Open Mat Podcast

Most people don't train only gi anymore, but should you train in it sometimes? Tim and Adam discuss how, when and why to train in both, and how to manage the balance between the two if you're in a school that primarily trains one or the other.

The idea of understanding and learning concepts in Jiu Jitsu - like posture, inside position, and head control - has been the gold standard of "good" technique for years. But when it comes to learning individual skills and specific movements, does that kind of big picture focus help or hurt us? Tim and Adam discuss the limitations of concepts during periods of specific focus, their view on the place concepts have within the sport, and what we replace bigger concepts with during specific work.

Tim and Adam discuss a common situation: White belts giving feedback and advice to other white belts. They discuss the role and importance of peer feedback among junior students, and the place it should take up within a class.

Tim and Adam discuss dropping in to new gyms while travelling. While this sounds like one of the easiest decisions to make while travelling, most practitioners have anxiety when it is actually time to go train at a brand new gym. Tim and Adam discuss how to stop worrying about performance, what to do before dropping in, and the mistakes to avoid when in a new gym.If you find this podcast helpful, don't forget to either comment on this episode or connect with us on Instagram at open.matpodcast - we check our messages!

Tim and Adam discuss how they create classes in which they don't demonstrate or drill techniques. They cover how to break technique apart into individual skills, how to create games that directly improve those skills, and how to do this for yourself.

In this episode Tim and Adam address the difficult positions of Front Headlock and Turtle, and how to build a dominant game. They discuss why it's impossible to control right away, how to focus aggression into primary attacks, opening your opponents to further attacks and dilemmas. Finally, they address how to begin building those skills up immediately, whether or not you have a chance to drill them in class.

Tim and Adam discuss the cycle and evolution of Jiu Jitsu's competitive "metagame". They discuss how competitive BJJ has evolved since Tim started in 2009, what is currently happening, and also what they expect the next focus of competitors to be. They discuss whether or not "Old School" Jiu Jitsu to be coming back, and the danger of focusing on a set of techniques in competition too much.

Tim and Adam discuss whether knowing and tracking Jiu Jitsu lineage still means anything in an art that continues to become more of a sport every year. They discuss how it may give meaning to belts that they don't have on their own, why we will probably always track lineage, and their own coaches.

Continuing from episode 29, Tim and Adam tackle questions they have been asked on the mats before. They discuss why they believe it's important to teach heel hooks to beginners, where we can find significance in belts, why Derek Moneyberg IS a legitimate black belt, and why Tim insists that pulling guard is a good thing.

Tim and Adam answer questions they've been asked about coaching or learning styles, and also address some thoughts they've heard more generally. They discuss why specifically they typically do not demonstrate techniques for students start to finish, and why Tim has insisted that self defense isn't important to teach or learn in Jiu Jitsu classes. Finally, Tim explains and defends a comment from an earlier episode claiming that offense and defense are the same in Jiu Jitsu.

Tim and Adam ring the new year in discussing how to approach returning to the mats after the holidays, how to approach setting and attaining goals in Jiu Jitsu and why most people should not set a new goal when they return to the mats.

Tim and Adam take an episode to discuss their Jiu Jitsu journeys throughout the past year - the ups, the downs, the changes and the progress. They discuss what they've focused on and what they've discovered, and also offer practical advice to beginner, intermediate, and advanced Jiu Jitsu athletes on how to reflect on Jiu Jitsu in a way that will help you make quicker and greater progress as you return to the mats.

At some point in the journey of everyone who makes it past white belt, we deal with "losing" to someone we don't think we should lose to. Whether that loss is being tapped, having our guard passed, or anything in between, this fear costs us training opportunities at open mats, other gyms, and sometimes within our own home gyms. Adam and Tim discuss how to overcome these fears, opening the doors to more enjoyable training and more opportunities to get better.

Tim and Adam discuss what is considered by some to be the most devastating position in Jiu Jitsu, but for many practitioners is a challenge both to control and attack. Tim discusses the keys to avoid being thrown or rolled off from top position, and the one objective that will shut down all other attacks. Adam describes how he flipped the switch from consistently losing the mounted position to consistently submitting from there, and the two talk about the role patience plays in success.

In this episode Tim and Adam discuss submissions - and specifically, why Tim believes that submission is the only thing that even matters in Jiu Jitsu. They briefly define Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for any listeners unfamiliar, but focus then on what it means to focus on submission before anything else and how that impacts our training. Finally, they discuss what things like passing the guard, pinning and taking the back mean if submission is the only thing that truly mattersIf you enjoy this podcast, don't forget we have an instagram at open.matpodcast!

Pinning is an important part of all grappling sports, but is much less important in Jiu Jitsu compared to other similar sports. Or is it? In this episode Tim and Adam discuss how pinning serves a different purpose, and why it remains an absolutely critical skill in a sport that rewards it so little. They discuss how to define pinning, how to use it strategically, and how to progress pins toward submissions while maintaining control.If you enjoy this podcast, don't forget to follow us on Instagram at open.matpodcast!

As we get better at Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, we tend to develop certain areas of our game we're better at than others. But how do we take those skills and turn them into true specialties? In this episode Tim and Adam discuss how to develop specialties in Jiu Jitsu, the two ways they tend to develop, and Tim shares his thoughts on the most critical part of developing specialized skills which we often overlook.If you enjoy this podcast, don't forget we have an Instagram! We are always happy to engage with questions, comments, or even disagreements at open.matpodcast.

Back Control is one of the most powerful positions in Jiu Jitsu, but behind closed doors most hobbyists have to admit they struggle to control from the back long enough to submit. In this episode Tim and Adam discuss how to be consistently successful in exposing and attacking the back, and also how to build the skills needed to maintain control for extended periods of time.If you find this podcast helpful, don't forget we have an instagram at open.matpodcast! We frequently engage with listeners.

At some point in our Jiu Jitsu career, we run into one or more training partners we're completely helpless against. In this episode, Tim and Adam discuss what to do when the skill gap between you and your partner is too great for rounds to be competitive, and how to still improve in those rounds. They discuss how to approach them differently, why focusing on survival is never the answer, and even what you can gain from these rounds that you can't gain from others.If you like what you hear, don't forget we have an Instagram page at open.matpodcast! We would love to hear your questions, comments, disagreements or requests.

Adam and Tim discuss how to use class time leading up to a competition to prepare to win. They discuss how to avoid getting robbed in a tournament, why and how to train differently with a competition coming up, and how to develop the foundations of skill in stand up if you're too afraid to pull guard.If you enjoy this podcast, don't forget we have an Instagram page at open.matpodcast! We post clips of upcoming episodes and actively engage with listeners.

In this conversation Adam and Tim dive into the deeply frustrating topic of passing the guard, and why much of the time we spend drilling passes is not useful. Tim lays out his views on how to truly improve at passing, including details on his particular framework on the foot positions of passing. Adam details some of the challenges his students have had in learning, and Tim gives advice to his blue belt self.If you enjoy this podcast, consider following us on Instagram at open.matpodcast! We would love to hear from you, whether you agree or disagree with our thoughts. 

In this concise episode Adam and Tim hone in on the idea that Jiu Jitsu is a zero sum game, and what this means for us strategically and for our learning. They delve into how every movement increases or decreases control, and how to make sure that the small exchanges add up over time to huge advantages and inevitable submissions.If this podcast is helpful, don't forget we have an instagram at open.matpodcast where you can interact with us, ask questions, debate points and get sneak peaks into upcoming episodes!

Adam and Tim give commentary on the first Craig Jones Invitational that is as definitive as it is late. They discuss the matches, evaluating some major matchups in both the context of the tournament and how BJJ has continued to evolve since. Tim has very strong words for the strong focus on takedowns shown and the degree to which they influenced the outcome and progress of the matches. The two discuss how CJI has influenced the sport as a whole, from the time of CJI one to the present.If you enjoy this podcast or disagree with anything that has been said, don't forget to follow us on Instagram at open.matpodcast! 

Tim and Adam have an in-depth conversation around competition, including its importance, how to gameplan effectively, and recounting some of their own competitive history. They discuss the specific advantages competition gives in the journey of jiu jitsu progress, as well as how to create and implement gameplans that actually make a measurable difference in performance.If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to follow us on Instagram @open.matpodcast! We are happy to respond to comments or messages with questions, disagreements, or any other observations.

In this episode Tim and Adam dive into the elusive skill of learning by reviewing Jiu Jitsu matches - whether those of top competitors or your own. While most top teams discuss their film study often, most hobbyists have never been taught how to bridge the gap between watching a match and gaining useful insights. Tim and Adam talk about how they do this, which competitors they have studied, the usefulness of filming yourself, and the difference between studying film and watching instructionals.If you enjoy this podcast, give us a follow in Instagram at @open.matpodcast. Let us know your thoughts, questions, disagreements, or requests for topics you'd like us to cover in the future - we love to interact with listeners!

Tim and Adam dive into the differences and similarities between Gi and No Gi Jiu Jitsu. They discuss the current state of the sport, the rising popularity of No Gi and the slow decline of the Gi. They discuss their personal preferences, and also whether practitioners need to choose whether to train one or the other to get better at Jiu Jitsu as a whole. 

Tim and Adam discuss one of the Jiu Jitsu community's most sensitive topics - the Black Belt. In this conversation they discuss when Tim felt he was "ready" for his black belt, what Adam feels he still needs to learn before he will be ready, and how each of them define the belt itself. They also discuss whether the black belt is as subjective as the other belts are,  and what to work towards as you try to become a black belt yourself.

In this episode Adam and Tim discuss the one challenge that faces both brand new students and instructors coaching brand new members: How do you start to learn Jiu Jitsu without having any idea where to start? They discuss how to define Jiu Jitsu and Jiu Jitsu skills, the first focus that will help new practitioners build skill immediately, and how to focus both your own learning and your students' learning through areas of familiarity as well as unfamiliarity.If you like, dislike, agree or disagree with anything said in this podcast, make sure to let us know on Instagram @open.matpodcast - see you there!

Tim and Adam discuss the experience of being new to Jiu Jitsu, sharing tips and advice they wish they'd had for their first class. They discuss a variety of topics, including Jiu Jitsu culture, the differences between different types of gyms, and etiquette. This episode is indispensable for newer grapplers or those interested in starting in the sport, but also offers commentary on the state of Jiu Jitsu for more seasoned grapplers.

In this conversation, Tim and Adam look at where, if anywhere, the role of unresisted drilling and direct teaching lay on the road to improvement in Jiu Jitsu. They also look at how to create constraints for anyone new at creating games, and how far is too far in the pursuit of specific constraints on those games.

Tim is joined by guest Morgan Frazer in a discussion around optimizing classes for competitors. Morgan teaches at M Theory Martial Arts in Minnesota, where he runs an early morning weekend class which draws students from other academies, some of whom drive 3 hours to attend. Morgan discusses how he approaches these classes, his teaching methodology, and how he views training and coaching Jiu Jitsu to maximize his students' performance.Train with Morgan at the Academy Eden Prairie in Eden Prairie, MN on Mondays (www.academyedenprairie.com), and if you feel brave ask him about his Sunday class!

Tim and Adam are joined by Hayden Buckner, competitor and owner/head coach of the Academy Eden Prairie. Hayden digs into what "Ecological Jiu Jitsu" is, and specifically why it isn't a term we should be using. Hayden gives one of the most accessible introductions to what Ecological Dynamics and the Constraint Led Approach are, and how he uses them to coach and train successfully in Jiu Jitsu.Find more about Hayden and his gym on their website at https://academyedenprairie.com or on instagram at @academyedenprairie

Tim and Adam tackle leg locks: one of the original controversies of the Jiu Jitsu community. They discuss whether they are as dangerous as they're claimed to be, whether there should be restrictions on who can or should learn and use them, and dig into the deeper reasons why they seem to be so divisive in the first place.

Tim and Adam discuss how to get better at Jiu Jitsu if you are not able to increase your mat time. In this episode, they tackle what "mental engagement" looks like when put into practice, how to make the most of limited time on the mat, and also how to coach students with limited instruction time.

Tim and Adam sit down with Abe, the creator of SubStats. Abe is using technology typically available to Fortune 500 companies to analyze and provide insights from recordings of jiu jitsu matches, giving competitors insights into what goes right and what goes wrong. The three discuss how this is used and what that could mean for competitors.

Tim and Adam discuss how to become a great blue belt after overcoming initial insecurities. They discuss the difference in understanding between new blue and new purple belts, how to develop skills that you felt you could not before, and the most important part of learning Jiu Jitsu for becoming an advanced belt.

Adam and Tim discuss their thoughts on the challenges of the Blue Belt, ranging from defining what one is to how to deal with the various insecurities that come along with it. They talk about promotion criteria, whether someone is a real blue belt if they cannot consistently submit white belts, and advice for shaking the blue belt blues.

Hosts Tim and Adam kick the podcast off. They give brief introductions before discussing how to focus as you learn jiu jitsu, from measuring your progress to how and why to focus your attention as you train.