Chokes And More Podcast

Miko captures the raw magic right after a gruelling training session to sit down with a powerhouse of the local scene, thrash metal guitarist, and Scramble Academy blue belt: Manolo Reyes. Fresh off a massive weekend gig in Sevilla, Manolo dives into the parallel universes of heavy music and competitive grappling. In this high-energy conversation, they break down using a guitar as a psychological shield, the absolute grind of fast-tempo down-picking, navigating the early "fat boy" days of childhood sports, and how decades of high-level Judo fundamentals seamlessly translated into a ruthless top-game pressure system on the BJJ mats.What's Inside the Episode:The Van Halen Pawn Shop Audition: Manolo shares a hilarious story about trying to upgrade his first guitar—a budget Flying V clone. To get his exact asking price from a local pawn shop, he plugged into an untuned amplifier and ripped a blistering Van Halen-style solo across the entire fretboard until the manager walked out from the back with a stack of cash. The 14-Hour Bus Ride to Viveiro: A retrospective look into the legendary Resurrection Fest 2015. Manolo structures the absolute chaos of travelling 14 hours by bus from Malaga to Galicia, arriving on the wrong side of the river with tents and gear, and waiting out the night at a closed campsite just to chug a beer and rush straight into the last-ever Motorhead show in Spain. The Fast Thrash Tricep Grinds: A peek into rebuilding a fast-paced thrash metal unit alongside Manu Núñez (Manu the Black Belt). Manolo details the physical conditioning required to survive high-speed sets, where every single live gig left their triceps completely swollen and burning from relentless grinding tempos. The Soul-Crushing "Soulfly" First Class: Manolo recounts his early transition into grappling under Jairo's roof. He shares the brutal reality of stepping onto slippery plastic mats on a boiling summer day, fresh off quitting smoking, only to get trapped under a ruthless knee-on-belly pin that felt like his actual soul was exiting his chest. The Wet Towel Positional Pyramid: Mapping out the Scramble Academy daytime blueprint. Manolo breaks down why he prefers technical morning sessions over chaotic evening wars, utilising "dead weight" pressure to systematically advance through the closed guard, half-guard, and side-control hierarchy to make opponents cook.Memorable Quote: "When I step on stage and grab my guitar, it acts as a literal shield protecting me from a thousand people in the crowd. But when you step onto the competitive mats, the shield is gone. You don't have an instrument to hide behind—you are the instrument. It is just your mind, your limbs, and the raw technical hours you sacrificed to survive." — Manolo ReyesTimes of War: Check out Manolo's hardcore metal band on:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimesOfWarOfficial/Bandcamp: https://timesofwarofficial.bandcamp.com/ TitanFall: Follow Manolo's latest metal project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/titanfallband/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Fr0r6X3nv9vt37GwWuqGz Miko's BJJ Fanatics Instructionals:NEW Lapel Chokes from Everywhere Vol 2: Get the Brand New Release Here: https://bjjfanatics.com/products/lapel-chokes-from-everywhere-by-miko-hytonen-1Lapel Chokes from Everywhere Vol 1: Stream the Bestselling Original: https://bjjfanatics.com/products/lapel-chokes-from-everywhere-by-miko-hytonenEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠Episode 21 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠⁠

Miko captures the raw magic directly after an intense training session to sit down with a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt, real estate entrepreneur, and dedicated spiritual seeker: Stéphane Navarro. Recorded live following a powerful training block at Scramble Academy in southern Spain, Stéphane opens up about completely re-engineering his movement patterns around a persistent knee injury. In this wide-ranging and deeply personal dialogue, they map out the high-stakes physical mechanics of hunting abalones solo inside Tasmanian great white shark sanctuaries, using intentional internal medicine to dissolve severe physical and emotional blockages, and why structured physical discipline serves as the ultimate mirror for personal evolution.What's Inside the Episode:The Structural Furniture Gap: Stéphane details navigating a complex twisting knee modification on the mats. He shares a powerful lesson about learning to tap sooner and compares his joint recovery path to the loosened tolerance gaps left behind when repeatedly assembling, dismantling, and resetting a piece of wooden furniture. The Friday Circuit "Amputation" Sparring: Miko takes a nostalgic look back at his early developmental training roots inside Gaijin Academy. He details an old-school Friday circuit method where coaches physically bound a student's dominant arm to their body using a BJJ belt, forcing them to calculate entirely non-standard leverage configurations against fully resistant partners. The Tasmanian Great White Hunting Grounds: Stéphane shares an unhinged, retrospective story about free-diving for abalones at the Bay of Fires in Tasmania. He recounts diving solo down to depths of 12 meters for hours without a license or support vessel, only to be informed by a tracking group of local campers that he was swimming unshielded inside a dense breeding ground for apex great white sharks. The 100-Ceremony Ayahuasca Brain Calibration: Stéphane structures his extensive spiritual track across South America, including deep isolation blocks inside the Putumayo jungle of Colombia. He maps out the gruelling 30-day dietary restrictions required to approach the plant, how the medicine acts directly on neuroplasticity to clear somatic cellular trauma, and his vision to build a dedicated training retreat merging BJJ with traditional Amazonian medicine. The 1.2-Kilo Cushion Constraint: Miko cracks open his hyper-consistent nutritional layout, revealing a massive intake of 1.2 kilograms of organic chicken every single day. He explains why standard commercial store-bought meat triggers an immediate inflammatory reaction in his system, and how packing his frame up to 84 kilograms successfully built an unshakeable structural cushion to protect his shoulders from past injuries.Memorable Quote: "When you are winning on paper according to the metrics of standard society—running a company, pulling in numbers, owning real estate—it is very easy to convince yourself that you are successful. But internally, you can feel completely hollow and sick. I had to step out of that loop, strip away the masks of my own ego, and use medicine to completely recalibrate the internal conversation happening inside my cells." — Stéphane NavarroEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠Episode 20 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠⁠

Miko captures the raw magic directly after a gruelling training session to sit down with a multi-disciplinary force of nature, martial artist, father, and the "Steel Man of India": Vispy Kharadi. Recorded live at Vispy's multi-sport facility in Surat during week three of Miko’s historic pioneering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expansion into India, this episode bridges raw physical fortitude with elite lifestyle science. They strip back the layers on Vispy's 17 Guinness World Records, surviving a brutal 261-kilogram Hercules Pillar grip test, the hidden link between gut microbiome and cognitive performance, and the international rollout of GP Life—the world's first entirely clean-label anti-ageing supplement company.What's Inside the Episode:The 10-Layer Human Sandwich Stunt: Vispy breaks down the terrifying physical parameters of his first Guinness World Record, detailing a five-layer human-and-nail-bed sandwich stunt that systematically crushed international metrics—and how he scaled it to an unshakeable 10-layer bottom-most hold last year. The 261kg Hercules Pillar Slipped Grip: Inside the raw, non-televised reality of Vispy's elite strongman operations. He walks through an intense record attempt at the Attari border, dealing with a right-hand slip that halted his first attempt in 4 seconds, and why executing a massive 1-minute-and-7-second hold just 10 seconds later proved the ultimate power of Indian genetics. The 20-Year Anti-Aging GP Life Secret: A deep look into the January 2026 launch of GP Life—the top 40 contender in Elon Musk’s global XPRIZE age-reversal contest. Vispy describes how his team of 60 scientists spent 20 years extracting raw phytoncides like Saponin from fenugreek and fine-tuning entirely pure, preservative-free capsules designed to act as a preventive barrier between patients and doctors. The 2007 AI Pathology Engine: Vispy reveals an innovative, data-driven medical app his team published the foundational blueprints for back in 2007. He walks through a system where users download raw blood reports to calculate precise organic damage percentages, mapping out measurable organ healing metrics across a 30-day supplementation cycle. The Gut-Microbiome "Brain Fog" Metric: A masterclass on sports physiology—exploring the physiological connection between a clear cognitive state and gut health. Wispy structures why standard processed food chemicals trap modern children in a perpetual loop of obesity and brain fog, and why he practices eating an entire salad bowl before touching a single carb to prevent insulin spikes.Memorable Quote: "When you are genuinely in love with what you do, the word 'risk' completely loses its meaning. I spent 11 years working inside a banking institution, coming home long after dinner to teach a martial arts class of three students who warmed up while I ate. Squeezing my life between corporate hours was a mess. Leaving that safe track to follow my passion wasn't a gamble—it was a necessity to give my sons their father back." — Vispy KharadiMore about GPLife and Wellness can be found on their website: HereEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: Episode 19 on YouTube⁠Remember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠⁠

Miko captures the raw magic right after a gruelling training session to sit down with a multi-hyphenate force of nature, martial artist, writer, musician, and BJJ black belt: Eugene Robinson. Fresh off a heavy sparring block at Scramble Academy in southern Spain, Eugene strips back the layers of a wild life lived on the absolute edge. In this unhinged, electric conversation, they map out the high-stakes reality of elite celebrity journalism, surviving a literal 12-hour neck-cranking photo session for GQ, the dark underbelly of early American "No-Holds-Barred" smokers, and why the physical resilience of the tatami serves as the ultimate anchor for creative survival.What's Inside the Episode: The 3-Minute Samuel L. Jackson Stonewall: Eugene drops an incredible, play-by-play look into his first issue as an LA men's fashion magazine editor-in-chief—detailing how a casual, throwaway comment about "pretty stuff" completely tanked his pacing, fractured Hollywood height illusions, and forced him to drop a nuclear "Hail Mary" question about racial typecasting just to save the print interview. The 12-Hour GQ Head-and-Arm Torture: A brutal look back at a historic 1994 GQ photoshoot—one of the first national mainstream media pieces on modern MMA. Eugene breaks down being systematically guillotined for 12 straight hours under a hyper-anxious photographer and the wild board meeting political standoff behind Sean Penn’s iconic cover execution. The 130kg Steroid Pipeline Epiphany: Eugene opens up completely transparently about his early 1990s bodybuilding obsession in San Diego—detailing navigating a polygraph test for the "California Naturals," running border gear packages through Tijuana, and the harrowing hospital-room stroke of a 19-year-old peer that forced Eugene to completely drop a 130-kilogram chemical frame and look for functional reality. The 7-Minute Brian Johnston Savage Beatdown: A raw look at the lawless parameters of late 90s American "combat wrestling" exhibitions. Eugene recounts stepping into a ring un-mouthpieced against early UFC powerhouse Brian "The Fury" Johnston over a critical magazine commentary—resulting in a savage, 7-minute head-pounding that completely redefined his understanding of physical boundaries. The Spy-Bass Playing Stasi Dossier: Eugene breaks down the bizarre fallout from his podcast, The Eugene S. Robinson Show Stomper. He reveals how a public broadcast about his late Cold War Air Force intelligence father triggered a mysterious piece of mail containing a folded page on the East German Stasi—confirming that the sender's father was his own dad's station chief in 1957.Memorable Quote: "When you are dealing with a professional cage fighter on the mat, you understand exactly what you are getting into. But the sidewalk is entirely different. People out there think they can fight because they 'see red,' but they have zero situational awareness. If a guy doesn't have a blade or a firearm, I am completely comfortable. But if you think your cage accolades will protect you from a chaotic street ambush, you are going to get your head cracked open." — Eugene RobinsonConnect, Read, & Toughen Your FrameAre you ready to dig into the raw, un-technical philosophy of interpersonal conflict and read the hidden monographs of CIA operatives, outlaws, and real-world fighters? Grab Eugene's acclaimed books, including A Long Slow Screw, directly via Amazon, or slide into his DMs at @MrSleep3 on Instagram to secure a personally signed copy.Enjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠Episode 18 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠⁠

Miko captures the raw magic right after a gruelling training session to sit down with a true servant of the art, co-founder of the International Jiu-Jitsu School in Cyprus, and black belt powerhouse: Vitalii Stasiv. Vitalii traces his martial arts lineage back to childhood judo and a three-year stint in Aikido before introducing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to his home region in Ukraine. In this cross-continental conversation, they map out the deep logistics behind expanding a youth mega-academy, building custom subfloor tatami frameworks to save long-term joint health, and the distinct philosophy required to handle 150 international students from 28 different countries. What's Inside the Episode:The 30-Year Ballet Re-engineering: Vitalii recounts the high-stakes physical process of acquiring their academy space in Paphos, Cyprus—revealing how they completely gutted a historic 30-year-old ballet school to build a modern martial arts portal. He details the sleepless, 20-hour grinds with a Polish installation team to construct a custom floating subfloor framework to protect the spines and knees of their students. The 28-Country Immigrant Collective: Inside the global network of Cyprus, Vitalii explains the core philosophy behind building a multi-cultural haven. He maps out how they systematically scaled a room to 150 active practitioners from 28 different nationalities, transforming diverse outside backgrounds into a unified competitive unit. The Parenting Motivation Loop: A look into specialised youth training metrics. Vitalii explains why focusing heavily on high-quality kids' programs naturally draws in parents—detailing how a father sitting on the mats to train serves as the ultimate subconscious mirror to ignite an ironclad work ethic in a child. The 80% Early Prevention Metric: A deep technical look at modern class curriculum architecture. Vitalii structures why his defensive modules focus 20% on late-stage escapes and a massive 80% on early prevention—exploring how mapping out macro-scenarios keeps kids from ever conceding a side-control pin or a tight heel hook grip. The Exhausted 5 PM Tournament Gamble: Vitalii goes completely transparent on his early competitive career in Ukraine. He breaks down the brutal mental tax of coaching 40 youth competitors through chaotic brackets all day, only to strip off his coach's shirt at 5 PM, step on the mats completely starved of energy, and fight his way into deep absolute division wars.Memorable Quote: "A great coach shouldn't simply copy and paste templates from an instructional video into their room. You have to dissect the individual character and soul of each student to help them uncover their natural game. When an athlete finally breaks free from mimicking others and embraces their true personal style, jiu-jitsu becomes effortless." — Vitalii StasivEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠Episode 17 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠⁠

Miko captures the raw magic directly after a gruelling training session to sit down with a corporate tech innovator, Taekwondo Black Belt, and newly minted Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt: Andrew Forson. Andrew just wrapped up an analytical class at their home gym, Scramble Academy, in southern Spain. In this massive, high-pressure dialogue, they bridge the gap between high-level international corporate leadership and mat mechanics—dissecting why managing a NASDAQ-listed cryptocurrency asset firm mirrors deep positional survival, the physical tax of cutting 6 kilos in a single day, and the macro-logistics behind Miko's upcoming historic 6-week pioneer expansion into India.What's Inside the Episode:The Corporate "Status Quo" Blueprint: Andrew details his intense executive routine as the president of a NASDAQ-listed cryptocurrency asset manager. He maps out the striking analytical parallels between financial market engineering and high-level grappling strategy—revealing why overreacting under boardroom stress mirrors a panicked white belt getting systematically trapped in a submission. The 6-Kilo Sauna Reality Check: An inside look into the physical toll of extreme weight cuts. Andrew and Miko break down the brutal reality of shedding 6 kilos in a single day inside a sauna before the ADCC Trials, leading to a raw discussion about why standardising weight distributions long-term is critical for career longevity. Real-Life Narcos & The 130kg Unit: Andrew recounts returning to the mats after a months-long corporate hiatus, handling the heavy mental anxiety of rolling with a 130-kilogram training partner, and why choking out fully resistant human beings provides the ultimate biological "reset" from high-stakes venture capital stress. The 1.5 Billion Pioneer Indian Matrix: Miko opens up about his upcoming, massive 6-week developmental expansion across India. He details the macro-logistics of establishing a standardised blueprint curriculum for local judo and kudo academies across a market representing 20% of the world's population. The 10% Brain Cell Baseball Choke: Miko and Andrew share a hilarious, unfiltered historical gym story about the exact moment Miko trapped Andrew in a deep, rolling baseball choke from bottom mount, sending him completely unconscious on the mats.Memorable Quote: "In a high-stakes corporate meeting, when shareholders are blustering and making threats, I just sit back and look at them. If you carry the physical education of the mats, you understand the exact limits of power. You realise that outside of a firearm or a knife, you can completely handle the person in front of you—and that realisation brings an unshakeable, smiling calmness to your business decisions." — Andrew ForsonEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠Episode 16 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠⁠

Miko captures the raw magic right after an intense training session to sit down with a monumental pillar of the mat, a true judo legend, and a 76-year-old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt: Jürgen Nikolaus. Born in 1949, Jürgen's martial arts path dates back to post-WWII Europe, where he first stepped onto the mats for children's wrestling before discovering judo during the French occupation. In this profoundly inspiring conversation, they dissect Jürgen's journey travelling to Tokyo's historic Kodokan in 1968, navigating the strict and insular world of traditional Japanese universities, running thousand-square-meter mega-gyms, and rewriting the definition of athletic longevity following four major heart operations.What's Inside the Episode:The Post-War French Occupation Catalyst: Jürgen shares an incredible story from 1955 about his father, a jaw surgeon who operated on a French General's severe post-war facial injury. The successful operation earned the family a restriction-free card to a French military supermarket, leading a young Jürgen to spot children practising judo through a wooden window. The 1968 Tokyo Speculator Scam: Jürgen recounts packing up his life at age 18 to travel to Japan under the recommendation of European legend Guy Peltier. He opens up about returning from a hard day at the Kodokan to find his entire apartment stripped clean—losing all his money, clothes, and his bed, leaving him with nothing but 15,000 yen and a subway ticket. The 180,000-Yen Honour Crowdfund: How a bilingual policeman published Jürgen's robbery story in the Asahi Shimbun (Tokyo's largest newspaper), generating a wild 180,000-yen public donation in just two days. Jürgen details the true code of Bushido—taking only what was stolen to survive and donating the massive excess directly to a children's cancer ward. 400 Push-Ups and Kendo Sticks at Waseda: A peek inside the gruelling training blocks at Waseda University in 1968. Jürgen breaks down a punishing three-and-a-half-hour daily regimen where missing the speed of a drill meant catching a shocking reminder from a coach swinging a wooden shinai stick. The 30-Second Newaza Control Metric: Jürgen maps out the structural evolution of judo rules over the last 60 years. He breaks down the era when leg-grabbing was fully allowed and explains the distinct mental and physical difference of defending a newaza (ground pin) under the old 30-second rule versus modern grappling parameters.Memorable Quote: "Many people my age struggle simply to stand out of bed or tie their own shoes without taking ten heavy breaths. I have survived four heart operations, and the doctors told me they can do nothing more for my body. But I don't train to chase gold medals anymore—I train to stay alive. When I see the young competitors pacing the mat, it gives me a reason to wake up with a smile." — Jürgen NikolausEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠Episode 15 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠⁠

Miko captures the raw magic right after an intense training session to sit down with one of the most dominant, rapidly rising lightweight competitors in professional grappling: Cristian Amador.Cristian is a double ADCC Spanish Champion, juvenile IBJJF European Champion, and one of the most dangerous brown belts on the European circuit. Just days away from competing at the No-Gi Euros in Rome, Cristian opens up about his childhood path from Venezuela to Ireland and Spain, the psychological trap of relying purely on natural talent, coping with aggressive adult "man strength" as a teenager, and the technical breakdown behind his most viral back-take. What's Inside the Episode:The Over-Reliance on Pure Talent: Cristian handles the deep philosophical debate on hard work versus natural capability. He opens up honestly about becoming a victim of his own early success as a teen, realising the hard way that effortless skill will only carry an athlete to the baseline of elite divisions like the Euros or Trials before a structural work ethic must take over. The 16-Ounce Glove "Castle" Fight: Cristian shares a wild, unfiltered piece of Amador family lore. He details watching his older brother Joel (at age 24) officially challenge their 40-year-old, ultra-old-school hockey dad to a full-scale boxing match at Combat Academy of Finland—featuring professional referees, a crowd of betting hockey veterans, and an illegal pair of razor-thin 8-ounce gloves smuggled into the ring. Real-Life Narcos & Adult "Man Strength": Transitioning from the kids' division in Dublin to competing against fully grown adult men at age 15 in Valencia. Cristian recounts his first technical shock handling the mean, hyper-aggressive pacing of adult competitors, including an out-of-the-ballpark story of a black belt biting his arm during a deep rear-naked choke attempt at the ADCC Spanish Championship. The John Danaher Specifics Miracle: Why Cristian completely changed his training philosophies after experiencing the blue basement in Austin, Texas. He details why Danaher completely outlaws traditional sparring rounds in his room, forcing elite competitors to develop unshakeable positional mechanics by cycling relentlessly through back, mount, and saddle configurations without a timer. The Sambo Ankle-Lock & The Flying Matrix: Cristian gives a masterclass on lower-limb leverages, breaking down why classical jiu-jitsu ankle locks fail against elite guards and how a training camp with Mateusz Szczeciński taught him to capture knee alignment range. Plus, a play-by-play analysis of his viral, left-handed matrix jump to the back that lit up social media feeds globally.Memorable Quote: "When you are a kid, you don't really carry an ego on the mats. If an adult black belt beats you up, you just look at them with pure curiosity to reverse-engineer exactly what they did to you. But when you are a 16-year-old blue belt, and you take an adult black belt's back in 30 seconds, their ego completely fractures. They will resort to using raw 'man strength' or doing something crazy just because they cannot handle losing to a child." — Cristian AmadorEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠Episode 14 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠⁠

Miko captures the raw magic directly after a gruelling training session to sit down with a powerhouse of the mat, elite former ice hockey goalie, and close personal friend: Topias Mäki. Topias proudly represents the Finnish crew inside the academy and opens up about his journey through the high-stakes, pressure-cooker world of elite Scandinavian sports. In this fast-paced, multi-disciplinary conversation, they map out the deep physical psychology of professional goalkeeping, surviving old-school locker room managers, the brutal reality of freak sports injuries, and why true technical mastery requires treating your thoughts like a game of high-level chess. What's Inside the Episode:The King of the Castle Showdown: Topias details a legendary, real-life historical event—a fully sanctioned, referee-regulated boxing match at Combat Academy of Finland between his 24-year-old Thai boxing brother and their 40-year-old former hockey dad, ending in a jaw-dropping, third-round knockout that reshaped family hierarchy forever. The Frying Pan Field & Broken Ankles: A look into the gruelling structural tax of elite training across the Atlantic—from skating at age three to navigating the smaller, hyper-fast ice rinks of Boston and surviving a freak 90-degree ankle injury during a casual game of backyard disc golf that permanently closed the door on his professional hockey aspirations. Locker Room Reality & Big Mike’s Metrics: Topias shares a hilarious look inside the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), recounting a brutal locker room roasting by general manager "Big Mike" that left the entire team holding their breath and gifted Topias his permanent moniker, "Mr Finland". Re-engineering the Caveman Necktie: Miko shares an incredible behind-the-scenes technical insight from his instructional series, Chokes and More, revealing how a casual observation by Topias during a training session completely re-engineered a core turtle-attack blueprint using strategic foot-on-the-hip framing. The 30% Mental Muscle Miracle: Exploring fascinating sports science studies that prove how deep, focused mental visualisation and mapping out physical repetitions inside your mind can trigger up to 30% of the actual muscle hypertrophy and structural retention of live weight training.Memorable Quote: "As an offensive hockey player, you can make a sloppy pass or a bad decision and hide behind the team. But as a goalie, you are completely isolated—you are either the ultimate hero or the absolute asshole. I learned early on to love that psychological pressure, and it is the exact same metric that hooks you into the reality of jiu-jitsu." — Topias MäkiEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠Episode 13 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠⁠

Miko captures the raw magic right after a gruelling training session to sit down with his personal tattoo artist, ink collector, and incredible visionary: Ariel DiSabato. Ariel just wrapped up his very first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training session, adapting his artistic eye to the structural flow of mount escapes. In this wide-ranging and deeply philosophical conversation, they map out Ariel's diverse childhood path spanning Argentina, Jamaica, and Miami, his gruelling ten-year journey to break into a professional tattoo studio, the realities of creative burnout, and why shifting your mindset is the ultimate tool to rewrite your reality. What's Inside the Episode:The Global Melting Pot: Ariel details his unique cultural heritage—born in Argentina to an Italian father and a Jamaican mother, with a Cuban grandmother, before moving across the North of Spain and spending seven formative years navigating the multicultural streets of Miami. The 10-Year Kitchen Table Grind: A look back at the early, pre-YouTube era of tattoo artistry in 2006. Ariel shares how he and his mentor re-engineered machine mechanics using photocopied pages of old textbooks, sacrificing his own legs for practice, and tattooing friends on his father's kitchen table while working split shifts as a waiter. The 1,800-Kilometer Post-Pandemic Risk: The raw story behind opening his first independent studio in Benalmadena immediately following the global lockdown. Ariel details trusting his heart over his head to sign the lease during a period of closed town borders, resulting in a packed three-month booking queue and a first walk-in client who travelled directly from a military vessel near Morocco. The 50/50 Canvas Rule: Why Ariel strictly refuses to compromise his placement advice for stubborn clients. He breaks down why a tattoo is permanently 50% the property of the artist and 50% the property of the wearer, and why protecting his professional name means telling certain clients to walk out the door. The Butterfly Effect of Good Vibes: A deep dive into the Law of Attraction, the toxic nature of modern fear-mongering news cycles, and how a single random act of kindness—or a well-timed hug at age 19—can completely alter a person's energetic alignment for the day. Memorable Quote: "When you are a creative artist, you cannot simply force inspiration. For years, I would spend seven hours staring at a piece, trying to find the mistake until I completely broke down and threw it away. Now, I understand that if it's not flowing after an hour, it's simply not the day. You have to step back, look at the moon, and reconnect with the raw passion." — Ariel DiSabatoEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube:⁠ Episode 12 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠⁠

Miko sits down for a special international guest episode recorded live at the International Jiu Jitsu School in Cyprus to talk with a multi-disciplinary legend: Ivan Tomasetti. Ivan is a Judo Black Belt, 3rd Degree BJJ Black Belt, World and European Champion, and the mastermind behind Kano Kimonos. In this packed conversation, they dissect Ivan's childhood transition from Argentina to the elite mats of Italy, his years certifying special forces for UN peacekeeping missions, why the commercial modern bar for a "black belt" has completely shifted, and the psychological frameworks behind mapping out flawless competitive outcomes.What's Inside the Episode:Order and the Knuckle-Floor Punishments: Ivan drops an inside look at his early childhood judo upbringing in Italy at age seven. He shares a rigid youth training culture where being a single minute late mandated doing 10 push-ups on a hard floor directly on your bare knuckles - and why massive groups of chaotic modern children desperately need that military-style sense of structure. The One-Advantage Blueprint Strategy: A masterclass in high-level match architecture. Ivan explicitly details why he completely ignores the urge to hunt for early, reckless submissions, choosing instead to target a single advantage point as fast as possible to force the entire psychological and physical burden of taking risks onto his opponent. The Sambo Foot-Tension Revolution: How cross-training alongside elite Russian Sambo squads during a national team training camp completely altered Ivan's lower-limb finishing mechanics, helping him systematically clear out an entire IBJJF European No-Gi tournament bracket in under two minutes total using deep foot-tension compression. UN Peacekeeping and 3-Step Combatives: A look into Ivan's post-competitive judo career running special high-risk operations and hand-to-hand combatives for the United Nations at Coespo. He reveals how elite soldiers served as the ultimate testing grounds for his "3-step rule," proving why structural techniques must mirror natural human stress responses to remain 85% effective under live firearm situations. The "Tia Maria" Drunk Final Manifesto: Ivan goes completely transparent to reveal a wild, legendary historical story. He details convincing his professional judo brother to cross-enter a national jiu-jitsu tournament, stopping at every cafe on the road to down shots of Tia Maria coffee liquor to kill their inhibitions, and ultimately orchestrating a pre-arranged, laughing final match that was broadcast by the national federation.Memorable Quote: "In fighting sports, you never have to worry about whether your body fits a rigid Olympic template. If you want to run a 100-meter dash or be an elite swimmer, your genetics will ultimately cap you. But in jiu-jitsu, you mould the art to fit your exact frame, outwork the room, and absolute obsession will eventually replace natural talent." — Ivan TomasettiEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: Episode 11 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠⁠

Miko captures the raw magic right after a gruelling training session to sit down with a powerhouse of the mat, reigning Purple Belt Adult World Champion, and overall phenomenal human being: Janet Gloger. Janet has been on the mats since she was five years old, climbing from the strict, structured military-style youth academies of Germany to training under the elite gaze of the Mendes brothers at AOJ. In this wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, they map out her evolution as a lightweight competitor, the reality of weight class psychology, and how staying authentic brings true connection inside the global jiu-jitsu community.What's Inside the Episode:The Knuckle Push-Up Era: Janet pulls back the curtain on her early youth training in Minden, Germany—detailing an old-school environment where being late meant doing 10 push-ups per minute on the hard floor with bare knuckles, and how that military-style order built her bulletproof foundation. The Art of a World Champion Uniform: A look at early youth metrics where forgetting your belt meant being forced to wear the dreaded "pink belt" and doubling all physical training sets—and how a structured uniform teaches kids real-world accountability. Inside the Walls of Art of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ): Janet details the intense everyday rhythm of the elite morning blocks in Costa Mesa under Professor Gui Mendes—from the strict 7:30 AM competition classes with no talking or laughing, to why Gui maps out macro-systems like "walking to the head" rather than isolated techniques. The Psychology of the Weight-Cut Cycle: An exceptionally honest look into the hidden struggles of competitive athletes, handling severe food compensation habits after losing 6 kilos in a single day inside a sauna, and how severe cuts caused a year-long loss of her period. The 600-Euro Las Vegas Elvis Mirage: Miko drops a completely random, never-before-told historical fact from his past as a professional internet poker player, detailing a wild 600-euro win on a Sopranos machine in Vegas that vanished over mid-morning mojitos and a helicopter ride piloted by an Elvis impersonator.Memorable Quote: "At AOJ, Professor Gui Mendes doesn't just let you choose an open-mat partner. He handpicks your training groups because he knows your exact weaknesses. He will look at you and say, 'From now on, you only play guard.' It's intense, it's quiet, and it pushes your technical ego completely out of the equation." — Janet GlogerEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: Episode 10 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠TikTok: h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠

Miko captures the raw magic directly after a gruelling training session to sit down with an incredibly positive, rising star and viral content creator: Pili Legasa. Pili brings a touch of Barcelona flair to the studio and opens up honestly about her initial shock entering the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In this high-energy, authentic conversation, they explore how to transform deep physical anxiety into true personal safety, the structural gaps in classical academic pathways, and the exact content creation metrics required to build a loyal core audience.What's Inside the Episode:The First-Week Tears: Pili maps out her highly emotional transition from classical dancing and ballet to being completely manhandled in her very first week of No-Gi, sharing the raw anxiety of feeling trapped under heavy pressure and how her coach encouraged her to embrace the frustration to rewrite her mindset. The 85% FBI Street Reality: Miko breaks down critical tactical safety metrics, citing historical data showing that 85% of physical street altercations ultimately end up on the ground. They dive deep into why choking an aggressive predator unconscious is a far more reliable equaliser for women than relying on striking distance alone. The Double-Major Academic Trap: Pili details the extreme frustration of spending three years studying biology while completely hating the environment, before double-majoring in biotechnology and classical jazz piano out of pure family pride—only to completely walk away from the keys once she realised she loved the emotion of the music, not the technical puzzles behind it. The "CEO of Kimura Cup" Breakthrough: How Pili went from being a completely unknown white belt on the street to systematically researching the executive profiles of martial arts CEOs, landing her first major promotional tour, and building a professional sports media platform in less than four months. Chicken Feet and Mustard Activation: A technical look into food innovation—exploring why Pili drinks a gelatinous, home-brewed chicken feet soup to secure raw collagen for joint health, and the exact scientific enzyme in high-quality mustard required to activate the anti-cancer molecules inside raw broccoli.Memorable Quote: "When a two-meter guy is coming at you on the street, hitting him in the face might not even slow him down if he's high on drugs. But in jiu-jitsu, if they throw you to the floor and try to hurt you, you know exactly how to secure the back. And once you get the rear naked choke locked in, it doesn't matter how big they are—they are going to sleep." — Pili LegasaEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠Episode 9 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠TikTok: h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠

Miko captures the raw magic right after a gruelling training session to sit down with a powerhouse of the mat, a multi-time IBJJF medalist, and the self-proclaimed inventor of "hobbit style" jiu-jitsu: Emilia Lilius. Having transitioned away from her career as an active competitor, Emilia opens up about the deep contrast between training out of obligation versus finding true joy in the art. In this candid conversation, they explore how to build critical autonomy as an athlete, her early days navigating male-dominated rooms in Finland, training throughout a high-risk pregnancy, and dirtying her hands in a thriving landscape design business.What's Inside the Episode:Pettiness in the Pyjamas: Emilia drops a hilarious look into her early days as a small girl navigating male-dominated mats 15 years ago, revealing how pure pettiness to not let the men win saved her from early panic attacks and smothering pressure. The Blueprint of Autonomy: Why building codependent relationships with coaches can stall your progression, and how navigating her entire world-class black belt career without a day-to-day coach forced Emilia to become a master problem solver. The Post-Due-Date Sparring: A deep technical look into training while pregnant—recalling a wild sparring session with Miko on her literal due date and examining how maternal cardiovascular fitness directly conditions a baby’s heart resilience. The Vegan Weight-Cut Miracle: Emilia breaks down how shifting to a strict plant-based diet for nine years completely optimised her systemic recovery and transformed brutal weight cuts into easy transitions before tournaments. Re-engineering Green Spaces: A peek behind the curtain of Emilia's post-competition career—managing tech ads and designing tactical plant layouts to help black-thumb clients keep their household flora alive and thriving."When you are a competitor, especially when your income relies on it, the sport becomes a chore. Quitting competition allowed me to finally have my honeymoon with jiu-jitsu. Now I can goof around, lose rounds, and actually enjoy the training." — Emilia LiliusEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠Episode 8 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠TikTok: h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠

Miko captures the raw magic directly after a gruelling training session to sit down with an exceptionally talented brown belt, IBJJF Spanish Champion, ADCC Spanish Champion, and multi-time European medalist: Joel Amador. Fresh from a hard block of specific sparring, Joel is cutting down to 66 kilos for an upcoming submission-only title fight at La Batalla del Estrecho. In this wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, they trace Joel’s roots from surviving home invasions and high-stakes criminal insecurity in Venezuela to training at the elite forefront of modern sports science under John Danaher in Austin, Texas.What's Inside the Episode:PlayStation Passions & Brotherly Brawls: Joel shares his earliest memories of martial arts—re-enacting neck-cranks and guillotines from UFC Undisputed 2 on his little brother, Christian, long before they both became elite figures on the European mats. The Gunpoint Last Straw: A sobering look back at Joel’s childhood in Venezuela—detailing the terrifying reality of being held hostage at gunpoint by home invaders and explaining how that exact trauma catalysed his father's final decision to move the family to Ecuador. Black Belts at Being Immigrants: Travelling from Venezuela to Ecuador, Ireland, and finally Spain by age 19, Joel breaks down how shifting between volatile economic landscapes and complex currencies gave him an unshakeable perspective on resilience. The SBG and John Kavanagh Pedigree: Joel’s early grappling evolution in Ireland alongside UFC veterans like Paddy Holohan and Aisling Daly, and how teaching kids' classes alongside elite black belts shaped his core instructional philosophies. Surpassing the "Accounting Trap": The profound moment Joel’s father pulled him aside during his first year studying finance to explicitly encourage him to ditch the safe corporate track and pursue professional jiu-jitsu. The John Danaher Blueprint: Inside the blue-basement environment in Austin, Texas—exploring why Danaher enforces strict, gruelling 20-minute specific blocks with zero time limits, and a deep technical look at the exact elbow-frame mount escape that completely revolutionised Joel's defensive game. The European Leg Lock Syndicate: Comparing the single-source knowledge of American rooms with the diverse technical network of Europe—highlighting collaborative mechanics learned from figures like Eoghan O'Flanagan, Mateusz Szczeciński, and Kamil Wilk. Viking Mindsets vs. Sensual Bachata: Lighthearted, hilarious breakdowns of room personalities—contrasting the bulletproof, relentless pressure of Santeri with elite training partners like "Abraham," a jacked American powerhouse who doubles as a sensual Bachata dance instructor. The Myth of the Trash Talk Era: Why Conor McGregor-style corporate media posturing fails to take root in professional grappling, exploring the cheeky, dark-humour banter of British rooms, and Joel’s official callout to European Trials winner Sam McNally. The Anti-Steroid Manifesto: Joel humorously handles persistent internet steroid allegations by pointing directly to his ice-cream-fueled belly, mapping out his strict 11-week methodology to cut down to weight-class precision without the aid of exogenous chemistry."Jiu-jitsu isn't something I use to validate myself [...] When you retire, nobody remembers the generic champions anyway—I just want to fight the absolute best guys in the world to experience the peak version of my own capabilities." — Joel AmadorEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠⁠Episode 7 on YouTubeRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠TikTok: h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠

Host Miko captures the raw magic right after a hard training session to sit down with his old-school training partner, a true legend of the Finnish grappling scene, and one of the nastiest neck-crankers on the planet: Stig-Johan "Stiggy" Lundström. Stig openly admits his competition class preparation yesterday consisted of a bottle of wine with his wife and half a pack of cigarettes—proving that sometimes, a lifetime of grit and being "too stupid to give up" is all the pedigree you need. In this deep dive, they map out Stig’s journey from the earliest no-holds-barred bombshell gyms of Finland to captaining the world's most elite, multi-million dollar superyachts across the Mediterranean. What's inside the episode:The Early 80s Finnish Frontier: Stig breaks down growing up in the maritime town of Jakobstad, choosing karate because judo was a bit too "huggy feely," and his transition into the Navy and professional Seaman schools. The Speakeasy Fight Club: What it was like entering the legendary Fin Fighters gym in 1996—a bombshell gym located underneath a pub where you literally needed to know someone to get past the locked front door. The Caveman Era of BJJ: Re-learning grappling mechanics in the late 90s using nothing but obscure instructional books, trying to figure out what happened between picture A and picture B before the first wave of Brazilian black belts arrived in Finland. Purified by an "Animal": Stig recounts a brutal, four-round semi-pro boxing war in San Remo, Italy, against a towering counterpuncher named "Animal"—sharing the exact moment he realised the sheer structural difference between a decent amateur and a professional puncher. Choked Out by a 50kg Girl: Stig’s humbling introduction to the gi in Genoa, Italy, where getting choked out three times by a fraction of his weight class ignited a 15-year obsession with the art. The James Bond Ship to Monaco Grand Prix: Moving away from cargo lines to captaining iconic private vessels like the Northern Cross (featured in GoldenEye), and wild, unfiltered stories from the pit lanes of the early 2000s Monaco Grand Prix. Rebuilding Oligarch Toys: The intricate, five-year process of converting a commercial platform supply vessel (PSV) into a luxury mega-yacht equipped with helicopter decks and a 7x5-meter cinema screen. The Paradox of Generational Wealth: A peek behind the curtain of the ultra-wealthy, including a hilarious encounter with a multi-billionaire heir who looked like a beach bum, and why a lack of everyday financial struggle often dilutes the joy of living. Finding Your Ikigai: Looking at a massive 30,000-participant Harvard study in Japan to explore why having a true, community-driven "reason to live" impacts life expectancy far more than diet or social circles alone. Adopting Kettlebells for Powerlifting: Stig’s highly irregular, hyper-effective four-day lifting routine—re-engineering heavy kettlebells for one-armed bench presses and slow-tempo power dynamics to bulletproof an ageing frame. The "Keve" Necessity: How a hydration crisis among superyacht crews led Stig to co-develop Keve—an oral rehydration electrolyte recipe built to fix salt dilution and cure severe hangovers. Memorable Quote:"The duality of man is the fact that we are capable of huge compassion and great violence at the same time. To be capable of violence but to actively contain and check it—that is what makes you a man. Otherwise, you're just harmless." — Stig-Johan LundströmEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠⁠Episode 6 on YouTube⁠Remember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠TikTok: h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠

Host Miko captures the raw magic directly after a hard training session to sit down with one of the absolute nicest guys you will ever meet: Diogo Pereira. Diogo wears a rash guard that proudly reads "Always Injured"—and true to form, he managed to tweak his MCL right before the microphones turned on. In this incredible, cross-continental conversation, they trace Diogo’s journey from growing up amid a looming civil war in Africa to surviving the wild, unsanctioned world of early Eastern European MMA cages, and ultimately finding peace, sanity, and a legacy for his children on the jiu-jitsu mats of Malaga. What's Inside the Episode:Pyjamas in the African Heat: Diogo shares his earliest memories of martial arts at age four, watching his mother train judo and feeling the gruelling physical tax of practising in a heavy gi while growing up in the Congo. The Global Mutts: Moving from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Portugal, Belgium, the Czech Republic, and finally Spain, Diogo explains how his family "spread like a virus" and how adapting to different cultures shaped his worldview. The Unsanctioned Cage Era: What it was like entering the Czech Republic fight scene in 2007—competing in rickety cages locked with literal bicycle chains, seeing an ambulance at a venue for the first time, and why early record-tracking meant checking stamps on a paper license rather than searching online databases. Losing the Fire: A deep look into Diogo’s final 15-minute MMA battle, why falling asleep and having a super-low heart rate of 57 before a fight was the ultimate signal that his competitive fire had softened, and why stepping away from the trauma of head injuries was a necessary choice for his family. The 21-Kilo Derailment: A hilarious look into corporate tech life in Prague, meeting his Slovakian wife, and how empathy during her pregnancy led to a massive lifestyle derailment of pizza, burgers, heavy lifting, and an inability to tie his own shoelaces. The Mastermind Bodybuilders: How a group of competitive bodybuilders in Prague finally introduced Diogo to tracking macros and mapping out proper recovery protocols using Vitamin D, Magnesium, Zinc, and B6. Miko’s Redemption Arc: Diogo flips the script and interviews Mikko about his roots—from hardcore wrestling at age 4 to escaping a past of bad decisions in France and arriving in Spain completely broke but determined to let jiu-jitsu serve as the backbone of his life. Viral Power: The story behind Miko’s massive viral boom—going from traditional long-form editing to hitting 1.2 million views on his first short reel and a massive 7.1 million hits on his legendary Power Kimura video. The Balance of Parent Craft: Raising three completely different kids, why jiu-jitsu is the perfect cerebral playground to help an introverted daughter build confidence, and the struggles of handling a naturally athletic son who wants to abandon his championships to play handball. The Holy Grail of Desserts: Why Diogo strictly forbids himself from learning how to bake, the heavy sugar legacy of traditional Portuguese conventional sweets, and eating dessert before his main meal.Memorable Quote:"Jiu-jitsu is the only sport that keeps my brain completely active even during dull corporate meetings. You can look like you are fully focused on a project, but your mind is quietly calculating underhook advantages." — Diogo PereiraEnjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠Episode 5 on YouTube⁠Remember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠TikTok: h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠

Miko captures the magic moment right after a gruelling training session to sit down with an absolute ironman, real-life legend, and 78-year-old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt: William Mitchell.William didn't even start his jiu-jitsu journey until he was 64 years old, walking into an academy with titanium rods in his back and a defibrillator in his chest. In this captivating episode, they dive deep into the ultimate mindset of defensive grappling, what it's like to transition from decades of high-stakes federal narcotics operations to a life of flowing on the mats, and how physical conditioning literally saves lives.What's Inside the Episode:The 64-Year-Old White Belt: William shares the incredible story of starting martial arts again later in life, and why finding a welcoming coach who didn't fear his severe medical history changed everything. From Torrance to Spain: Tracing a 13.5-year journey from the Gracie University headquarters in California to training with legends like Robin Gracie in Barcelona and Pablo Cabo's Roger Gracie Academy in Malaga. The Sport vs. Martial Art Divide: A look at the historical roots of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, exploring the philosophical clash between point-based sports strategy and pure, tactical self-defence. The 7/8th Ironman & Capillary Heart Miracles: William recounts surviving a massive heart attack during a gruelling Arizona triathlon and the medical anomaly that kept him alive thanks to a lifetime of running. Real-Life Narcos: Stints in Vietnam, hunting down multi-drug traffickers like Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo in Guadalajara, dealing with intense cartel death threats, and the harrowing reality behind the true story of Kiki Camarena. Hollywood Fabrications vs. Reality: William sets the record straight on his close colleague Javier Peña (from the Netflix series Narcos) and breaks down a wild, overt Brooklyn surveillance operation against the Italian Mafia. The Psychology of Informants: A peek inside the syllabus William wrote for federal training, highlighting the three distinct triggers used to flip high-value targets. Old Man Jiu-Jitsu & Belt Doubt: An honest, humble look into battling imposter syndrome, rolling with an open hand to save energy, and why "defending is winning" when facing aggressive youngsters on the mats. The Clean Mediterranean Switch: Transitioning from a hardcore carnivore diet to a year of strict veganism, before ultimately fine-tuning a lifestyle driven by clean poultry, organic eggs, watermelon, and plant-based protein shakes. Enjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/GOOZ60fdDY4⁠Remember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠⁠TikTok: h⁠⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠⁠

In this post-training episode of Chokes and More, Miko sits down with super-talented brown belt William Watmore. Fresh off a hard sparring session, they dive deep into the daily grind of an elite competitor, what it takes to surpass your coaches, the evolution of high-level grappling strategies, and the intense mental battles that happen both on the mats and under the pressure of competition. Episode HighlightsThe Blueprint of a Competitor’s Week: William breaks down his intense training schedule across gyms in Torremolinos and Malaga—balancing lifting, teaching, and 5–6 weekly Jiu-Jitsu sessions. Surpassing Your Coach: Miko and William discuss the ultimate goal of a student: to eventually beat and surpass their own coach (like their mutual training partner, Santeri) and why a great coach celebrates that growth. The Evolution from Gi to No-Gi: How William started out as a dedicated, lapel-loving Gi player who "hated No-Gi" before ultimately making the shift to training mostly No-Gi. Pressure Passing vs. Speed Passing: A technical deep-dive into how rolling at a leg lock camp in Poland shifted William’s game toward heavy pressure passing to systematically tire opponents out. Feeding Off the Opponent's Mindset: William shares an incredible breakdown of his matches at Trials and the Euros, explaining how a competitor can physically feel an opponent "crumbling" and use that to fuel their own gas tank. Basics vs. Tricks: Why 95% of a beginner's focus should be anchored in fundamental posture and escape mechanics rather than flashy internet tricks. Miko's Backstory: Miko shares a look into his past, how he built his ironclad mindset while isolation-training in the mountains of France, and how Jiu-Jitsu serves as a true brotherhood that changes lives. Enjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9plAMD-jKkkRemember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_moreBJJ Fanatics: https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonenYouTube: https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore

Miko captures the raw magic right after a hard training session to sit down with a madman and crazy genius: Sebastian Brosche. Sebastian is a 2x World Champion, European Champion, and the mastermind behind Yoga for BJJ.In this episode, they strip away the modern "tough guy" illusions of the sport to talk about what it actually takes to train until you are 85, why standard jiu-jitsu warm-ups are fundamentally broken, and how to stop treating your body like a toxic environment.What's Inside the Episode:From Kung Fu Panda to Fundamentals: Sebastian opens up about his new 70-square-meter academy and his unique approach to teaching kids—focusing on making them love moving before forcing them to love the grind. The Judo Divorce: Growing up competing in over 100 judo tournaments since age seven, Sebastian shares why he felt "married to the wrong sport" before finding true love and a healthier partnership in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The Blueprint of True Recovery: Miko reveals his own consistent 25-minute nightly Yoga for BJJ habit, while Sebastian breaks down the four non-negotiable cornerstones of an athletic life: sleep, hydration, nutrition, and mobility. Why BJJ Warm-Ups Get a 1 out of 10: A direct critique of standard academies running in circles doing high-knees, and why it's failing our joints, breaking ACLs, and driving white belts to quit. The Golden Windows of Consistency: How busy hobbyists can easily build longevity habits in tiny bite-sized chunks—like putting your legs up the wall or stretching when the instructor is demonstrating a technique. Sugar vs. Cocaine & The Addiction Industry: A fascinating look into processed foods, nighttime cravings, and how the modern food industry is scientifically engineered to hijack your nervous system. Raising the Floor of Jiu-Jitsu Instruction: Why having a belt doesn't make you a qualified teacher, and how to build a visual system to guide white belts smoothly from class 1 to 100 without burning them out. Connect & Build Your FoundationWant to save yourself five years of trial and error? Explore Sebastian’s lifetime programs, beginner teaching frameworks, and accredited recovery courses over at yogaforbjj.net.Enjoy the episode and remember to subscribe to the podcast.Watch this episode's video on YouTube: ⁠https://youtu.be/2YmfYT3rd2I⁠Remember: Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokesCode: Chokes -15%Find me on:Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chokes_and_more/⁠TikTok: h⁠ttps://www.tiktok.com/@chokes_and_more⁠BJJ Fanatics: ⁠https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_miko-hytonen⁠YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@chokesandmore⁠

Chokes And More Podcast Ep.1Today for the very first episode I am joined by Santeri Lilius.Santeri is a 2× ADCC European Trials Winner and IBJJF NoGi European Champion and owner of Scranble Academy SpainWe talked about competitions, partying street fights, going undercover as a dentist and how to do jiu-jitsu naked in a spa if you are attacked. We had a great time while we did this!Watch the video of this episode on my YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/bwZoCxc-1jEHope you enjoy, remember to subscribe.Jiu-Jitsu Never Dies.Manto 🥋www.man.to/chokescode: Chokes -15%