roger Gracie’s positional training strategy 1:11:04 How to flow roll correctly 1:21:49 Techniques older grapplers should avoid 1:24:38 Recovery and training frequency after 40 1:25:00 Henry barely trained before beating me 1:31:05 The real reason people should train jiu-jitsu 1:32:16 Henry’s training schedule at 50 1:37:28 Where to learn more from Henry Akins

  • July 16 · 1 hr 5 min

    #383 Everyone at Jiu-Jitsu Hates You… Here’s Why

    Every Jiu-Jitsu gym has that guy.The person everyone avoids when it’s time to roll. The person who treats Tuesday night training like the ADCC finals, refuses to tap, coaches you while losing, and somehow has an excuse ready before the round is even over.But here’s the uncomfortable part:That guy usually has no idea he’s that guy.After 18 years in Jiu-Jitsu and 11 years running schools, Josh has seen exactly where these habits lead. Some people become incredible training partners who make everyone around them better. Others slowly become unsafe, exhausting, uncoachable... and eventually avoided.In this episode, Josh breaks down what it actually means to be a great training partner, a good teammate, and a student who never stops improving.Train hard. Protect your partners. Stay out of drama. Stay coachable.And don’t be that guy.Check at our new Skool Jiu Jitsu Curriculum: https://www.skool.com/headnodHalf off BJJ Mental Models with promo code "JOSH": https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/pricing0:00 Why Everyone Hates You1:57 The Worst Training Partner10:57 Why Winning Practice Hurts You22:22 Why You Rolling Too Hard is dumb25:00 My Students nearly ended me for $20036:29 Why You Must Respect the Tap39:56 Why Vulturing Makes People Hate You42:06 The Most Annoying Training Partner Habit45:17 The Time I Was the Problem51:17 Why Gym Drama Ruins Teams55:25 Why Purple Belts Stop Improving1:02:15 A Final Story

  • July 9 · 1 hr 5 min

    #382 Was Rickson Gracie Actually THAT Good?

    I tried to solve one of Jiu Jitsu's oldest debates and got beat up by a 50 year old man instead.Was Rickson Gracie actually that good… or did the legend get bigger than the man?Before we know whether or not Rickson was the goat we must answer a much bigger question: what does it actually mean to be good at jiu-jitsu? Not famous. Not decorated. Not good at one rule set. Actually good at grappling.This episode starts with the myth: the 450-0 record, the old-school stories, the Gracie aura, and the never-ending internet arguments. But it turns into something way more useful: a breakdown of efficiency, effectiveness, connection, weight distribution, and the kind of jiu-jitsu that still works when strength, speed, and youth start disappearing.And yes, I finally tell the story of getting beat up by a 50 year old and, one of Rickson’s most respected black belts, and why getting absolutely manhandled changed the way I think about skill forever.This is not really an episode about worshipping Rickson. It’s about figuring out whether there is a level of jiu-jitsu most people never learn how to see.Check at our new Skool Jiu Jitsu Curriculum: https://www.skool.com/headnodHalf off BJJ Mental Models with promo code "JOSH": https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/pricing0:00 Was Rickson Gracie actually that good?4:06 Did Rickson have secret jiu-jitsu knowledge?6:13 Learning from Henry Akins8:38 What does “good jiu-jitsu” actually mean?13:17 Learning to roll without strength21:50 Henry changed how I saw dominant positions26:25 Rickson vs modern jiu-jitsu rulesets31:50 Breaking the old-school training room code38:33 Rolling with Henry Akins44:28 The efficiency gap became obvious46:29 The best and worst moment of my jiu-jitsu life49:04 Why medals don’t tell the whole story54:36 Are modern black belts actually better?1:01:34 Why the Rickson debate is really about identity1:02:12 Was Rickson actually that good?1:03:56 The real lesson of the episode

  • July 2 · 1 hr 30 min

    #381 "Don't Open a Jiu Jitsu School Feat. Jared Weiner, Kyle Watson, Nick Sanders, Junior Silva, and Andrew Sabens

    Six jiu-jitsu black belt coaches with over 100 years of combined teaching experience sit down for an honest roundtable about what it really means to lead a team, run a school, and try to help the next generation.Josh McKinney is joined by Jared Weiner, Kyle Watson, Nick Sanders, Junior Silva, and Andrew Sabens to talk about the hidden cost of coaching, students leaving, gym culture changing, the pressure of being a role model, and where the “old dogs” fit in as jiu-jitsu keeps growing.Is opening a jiu-jitsu school still the dream? Or is there a side of leadership most people never see until it’s too late?All that and more on The I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu Show.Check at our new Skool Jiu Jitsu Curriculum: https://www.skool.com/headnodHalf off BJJ Mental Models with promo code "JOSH": https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/pricing0:00 Intro1:03 What do we do with the next generation?3:05 Coaching changes when you have a family4:54 Impact them while you have them7:13 The responsibility of being a jiu-jitsu role model8:26 Why a good coach keeps people around13:53 Jiu-jitsu coaches are not counselors18:40 The emotional cost of students leaving21:03 Learning to let students go23:49 Jiu-jitsu culture is changing fast25:03 Where do the old dogs fit in now?26:58 Why structure still matters in a gym29:16 Building the culture from the top32:05 The truth about opening a jiu-jitsu school33:13 The business stress nobody sees38:24 When your job makes you choose between career and jiu-jitsu42:41 The C***D years and gym owner pressure46:12 Why jiu-jitsu still matters in a divided world48:09 The worst travel stories in jiu-jitsu58:42 Kyle Watson vs. Jared Weiner1:03:45 How competition creates lifelong friendships1:07:18 Why refereeing is the worst job in jiu-jitsu1:09:38 Are BJJ refs better now?1:11:19 Why coaches still need to know the rules1:13:05 Coaching chaos at tournaments1:21:19 The lore of the team1:23:31 Why good teams happen organically1:25:23 Your enemies at blue belt become your peers at black belt

  • June 25 · 1 hr 11 min

    #380 Most Black Belts Don't Know this BJJ Hack | Positional Pacing

    This might be the best Jiu-Jitsu advice I’ve ever given. Because once you understand this Secret Concept, you’ll know who’s actually winning every position before the score ever changes. Today, I(@thejoshmckinney) will break down the idea of "Positional Pacing" and why it's important to base your game around the right positions. Most grapplers don’t lose because they don’t know enough techniques. They lose because they don’t know when they’re already in trouble. They think all guards are equal. They think close matches are close because the scoreboard says they are. They’re wrong. In this episode, I’m going to show you the hidden way good grapplers measure every position: who has real offense, who controls the pace, who is closer to scoring, and who is slowly getting dragged into hell. I call it Positional Pacing and using the ideas you’ll learn you will start to see Jiu Jitsu’s Secret scoreboard! And once you see it, guard, passing, pressure, pacing, and match strategy will never look the same again. Somebody is always winning. Most people just don’t know how to see it yet. Subscribe to the I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show for weekly AJJ advice, mindset, training stories, and questionable life choices that help you suck just a little bit less at Jiu Jitsu. Get my free ebook The Competitor’s Journey: simplifyingjiujitsu.com Get a free copy of jiu jitsu for imbeciles: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck Sponsored by Datsusara: Use code ISUCK at dsgear.com Get Champions Stay Present(mindset hacks for competition): https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/csp 0:00 Most Black Belts Don’t Know This BJJ Hack 4:23 Welcome to I Suck at Jiu-Jitsu 5:05 The Secret Scoreboard in Every Sport 7:28 Why Some Positions Are Worth More Than Points 8:24 Closed Guard Isn’t Neutral 10:44 Smashed Half Guard Means You’re Losing 14:16 The Chicago Open Story That Changed My Game 23:51 He’s Tired… Go Now 27:56 The Blitz: When to Attack and When to Wait 47:34 The Black Belt Answer: “You Shouldn’t Have Been There” 50:57 How to Beat the Annoying Blue Belt 1:03:00 How to Use Positional Pacing in Your Rounds 1:07:22 The Dormammu Strategy for Jiu-Jitsu 1:09:18 The Positions You Should Build Your Game Around

  • June 18 · 57 min

    #379 Josh Longood: This BJJ Black Belt Saved a Plane

    BJJ Black Belt, Josh Longood, went viral for saving a Frontier Airlines Flight.Josh was on a flight home when another passenger allegedly started attacking workers and causing all sorts of chaos. The Bjj spidey sense in Josh’s head started to tingle and he handled the situation exactly how a black belt should. He was able to control the aggressive passenger, keep everyone calm, and go super viral while doing it!Today, I(@thejoshmckinney) get to sit down with Josh and ask him exactly how he was able to subdue the passenger so easily. We also find out what Frontier Airlines did to thank him for saving everyone in what could have been an absolute disaster.If you’ve ever wondered, “I wonder if my jiu jitsu could work in a real life situation?” This episode is for you!Watch this before your next flight!Subscribe to the I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show for weekly AJJ advice, mindset, training stories, and questionable life choices that help you suck just a little bit less at Jiu Jitsu.Get my free ebook The Competitor’s Journey:simplifyingjiujitsu.comGet a free copy of jiu jitsu for imbeciles: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuckSponsored by Datsusara:Use code ISUCK at dsgear.comGet Champions Stay Present(mindset hacks for competition): https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/csp0:00 Intro1:33 The viral Frontier flight story3:35 Flying home from Puerto Rico5:04 When Josh knew something was wrong8:38 Going hands-on with the passenger10:29 “I only used 2%”11:47 Zip ties, seatbelts, and keeping everyone calm13:22 Passengers started yelling “choke him!”15:39 Police, FBI, and the emergency landing16:37 When Josh realized the story went viral19:30 Riding the wave after going viral23:48 Why this went bigger outside the BJJ world28:33 Every jiu-jitsu guy’s airplane fantasy30:13 Does jiu-jitsu actually work in real life?34:06 Josh’s wrestling, MMA, and competition background41:30 Coaching vs. teaching jiu-jitsu45:36 The IBJJF rule mistake that cost him gold55:21 The best jiu-jitsu advice Josh ever received57:04 Where to train with Josh

  • June 11 · 1 hr 15 min

    #378 10 Rules for Surviving White Belt

    Every BJJ white belt needs this. When you start Jiu Jitsu, you don’t know the positions, you don’t know the rules, you don’t know the etiquette, and worst of all… you don’t know what you don’t know. So after 18 years of training and 13 years of teaching beginners, I made the White Belt Survival Guide I wish someone gave me on day one. These are the 10 white belt mistakes that keep people confused, injured, frustrated, annoying to train with, and worst of all… stuck at white belt forever. If you’re brand new to BJJ, trying to get to blue belt, constantly getting smashed, addicted to YouTube techniques, scared to ask your coach questions, rolling way too hard, or wondering why everyone else seems to be improving faster than you, this episode is for you. This is not just “beginner advice.” This is how to survive white belt, stop sucking faster, avoid quitting, and actually become dangerous on the mats. Watch this before your next Jiu Jitsu class! Subscribe to the I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show for weekly BJJ advice, mindset, training stories, and questionable life choices that help you suck just a little bit less at Jiu Jitsu. Get my free ebook The Competitor’s Journey: simplifyingjiujitsu.com Get a free copy of jiu jitsu for imbeciles: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck Sponsored by Datsusara: Use code ISUCK at dsgear.com Get Champions Stay Present(mindset hacks for competition): https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/csp 0:00 Every White Belt Starts Completely Lost 2:02 There Is No Perfect Time to Start BJJ 8:46 The Skill That Makes White Belts Improve Faster 16:02 Jiu Jitsu Will Ruin Your Social Life 21:53 The Truth About Consistency 30:03 Why White Belts Need to Pay Attention 35:06 Winning in the Gym Is Not the Goal 44:27 Jiu Jitsu Does Not Automatically Make You Better 56:28 Do YouTube BJJ Moves Actually Work? 1:00:59 If It Hurts, Tap 1:04:04 Recovery Rules White Belts Ignore 1:10:22 Volume vs Intensity: How White Belts Stay on the Mat 1:14:34 Final Advice for Every White Belt

  • June 4 · 57 min

    #377 The 3 Reasons You Keep Losing BJJ Competitons

    Have you ever walked into a Jiu Jitsu tournament feeling ready… and then got absolutely smashed in the first round?You trained hard. You thought you were prepared. You knew some techniques. Maybe you even had a plan.Then the match started and everything fell apart.In this episode, I’m breaking down 3 mindsets that might be the real reason you keep losing BJJ matches — not because you don’t know enough moves, not because the ref screwed you, and not because your opponent was just “stronger.”My name is Josh McKinney (@thejoshmckinney) and after 18 years of competing, coaching, winning, losing, and watching students go through the same patterns over and over again, I’ve noticed that most people don’t lose because of one big technical mistake.They lose because they don’t understand how to perform on command.They lose because they get trapped in the wrong story after a bad match.They lose because they walk into chaos with no real plan and hope their Jiu Jitsu magically shows up.If you’re a white belt, blue belt, purple belt, or anyone trying hard to compete but you can’t figure out why you keep falling short, this episode is for you.We’ll talk about competition mindset, game planning, pacing, exchanges, staying present, and how to actually compete in your own match instead of just “seeing what happens.”Get my free ebook The Competitor’s Journey:simplifyingjiujitsu.comGet a free copy of jiu jitsu for imbeciles: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuckSponsored by Datsusara:Use code ISUCK at dsgear.comGet Champions Stay Present(mindset hacks for competition): https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/csp Chapters: 0:00 Why you keep losing BJJ matches 2:34 Mistake #1: The learner’s mindset 5:06 How to actually perform on competition day 7:00 Finding your real competition A-game 9:47 Performance mindset vs. learner mindset 10:54 Free gift: The Competitor’s Journey 12:24 Mistake #2: Victim mentality 15:05 The brutal truth about losing in front of everyone 16:13 The match I thought I won 17:01 Understanding exchanges and pacing 20:22 Why I should have turned it up sooner 23:18 Free BJJ Mental Models course 24:33 The wildest victim mentality story ever 31:24 Take responsibility for your own doodoo 33:09 Why excuses ruin your Jiu Jitsu 37:21 Datsusara hemp gear 38:49 Mistake #3: The chaos mindset 40:43 The opposite of chaos is being present 43:00 Why “just see what happens” loses matches 44:32 How I stopped losing at adult black belt 46:02 Why your game plan has to be simple 49:04 The 3 mindsets that decide your matches 50:02 Why my coach changed my finals game plan 53:28 Being present in your training camp 55:17 Know the rules, know your opponent 56:44 Why losing is part of becoming dangerous 57:39 Final thoughts

  • May 28 · 1 hr 18 min

    #376 Rose Miller: How to Learn Jiu Jitsu Faster! | Rosierollz

    Rose Miller, aka @rosierollz, is everywhere on BJJ Instagram right now because she does something that sounds simple but is actually incredibly rare: she gives simple but helpful advice.In this episode of the I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show, Rose and I talk about how to actually learn Jiu Jitsu faster, why so many people waste years training without a real plan, and how a black belt thinks about improvement differently than a beginner.We get into her start in Jiu Jitsu, losing a lot early, competing, getting injured, learning how to learn, teaching white belts and blue belts, creating BJJ content, CLA/ecological training, drilling, women leading in Jiu Jitsu, and why starting every round from your knees is probably making your Jiu Jitsu worse.This is not just a “do these 3 moves” episode. This is a conversation about how to train smarter, how to think better, and how to keep getting better at Jiu Jitsu without making your entire life miserable.Follow Rose on Instagram: @rosierollzGet my free ebook The Competitor’s Journey:simplifyingjiujitsu.comGet a free copy of jiu jitsu for imbeciles: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuckSponsored by Datsusara:Use code ISUCK at dsgear.com 00:00 Intro 00:46 How Rose Miller got into Jiu Jitsu 03:31 Why Jiu Jitsu gave Rose structure and direction 05:28 Starting at Gracie South Bay with elite women 08:45 Rose’s first Jiu Jitsu competition 11:18 Losing a lot and learning how to learn 13:02 Why Rose refused to quit Jiu Jitsu 15:09 The original goal of becoming a black belt 16:30 What changes when you finally get your black belt 18:19 Injuries, COVID, concussions, and loving the process 22:01 Becoming a “try-hard hobbyist” 25:17 Why Rose makes beginner-friendly BJJ content 29:13 Rose’s intention behind creating content 34:10 Women leading in Jiu Jitsu 40:42 Training in San Diego vs smaller Jiu Jitsu scenes 43:56 Cross-training, loyalty, and gym culture 47:23 Would Rose be different if she started at a hobbyist gym? 49:57 Using competition as a learning tool 53:06 Why Rose’s Jiu Jitsu content works 57:31 Drilling, CLA, and live training 1:04:33 Why CLA people can be so annoying 1:07:10 Advice for beginners learning Jiu Jitsu today 1:10:27 Stop starting rounds from the knees 1:12:34 Why Jiu Jitsu standup is still evolving 1:16:37 Is Jiu Jitsu Brazilian or American? 1:17:50 Final thoughts

  • May 21 · 1 hr 15 min

    #375 Jena Bishop: Why BJJ Doesn't work in MMA

    BJJ works… until it doesn’t. In this episode, I sit down with Jena Bishop, a BJJ World Champion, elite grappler, and now professional MMA fighter, to talk about the brutal truth of taking world-class Jiu-Jitsu into the cage. Jena has beaten some of the biggest names in grappling, including Mackenzie Dern, Angelica Galvão, Luiza Monteiro, and Gabi McComb. But after transitioning into MMA, she learned something most Jiu-Jitsu athletes don’t want to hear: Your sport Jiu-Jitsu game might not survive punches, wrestling, scrambles, and people who refuse to play guard. We talk about why guard pulling doesn’t translate, why being on top matters more than ever, why some elite grappling styles fail in MMA, how striking changes every position, and what BJJ athletes need to fix before stepping into a cage. Jena also opens up about burnout, fight week anxiety, weight cuts, PFL, the current state of women’s safety in Jiu-Jitsu, and why the culture of hero-worship in BJJ has created serious problems. This is one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on the show. Get my free competition training ebook, The Competitor’s Journey: simplifyingjiujitsu.com/comp Sponsored by Datsusara: Use code ISUCK at dsgear.com Free BJJ Mental Models course: bjjmentalmodels.com/isuck What You’ll Learn Why elite BJJ doesn’t automatically work in MMA Why pulling guard is usually a terrible idea in a fight How punches change guard, back control, leg locks, and top pressure Why Jena stopped training mostly in the gi The biggest mistake Jiu-Jitsu athletes make when transitioning to MMA How fight camp, burnout, weight cutting, and mindset really work Why Jena believes BJJ culture needs to stop protecting the wrong people 0:00 Intro 0:50 Jena’s biggest BJJ wins 1:53 Why Jena switched to MMA 4:36 Getting punched changes everything 6:11 Finding her first MMA fight 9:14 Training BJJ vs training MMA 11:41 Why guard pulling fails in MMA 14:35 Bad BJJ habits for fighting 15:35 Why half guard works in MMA 18:11 Why top position matters most 18:49 MMA rounds vs BJJ matches 21:00 Preparing for opponents 24:10 Jena’s fighting style 25:26 How Jena handles fight nerves 29:44 Burnout and fight camp 33:40 Weight cut karaoke 37:35 Post-weigh-in ritual 39:00 Cutting weight for MMA 42:23 Fight week routine 45:34 Jena’s MMA goals 48:27 Should MMA fighters train gi? 54:22 BJJ habits that don’t translate 56:19 Why elite grapplers struggle in MMA 58:04 Wrestling exposes BJJ athletes 1:00:25 BJJ culture problems 1:05:20 Protecting women and kids in BJJ 1:09:57 Leaving toxic gyms 1:13:03 Annoying BJJ gym characters 1:14:43 Jena’s next PFL fight

  • May 14 · 1 hr 14 min

    #374 Beatrice Jin: Build Your Competition Game

    Is your Jiu-Jitsu gameplan actually helping you win… or are you just collecting random techniques? In this episode, I sit down with Beatrice Jin( ⁨@berimbozo⁩ ), black belt competitor, coach, and one of the funniest creators in Jiu-Jitsu, to talk about how to build a real competition game instead of just “getting better at everything.” Beatrice breaks down why specificity matters, how she rebuilt her own game after tough losses, why most technique content misses the point, and how competitors should think about grips, guards, training rounds, and strategy if they actually want to improve. We also talk about guard pulling, drilling, women’s open mats, funny Jiu-Jitsu content, competing at black belt, and why your gameplan might suck. What you’ll learn: - Why “training everything” can hold you back - How to build a specific A-game for competition - Why your grips matter more than your moves - How Beatrice structures competition training - Why guard pulling might be the smartest strategy - When drilling helps — and when it’s a waste of time - How to stop training randomly and start training with intent Try this in training: Pick one primary guard, one secondary guard, and one grip sequence you want to force. Start rounds from there. Your goal is not to “do Jiu-Jitsu.” Your goal is to get to your spot, score first, submit first, or learn exactly where your game breaks. Get Josh’s free competition prep ebook, The Competitor’s Journey, at simplifyingjiujitsu.com/comp Get Rob Biernacki’s free Jiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles course from BJJ Mental Models at bjjmentalmodels.com/suck Check out Datsusara hemp gear and use promo code ISUCK at dsgear.com for 10% off. New episodes of the I Suck At Jiu-Jitsu Show every Thursday. Subscribe so you can suck less at Jiu-Jitsu. 0:00 Beatrice Jin Joins The Show 1:50 Why The Whiteboard Videos Went Viral 7:03 Being A Serious Competitor AND A Meme 10:49 Why Most BJJ Technique Videos Suck 18:35 Why Black Belt Competition Feels Different 23:45 There Are No Mindset Tricks 26:36 How Beatrice Trains Between Competitions 28:33 Should Competitors Actually Drill? 31:01 Why She Added K Guard 32:15 How To Build Your Competition Game 35:47 Beatrice’s Genius Competition Class 48:18 Should Women Train With Men? 52:41 Guard Pulling Is Mathematically Correct 54:04 If Your Guard Gets Passed, You Deserve To Lose 1:09:06 How To Suck Less At Jiu-Jitsu

  • May 7 · 1 hr 29 min

    #373 "Let's Roll Light" is a LIE! | 951-HOT-TAKE #3

    I asked the internet for their hottest BJJ takes… and honestly, this was a mistake. In this episode of The I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show, Josh, Bryce, and Brian react to listener-submitted BJJ hot takes that range from painfully true to completely unhinged. We talk about injured training partners who still roll like it’s ADCC finals, why “let’s roll light” basically means nothing, whether you should wash your belt, why middle-aged blue belts might have the biggest target in the gym, and whether submission-only rulesets are actually ruining grappling. If you’ve ever had a teammate say “I’m injured, let’s go light” and then immediately try to kill you… this episode is for you. Call the Hot Takes Hotline Got a BJJ hot take? Call 951-HOT-TAKE and leave us your worst, funniest, or most controversial jiu-jitsu opinion. We may roast you. We may agree with you. We may accidentally start a gym war. Get Josh’s free competition prep ebook, The Competitor’s Journey, at simplifyingjiujitsu.com Get Rob Biernacki’s free Jiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles course from BJJ Mental Models at bjjmentalmodels.com/suck Check out Datsusara hemp gear and use promo code ISUCK at dsgear.com for 10% off.

  • April 30 · 1 hr 6 min

    #372 Should YOU Compete in Jiu Jitsu?

    Should You Compete or Waste Money? If you’ve ever sat on the fence about competing in Jiu-Jitsu… this episode is for you. We break down the real reasons people compete (and the lies they tell themselves), whether tournaments are actually worth the money, and how competition can completely change your Jiu-Jitsu, and your mindset. This isn’t just ADCC vs IBJJF. It’s about who competition is for, who it’s NOT for, and how to actually get value out of it. If you’re a competitor (or thinking about becoming one), this episode will help you decide: 👉 Should you compete at all? 👉 Which tournaments actually make sense for you? 👉 And how to stop overthinking it and just go. Why most people compete (and why they’re wrong) The real benefit of competition (it’s not medals) How competition forces faster improvement ADCC vs IBJJF: pros, cons, and who they’re for Why local tournaments might be the smartest move The biggest mistake beginners make with competing How to know if competing is right for YOU Add 1 “performance day” per week (competition-style rounds only) Stop talking about competing, be about competing Treat each tournament like a rep, not a result Compete more locally before chasing “big” events 🔥 What You’ll Learn🥋 Try This in Training (Mini Playbook) Add 1 “performance day” per week (competition-style rounds only) Stop talking about competing, be about competing Treat each tournament like a rep, not a result Compete more locally before chasing “big” events ISAJJ Rash Guards: https://imposedwill.com/collections/i-suck-at-jiu-jitsu-showJiu-Jitsu for Imbeciles, feat. Rob Biernacki(FREE): https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/isuckDatsusara 10% OFF with Promo Code “ISUCK”: https://www.dsgear.com/ The Competitor’s Journey: https://www.simplifyingjiujitsu.com/comp 00:00 – Should You Even Compete? 01:00 – Why People Say They Compete 02:00 – The Truth: Competing Is Selfish 05:00 – The Real Value of Competition 07:00 – Competition vs “Who’s Better” 08:30 – Why Competition Forces Growth 10:30 – Stop Talking, Start Competing 12:00 – The “Performance Day” Hack 15:00 – Why Competition Changes You 18:00 – Regret & Missed Opportunities 21:00 – Fear of Competing Explained 23:00 – Just Sign Up (Big Mistake People Make) 24:30 – Which Tournaments Matter? 26:00 – ADCC vs IBJJF Overview 27:30 – IBJJF Pros 33:30 – IBJJF Cons (Cost, Politics) 38:00 – ADCC Pros (Clout, Culture) 43:00 – ADCC Cons (Organization Issues) 48:00 – Local Tournaments Explained 49:30 – Why You Should Compete More Often 53:30 – The Real Answer: Just Compete 55:00 – What To Do After You Lose 59:00 – Why Competition Changes You Forever 1:02:00 – Final Advice for Competitors

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