Open Mat Social Hour

Join us today on a special episode with Brent Simons!!Brent has been a martial artist for a large majority of his life, and found jiu jitsu a bit more recently. Naturally, he fell in love with it but along the way suffered a nasty knee injury, as well as had to undergo labrum surgery. Not only was this incredibly stressful on his mental & physical health, but his family also got hit really hard during the pandemic. In this episode, Brent shares what made him finally seek out a PT, as well as his recovery journey back to the mats.This is his story.

Join us today on a new episode where Kris & Diana answer a question from a mutual friend about the reasons why tendinopathy is so common in BJJ & how to recover from it along with some hot goss about an athlete getting popped for PEDs and ADCC West Coast Trials winners!Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with Jennifer Tam!!Jenn & I met at the Unicorns BJJ camp last year, and a couple months later she reached out to get some rehab for her knee and hip. Jenn shares her experiences grappling (no pun intended) with her ego when she was dealing with injuries and how it taught her how to slow down, be more intentional about her body, as well as plan for longevity vs short term gain.This is her story.

Join us today on a new episode where Kris & Diana answer a question from a fellow physio about handling fear mongering language in the jiu jitsu community + a little chat about CJI 3???Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana reflects on the data behind our healthcare system, how it affects the physical therapy profession, plus what you can do about it to prioritize long term health. Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with Tetsuko Yasutomi!!Tetsuko is a mother, a wife, a jiu jitsu enthusiast, and business owner. Her & her husband own and run Neighborhood Bento in Bueno Park, CA while juggling her kiddos and other life things. Tetsuko shares with us the very common pattern of self-neglect when everything gets too overwhelming and how she centered herself again to prioritize her own well-being to be better for her family. I am so grateful for this conversation.This is her story.

Join us today as Diana & Kris break down the low back pain epidemic in jiu jitsu athletes, along with some statistics about low back pain. We also discuss some ways we evaluate and treat these cases.Enjoy!Audio Editing: @chrisjenkns

Join us today on a new episode where Kris & Diana answer a couple of questions from a follower's DM + chatted about Gordon Ryan's retirement along with recent pod faves.Enjoy!Audio editing: @chrisjenkns

Join us today on a special episode with Nick Phillips!!Nick's story is a story of transformation, change, self-reflection and more. We originally met in 2022 when Nick came to Open Mat Physio for his back pain. During our process, there was a moment where the program flared up his back so bad, that he had to take a break. I felt awful, and learned from that experience as a clinician. Nick returned in 2025, resolved his back pain with us, and shares what happened between 2022-2025 that allowed me another chance at helping him. I really appreciated Nick's honesty, and transparency in this episode.This is his story.

Join us today as Diana reflects on the costs behind trying to balance too many things at one time, and when it is a good idea to quit. Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana & Kris break down a the narrative around fragility that has unfortunately brainwashed a lot of people into backing away from strength training or being active. We discuss what should be happening instead & how you can get started!Enjoy!Audio Editing: @chrisjenkns

Join us today on a new episode where Kris & Diana chat about why so many of us feel great when we train but then wrecked either the rest of the day or even the next couple of days. Then we briefly recap how the first couple of weeks of 2026 is going! Had to cut it short at the end to rush to a content filming session.Enjoy!Audio editing: @chrisjenkns

Join us today on a special episode with Randy SantaMaria!!Randy is a purple belt out of the Bay Area who dealt with debilitating chronic low back pain for many years. So much so, that he would have flare ups that would not allow him to straighten his back when he would rise from a chair. Randy tried multiple different approaches before finally taking a chance with us at Open Mat Physio. Now he is on track to mentally & physically get back into the competition scene, with the most important being Master Worlds this year!This is his story.

Join us today as Diana breaks down some of the patterns she has seen in our most successful clients. It's physical, mental, philosophical & everything in between. A good reflection piece for us all.Enjoy!

***I mistakened South Carolina for North Carolina - so any Carolinians SORRYSORRYSORRY!!!!***Join us today on a special episode with Heidi Lozano!!Heidi is a black belt who came up through the CheckMat competition rigor, and eventually found her way into wellness as a career. Although she's had a history of knee injuries, this one felt different. Heidi knew she needed to take this one seriously to avoid surgery so she looked for extra guidance. Now she is back training confidently, with an strong understanding that keeping her knee healthy is a lifelong task.This is her story.

Join us today on a new episode where Kris & Diana talk whether or not we should say no to rolls & HOW we should say no to them. We all review the UFC BJJ Card (terribly LOL) & review our 2025 Spotify Wrapped.Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana & Kris break down a topic of porrada everyday, how doing it is ruining your gains on&off the mats, plus better ways to go about training for longevity on the mats.Enjoy!

Join us today on a new episode where Kris & Diana talk options for chronic groin strains, discussions around having a hard time finding the right training intensity, longevity hacks & what we're excited for this Christmas!Enjoy!

In this episode, Kris & Diana chat about different ways to stay healthy while prepping for a competition. Competing is not an easy task on the body. It requires discipline, a lot of hard training, & sacrificing short term comfort. Here are some tips we have gathered from working with athletes prepping for comps that we wanted to share so you all can stay as injury-free as possible leading up to the show day!Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with Tzitzi Lomeli!!Tzitzi suffered a pretty severe knee injury during a jiu jitsu training session earlier this year that affected her daily life in a way that she never imagined. After multiple consultations with Doctors who recommended surgery, Tzitzi decided otherwise. There was no way she could go through the ACL surgery recovery process with all of life's priorities. Tzitzi shares her journey of her decision, why she made it, & if she thinks she made the right one.This is her story.

Join us today as Diana breaks down a topic that was inspired by a recent convo with a training partner - the hidden costs of ignoring pain. If we take a step back, they are impactful to our jiu jitsu mat time. Diana goes through better ways to approach this, and ways to prioritize staying training for a long time.Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with our first repeat guest, Chris Capetto!!Recently we got a question from a follower on IG on what it's like "Starting BJJ after age 40", so we wanted to answer that question!Chris started Jiu Jitsu in his 50's after a long history of playing other sports, and today he shares with us his experience of how he got into jiu jitsu, some challenges of being an older grappler, and some advice to anyone who is older and interested in getting into jiu jitsu. Conversations with Chris are always so insightful!This is his story.

Join us today as we celebrate 100 EPISODES!!!! In this episode, Kris & Diana go back and forth on busting 10 medical myths we hear often in the jiu jitsu community. We go simple on some, & in more depth on others.Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who supports us in any capacity. We are nothing without you all! More episodes to come...Enjoy!

Join us today on a new episode where Kris & Diana talk rehab vs. surgery, in what context it might be better to choose one vs. the other, our new favorite restaurants we will definitely visit soon & what we are currently working on on the mats.Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana is joined by a dear friend, Aaron Ngor. Aaron is an Athletic Trainer & Strength Coach out of Undefeated Athletic Club in Los Angeles. Not only is he an incredible healthcare provider, but he is also an incredible human.This episode is a snippet of the conversations around the future of healthcare Diana & Aaron have off camera.Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Hillary Van Ornum, one of the owners of Unicorn Jiu Jitsu in Portland, OR.Hillary is a 3rd degree black belt, & a magnificent human being. In this episode, she goes through her journey of navigating multiple injuries, a mysterious low back pain (that is 80% manageable now) & her weight loss journey that has brought her back to relearning her game on the mats. We appreciate her time & sharing her experiences!This is her story.

Join us today as Kris & Diana go back and forth on some unconventional advice for older grapplers who are trying to do this jiu jitsu thing for a really long time. This convo took a couple sharp turns, but ultimately came back to the roots lolEnjoy!

Join Diana today on a solo episode to reflect together on what she has learned from starting Open Mat Physio 4 years ago. The journey has been an absolute blessing, but doesn't come without trials and tribulations in all shapes and sizes. Hope you enjoy this reflection!!

Join us today on a new episode where Kris & Diana recap what's new in our lives lately, a recap of CJI/Master Worlds weekend, & answering a question on how to tackle elbow pain from overgripping in jiu jitsu. Hope you enjoy!

FORGIVE ME, I AM STILL LEARNING THIS AUDIO EQUIPMENT - STEP BY STEP, BETTER EACH TIME. ENJOY!!Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Kyle Calkins, a BJJ Black Belt & MMA Coach from West LA.Kyle got his black belt in 2019 and coaches BJJ for MMA at Uprise MMA. In 2023, Kyle sustained a serious knee injury from a freak accident that put him in the operating room. He got ACL surgery quickly, which started his rehab journey. In this episode, Kyle discusses his lessons on the mats post-injury, key takeaways about his body during rehab, & where he is now physically & mentally. It was a pleasure to chat with him, even though my camera died from overheating LOLThis is his story.

Join us today as Kris & Diana go back and forth on whether or not jiu jitsu warmups are useless. We also jump into the eco rabbit hole for a quick second, but ultimately give some tips & possible solutions on how to make warmups more effective to promote longevity & health on the mats.Enjoy!

Join us today on a new episode where Kris & I discuss a couple unfortunate events that have happened in the BJJ community lately. As much as it is important to bring awareness to these types of situations in regards to safety, please give anyone involved grace and space to deal with the aftermath. All we can hope is lessons are learned from these events. 

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Isaac Doederlein, my coach at Varsity Jiu Jitsu, an IBJJF World Champion + 2x Brazilian Nationals Champion.Not too long ago, Isaac had the opportunity to compete on the first ever BJJ reality TV show hosted by UFC, which is where he suffered the elbow dislocation heard around the Youtube space. Today we hear what happened leading up to it, how it happened in the moment, the aftermath, how he's dealing with recovery, as well as, his future plans on & off the mats.This is his story.

Join us today as Diana explores some things that she's learned about chronic pain in jiu jitsu athletes. It is no surprise that a lot of us struggle with the aftermaths of stacking injuries. With that being said, it is important to understand a couple of principles to go into a rehab process with the right expectations & mindset.Enjoy!

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers! We talk about some predictions about CJI2 (forgive us, we were not 100% updated on some of the teams, but we did our best with what we knew :')), how social media has played a big role in making rehab too complicated, & some fun things we're looking forward to this next month!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Carl Manabat, a BJJ Black Belt out of Orange County.Carl received his black belt in 2024 after 10.5 years of training. Initially, he came to us with so many different physical ailments that he was unsure could heal. He felt like he had to accept his fate with his injuries until he experienced hope that his body could actually change for the better. Now he's training BJJ 4-5x a week and surfing 2x a week. His hard work and consistently did him well!This is his story.

Join us today as Diana explores what it means to "listen to your body". This advice isn't often backed up by tangible action steps so today let's talk about why it matters, things to pay attention to, & ways to actually build some body awareness.Enjoy!Research studies cited:Gabbett, T.J. (2016). The training–injury prevention paradox: Should athletes be training smarter and harder? BJSM.Raya-González et al. (2020). Neuromuscular fatigue and injury risk in elite athletes: implications for practice. Frontiers in Physiology.Mehling et al. (2011). Body awareness: a phenomenological inquiry into its meaning in mind–body practices. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine."

Join us today as Diana breaks down the history of her debilitating low back pain story from when it started, to how it affected her life to how she resolved most of her pain to how she maintains her low back now. What a journey it's been.This is her story.

Join us today as Diana & Kris explore different modalities we do off the mats to support our jiu jitsu journey. What's the best for you? Let's find out.Enjoy!

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers! We talk if being a PT has helped us improve our jiu jitsu, excitement over CJI2, as well as a lovely little rant on best fast food restaurants. Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Dr. Lorrain Ko, PT, DPT.Lorrain is by trade a physio who works primarily with muay thai fighters. Her & Diana met at a con-ed course through mutual friends, & eventually Lorrain became a client. In this episode, Lorrain speaks on the reasons why she hired a coach/physio for her injury, as well as her biggest takeaways from this experience. We get into some talks about humanity & the importance of that through any rehab process.This is her story.

Join us today as Diana explores rehab purgatory, why it's so common with jiu jitsu athletes, and ways to break out of it. It's not an easy journey, but with some tweaks, it can change your whole future on the mats.Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana explores why we always seek novelty, how it intrudes our lives, & why it is actually slowing down your rehab or recovery process.Included are a couple questions to hit home for a reality check on what matters.Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Bailey Brady.Surgery is demonized often, which is honestly deserved. But what if there was a case where it was warranted? The small %? What should we do? This is Bailey's story. As much as she didn't want to, it was her right decision. In this episode, Bailey talks to us about how her low back pain got to the severity that it did, how it impacted her life, how she made the decision for surgery, how recovery has been, & where she is now. Bailey is a truly a light in the dark. This is her story.

Join us today as Diana & Kris explore pain - one of the most complex conversations we could have with our clients. Pain is multi-factorial & can change on a day to day basis. Diana & Kris talk how they communicate between different types of pain, how to tell if the pain is one to push through or to pull back from, & how to listen to the body to create longevity in jiu jitsu.Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana explores why full body assessments are key to developing a good rehab plan for a client. Looking at just one joint is not enough. We need to get a big picture.Enjoy!

Join us today on an episode where Diana & Kris answer some questions from our followers! We talk if it's possible to compete while still working through the rehab process (aka not 100% yet), some advice on if getting injured has got you unmotivated & not wanting to get to the gym, & the future of White Belt Wednesdays. Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana & Kris explore why coming back to jiu jitsu too soon after surgery is a really bad idea. We explore some statistics of re-injury (which are scary), whether or not steroids improve surgery recovery rates, & why relying on functional measures or tests is much more reliable than timelines on coming back to training. We only have one body, taking care of it can increase on longevity on the mats.Enjoy!

Join us today as Diana explores the idea of principles vs. exercises, the downfall of endless "IG reel quick fix" libraries, actual principles we share at seminars, & the harsh truths that noone likes to hear but needs to hear (us included).A passionate discussion that can make all the difference for your health.Enjoy!

Join us today on a special episode with a very special guest, Matt Garrido.We hear so often the story of avoiding MRIs & advising against our clients getting them. But what if they could actually be helpful? What if they could help create some clarity or even TRUST in the process? That's what happened to Matt & something we talk about in our conversation today. Working with Matt has opened my eyes to the possibility of adapting & flexibility based on what is truly best for the person in front of us. This is his story.